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(11100, 11100, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer as it is commonly known, is a type of cancer that develops at the rectum or colon of the human body. WHO reports that colon cancer is the third leading type of cancer globally with 10% of all reported cases. It is also the third highest reason for cancer-related deaths. Let’s take a detailed look into the fatal disease, what causes it, and how people can potentially save themselves from colon cancer.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>How Does Colon Cancer Develop?&nbsp;</div><div>The colon or the rectum is the terminal point of the digestive system. It is essentially a sac that houses the bowel and aids in the bowel movement process. The lining of the colon can develop precancerous polyps which can become cancerous over time.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It is important to note that all polyps are not cancerous. However, it is needed to medically treat them at the earliest as there is always the chance of it developing into cancer cells.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The exact cause of polyp development is unknown. However, scientists have often pointed out that genes and age play a crucial role in their development. Other factors like diets, obesity, smoking, and inflammation of the colon lining have been identified as leading causes thus far.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>What are the Symptoms and Causes of Colon Cancer?&nbsp;</div><div>Symptoms of colon cancer include:&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Change in Bowel Movement&nbsp;</div><div>As a precursor to colon cancer, a patient often notices a significant shift in bowel movement. For example, the frequency of diarrhea, constipation, or a change in stool consistency is noticed.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Blood Discharge&nbsp;</div><div>A common symptom of colon cancer is the presence of blood in the stool. Patients may not feel any apparent discomfort but dark tarry stools may be noticed during bowel movement.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Pain in the Abdomen&nbsp;</div><div>Another common symptom of colon cancer is severe and lasting pain in the abdomen. It generally starts as mild discomfort and gradually moves to severe cramps.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Anemia&nbsp;</div><div>The blood discharge with stool may trigger anemia or loss of red corpuscles in the blood. Anemia also triggers weakness and fatigue which is a secondary symptom of colon cancer.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Unexpected Weight Loss&nbsp;</div><div>Another sign of any cancer in general is the unexpected loss of weight. Cancer patients including colon cancer ones tend to rapidly lose weight which may lead to secondary complications.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>There are several known causes of colon cancer. These include:</div><div><br></div><div>Age&nbsp;</div><div>Age is one of the commonly identified factors behind colon cancer. Anyone over the age of 50 is at risk of contracting colon cancer though it might occur at any age.</div><div><br></div><div>Family History&nbsp;</div><div>Genetics are also thought to be a reason behind colon cancer. Families with a history of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis or FAP and Lynch Syndrome tend to compound the chances of contracting colon cancer.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Personal Medical History&nbsp;</div><div>Colon cancers are often recurring, meaning they can come back even if it is treated completely. A personal medical history of colon cancer or repeated polyp formation may trigger renewed cancer cell generation in the colon linings.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases or IBDs like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease increase the risk of contracting colon cancer. Patients with Type 2 diabetes also run the risk of developing colon cancer.</div><div><br></div><div>How Does it Affect People?&nbsp;</div><div>The effect of cancer on the human body is more or less similar in each case. It is a carcinogen that destroys the body from within. With advanced treatments, almost all types of cancers can be treated, provided they are identified at the earliest stage.</div><div><br></div><div>But regardless of the identification and treatment, cancer leaves long-lasting effects on the human body that might take years to properly recover.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Physical Discomfort&nbsp;</div><div>Patients of colon cancers develop physical symptoms like abdominal pain, discomfort, cramps, and blood discharge with bowel movements. Colon cancer patients are reported to lose considerable weight and their general well-being is greatly hampered.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Fatigue&nbsp;</div><div>Almost all types of cancers bring fatigue in their wake. Fatigue is induced because of the cancer itself, as well as the treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.</div><div><br></div><div>Emotional Stress</div><div>Cancer is often looked upon as a dreadful disease. The fear of the unknown and uncertainty involved with the disease naturally induces stress, anxiety, and depression. Emotional stress eventually adds up as a secondary condition to the existing physical stress.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Treatment Side Effects&nbsp;</div><div>Patients of colon cancer undergo rigorous treatment procedures like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. These treatments often induce side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, changes in taste, and other discomforts.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Lifestyle Choices that are Risk Factors for Colon Cancer</div><div>Lifestyle also plays a significant role in increasing the risk of contracting colon cancer. Here’s what to consider.</div><div><br></div><div>High Consumption of Processed Food</div><div>High consumption of processed food, especially red and other processed meat increases the risk of contracting colon cancer.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Low-Fiber Diet&nbsp;</div><div>A low-fiber diet also increases the risk of colon cancer. Try and incorporate fresh vegetables, fruits, salads, and whole grains into your daily diet to reduce the risk.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Lack of Physical Activity/Obesity&nbsp;</div><div>Increased weight and lack of physical activity create metabolic imbalances that act as precursors to colon cancer. Try to incorporate light exercise on a routine basis as well as maintain the ideal BMI.</div><div><br></div><div>Excessive Alcohol Consumption&nbsp;</div><div>Excessive alcohol consumption may also lead to colon cancer down the line. Additionally, smoking is also linked with the disease. It is better to limit consumption or if possible, avoid them altogether.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A simple lifestyle management alone isn’t enough to guarantee a risk-free life. However, a balanced lifestyle can at least minimize the probability of colon cancer and other fatal diseases.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Final Words&nbsp;</div><div>With its high fatality rate, it is necessary to diagnose colon cancer and start the treatment at the earliest. Check for the symptoms and consult the doctor as soon as possible. In most cases, colon cancer symptoms overlap with piles and benign polyps. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><font color=\"#a54a7b\"><b>Colon Cancer</b></font><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-05 13:42:17', '2024-02-05 13:42:17'),
(11101, 11101, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the armed forces and paramilitary border guards of Bangladesh to have patience regarding the recent war-like situation in Myanmar between their government forces and insurgents.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Law Minister Anisul Huq, in absence of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, on Monday said this while responding to a supplementary question from Opposition Chief Whip Mujibul Huq Chunnu in the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh is observing the situation closely and steps will be taken,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that today (Monday) some 78 Myanmar Border Police members entered Bangladesh, some of them with injuries.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that these personnel have been kept in a school there and the injured persons were given treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>The law minister said that Instructions have been given to initiate dialogue with Myanmar through foreign ministry and send them back, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“If they are not able to send them back the next course will be taken,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that government is aware of this matter in Myanmar and steps have been taken to close down schools in areas close to Myanmar frontier.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-05 14:00:52', '2024-02-05 14:00:52'),
(11102, 11102, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka on Tuesday described what’s happening along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border as “completely unacceptable.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“This is completely unacceptable. Myanmar’s envoy was summoned today and Bangladesh lodged its strong protest,” Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Myanmar envoy would convey Bangladesh’s concerns and protest to his government.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said Bangladeshis are being affected due to Myanmar’s internal conflicts and their mortar shells are coming into Bangladesh territory.</div><div><br></div><div>Two people, including a woman, were killed in reported shelling on a house at Jolpaitoli under Ghumdum union of Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban district on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the deceased was identified as Hosne Ara, 50, wife of Badsha Mia while the identity of the other could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar reached out to Bangladesh to take back members of Border Guard Police (BGP) who entered Bangladesh territory to save themselves amid conflicts there with the Arakan Army.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said so far (Tuesday morning), 229 BGP members and army personnel have taken shelter in Bangladesh and some of them are injured.</div><div><br></div><div>The injured BGP members were taken to Chattogram after providing them primary treatment in Cox’s Bazar, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>When Bangladesh is putting its efforts to repatriate the Rohingyas to Myanmar, such incidents are not acceptable, said the Foreign Minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh, Aung Kyaw Moe, and strongly protested the incidents along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.</div><div><br></div><div>Director General (Myanmar wing) at the Foreign Ministry, Miah Md. Mainul Kabir, handed over the protest note to Myanmar Ambassador during a meeting at the state guest House Padma. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 09:29:21', '2024-02-06 09:29:21'),
(11103, 11103, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>BNP on Monday said US President Joe Biden wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a formality to maintain ties between the two countries, but America did not back off from its earlier position on January-7 ‘dummy’ election.</b></div><div><br></div><div>“One state may have a relationship with another state. But they did not say that the illegal and dummy election of January 7 was fair,” BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question from a journalist about the US president’s letter to Sheikh Hasina, he said America also maintain ties with Russia and China as a formality of one country’s relation with another country.</div><div><br></div><div>“But the people of the Western countries and the governments of the democratic world have not moved away from the ideological commitment to the question of democracy,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Western countries, including the USA, also did not change their position on Bangladesh’s one-sided election, violence and how the people have been deceived on January 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Even a few days back, Rizvi said the US State Department expressed its opinion against the unilateral election. “The United Nations has always opposed this election. Democracy is an ideal for the Western democratic world...they have not compromised on this question.\"</div><div><br></div><div>In a letter to the Bangladesh Prime Minister, US President Biden has committed to work with Bangladesh together on economic development, Rohingya crisis, climate change and regional and global security issues.</div><div><br></div><div>The US embassy in Dhaka shared the letter with the foreign ministry on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said Bangladesh has welcomed the letter written by Joe Biden to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and he thinks this letter has manifested that there is no discomfort in the relationship between the two countries. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 10:32:43', '2024-02-06 10:32:43'),
(11104, 11104, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Opposition chief whip Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Monday asked the government to take seriously&nbsp; the recent rape incident in Jahangirnagar University.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made this demand while participating in an unscheduled discussion in the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the rape incident, the Jatiya Party secretary general Mujibul Haque said that such incidents had happened in Jahangirnagar University and such incidents in higher education institutions is just degradation of an educational institution.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Due to various reasons such cases are not prosecuted at the right time,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He requested the education minister to look into whether the academic environment is good or not, reprots UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Are the students of this university not whipped?” he questioned.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Education Minister should look into why such incidents took place in the Jahangirnagar University,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He asked the home minister to arrange proper trial with strict measures at the right time.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 10:36:15', '2024-02-06 10:36:15'),
(11105, 11105, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Obaidul Quader, General Secretary of Awami League and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, today said that the ongoing conflict in Myanmar is its internal matter and does not involve any dispute with Bangladesh.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>However, Bangladesh will address any border issues with Myanmar through diplomatic channels and bring the matter to the attention of the United Nations.</div><div><br></div><div>During a press briefing at Awami League\'s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital this noon, Quader emphasised that efforts are underway internationally to resolve the Rohingya crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We do not want to engage in war with anyone, including Myanmar. Our approach is to resolve any issue through dialogue. If any matter of dispute with Myanmar arises, we will draw the attention of the United Nations. There are international forums for these discussions, and the UN has a role to play,\" he stated.</div><div><br></div><div>The Road Transport and Bridges Minister highlighted that incidents occurring at the Myanmar border are internal but have spilled over, with shelling and mortar fire affecting Bangladesh and resulting in the death of two in Bangladesh territory. The matter could involve summoning the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh for discussions, with further decisions to be announced in due course.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to journalists\' questions about nominations for the reserved women\'s seats in the national parliament, Quader mentioned that the Awami League would nominate dedicated and tested individuals. He praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her foresight and her diligence in identifying potential candidates during district visits.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the day, Quader inspected the nomination form distribution and submission process for the reserved women\'s seats in the 12th national parliament at the Awami League\'s central office. The process, which began today, will continue until Thursday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 11:00:29', '2024-02-06 11:00:29'),
(11106, 11106, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">So far, 264 Myanmar forces, including BGP and army personnel, have fled and taken shelter in Bangladesh amid clashes between the Myanmar military and the armed rebel group, Arakan Army, said Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, director general of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The border situation is now under control and we are trying to deal with the situation as humanely as possible while maintaining international relations,” the newly appointed BGB chief said while talking to reporters after paying tribute at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Until Monday night, 115 Myanmar forces had taken shelter in Bangladesh and 114 security personnel arrived till Tuesday morning while 35 more entered in the afternoon, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, a total of 264 Myanmar security personnel have surrendered, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have given shelter and food to them. Among them 15 were injured. Eight of them were undergoing treatment at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and Chattogram Medical College and Hospital,” said the BGB DG, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Two people including a Bangladeshi woman were killed following an explosion of a mortar shell on Monday, he said, adding, “Such deaths can’t be acceptable.”</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, 65 Rohingyas, who tried to enter the country by boats, were sent back, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“No more Rohingya will be allowed,” said the BGB chief.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 11:43:46', '2024-02-06 11:43:46'),
(11107, 11107, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">As many as 264 Myanmar security forces have fled to Bangladesh amid clashes between the country’s military and the armed rebel group, Arakan Army.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A total of 264 Myanmar forces including BGP, army personnel and immigration officials have taken shelter in Bangladesh, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).</div><div><br></div><div>The Myanmar forces have entered Bangladesh through Tumbru border in Naikhangchhari upazila of Bandarban district with arms and ammunition.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGB disarmed them and took them to a safe shelter, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGB PRO said members of the BGP started taking shelter in Bangladesh since Sunday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>A Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man were killed following an explosion of a mortar shell at a house in Jolpaitoli under Ghumdum union of Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban district on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the ongoing unrest along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, academic activities of five government primary schools in Naikhangchhari upazila have been suspended.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has taken the decision considering the safety of the teachers and students. A notification was issued in this regard on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, newly appointed director general of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), has said, “The border situation is now under control and we are trying to deal with the situation as humanely as possible while maintaining international relations.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Until Monday night, 115 Myanmar forces had taken shelter in Bangladesh and 114 security personnel arrived till Tuesday morning while 35 more entered in the afternoon, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, 65 Rohingyas, who tried to enter the country by boats, were sent back, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“No more Rohingya will be allowed,” said the BGB chief.</div><div><br></div><div>Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, earlier today,&nbsp; detailed the collaborative efforts of Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and local administration to maintain law and order at the Ghumdhum border in Bandarban, following directives from the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Arakan Army is the well-trained and well-armed military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority movement, which seeks autonomy from Myanmar’s central government.</div><div><br></div><div>It is a member of the armed ethnic group alliance that recently gained strategic territory in Myanmar’s northeast. Along with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army — operating together under the name of the Three Brotherhood Alliance — it launched a coordinated offensive on October 27, 2023 in northern Shan state along the border with China.</div><div><br></div><div>That offensive has posed the greatest battlefield challenge to Myanmar’s military rulers since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The alliance says it has seized more than 250 military outposts, five official border crossings and a major city near the Chinese border, along with several important towns, according to an AP report.</div><div><br></div><div>Rakhine is where a brutal army counterinsurgency operation in 2017 drove about 740,000 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority to seek safety across the border in Bangladesh. Rakhine is also known by its older name of Arakan. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 14:59:37', '2024-02-06 14:59:37'),
(11108, 11108, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Former foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said some criminals in his constituency are regularly extorting money from trucks carrying essential items.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the government to stop this extortion and confiscate the money collected through extortion.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League MP elected from Sylhet said this while speaking on his notice to call to attention important public issues in the Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Section-71 of rules of procedure of parliament, respective MPs are given two-minutes to discuss the issue.</div><div><br></div><div>In his speech, the immediate past foreign minister Momen said that the small and medium businessmen of his area have complained to him that some local criminals have forced to pay Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 from each truck carrying daily necessities such as vegetables and sugar.</div><div><br></div><div>“They hijacked the truck if they are not paid the money. When I brought the matter to the attention of the local police and administration, the terrorist activity stopped for a couple of days. But later it started again.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the local traders are very unhappy due to the oppression of these extortionists.</div><div><br></div><div>“As a local MP, I am calling upon through you to stop this extortion. At the same time, I urge the government to take special measures to confiscate the money collected by terrorists through extortion.”</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, ruling AL whip Nazrul Islam Babu said called upon the commerce minister to take immediate measures to control the price hike of essentials.</div><div><br></div><div>Babu said this while speaking on his call attention notice, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“Inflation and price hike of essentials are our big problem at present. Inflation in the world is on the downward trend. Now the Prime Minister is giving instructions to the Commerce Ministry on how to reduce the prices of our daily commodities,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 15:40:34', '2024-02-06 15:40:34'),
(11109, 11109, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP has alleged that Bangladesh’s border security, independence and sovereignty have come under threat because of the current ‘unpopular government’s’ passive role in defusing tension along the Myanmar frontier.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In a statement issued on Tuesday based on the decisions of the BNP standing committee’s meeting held on Monday, the party feared that the country\'s border could become out of control at any time as hundreds of Myanmar nationals are waiting to illegally enter Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>It said fierce fighting, skirmishes and gunfire between the armed forces of the military junta and insurgent groups inside Myanmar have taken a dire shape along the border between Bandarban\'s Naikhongchhari Ghumdhum and Tumbru for more than a week.</div><div><br></div><div>The party said bullets, mortar shells, and exploded rocket launcher shells exchanged by both Myanmar’s armed forces and insurgent groups are falling inside Bangladesh every day, causing loss of life, injuries, and damage to people\'s homes.</div><div><br></div><div>“The local people are leaving the border area for the safety of their lives. Schools have been closed,” it observed.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP also bemoaned that two people--a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man-- were killed when mortar shells from the Myanmar side landed on a kitchen at Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid fierce fighting, it said more than a hundred members of the Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar fled and took shelter in Bangladesh. \"Hundreds of Myanmar nationals are crowding the border waiting to cross into Bangladesh—which could turn the border into an uncontrollable one at any moment.\"</div><div><br></div><div>“The BNP Standing Committee expressed deep concern that the unelected Awami dummy government\'s empty speech and call for showing patience and exercising restraint instead of lodging strong protest and promptly dealing with the situation through effective political initiatives in this very dangerous situation for Bangladesh is an expression of knee-jerk foreign policy. A government without public support puts our border security and independence and sovereignty under a threat,” the statement reads.</div><div><br></div><div>The party said the Awami League government is unable to take effective steps with the courage to tackle the prevailing situation along the border as it is unelected and worthless.</div><div><br></div><div>“When our independence and sovereignty are threatened by another country and when our independence is vulnerable, Sheikh Hasina\'s dummy government is unable to do anything. This is because they have accepted the hegemony of others by holding people hostage at gunpoint,” it observed.</div><div>The party alleged that a large number of Rohingya people have created a new humanitarian crisis by staying on the territory of Bangladesh for a long time due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s imprudent decision and her lust for power.</div><div><br></div><div>It said the government has constantly demonstrated diplomatic failure over the Rohingya issue for years. “National sovereignty is under threat and public safety is vulnerable because of this spineless government’s subservient policy. Awami dummy government is only capable of suppressing opposition in the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>The party said the \'frightened\' government is calling upon military and the border guards to be patient even when the people of the country are being killed in violation of sovereignty. “Is the responsibility of the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) only to accept the bodies of Bangladeshis?\"</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP National Standing Committee also strongly condemned and protested the casualty of the people of Bangladesh and the incidents of defying national sovereignty amid violent fighting inside Myanmar along the border due to the \'inactive\' role of the Awami League government. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 15:45:16', '2024-02-06 15:45:16'),
(11110, 11110, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Environment, Forests and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Tuesday said the country has to move on from the present traditional method of making bricks to an eco-friendly method.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Closing or demolishing brick kilns is not the only solution. We have to move from the present traditional method of making bricks to an eco-friendly method. We are looking towards block bricks,” he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Minister said this while replying to a supplementary question of ruling party MP elected from Laxmipur-2 Nur Uddin Chowdhury Noyon in Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said in Bangladesh every year 13 crore metric tons of agricultural soil is used for brick kilns.</div><div><br></div><div>“That has implications over food security of the country, That is why we are trying to move towards block brick,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that some 500 brick kilns have been identified initially.</div><div><br></div><div>“Each brick kiln produces an average of 5 million bricks each year, which is 250 crores in total. Currently the capacity of producing block bricks is 300 crores,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>As instructed by the Prime Minister, the Minister said, we will move towards eco-friendly bricks.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will close the existing brick kilns in a planned way. So that the development will not be disrupted, the price of bricks should not increase.”</div><div><br></div><div>He wants the cooperation of the MPs to increase the use of block brick rapidly within the next 1-2 years. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-06 16:00:22', '2024-02-06 16:00:22'),
(11111, 11111, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a decisive statement released by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday (February 07, 2024), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has clarified its stance to the United States regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Saudi Foreign Ministry articulated that such relations depend upon the recognition of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. This announcement underscores the kingdom’s unwavering position on the Palestinian issue, emphasizing the necessity for the Palestinian people to secure their legitimate rights.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement further demanded an immediate cessation of Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the area. This stance was conveyed amidst discussions on the Arab-Israeli peace process, particularly in response to comments attributed to the US National Security Spokesperson.</div><div><br></div><div>Saudi Arabia also renewed its appeal to the permanent members of the UN Security Council, urging those who have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to do so promptly. The goal is to ensure that the Palestinian people attain their legitimate rights and to pave the way for a comprehensive and just peace for all parties involved.</div><div><br></div><div>This development comes in the wake of White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby’s remarks on Tuesday, indicating optimistic signals that Saudi Arabia and Israel are open to continuing normalization discussions. The move would follow in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia’s Gulf neighbors, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 09:48:06', '2024-02-07 09:48:06'),
(11112, 11112, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>During a recent trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Salman Fazlur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Advisor on Private Industry and Investment, sought extended credit terms to alleviate Bangladesh\'s pressing dollar crisis. This request was made to facilitate longer payment periods for fuel imports from Saudi Arabia, a critical concern given the current financial constraints.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a press briefing held on Tuesday (February 06, 2024) at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building upon his return, Rahman shared insights from his three-day visit.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Currently, we have a 45-day window to settle payments for fuel imports from Saudi Arabia. Given the dollar scarcity, extending this to a year would greatly benefit us. The Saudi officials have agreed to consider this proposal,” Rahman disclosed.</div><div><br></div><div>Rahman represented Bangladesh at the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) meeting, emphasizing Bangladesh’s firm stance against terrorism and the misuse of Islam to justify such acts.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Terror has no religion, and by fostering cooperation among Islamic nations through the IMCTC, we aim to combat the defamation of Islam by terrorism,” he stated.</div><div><br></div><div>The advisor highlighted the unanimous condemnation of the ongoing crises in Gaza by meeting participants, alongside a collective call for resolution. The plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh was also addressed, with a commitment to seek solutions.</div><div><br></div><div>On the economic front, Rahman revealed Saudi investors’ interest in establishing a special economic zone in Bangladesh. “We are keen to allocate an economic zone to Saudi Arabia within Bangladesh. Their investment minister has shown enthusiasm for this project,” Rahman noted.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, plans are underway to bolster Bangladesh’s agricultural sector through the joint establishment of a urea fertilizer plant in Saudi Arabia, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“This collaboration aims to ensure a steady supply of fertilizers, enhancing our agricultural output. The proposal has been warmly received, with a feasibility study due to conclude by March,” he explained, highlighting the opportunity for private sector involvement alongside government-to-government initiatives.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 09:59:44', '2024-02-07 09:59:44'),
(11113, 11113, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has written to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressing his “commitment to strengthen” the growing economic and security partnership between the two countries and to support Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“As you embark on a historic fifth term and reflecting Bangladesh’s impressive development gains under your leadership in recent years, I am writing to underline my commitment to strengthen the growing economic and security partnership between our countries and to support Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status,” said the British Prime Minster in his letter to PM Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh High Commission in London shared the later dated February 7.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our partnership is based on a deep shared history and friendship, underpinned by strong people-to-people ties,” wrote the British Prime Minster.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunak hoped that Bangladesh can move forward with reconciliation in political life together with progress on rights and freedoms.</div><div><br></div><div>“These values are the cornerstone of the Commonwealth family and create vibrant democratic societies which attract the inward investment needed for economic growth,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“I see cooperation on migration as an important part of our bilateral agenda,” wrote the British PM.</div><div><br></div><div>“You have kindly endorsed a sustainable and streamlined way forward to return those Bangladeshi nationals in the United Kingdom illegally,” the letter reads, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“I anticipate seeing that arrangement finalised as part of our wider agenda of mutual cooperation,” he wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>The British PM also said that he looks forward to working with PM Hasina to continue to build on and develop still further the two countries’ important and historic relationship.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 10:04:41', '2024-02-07 10:04:41'),
(11114, 11114, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A team led by researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) has recently shed new light on the crucial role of saturated free fatty acids (FFAs) in the brain\'s memory creation process.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We\'ve shown previously that levels of saturated fatty acids increase in the brain during neuronal communication, but we didn\'t know what was causing these changes,\" Isaac Akefe, lead author of the study and research fellow at UQ, said on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Now for the first time, we\'ve identified alterations in the brain\'s fatty acid landscape when the neurons encode a memory,\" the scholar noted.</div><div><br></div><div>In their latest paper published in EMBO Journal, researchers dived deep into a novel interaction between the Phospholipase A1 (PLA1) isoform DDHD2 and a key synaptic protein dubbed STXBP1 by conducting longitudinal experiments on mice.</div><div><br></div><div>They found that STXBP1 controls the targeting of DDHD2 to the plasma membrane and the subsequent generation of saturated FFAs.</div><div><br></div><div>\"To determine the importance of free fatty acids in memory formation, we used mouse models where the PLA1 gene is removed,\" said Frederic Meunier, co-author of the study and professor at UQ.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Even before their memories became impaired, their saturated free fatty acid levels were significantly lower than control mice. This indicates that this PLA1 enzyme, and the fatty acids it releases, play a key role in memory acquisition,\" he noted.</div><div><br></div><div>As the fattiest organ in the body, 60 percent of the human brain consists of lipids, while fatty acids serve as the building blocks of those lipids or fats and are instrumental in communication between nerve cells.</div><div><br></div><div>Meunier believed that manipulating this new memory acquisition pathway has \"exciting potential\" as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer\'s disease. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 10:13:58', '2024-02-07 10:13:58'),
(11115, 11115, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Six civilians were among 10 people killed in Israeli air strikes on the central Syrian city of Homs early today, a war monitor said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Ten people, including six civilians and two Hezbollah fighters, were killed in Israeli strikes on a building in the Hamra neighbourhood of Homs,” the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>The strikes completely levelled the building in one of the city’s most affluent districts, and also hit other targets linked to Iran-backed groups, Abdel Rahman said.</div><div><br></div><div>Three students and a woman were among the dead, two of whom have yet to be identified, Abdel Rahman added.</div><div><br></div><div>Two Hezbollah fighters were among the dead, a source to the Iran-backed Lebanese group confirmed to AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>The Syrian defence ministry gave no precise casualty figures.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Israeli enemy launched air strikes against a number of sites in Homs and its countryside … killing and wounding a number of civilians,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>State television aired footage of rescue teams searching the rubble of a collapsed building for survivors.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on Syria, since civil war broke out in 2011.</div><div><br></div><div>It has stepped up its campaign against Iran-backed forces in its northern neighbour since its war with Hamas in Gaza began on Oct 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Last week, the US too carried out air strikes on Iran-backed groups in Syria and Iraq, killing 45 people in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has said repeatedly that it will not allow Iran to expand its presence. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 10:20:57', '2024-02-07 10:20:57'),
(11116, 11116, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Twelve people were rescued from a rollercoaster in Hong Kong’s Disneyland after the ride stopped working this afternoon, police and fire services said after they deployed dozens of personnel to the site.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Police and fire services were called for assistance from 3.16pm after the Disney ride Hyperspace Mountain stopped working.</div><div><br></div><div>No injuries have been reported and there was no smoke or fire at the scene, a police spokesman said.</div><div><br></div><div>The passengers were removed from the ride by 4.16pm a fire services representative said.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 40 firefighters had been deployed to Disneyland, located by Hong Kong’s international airport, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Disney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hyperspace Mountain ride is described on Disney’s website as rocketing into a Star Wars battle.</div><div><br></div><div>Key features include big drops and being plunged into darkness.</div><div><br></div><div>It was due to close for routine maintenance and inspection from Feb 26 to March 1 according to a notice on the website. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 10:22:43', '2024-02-07 10:22:43'),
(11117, 11117, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two blasts took place near electoral candidates’ offices in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, local officials said today, killing 22 people and raising concerns over security in the lead up to tomorrow’s polls.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Pakistan goes to the polls amid rising rebel attacks in recent months and the jailing of Imran Khan, the winner of the last national election, who has been dominating the headlines despite an economic crisis and other woes threatening the nuclear-armed country.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities have said they are boosting security at polling booths.</div><div><br></div><div>The first attack, which killed 12, took place at the office of an independent election candidate in Pishin district.</div><div><br></div><div>The second explosion in Qilla Saifullah, a town near the Afghan border, detonated near an office of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), a religious party that has previously been the target of attacks, according to the province’s information minister.</div><div><br></div><div>It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>Several groups, including the Islamist Pakistani Taliban and separatist groups from Balochistan, oppose the Pakistani state and have carried out attacks in recent months.</div><div><br></div><div>Khanzai hospital, close to the site of the explosion in Pishin, gave the death toll as 12 and said more than two dozen were injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy commissioner of Pishin district, Jumma Dad Khan, said that the blast had injured many people.</div><div><br></div><div>The attacks came as political parties wrapped up their campaigning in the quiet period mandated by electoral rules the day before the election.</div><div><br></div><div>Jailed former Pakistani premier Khan earlier urged his supporters to wait outside polling booths after casting their votes, as rival political parties held large rallies to mark the end of the election campaign period.</div><div><br></div><div>Any large-scale gathering of Khan’s supporters near booths could raise tensions because of what they call a military-backed crackdown on him and his party that has restricted campaigning.</div><div><br></div><div>The military denies interfering in politics.</div><div><br></div><div>“Encourage the maximum number of people to vote, wait at the polling station … and then stay peacefully outside the returning officer’s office until the final results are announced,” said Khan via his handle on social media platform X, accompanied by an undated photograph depicting him wearing simple black clothing.</div><div><br></div><div>The origin of the image, the first of Khan in months, was not clear.</div><div><br></div><div>Previously Khan’s supporters have disseminated his messages, including through AI-generated audio speeches, from notes he has passed on through his lawyers during prison visits.</div><div><br></div><div>Other political parties also wrapped up their campaigns.</div><div><br></div><div>Electoral frontrunner Nawaz Sharif led a huge rally in the eastern city of Kasur, with his brother, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is running in that constituency.</div><div><br></div><div>Amidst a sea of tens of thousands of supporters waving green party flags, Sharif called on the country’s huge youth population to support his party and took aim at Khan who has previously attracted support from young voters in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>“Don’t fall for him,” Sharif said.</div><div><br></div><div>Supporters of the rival Pakistan People’s Party also gathered in the southern city of Larkana led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who could play kingmaker if no one party receives enough parliamentary seats to form a government outright.</div><div><br></div><div>The former foreign minister and son of assassinated prime minister Benazir Bhutto criticised opponents, including Sharif, for what he described as compromising the country’s security and economy during their tenures. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 10:39:28', '2024-02-07 10:39:28');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11118, 11118, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Valentine\'s Week is almost here. It begins on February 7 and ends with Valentine\'s Day on February 14. Learn all about the seven days of love inside.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Valentine\'s Week is almost around the corner, and people are gearing up to celebrate the month of love with gifts, surprises and spending time with their loved ones. Partners, people in love, or those waiting for the opportune moment to pop the question to that potential someone they like are waiting for this special occasion to arrive. While Valentine\'s Day falls on February 14, the excitement for the month of love begins in the first week leading up to the seven days of love starting from February 7. These seven days of love are Rose Day (February 7), Propose Day (February 8), Chocolate Day (February 9), Teddy Day (February 10), Promise Day (February 11), Hug Day (February 12), and Kiss Day (February 13).</div><div><br></div><div>Each day of Valentine\'s Week holds significance for lovers, which they celebrate by going on romantic dates, cooking their partner\'s favourite dishes, enjoying each other\'s hobbies, planning surprises, and more. While we all know the significance of February 14 or the day of love, one should also know how to celebrate the seven days of Valentine\'s Week with their partners. Scroll down to read our cheat sheet for all the days of Valentine\'s Week, so you are prepared with the best surprises for your partner.</div><div><br></div><div>February 7 - Rose Day</div><div>Rose Day falls on February 7 annually. It is the first day of the Valentine\'s Week. On this day, couples exchange roses or send a bouquet to their loved ones. People also gift someone they like or adore with flowers to mark this occasion. While people generally gift their partners roses on this day, it shouldn\'t stop you from surprising your love with a bouquet of their favourite flowers.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Different colours of roses hold a special meaning on this day. For instance, red signifies love, yellow stands for friendship, pink signifies appreciation and admiration, and more. - Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><b><font color=\"#4a7b8c\">&nbsp;Rose Day</font></b><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 11:41:38', '2024-02-07 11:41:38'),
(11119, 11119, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that last month’s  parliamentary election that handed her the fourth consecutive term in office was the most free, fair and impartial vote in the country since 1975.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I think this time the election was the most free, fair and neutral of all the polls held after 1975,” she said about the January 7 election that was boycotted by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made this remark while exchanging views with local leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies and local representatives from Tungipara Upazila of Gopalganj at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>She said there were many conspiracies and plots to thwart the election as a party (BNP) founded in the hands of a military dictator wanted to prevent this democratic process.</div><div><br></div><div>“But the most important thing in this election was that people spontaneously went to the polling stations and cast their votes,” said Hasina, who is also the prrsident of the Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said the journey ahead for Bangladesh would not be so easy in the days to come. Many obstacles have to be overcome. Many conspiracies surround this Bangladesh, she warned.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh today has come a long way in soci0-economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>“The people of Bangladesh are financially solvent today,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about commodity prices, Hasina said that the people with fixed income are facing some difficulty.</div><div><br></div><div>“If we all cultivate the fallow lands then there will be no shortage of food. Rather, we can have surplus,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said all the fallow lands will have to be brought under cultivation and the government would extend assistance in this regard, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>She urged the local government representatives to ensure that the development projects are implemented properly.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM asked them to gain public trust and confidence by their deeds.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 12:12:03', '2024-02-07 15:29:38'),
(11120, 11120, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A rebel group in Indonesia’s eastern region of Papua said today it will release a New Zealand pilot it has held hostage for a year.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>It was unclear when the pilot, Philip Mehrtens, who was kidnapped exactly a year ago when he landed a small commercial plane in a mountainous area, would be released.</div><div><br></div><div>Terianus Satto of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), one of several groups fighting for Papua’s independence from Indonesia, said in a statement that Mehrtens will be released to “protect humanity and … human rights”.</div><div><br></div><div>“TPNPB will return the pilot Philip Max Martherns to his family through the jurisdiction of the secretary-general of the United Nations,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>New Zealand’s ministry of foreign affairs and trade did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>A low-level but increasingly deadly battle for independence has been waged in the resource-rich western half of the island of Papua since it was controversially brought under Indonesian control in a vote overseen by the United Nations in 1969.</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia’s government and military, which have struggled to stamp out the separatist movement, had said they were in negotiations to free the pilot. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 12:59:15', '2024-02-07 12:59:15'),
(11121, 11121, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Noted actor Ahmed Rubel passed away in the capital on Wednesday. He was 55.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He died of a heart attack around 6 pm, film director Nurul Alam Atique confirmed the news to the media.</div><div><br></div><div>There was a special screening of film \'Pyaar Subash\' and Ahmed Rubel fell sick just before going to a movie hall to attend the event.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, he was taken to a private hospital in the capital where doctors declared him dead, said Atique.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 13:50:18', '2024-02-07 13:50:18'),
(11122, 11122, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The family of a Palestinian teenager who is trapped in Gaza called on the British government on Wednesday to allow him to enter the UK, after ministers dropped their opposition to his urgent legal challenge at the eleventh hour.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The 18-year-old, referred to only as BSO for legal reasons, was challenging the refusal of Britain’s Foreign Office to put his name on an evacuation list, which would have allowed him to leave Gaza via the Rafah crossing into Egypt.</div><div><br></div><div>He was also challenging the decision by Britain’s interior ministry, or Home Office, to refuse entry clearance without providing fresh biometric data, which could only be done in Egypt.</div><div><br></div><div>When the Israel-Hamas war began, BSO’s parents had been visiting their other children in Britain and BSO was in Gaza, leaving him trapped.</div><div><br></div><div>Both government departments had been defending the case, but withdrew their opposition shortly before a hearing at London’s High Court on Wednesday and agreed to retake the decisions.</div><div><br></div><div>One of BSO’s brothers, who cannot be named as it could identify BSO, told reporters that he was pleased but still anxious as “we haven’t seen much empathy” from officials, who he said had been “fixating on bureaucratic technicalities.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said his brother had briefly been left homeless and was currently staying in Rafah, where Israel has recently threatened a new ground assault.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think these circumstances are pretty grave and I would expect any reasonable person to not try to find ways out of trying to help,” BSO’s brother said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Office and the Home Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. - Reuters</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 15:01:11', '2024-02-07 15:01:11'),
(11123, 11123, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a statement during his visit to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar today (February 07, 2024), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, newly appointed Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), declared the force’s high alert status to address any potential border-related incidents.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During the visit, Major General Siddiqui underscores the BGB’s commitment to maintaining security and sovereignty while adhering to humanitarian principles and fostering positive international relations.</div><div><br></div><div>“The border situation is fully under control, and we are dedicated to managing it with patience, humanitarian considerations, and in a manner that respects our international obligations, as directed by the Prime Minister. Under no circumstances will illegal entry into Bangladesh be permitted,” Major General Siddiqui emphasized.</div><div><br></div><div>His remarks came during a thorough inspection of the border outposts at Tambru and Ghumdum areas within the Naikhongchhari upazila. This tour included assessments of the operational conditions and morale among BGB personnel stationed along this critical frontier.</div><div><br></div><div>Major General Siddiqui’s directive to the border guards highlighted the importance of professionalism and vigilance in safeguarding the border against any arising challenges.</div><div><br></div><div>Furthermore, the BGB Director General took a moment to inquire about the welfare of Myanmar security forces and army personnel who have sought refuge in Bangladesh during the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar. To date, Bangladesh has provided asylum to 264 members of the Myanmar forces, including Border Guard Police (BGP), army personnel, and immigration officials, amidst ongoing clashes with the Arakan Army.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGB has responsibly disarmed the asylum-seeking Myanmar forces, ensuring their safety and security within Bangladesh’s borders.</div><div><br></div><div>This series of actions by the BGB and its leadership reflects Bangladesh’s balanced approach to border security, combining strict enforcement with a compassionate response to regional instability and humanitarian needs. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 15:09:41', '2024-02-07 15:09:41'),
(11124, 11124, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain on Wednesday said in Parliament&nbsp; that there are around 5.33 lakh vacancies in various departments of the government.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The minister said this in reply to a question of ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali-3 Mamunur Rashid Kiran.</div><div><br></div><div>In a written reply, the minister said, according to the Public Administration’s latest document titled “Statistics of Government Servants 2022”, there are 5.33 lac vacancies against the posts of officers and employees of all ministries, departments, directorates and offices.</div><div><br></div><div>Out of this, appointment was given to 3.58 lac posts in between 2019 to 2023, the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the government\'s ongoing process of filling vacancies, the minister said that the regular process of filling up the vacancies is ongoing as per the rules.</div><div><br></div><div>In view of the needs of various ministries-departments and the agencies under it, the vacancies of ninth (previously first class) and 10 to 12th grade (previously second class) are appointed through the Public Service Commission, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that according to the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the recruitment process is going on in the ministries and departments.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 15:28:19', '2024-02-07 15:28:19'),
(11125, 11125, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that some 1,241 people were sentenced to different terms as trial of 1,967 cases were completed so far filed in connection with the BNP-Jamaat’s subversive activities in between 2012 to 2015.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She said this in reply to a question of ruling Awami League MP elected from Madaripur-2 Shajahan Khan during the PM’s question-answer session.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan wanted to know what measures have been taken against those involved in the subversive activities of the BNP-Jamaat in the name of the so-called democratic movement from 2012 to 2015 and from October 28, 2023 to January 7 this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister in her reply said a total of 188 people died while 4,973 others were injured in the hands of the BNP-Jamaat’s terrorists during their so-called democratic movement between 2012 and 2015 and from October 28, 2023 to January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>“A total of 8,105 cases were filed against those involved in these acts of sabotage. Of these, trial of 1,967 cases have been completed and 1,241 people have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.”</div><div><br></div><div>The premier also said investigation&nbsp; is going on regarding the cases filed between October 28, 2023 and January 7 this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina, who is also the leader of the House, said the BNP and its allies have indulged in the evil game of arson-terrorism, killing innocent people and members of the law enforcement agencies through irrational movement in the name of resisting the elections.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to a query of AL MP Md Abdullah elected from Laxmipur-4, the Prime Minister said that in the recent times, the BNP-Jamaat and their allies have been trying to disrupt the 12th national elections by destabilising the country in the name of arson attack, hartals and blockades.</div><div><br></div><div>“They caused huge damage to people\'s lives and property by setting fire to trains and killing innocent people, uprooting train lines and damaging track plates, vandalising various public and private buildings and vehicles including the Chief Justice\'s residence and Razarbagh Central Police Hospital.”</div><div><br></div><div>She said that from October 28, 2023, more than 600 vehicles were vandalised across the country through violent activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, 328 vehicles including 184 passenger buses, 48 trucks, 28 covered vans, 3 CNGs, 4 private cars, 11 pickups, 5 trains, 15 motorcycles, 3 lagunas, 1 ward councilor office, 1 auto rickshaw, 1 high school, 12 primary schools, 4 homes, 1 Buddhist temple and 1 boat were set on fire.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina also said many people including drivers, helpers, police, BGB, workers, freedom fighters were killed, injured or crippled during their blockades and hartals.</div><div><br></div><div>“13 people were killed in those incidents. Among them, nine people were killed in train sabotage.”</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing that the country has efficient law enforcement agencies, judicial system and existing laws to identify and punish those involved in crimes like arson, vandalism, subversive activities, the Prime Minister said legal process is going on to take proper measures against those involved in subversive activities under the existing law. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 15:44:08', '2024-02-07 15:44:08'),
(11126, 11126, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Wednesday said discussions with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Hasan Mahmud would strengthen the Dhaka-Delhi relations.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Our discussions today will strengthen Bangladesh-India Maitri (friendship),\" Jaishankar said in a brief message shared from X, formerly known as Twitter.</div><div><br></div><div>He welcomed Dr Hasan to India.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan Mahmud is visiting India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.</div><div><br></div><div>He held a meeting with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the first day of his visit.</div><div><br></div><div>After the meeting, the Awami League Joint General Secretary paid floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation ground and memorial square at Rajghat. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 15:49:30', '2024-02-07 15:49:30'),
(11127, 11127, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two anti-junta fighters in their 20s were executed in public in a village in Magwe Region and a video of the crime, which occurred about three months ago, was uploaded to social media on Tuesday and is circulating there.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>They were burned alive after being hanged from a tree.</div><div><br></div><div>The video, first reported on by two local media outlets – and likely leaked to them – is narrated by a triumphant voice.</div><div><br></div><div>Resistance group Yaw Defense Force (YDF) said junta soldiers and allied Pyu Saw Htee militia members were responsible for the crime in Gangaw Township’s Myauk Khin Yan village.</div><div><br></div><div>The video circulating on social media shows the two men being forced to admit that they are members of a local People’s Defense Force. They are also forced to refer to themselves as “dogs” by the junta troops – some uniform others in civilian clothes – who, in the video, are seen standing around them.&nbsp; “Military dogs” is a term used by many civilians to refer to junta troops.</div><div><br></div><div>The video shows evidence that they were tortured before they were burned alive. They have severe injuries and are covered in blood. Their hands and legs are bound by iron chains as they are dragged to a tree.</div><div><br></div><div>After being forced to refer to themselves as “dogs,” they are hanged from a tree. A liquid believed to be fuel is poured on them and then lit.</div><div><br></div><div>They were burned alive in front of an audience.</div><div><br></div><div>Every household in the village was told to send one member to witness the execution, YDF said. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify this account.</div><div><br></div><div>The video is narrated by a joyful voice celebrating the crime as a triumph.</div><div><br></div><div>The YDF identified the two men executed as Phoe Tay and Thar Htaung, saying they were YDF members who were arrested by junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee members during an operation in Myauk Khin Yan village on Nov. 7, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The village is controlled by Pyu Saw Htee militias, reportedly under the direction of “Bullet” Hla Swe, a former lawmaker of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. The militias are notorious for violence against civilians, including shelling into the village and others nearby. In March 2022, two civilians were tortured to death in the village.</div><div><br></div><div>Many residents of the village have fled due to the expansion of Pyu Saw Htee militias.</div><div><br></div><div>The YDF said the two men were “burned alive in public.” “Before that, they were repeatedly tortured,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Many social-media users are reacting to the video with fury and sorrow. Instead of spreading fear, such inhumanity will only make the revolutionary spirit against dictatorship stronger, many wrote in response.</div><div><br></div><div>Others compare the junta’s brutal treatment of detainees with that of anti-regime resistance groups and ethnic armed groups who adhere to international laws governing the treatment of prisoners of war.</div><div><br></div><div>“The terrorist military has been committing inhumane terrorist acts since long ago. The only way to ensure that there are no more incidents like this is to root out the military regime and ensure the revolution succeeds,” the YDF said in a statement, reports The Irrawaddy.</div><div><br></div><div>“We would like to urge all people not to be cold-blooded and to unite together until the revolution succeeds,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 15:58:58', '2024-02-07 15:58:58'),
(11128, 11128, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Sylhet Strikers secured their second victory in the ongoing season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), defeating Durdanto Dhaka on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>While it marked Sylhet\'s second win, Dhaka endured their sixth consecutive defeat.</div><div><br></div><div>Batting first, Dhaka posted 124 for eight in 20 overs. Saif Hassan emerged as their highest scorer with 41 runs off 32 balls, supported by Mohammad Naim, who contributed 36 runs.</div><div><br></div><div>Rejaur Rahman Raja of Sylhet claimed three wickets.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, Sylhet found themselves struggling at 74 runs for the loss of five wickets. A defeat seemed imminent until Benny Howell and Ryan Burl forged a 55-run partnership, steering the team to victory.</div><div><br></div><div>Shoriful Islam took three wickets for Dhaka, yet his efforts fell short of preventing the defeat. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-07 16:27:37', '2024-02-07 16:27:37'),
(11129, 11129, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two people died and four others were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a covered van in Chakaria upazila of Cox\'s Bazar on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The incident happened when a Dhaka-bound bus of Eagle Paribahan from Cox\'s Bazar collided with the covered van coming from the opposite direction around 10 am on Thursday in the upazila’s Harbang area.</div><div><br></div><div>Chakaria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mohammad Ali confirmed the matter, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The injured were sent to the Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Among the injured, two are in critical condition. The identities of the dead and injured could not be ascertained. Efforts are on to identify them, said the OC.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the two vehicles involved in the accident have been seized.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 08:25:43', '2024-02-08 08:25:43'),
(11130, 11130, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistanis braved cold winter weather and the threat of violence to vote for a new parliament Thursday a day after twin bombings claimed at least 30 lives in the worst election-related violence ahead of the contested elections.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed at polling stations to ensure security. Still, on the eve of the election, a pair of bombings at election offices in restive southwestern Baluchistan province killed at least 30 people and wounded more than two dozen others.</div><div><br></div><div>The balloting has also been marred by allegations from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan that its candidates were denied a fair chance at campaigning.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The cricket star-turned-Islamist politician — ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022 — is behind bars and banned from running, though he still commands a massive following. However, it\'s unclear if his angry and disillusioned supporters will turn up at the polls in great numbers.</div><div><br></div><div>The election comes at a critical time for this nuclear-armed nation, an unpredictable Western ally bordering Afghanistan, China, India and Iran — a region rife with hostile boundaries and tense relations. Pakistan’s next government will face huge challenges, from containing unrest, overcoming an intractable economic crisis to stemming illegal migration.</div><div><br></div><div>Fazal Hayyat, 38, a driver, was one of the first voters in the northwestern city of Peshawar. “I am happy that I became the first one to exercise the right to vote at a polling station,” he told reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>Sikandar Sultan Raja, the head of the Election Commission of Pakistan, said the polling began across the country despite Wednesday\'s bombings in Baluchistan. “We will ensure the holding of free and fair elections,” he said. “People should vote for the candidates of their choice without any fear,.\"</div><div><br></div><div>International observers are also voting polling stations after being given permission by Islamabad.</div><div><br></div><div>People in Pakistan\'s major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Multan, were lining up at polling stations to cast vote. Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also went to a polling station in Lahore to cast his vote. He Wednesday night told a the Geo news channel that his brother Nawaz Sharif will be their candidate for the office of prime minister if his part gets majority in the parliament after the vote.</div><div><br></div><div>The weather on voting day was cold but clear. Mobile phone service was suspended after the previous day\'s bombings, leaving people unable to talk to relatives who went to cast ballots and political parties unable to contact supporters. The statement from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry said the decision was made to maintain law and order. It did not say when the suspension would be lifted.</div><div><br></div><div>As many as 44 political parties are vying for a share of the 266 seats that are up for grabs in the National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament. An additional 70 seats are reserved for women and minorities in the 336-seat house.</div><div><br></div><div>After the election, the new parliament will choose the country’s next prime minister, and the deep political divisions make a coalition government seem more likely. Separately, elections are also taking place Thursday for the nation\'s four provincial assemblies.</div><div><br></div><div>The last time parliamentary elections were held in 2018, when Khan came to power, a little more than half of the country\'s electorate of some 127 million voters cast ballots. If no single party wins a simple majority, the first-placed gets a chance to form a coalition government, relying on allies in the house.</div><div><br></div><div>The top contender is the Pakistan Muslim League party of three-time former Prime Minister Sharif who returned to the country last October after four years of self-imposed exile abroad to avoid serving prison sentences at home. Within weeks of his return, his convictions were overturned, leaving him free to seek a fourth term in office.</div><div><br></div><div>With his archrival Khan sidelined and in prison, Sharif seems to have a pretty straight path to the premiership, backed by his younger brother, former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is likely to play an important role in any Sharif-led Cabinet.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pakistan People\'s Party is a strong contender, with a power base in the south, and is led by a rising star in national politics — Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.</div><div><br></div><div>The Sharifs and Bhutto-Zardari are traditional rivals but have joined forces against Khan in the past, and Bhutto-Zardari served as foreign minister until last August, during Shehbaz Sharif\'s term as premier.</div><div><br></div><div>If Khan\'s supporters stay away from the polls, analysts predict the race will come down to the parties of Nawaz Sharif and Bhutto-Zardari, both eager to keep Khan\'s party out of the picture. As Bhutto-Zardari is unlikely to secure the premiership on his own, he could still be part of a Sharif-led coalition government.</div><div><br></div><div>For Khan, convicted on charges of graft, revealing state secrets and breaking marriage laws — and sentenced to three, 10, 14 and seven years, to be served concurrently — the vote is a stark reversal of fortunes from the last election when he became premier.</div><div><br></div><div>Candidates from Khan’s party have been forced to run as independents after the Supreme Court and Election Commission said they can\'t use the party symbol — a cricket bat on voting slips — to help illiterate voters find them on the ballots.</div><div><br></div><div>The undoing of Khan and the resurrection of the Sharif political dynasty have given the impression of a predetermined outcome, and “it may be too late to change that perception,” according to Farzana Shaikh, an associate fellow at the London-based think tank Chatham House.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the United Nation’s top human rights body warned of a “pattern of harassment” against members of Khan’s party, which claims it was subjected to a “reign of terror” and that it has been prevented from holding hold rallies like Sharif\'s party. Authorities deny the allegations.</div><div><br></div><div>Pakistanis, like people in many other impoverished nations, grapple with sustained high inflation, rising poverty levels, daily gas outages and hourslong electricity blackouts.</div><div><br></div><div>Since Khan’s ouster, Pakistan has relied on bailouts to resuscitate its spiraling economy, with a $3 billion package from the International Monetary Fund and wealthy allies like China and Saudi Arabia jumping in with cash and loans. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 08:37:51', '2024-02-08 08:37:51'),
(11131, 11131, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued a notification reducing import duty on rice, edible oil, sugar and dates ahead of holy month of Ramadan.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem signed four separate orders in this regard on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>In the cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister\'s office on January 29, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ordered reducing the duty on edible oil, sugar, dates and rice on the occasion of Ramadan. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 08:44:04', '2024-02-08 08:44:04'),
(11132, 11132, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will visit Evercare Hospital this afternoon for a health check-up.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Madam (Khaleda) is scheduled to go to Evercare Hospital around 4 pm for health check-up, as per the advice of her medical board,” said Sayrul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP\'s media cell.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the BNP chief will undergo some necessary medical tests at the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>On January 11, the BNP chief returned home from Evercare Hospital after receiving treatment for various health complications for over five months.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then, she has been receiving treatment at her Gulshan residence under the medical board that was formed earlier at the Evercare Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>On August 9 last year, she was admitted to the hospital as she suddenly fell sick.</div><div><br></div><div>The 78-year-old former prime minister has long been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to kidney, lung, heart, and eye.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 26, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda’s doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP chief’s family also sought permission from the government on different occasions, but the Law Minister said Khaleda has no scope to go abroad for treatment as she was released on conditions suspending her sentence in corruption cases.</div><div><br></div><div>Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years\' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 08:56:38', '2024-02-08 08:56:38'),
(11133, 11133, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">There is no patriotism among some political parties including BNP, said Awami League presidium member and Textiles and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"There is no patriotism among our country\'s political parties because they lack patriotism and do not carry out the responsibilities that should do in the national interest. BNP and some political parties have a specific agenda, they have a motive, they oppose for the sake of opposition,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said these after distributing warm clothes among the cold-hit people at Aziz Mahalla of Mohammadpur of Dhaka-13 constituency.</div><div><br></div><div>“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is dealing with the Myanmar crisis and Rohingya issue with a lot of patience and prudence. The situation that is going on in Myanmar now is their internal matter. There can be no reason to create mental stress or a situation within the country over that issue,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is performing their duty and they remain alert, Nanak added.</div><div><br></div><div>“We cannot have any relation with the internal affairs of Myanmar. There are international rules to protest against the occasional landing of two or four shells that cause us casualties. The government&nbsp; summoned the Myanmar Ambassador and lodged a strong protest and warned them. Even then, if a situation arises, there are international organizations, including the United Nations. We will go to them,” said the AL leader.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League President Sheikh Buzlur Rahman and local Awami League and associate organizations leaders and workers were present on the occasion. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 10:44:01', '2024-02-08 10:44:01'),
(11134, 11134, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Fortify Rights has called on the Bangladesh government to probe the recent influx of Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) for potential involvement in atrocities and to align with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into crimes against the Rohingya population.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In the wake of conflicts with the Arakan Army in Rakhine State in Myanmar, hundreds of Myanmar BGP have sought refuge in Bangladesh. Matthew Smith, CEO of Fortify Rights, emphasized the importance of Bangladesh providing aid and protection to these individuals, while scrutinizing their past actions for any criminal involvement.</div><div><br></div><div>“It would be in the interest of other Myanmar military, police, and border guards to come forward and cooperate with international justice mechanisms,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“These border guards might have information that could help hold perpetrators accountable for the Rohingya genocide and other crimes unfolding in Myanmar, and they should be properly investigated,\" Smith added.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 6, 2024, Bangladesh’s Border Guard reported the entry of 264 Myanmar BGP members, including some critically injured, who are now receiving medical treatment locally.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh\'s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner based in Cox\'s Bazar, told media that the Myanmar border guards could be accommodated in the nearby district of Bandarban before being sent back to Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>An ICC decision on November 14, 2019 authorized the ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) to investigate any crime related to the situation in Myanmar that was allegedly committed, at least in part, on the territory of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The Court has yet to issue arrest warrants related to atrocity crimes against Rohingya.</div><div><br></div><div>The OTP’s investigation has been underway for approximately four years.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh became a state party to the ICC in 2010 and previously coordinated with the Court to bring alleged perpetrators from Myanmar to justice.</div><div><br></div><div>In September 2020, two Myanmar military soldiers — Army Privates Myo Win Tun and Zaw Naing Tun — appeared on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, requesting protection from Bangladesh authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>As a state party to the Rome Statute, Dhaka notified the ICC of the presence of the two former soldiers, who confessed to their involvement in massacres, rape, and other crimes against Rohingya in Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>The soldiers were transferred to The Hague and are the first-ever perpetrators from Myanmar to be in the hands of the ICC.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh authorities should also coordinate and cooperate with the International Independent Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) in the collection of evidence of international crimes in Myanmar, said Fortify Rights.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN Human Rights Council created the IIMM in 2019 to collect and preserve evidence of international crimes in Myanmar for future prosecutions.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2016 and 2017, the Myanmar military led genocidal attacks on Rohingya people in Rakhine State that razed hundreds of villages, killed, raped, and tortured untold numbers, and forced more than 700,000 people into Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Fortify Rights, the US Government, a UN-appointed Fact-Finding Mission, Rohingya-led organizations, and others have found that the attacks constituted genocide. According to UNB reprots&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 11:35:24', '2024-02-08 11:35:24'),
(11135, 11135, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday expressed concern that Bangladeshi citizens are in extreme insecurity along the Myanmar border as people are getting killed and injured by bullets and mortar shells.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a press briefing at the party\'s Nayapaltan central office, he also blamed the government for the death of a Bangladeshi citizen in a mortar shell fired by Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>“No man or woman is safe inside Bangladesh along the border. People are losing their lives after being hit by mortar shells. We want to see necessary efforts and activities to ensure the security of the country and its people and make the sovereignty stronger,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He questioned as to why a Bangladeshi woman was killed by a mortar shell fired by another country. “Where is the appropriate response to the incident? The government can\'t even lodge a written protest as it’s a weak regime which has no public support.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the Awami League government cannot do anything to deescalate the border tension since it has been in power depending on the state apparatus.&nbsp; &nbsp;“They fear their (foreign) masters, but they use guns to terrorize the people of the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>A tense situation has been prevailing along the border between Bandarban\'s Naikhongchhari Ghumdhum and Tumbru amid fierce fighting, skirmishes and gunfire between the armed forces of the military junta and insurgent groups inside Myanmar for nearly two weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 300 Myanmar forces and border guards have so far taken shelter in Bangladesh as of Wednesday noon in the wake of conflicts along the border.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, two people--a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man-- were killed when mortar shells from the Myanmar side landed on a kitchen at Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the lives and land of the people of Bangladesh are now unprotected as blood has been shed in the border areas of Bangladesh. “People are entering Bangladesh in groups from the neighbouring country. But the Bangladesh government is silent. Even, the government doesn’t dare to protest when a BGB member was killed in BSF firing.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call for exercising restrain and maintain peace now threatens the country\'s sovereignty. “As a result, our border guards are retreating every day, putting the people of Bangladesh in danger.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi claimed that during the rules of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, the border areas of Bangladesh were secure and the people were safe, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>He said Awami again usurped power through a farce in the name of election on January 7 which was turned down by the country’s 95 percent people. “Only the prime minister of the dummy government and her cohorts called the January 7 election free and fair. But it was the worst mockery of the century.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 13:07:14', '2024-02-08 13:07:14'),
(11136, 11136, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Natore court on Thursday sentenced two people to life imprisonment for kidnapping a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinee in 2005.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Natore Woman and Child Repression prevention Tribunal Judge Muhammad Abdur Rahim handed down the punishment.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also fined Tk 20,000 to the convicts—Abu Bakkar, 40 and Rantu, 20 of Sadar upazila and asked to provide the money to the kidnapped girl.</div><div><br></div><div>Both of them were construction workers.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the prosecution, the convicts kidnapped an SSC examinee while working at a house at Halsa village in Sadar upazila on May 25, 2005.</div><div><br></div><div>Idris Ali, maternal uncle of the girl filed a case with Sadar police Station 14 days after the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>During investigation, police rescued the girl from the house of Abu Bakkar and arrested the convicts.</div><div><br></div><div>On August 13, 2005, police submitted chargesheet against them. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 13:20:09', '2024-02-08 13:20:09'),
(11137, 11137, '<div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said now the priority is to ensure safe and speedy return of Myanmar border guards to their country but it is not the priority whether they will be sent back by air or sea.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Bangladesh made this proposal considering that repatriation by air could be done quickly. Myanmar airlifted troops from India recently. So this proposal is given from the side of Bangladesh. Bangladesh wants to repatriate all these people as soon as possible. There is no opportunity to waste time here,\" MoFA Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin told reporters at a weekly briefing.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It is hoped that they will be sent back to Myanmar as soon as possible, be it by air or by sea, she said, adding that their safe return is extremely important.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Seheli said there is no question of any international or political reasons for sheltering Myanmar\'s BGP members.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar\'s BGP members have also recently taken refuge in India and returned to their homeland from India, she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"They have taken temporary shelter in Bangladesh as the members of a regular force fall in trouble and since day one the Myanmar government has expressed its desire to take them back to Myanmar. It may be noted that they have surrendered their arms to the BGB while entering Bangladesh, \" Seheli said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are in regular contact with the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. The Myanmar government has already expressed interest in taking back its army and BGP members. Now discussions are underway for their safe repatriation as soon as possible,\" she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Seheli said Myanmar\'s ongoing conflict is its internal matter. However, she said, Bangladesh remains vigilant to ensure that the people, property or sovereignty of Bangladesh are not threatened in any way.</div><div><br></div><div>The Spokesperson said bilateral, trilateral, regional and multilateral efforts are also underway to initiate voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas at a convenient time.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh as a neighboring country wants to see peace, prosperity and stability in Myanmar, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rohingya repatriation needs to be an inevitable part of any regional and global initiative to overcome the Myanmar crisis, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>A journalist wanted to know about 11,404 Chinese citizens living illegally in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, the Spokesperson said the issue of identifying foreign nationals staying illegally in Bangladesh is under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs can provide specific information in this regard.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A meeting was held in BIDA on Tuesday with the Principal Secretary in the chair.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Secretary also participated in the meeting.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the meeting, a decision was taken to take immediate action according to the existing laws of Bangladesh regarding visa expiry of citizens of not only Chinese but also other countries, said the Spokesperson. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 14:26:49', '2024-02-08 14:26:49');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11138, 11138, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Butter chicken, one of India’s most loved dishes, is at the centre of a culinary storm with two competing restaurant chains claiming to be the inventors of the lip-smacking preparation.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The marinated chicken dish bathed in a velvety red sauce with dollops of butter and cream is a favourite across continents, popping up on menus in London, New York and Sydney.</div><div><br></div><div>But the dish is now the subject of a lawsuit filed in the Delhi high court by Moti Mahal, one of the city’s oldest restaurant chains, against rivals Daryaganj.</div><div><br></div><div>It is a story that dates back a century to pre-independence India and a furious feud between families.</div><div><br></div><div>The lawsuit, running to over 2,000 pages, claims that Moti Mahal’s founder first crafted the dish by adding a rich tomato-based gravy to leftover chicken to keep the pieces moist.</div><div><br></div><div>Moti Mahal has accused Daryaganj of falsely taking credit for inventing butter chicken, as well as dal makhani, which is prepared by slow-cooking black lentils in a tomato and cream gravy.</div><div><br></div><div>The restaurant is seeking 20 million rupees in damages, and wants the court to bar Daryaganj from claiming its family pioneered the recipes.</div><div><br></div><div>Daryaganj’s owners said they were studying the petition before filing their reply, with the next court hearing due in May.</div><div><br></div><div>Too many cooks</div><div><br></div><div>Monish Gujral, the owner of Moti Mahal, said he had submitted documentary proof that his grandfather was the creator of butter chicken.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s a well-documented fact globally that we are the inventors of butter chicken and dal makhani,” Monish, 57, told AFP on a busy afternoon at one of his outlets in Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are not claiming that you can’t serve butter chicken in your restaurant,” Monish added.</div><div><br></div><div>“But don’t say you invented the dish. I would not allow anyone to take our legacy away.”</div><div><br></div><div>According to Monish, his grandfather Kundan Lal Gujral learned to cook in a sweet and sherbet shop in Peshawar, in today’s Pakistan, before opening a restaurant in 1920.</div><div><br></div><div>He experimented with various dishes, including, according to Moti Mahal, adding a creamy sauce to “bits of tandoori chicken that were in danger of drying out”.</div><div><br></div><div>In 1947, in the chaos as the subcontinent was partitioned between India and Pakistan, Kundan Lal Gujral left for Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>There, the dramatically mustachioed chef opened the first Moti Mahal restaurant and built it into a culinary institution.</div><div><br></div><div>Regular customers included former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru – always greeted with a traditional cardamom garland – and independence activist Maulana Azad.</div><div><br></div><div>Other guests have reportedly included former US president Richard Nixon and former first lady Jackie Kennedy.</div><div><br></div><div>But it was Kundan Lal Gujral’s appointment of his cousin Kundan Lal Jaggi as a partner that would lead to acrimony decades later.</div><div><br></div><div>The latter’s heirs – who would later found the Daryaganj chain – insist it was he who invented butter chicken in 1947 to serve a table of customers who turned up just as the kitchen was closing.</div><div><br></div><div>As Daryaganj tells the story, Jaggi had only a few pieces of tandoori chicken left, so one diner suggested he add a gravy “so that everyone could have a hearty meal”.</div><div><br></div><div>Monish insists his rivals just ripped off his family’s story.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have been in the business for 100 years,” he said, showing black and white photos of dignitaries on the restaurant’s walls.</div><div><br></div><div>“They have copied our feel and look.” - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 14:41:54', '2024-02-08 14:41:54'),
(11139, 11139, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thirteen Sudanese migrants died today after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia, while 27 others remain missing, a court spokesman told AFP.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Farid Ben Jha, the spokesman for the court in the coastal city of Monastir, said only two out of the 42 migrants who were on board the boat survived after leaving from Jebiniana, a small town near Sfax.</div><div><br></div><div>He said an investigation was opened, adding that the migrants were likely “exploited in a human trafficking case or in the formation of a criminal group to reach Europe illegally”.</div><div><br></div><div>The victims were all asylum seekers from war-torn Sudan who had registered with the United Nations’ refugee agency.</div><div><br></div><div>They boarded a fragile metal boat made of scraps hastily welded together, according to the investigation’s first findings.</div><div><br></div><div>The search for the missing passengers is still underway.</div><div><br></div><div>Tunisia and Libya are the main departure points for thousands of irregular migrants who risk their lives every year in the hopes of reaching better lives in Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>During the first 11 months of 2023, Tunisian authorities intercepted 69,963 irregular migrants, more than double the figure for the same period in 2022, according to statistics shared by the National Guard.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 2,270 people died attempting to cross the central Mediterranean in 2023, a 60% increase on the previous year, according to the International Organization for Migration. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 14:49:59', '2024-02-08 14:49:59'),
(11140, 11140, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping spoke by phone and both rejected what they called US interference in the affairs of other countries, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The two leaders said they aimed to create “a multipolar, fairer world order,” Ushakov said, adding that Putin and Xi would continue to have “close personal interaction” but that there were no plans for reciprocal visits right now.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin and Xi also discussed the situation in Ukraine and conflict resolution in the Middle East and agreed to continue bilateral contacts, Ushakov said, without elaborating.</div><div><br></div><div>Ushakov highlighted Russia and China’s expanding trade, which went over US$200 billion last year, and said the two countries would pursue joint energy projects despite western sanctions. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 14:54:02', '2024-02-08 14:54:02'),
(11141, 11141, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Five US Marines were confirmed dead after their helicopter crashed in a remote area outside of San Diego while on a training flight during a fierce winter storm, the US Marines Corps said today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went down in Pine Valley, a hilly remote area east of the city, on Tuesday night as it was headed to the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, the Marine Corps said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The remains of the crew members were found during a search and rescue effort carried out by the Marines and local authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines,” major-general Michael Borgschulte said in the statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The helicopter departed from the Creech Air Force Base in Nevada about 60km northwest of Las Vegas on Tuesday night and flew into rainy and snowy weather as it headed west.</div><div><br></div><div>About eight hours later it was reported overdue. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 15:07:20', '2024-02-08 15:07:20'),
(11142, 11142, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday total victory in Gaza was within reach, rejecting the latest offer from Hamas for a ceasefire to ensure the return of hostages still held in the besieged enclave.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu renewed a pledge to destroy the Palestinian movement, saying there was no alternative for Israel but bringing about the collapse of Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>“The day after is the day after Hamas. All of Hamas,” he told a press conference, insisting that total victory against Hamas was the only solution to the Gaza war.</div><div><br></div><div>“Only total victory will allow us to restore security in Israel, both in the north and in the south.”</div><div><br></div><div>A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, described Netanyahu’s remarks as “political bravado” that showed the Israeli leader’s intention to continue conflict in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Another Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said a Hamas delegation led by senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya would travel on Thursday to Cairo to pursue ceasefire talks with mediators Egypt and Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas had proposed a Gaza ceasefire of four-and-a-half months, during which all hostages would go free, Israel would withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip and an agreement would be reached on an end to the war.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hamas offer, the contents of which were first reported by Reuters, was a response to an earlier proposal drawn up by US and Israeli spy chiefs and delivered to Hamas last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators.</div><div><br></div><div>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the offer with Netanyahu after arriving in Israel following talks with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt. Blinken later met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel began its military offensive after militants from Hamas-ruled Gaza killed 1,200 people and took 253 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Gaza’s health ministry says at least 27,585 Palestinians have been confirmed killed, with thousands more feared buried under rubble. There has been only one truce so far, lasting just a week at the end of November. - Reuters</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 15:11:22', '2024-02-08 15:11:22'),
(11143, 11143, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered troops to prepare to enter the overcrowded Gazan city of Rafah, even as a new round of talks aimed at securing a truce with Hamas were set to open Thursday in Cairo.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu announced the order after rejecting Hamas’s response to a ceasefire proposal at the center of intense recent diplomatic efforts, though visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted on Wednesday that he still saw “space for agreement to be reached”.</div><div><br></div><div>Concerns were mounting, meanwhile, for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have sought refuge in Rafah along the Egyptian border, with UN chief Antonio Guterres warning a military push into the city “would exponentially increase what is already a humanitarian nightmare”.</div><div><br></div><div>In televised remarks Wednesday, Netanyahu said he had ordered troops to “prepare to operate” in the city and that “total victory” over Hamas was just months away.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the ceasefire proposal, he added: “Giving in to the bizarre demands of Hamas that we have just heard will... only invite another massacre.”</div><div><br></div><div>Blinken, who is on yet another trip to the region to press for a truce, told reporters in Tel Aviv that Hamas’s counter-proposal at least offered an opportunity “to pursue negotiations”.</div><div><br></div><div>“While there are some clear non-starters in Hamas’s response, we do think it creates space for agreement to be reached, and we will work at that relentlessly until we get there,” Blinken said, hours after meeting Netanyahu.</div><div><br></div><div>Since October 7, the Lebanese-Israeli border has seen near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas ally Hezbollah.</div><div><br></div><div>International Crisis Group president Comfort Ero warned Wednesday that the hostilities around the region increased the possibility of the situation boiling over.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think the big three — Iran, Israel and the US — do not want to see escalation,” she told AFP in Washington. “But we are also seeing that every day we’re one step closer to a major miscalculation.” - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 15:13:23', '2024-02-08 15:13:23'),
(11144, 11144, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said on Thursday that Bangladesh is doing well in line with the standards set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government has fulfilled most of the conditions given by the global lender.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the comment while talking to reporters after Resident Representative of the IMF in Bangladesh Jayendu De met him in his office on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>“They will assess the situation again in March. Hopefully, Bangladesh will get the third installment of the loan,” Ali said.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a query on Bangladesh having a deficit in reserves and revenue income within the terms of the IMF, the finance minister said that Bangladesh has mostly fulfilled the targets given by the IMF.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that it is good to merge weaker banks with the stronger ones, and it might happen.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“In advanced economies, there are frequent mergers. But so far, no such proposal has come here. Let the proposals come, then we will see,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question about whether any new budget support has been assured apart from installments, the finance minister said that they will look into the matter. “The situation is good, let\'s see what happens, Bangladesh has passed the test.”</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question about any signs that suggest that the economy is doing well, the finance minister said, “The economy is doing well gradually amid challenges, which is a positive thing.”</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the determination of the exchange rates of US dollars, Ali said that the crawling peg system would be practised, and it would not be based on the market rate.</div><div><br></div><div>Separately, Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Lilly Nicholls had a meeting with the finance minister. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-08 15:16:06', '2024-02-08 15:16:06'),
(11145, 11145, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>India has said their National Security Advisor Ajit Doval\'s recent visit to Bangladesh was part of high level exchange of visits between the two neighbouring countries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Bangladesh is a very close neighbor for us. It underwent general elections recently. It is a routine matter for countries to have exchange high level visits, especially with a close neighbor. The visit of National Security Advisor was in that context,\" said Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal at a weekly briefing on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Doval met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and he conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to her.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 7, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud had a conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhiml.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan, on a visit to India, also met with Doval.</div><div><br></div><div>The two countries talked about development partnership, defence and security, said the MEA spokesperson.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We also talked about several other aspects of our engagement; economy, trade, people to people; also, as to how both the countries can synergize their efforts as we move forward on Viksit Bharat 2047, and Bangladesh on their route of Smart Bangladesh 2041,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>FM Hasan is scheduled to meet Indian President and hold a meeting with India’s Commerce Minister on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>He will then return to Dhaka Friday night after attending events in Kolkata. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-09 06:52:36', '2024-02-09 06:52:36'),
(11146, 11146, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said if she did not allow her party members to take part in last month\'s election as independent candidates the democracy of the country would have been snatched away.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“If the election was not opened for all (AL members) then not only the election would have been stained, the democracy of the country would have been hijacked too,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was delivering her introductory speech at the extended meeting of Awami League at her official residence Ganabhaban.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This election was important to maintain the country\'s status as a developing country, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We should not forget the election manifesto that we announced before the election to retain this achievement. Every year during the budget formulation we follow the election manifesto,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said that her party has also opened the upcoming upazila elections for all her party members to make it participatory, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“It will also be scrutinised how much work has been done for the common people in the last 15 years while in power, and who could not deliver. Through it we will see who is accepted by the people,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She issued warning against any sort of confrontation in the upcoming local government elections.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We do not want any kind of confrontation. Stern actions will be taken against the individuals responsible for it no matter who they are,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 09:14:08', '2024-02-10 09:14:08'),
(11147, 11147, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians in Rafah early Saturday, hours after Israel\'s prime minister said he asked the military to plan for the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from the southern Gaza city ahead of a ground invasion.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Benjamin Netanyahu did not provide details or a timeline, but the announcement set off widespread panic. More than half of Gaza\'s 2.3 million people are packed into Rafah, many after being uprooted repeatedly by Israeli evacuation orders that now cover two-thirds of Gaza\'s territory. It\'s not clear where they could run next.</div><div><br></div><div>Word of the invasion plans capped a week of increasingly public friction between Netanyahu and the Biden administration. U.S. officials have said an invasion of Rafah without a plan for the civilian population would lead to disaster.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has carried out airstrikes in Rafah almost daily, even after telling civilians in recent weeks to seek shelter there from ground combat in the city of Khan Younis, just to the north.</div><div><br></div><div>Overnight into Saturday, three airstrikes on homes in the Rafah area killed 28 people, according to a health official and Associated Press journalists who saw the bodies arriving at hospitals. Each strike killed multiple members of three families, including a total of 10 children, the youngest three months old.</div><div><br></div><div>In Khan Younis, the focus of the current ground combat, Israeli forces opened fire at Nasser Hospital, the area\'s largest, killing at least one person and wounding several, said Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>He said medical staff are no longer able to move between the facility’s buildings because of the intense fire. He said 300 medical personnel, 450 patients and 10,000 displaced people are sheltering in the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>A RIFT WITH WASHINGTON</div><div><br></div><div>The steadily climbing Palestinian death toll— now at almost 28,000 after four months of war, according to Gaza health officials — has contributed to the friction between Netanyahu and Washington.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian deaths because it fights from within civilian areas, but U.S. officials have pushed back, calling for more surgical strikes. President Joe Biden said this week Israel\'s response is “over the top.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israel says that Rafah, which borders Egypt, is the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza after more than four months of war.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is impossible to achieve the goal of the war of eliminating Hamas by leaving four Hamas battalions in Rafah,” Netanyahu’s office said Friday. “On the contrary, it is clear that intense activity in Rafah requires that civilians evacuate the areas of combat.”</div><div><br></div><div>It said he had ordered the military and security officials to come up with a “combined plan” that included both a mass evacuation of civilians and the destruction of Hamas’ forces in the town.</div><div><br></div><div>It remains unclear where civilians can go. The Israeli offensive has caused widespread destruction, especially in northern Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of people do not have homes to return to.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, Egypt has warned that any movement of Palestinians across the border into Egypt would threaten the four-decade-old peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. The border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which is mostly closed, serves as the main entry point for humanitarian aid.</div><div><br></div><div>Rafah had a prewar population of roughly 280,000, and according to the United Nations is now home to some 1.4 million additional people living with relatives, in shelters or sprawling tent camps after fleeing fighting elsewhere in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel declared war after several thousand Hamas militants burst across the border into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage.</div><div><br></div><div>An Israeli air and ground offensive has killed roughly 28,000 Palestinians, most of them women and minors, according to local health officials. Roughly 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, and the territory has plunged into a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food and medical services. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 09:27:12', '2024-02-10 09:27:12'),
(11148, 11148, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">On the second day of the second phase of 57th Biswa Ijtema the devotees on Saturday listened to scholars recitation and explanation of verses from the Quran.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Several lakhs of devotees including seven thousand foreign pilgrims from several countries have gathered on the Ijtema ground and continued spiritual activities, including the recitation of Allah’s divine names and sermons.</div><div><br></div><div>The second phase of Bishwa Ijtema began on Friday with aam bayaan (general sermons) after Fajr prayers on by Maulana Ilyas Bin Saad of India. The sermon was translated into Bangla by Maulana Munir Bin Yusuf.</div><div><br></div><div>Maulana Syed Bin Saad of India delivered sermons after Fajr prayer on Saturday and Maulana Mufti Osama Islam translated it into Bangla.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Maulana Abdul Azim, Maulana Sharif and Maulana Osman will deliver sermons the whole day respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Devotees from different parts of the country are still coming to the Ijtema venue on the banks of Turag River by buses, trucks, boats and on foot.</div><div><br></div><div>The second phase of Ijtema will end Sunday with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).</div><div><br></div><div>A mass wedding ceremony will be held today at the ground after Asr prayers.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Maulana Abdul Azim, Maulana Sharif and Maulana Osman will deliver sermons the whole day respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Devotees from different parts of the country are still coming to the Ijtema venue on the banks of Turag River by buses, trucks, boats and on foot.</div><div><br></div><div>The second phase of Ijtema will end Sunday with Akheri Munajat (final prayers).</div><div><br></div><div>A mass wedding ceremony will be held today at the ground after Asr prayers.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, more than 6,000 members of the law enforcement have been deployed to perform duties in the Ijtema area. Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Mahbub Alam said there is a strong security system in place for this phase, as was the case in the first phase.</div><div><br></div><div>By Thursday night, a total of six people died during Ijtema. Media coordinator Mohammad Sayem said they died due to old age illness.</div><div><br></div><div>Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the congregation at the venue since 1967. In 2011, it divided Ijtema into two phases to accommodate a large number of attendees. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 09:42:39', '2024-02-10 09:42:39'),
(11149, 11149, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two siblings died from electrocution at Uribunia village in Nesarabad upazila of Pirojpur district on Saturday (February 10, 2024).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Enam Haque, 20 and Nadim Haque, 24—two sons of Aynal Haque of the village.</div><div><br></div><div>HM Shahin, officer-in-charge of Nesarabad Police Station, said Ripon Mia, a farmer, set an electric rat control trap on his land adjacent to a canal.</div><div><br></div><div>Enam and Nadim went to the canal adjacent to the land to catch fish on Friday night.</div><div><br></div><div>As they were unaware of the trap they got electrocuted when they stepped into into&nbsp; land while fishing.</div><div><br></div><div>Local people found both of them in unconscious condition on Saturday morning and informed police, said local UP member Md Mizan.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to a local hospital morgue for autopsy, according to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 10:14:04', '2024-02-10 10:14:04'),
(11150, 11150, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Residents of Whykong union in Teknaf upazila reported sound of heavy gunfire from Myanmar on Friday night and Saturday morning amid clashes between security forces and rebel group Arakan Army.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Nur Ahmed Anwari, chairman of Whykong union said, “Sound of heavy gunfire was heard across the border last night. From this morning today, the intensity of the gunfight increased.”</div><div><br></div><div>Locals are rushing to safety and fish farmers cannot go to the fish enclosure, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 12 pm on Saturday, a mortar shell landed on the Bangladesh side of the border in Naikhongchhari upazila’s Tumbru border region, said Ghundum UP Chairman Jahangir Aziz.</div><div><br></div><div>“Although the border was calm for the last two days, clashes have started again from today,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A tense situation has been prevailing along the border between Bandarban\'s Naikhongchhari Ghumdhum and Tumbru amid fierce fighting, skirmishes and gunfire between the armed forces of the military junta and insurgent groups inside Myanmar for two weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 300 Myanmar forces and border guards have so far taken shelter in Bangladesh as of Wednesday noon in the wake of conflicts along the border.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, two people--a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man-- were killed when mortar shells from the Myanmar side landed on a kitchen at Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Monday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 12:31:28', '2024-02-10 12:31:28'),
(11151, 11151, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A student of Dhaka University has filed a written complaint alleging sexual harassment and prolonged psychological abuse against Prof Naadir Junaid of the university\'s Mass Communication and Journalism Department.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Prof Naadir has questioned the timing of the complaint as \'odd\'. DU authorities had not shared the complaint with him till Saturday afternoon, according to the professor, who joined DU as a lecturer in the year 2000.</div><div><br></div><div>In the complaint submitted to the Proctor Md. Maksudur Rahman, the student brought a host of allegations, including threatening her in various ways for not accepting his romantic advances, monitoring her through the CCTV camera, continuously calling her at odd hours, and expressing sexual interest.</div><div><br></div><div>“He used to make lewd comments about my physical appearance and express sexual tension. At the same time, he used to persuade me to participate in phone conversations of a sexual nature,” she wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>During this time, the faculty also talked to her about internal administrative matters of the department such as the department\'s committee decisions, examination results, and even the conduct of the teachers, she wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>The student wrote that she tried to ignore his romantic advances but she couldn’t shut off communication completely fearing repercussions as Prof Naadir holds significant power in the department.</div><div><br></div><div>She shared her emotional experience, stating, “Over the past year and a half, I have endured significant mental distress. Unfortunately, I found it challenging to articulate this pain directly to him. The intensity of the emotional strain reached a point where it affected my sleep, causing insomnia during the night. To cope, I sought counseling at the beginning of last year and, regrettably, had to resort to sleeping pills.”</div><div><br></div><div>The student also wrote when she tried to stop all kinds of communication, Prof Naadir publicly rebuked her in the classroom.</div><div><br></div><div>“Then he repeatedly insisted that I was not \'normal\' and suggested that I should seek medical attention. His persistence escalated as he questioned my emotional responses, repeatedly asking why I did not respond to his romantic advances. This escalated into verbal abuse, with him berating me as an \'idiot\' and accusing me of being \'insensitive,” she wrote in the complaint.</div><div><br></div><div>As a student, I endured relentless sexual harassment, feeling powerless due to his position of authority, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing her perspective on the matter, the student shared, “Having observed the detrimental impact of the teacher\'s resentment, I unfortunately became a victim of prolonged sexual harassment lasting over a year and a half. This harassment stemmed from what I can only describe as personal aggression.”</div><div><br></div><div>Despite repeatedly advising students against using social media, the teacher extensively monitors discussions on others\' Facebook accounts, that she believes fosters an atmosphere of fear in the department.</div><div><br></div><div>“During a class to the 16th batch, he conveyed a message of scrutinising their Facebook posts. This has fostered a culture of fear within our department that leads to self-censorship among peers. I felt cornered by a teacher who seems to be establishing an atmosphere of intimidation, and there are concerns about the potential continuation of such behavior in the future,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>It was also alleged that the Prof used to mention the names of other female students and made obscene comments about their physical appearance.</div><div><br></div><div>“I have come to know many times that several other students were approached by him,” she wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>The student urged for resolute measures to be taken post a fair investigation.</div><div><br></div><div>Contacted, Prof Naadir Junaid said, “I have been hearing for the last few days that such allegations might surface, this timing is very odd.”</div><div><br></div><div>When asked about some screenshots and audio recordings, he said, \"I have not been contacted by the university administration yet, so cannot comment further on this issue.”</div><div><br></div><div>DU proctor Professor Maksudur Rahman confirmed that he received the written complaint. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 12:43:58', '2024-02-10 12:43:58'),
(11152, 11152, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Chairperson\'s Advisory Council Member Zainul Abedin Farroque said on Saturday that the Awami League will have to \"pay for ages for holding a \"lopsided\" election of the 12th Parliament on January 7.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a human chain programme, he also urged the ruling party not to underestimate the BNP, as the party could stage a comeback on the streets anytime due to its huge popularity among the people of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“Mr Obaidul Quader, how do you say that BNP will have to pay a lot (for not joining the January 7 polls)? On the contrary, I would like to say you must pay the price. You will have to pay the price for ages because you have formed the government and arranged the election without the participation of the people,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also accused the Awami League government of creating a political crisis in the country by usurping power and snatching the voting rights of people. “You must be responsible for the stain you have put on the history of Bangladesh by destroying democracy. So, you will have to pay for it.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Farroque, also a former opposition chief whip in parliament, said constant firing is going on along the border while people\'s lives and livelihoods are at stake amid the growing hikes in essential commodities, and the economic backbone of the country is being broken as the Awami government has been staying in power without the support of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the time is very near for the Awami League to face the people for the stigma the party has put on the history of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Ziaur Rahman Samaj Kalyan Forum organised the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and other parties\' jailed leaders and workers.</div><div><br></div><div>Farroque alleged that the government foiled BNP’s grand rally in the capital on October 28 and subsequently arrested the senior BNP leaders, including Fakhrul, as part of its \'planned conspiracy\' for holding the one-sided election.</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the government to step down and take steps to hold a fair and credible election under a neutral government. “Otherwise, when the people\'s anger erupts, you will face a situation more dangerous than Sri Lanka.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Farroque said their party will be there on the streets with the people until the restoration of democracy and all the lost rights. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 12:53:28', '2024-02-10 12:53:28'),
(11153, 11153, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Pakistan on Saturday hit back at criticism over the conduct of its parliamentary elections, which were held amid sporadic militant attacks and an unprecedented stoppage of all mobile phone services.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The strongly worded reaction from the Foreign Ministry insisted the vote was peaceful and successful.</div><div><br></div><div>The U.S. State Department said that Thursday\'s vote was held under undue restrictions on freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly. The European Union has also said it regrets the lack of a level playing field due to the inability of some political actors to contest the elections.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry said it was surprised by \"the negative tone of some of these statements, which neither take into account the complexity of the electoral process, nor acknowledge the free and enthusiastic exercise of the right to vote by tens of millions of Pakistanis”.</div><div><br></div><div>It said such statements “ignore the undeniable fact that Pakistan has held general elections, peacefully and successfully, while dealing with serious security threats resulting primarily from foreign sponsored terrorism.\"</div><div><br></div><div>It said there was no nationwide internet shutdown and “only mobile services were suspended for the day to avoid terrorist incidents on polling day.\"</div><div><br></div><div>In Thursday\'s vote, no political party gained a simple majority and independent candidates backed by imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan took a lead in the vote count.</div><div><br></div><div>It forced Khan\'s main rival, three-time premier Nawaz Sharif, to announce plans to try to form a coalition government. Khan was disqualified from running because of criminal convictions.</div><div><br></div><div>Candidates backed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party won 100 out of the 266 seats up for grabs in the National Assembly. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party captured 71 seats.</div><div><br></div><div>Also Saturday, the leader of a political party was wounded and two police officers killed in a clash in the country\'s northwest, reports AP</div><div><br></div><div>The violence broke out in North Waziristan when Mohsin Dawar and his supporters tried to march toward an army facility while protesting delays in announcing the election result, police official Zahid Khan said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 13:25:35', '2024-02-10 13:25:35'),
(11154, 11154, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a dominant display at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, the Rangpur Riders demolished the Chattogram Challengers by 53 runs in a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) encounter on Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>An explosive batting performance, driven by half-centuries from Reeza Hendricks and James Neesham, propelled Rangpur to an imposing total of 211/3, the first 200-plus total by any team, in their 20 overs. It was the debut match for Neesham in the BPL.</div><div><br></div><div>The Challengers\' chase faltered from the outset as Josh Brown fell cheaply to Shakib Al Hasan. Shykat Ali hit a half-century, though a bit slowly, but wickets tumbled around him.</div><div><br></div><div>A late flurry from Shuvagata Hom (31*) provided scant consolation for Chattogram. Shakib (2/24) and the irrepressible James Neesham (2/32) starred with the ball for Rangpur, smothering any chances of a comeback.</div><div><br></div><div>Neesham\'s all-around brilliance was pivotal. His blistering unbeaten 51 included two fours and an astounding five sixes, injecting crucial momentum into the Riders innings. Before him, Reeza Hendricks set a solid foundation with 58, while Shakib chipped in with an important 27.</div><div><br></div><div>Salauddin Sakil proved Chattogram\'s most economical bowler, claiming the wickets of Shakib and Hendricks.</div><div><br></div><div>The Challengers simply never recovered from their early losses, even with Shykat\'s defiant knock. Ultimately, the target proved insurmountable, and the Riders cruised to a comfortable victory.</div><div><br></div><div>This win has cemented Ranpgur’s place at the top of the points table. They have now amassed 12 points from six wins in eight matches. In contrast, Chattogram is still among the top three teams. They have 10 points from five wins in eight matches. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 13:27:32', '2024-02-10 13:27:32'),
(11155, 11155, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said India hosts the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate near Delhi and efforts are underway to set up a BIMSTEC Energy Centre near Bengaluru.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In his keynote address at the 7th Indian Ocean Conference 2024 in Perth, Australia on February 9, he said BIMSTEC is an important regional forum covering the Bay of Bengal.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"For India, it is a convergence of our \"Neighbourhood First” policy, or \"Act East” outlook and the Indian Ocean interests,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian Minister said India is the lead country for the Security pillar of BIMSTEC, which covers counter-terrorism and transnational crime, disaster management and energy security.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have been organizing events and activities in areas ranging from agriculture, disaster management, space and remote sensing to transnational crimes, trade and investment,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"We also offer research and higher education scholarships, while promoting common programmes. Infusing more resources and more energy into this grouping will certainly give it a greater role in the times ahead,\" Jaishankar added.</div><div><br></div><div>The theme of the 7th Conference is ‘Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean’.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our concerns today also extend to grey areas of various kinds. Some may emanate from climate change and natural disasters. Disruptive events are occurring with greater frequency and deeper impact, forcing us all to factor them into our calculus of resilience,\" Jaishankar said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There are also the consequences of distant happenings, such as the fuel, food and fertilizer crises that many of us have experienced. But we should be equally conscious that the ‘normal’ can be manipulated, leading to unsustainable debt, opaque lending practices, unviable projects and injudicious choices,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Similarly, Jaishankar said, there are the complexities of dual purpose agendas that mask visibility and lower their guard.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Indeed, he said, such activities when combined with the advancement of connectivity with strategic intent, has emerged as a growing anxiety for Indian Ocean states.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Well before we come to policy responses, it is necessary to develop awareness and proper understanding,\" Jaishankar said.</div><div><br></div><div>To these gradually emerging developments, there is now also the challenges that are structurally inherent in the current form of globalization, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"Over-concentrations of manufacturing and technology are creating both supply-side risks, as well as the possibility of leveraging,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 15:05:32', '2024-02-10 15:05:32');
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(11156, 11156, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>&nbsp;Gaza’s Hamas rulers warned today that Israel’s planned army operation in overcrowded Rafah could cause “tens of thousands” of casualties in the city that has become the last refuge for displaced Palestinians.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Even before such an operation, Israel pounded Rafah with strikes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to set its sights on the southern city.</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu yesterday told officials to “submit to the cabinet a combined plan for evacuating the population and destroying the battalions” of Hamas in Rafah, only hours after US president Joe Biden issued his strongest criticism of Israel’s response to the Oct 7 attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The plan drew condemnation from the office of Palestine’s president Mahmud Abbas.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Israeli occupation’s move threatens security and peace in the region and the world. This is a blatant violation of all red lines,” it said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Saudi Arabia warned today of a “humanitarian catastrophe” if the plan went ahead. Riyadh’s foreign ministry strongly rejected “forced deportation,” and called for the United Nations Security Council to intervene.</div><div><br></div><div>The war in Gaza was sparked by Palestinian group Hamas’ unprecedented Oct 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.</div><div><br></div><div>Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza that the territory’s health ministry says has killed at least 27,947 people, mostly women and children.</div><div><br></div><div>Fighters seized 250 hostages, 132 of whom are still in Gaza although 29 are presumed dead, Israel has said.</div><div><br></div><div>The US is Israel’s main international backer, providing it with billions of dollars in military aid.</div><div><br></div><div>The US state department has said it does not support a ground offensive in Rafah, warning that, if not properly planned, such an operation risks “disaster”.</div><div><br></div><div>In a sign of growing frustration, Biden issued his strongest criticism of Israel yet on Thursday, describing the retaliation for Hamas’ Oct 7 attack as “over the top”.</div><div><br></div><div>Biden said there are “a lot of innocent people who are starving…in trouble and dying, and it’s got to stop.”</div><div><br></div><div>But Netanyahu’s office said it would be “impossible” to achieve the war’s objective of eliminating Hamas while leaving four of the fighters’ battalions in Rafah.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli leader, whose coalition government includes far-right ministers, faces calls for early elections and mounting protests over his failure to bring home hostages seized in the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Fears are mounting over the fate of more than one million displaced Palestinians who have taken shelter in Rafah, many of them in plastic tents pushed up against the border with Egypt and the sea.</div><div><br></div><div>“If they move into Rafah, as Netanyahu said, there will be genocide. There will be no humanity left,” one of them, Adel al-Hajj, a man from Gaza City in the territory’s north, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses reported new strikes on Rafah thismorning.</div><div><br></div><div>“We don’t know where to go,” said Mohammad al-Jarrah, a Palestinian who was displaced to Rafah from his home further north. “This situation scares me.”</div><div><br></div><div>The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Israeli bombardment killed at least 110 people overnight, including 25 in Rafah.</div><div><br></div><div>At the city’s Al-Najjar hospital, AFPTV images showed a family gathering around the shrouded bodies of relatives.</div><div><br></div><div>The city is the last major population centre in the Gaza Strip that Israeli troops have yet to enter and also the main point of access for desperately needed relief supplies.</div><div><br></div><div>Humanitarian organisations have sounded alarm at the prospect of a ground incursion.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN children’s fund, Unicef, warned this week against a military escalation in Rafah, saying “thousands more could die in the violence or lack of essential services” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>“An escalation of the fighting in Rafah, which is already straining under the extraordinary number of people who have been displaced from other parts of Gaza, will mark another devastating turn” in the four-month conflict, Unicef added.</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu announced the plan for a ground operation in Rafah only days after US secretary of state Antony Blinken visited Israel seeking a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas’ negotiators departed Cairo yesterday after what a source of the group described as “positive and good discussions” with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.</div><div><br></div><div>The delegation “is awaiting Israel’s response,” a Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the issue.</div><div><br></div><div>Citing US and Egyptian officials, the US news outlet Axios said late yesterday that Biden is sending CIA director William Burns to Cairo next week to push for a deal to secure the release of more hostages.</div><div><br></div><div>The impact of the war has been felt widely, with violence involving Iran-backed allies of Hamas surging across the Middle East and drawing in US forces, among others.</div><div><br></div><div>Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said yesterday that it had fired dozens of rockets at an army position in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, hours after launching a salvo at northern Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier today, Israeli ai strikes on an upscale area near the Syrian capital killed three people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. It said the targeted neighbourhood hosted “villas for top military and officials.” - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 15:13:43', '2024-02-10 15:13:43'),
(11157, 11157, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, one of the country\'s leading thinkers on the economy, has said that the banking sector is the heart of a country’s economy.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"When banks have done well, other sectors also perform well,\" he pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>Given the vital functions they perform to keep the economy chugging along, he said people have the right to know the performance of a bank where he or she is depositing their hard-earned money, and so information on the financial performance of a bank should be made publicly available for clients.</div><div><br></div><div>He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the \'cover unveiling\' ceremony of the 5th edition of \'Banking Almanac\', an information-based research book on banks and financial institutions of Bangladesh, was held at Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the Jatiya Press Club, on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Wahiduddin said that the publication of the Banking Almanac book is a good initiative for the financial sector of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“For the last few years, the book has been published regularly by inserting information on the banking and financial sector,” he said, before adding that this momentum needs to be maintained. \"Publications need to be maintained and widely disseminated. If widely disseminated, the book will play a helpful role for all those who are bankers, those who work with banks, researchers, investors, and depositors.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The program was presided over by the former governor of Bangladesh Bank and chairman of the editorial board of Banking Almanac, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the Banking Almanac is the country\'s first such publication initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>“We try to add new and public interest information in every edition. We also have some limitations. Funding required for such publication is not available. Still, we try to maintain the continuity of the publication with the latest information,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are inserting the information that the banks are giving us. At least it is possible to present a comparative picture of the banking and financial sectors of the country. In the future there will be efforts to make it a richer data repository,” said Salehuddin.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional Director of Exim Bank Shah Abdul Bari, former Chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) and Chairman of First Finance and Investment Muhammad Nurul Amin, and the project director of Banking Almanac Abdar Rahman, were also in attendance. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 15:36:15', '2024-02-10 15:36:15'),
(11158, 11158, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined a banned anti-motorway protest today in southern France where police fired tear gas and made arrests a day earlier.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A global figure in the fight against climate change, Thunberg has been fined by one Swedish court for her direct action protests there. But she saw another case against her thrown out by an English court last week.</div><div><br></div><div>Wearing a Palestinian scarf and an anorak, Thunberg joined other protesters under heavy rain at the site in Saix where a new motorway – the A69 linking the southwestern city of Toulouse to the town of Castres – is planned, AFP journalists saw.</div><div><br></div><div>They held up banners saying “Stop A69”. Critics of the project say it is harmful to the environment and does not take into account the current climate crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>The protest organisers had gone ahead with the rally despite authorities banning the gathering because of “risks of serious harm to public order”.</div><div><br></div><div>AFP journalists saw at least two arrests and the use of tear gas by police at the site yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>Activists had set up camp toilets and signposts on private land where they planned to create a so-called “zone to be defended”.</div><div><br></div><div>Police cleared pallets and trolleys used to block a small road running alongside the field, which is close to the route of the planned motorway.</div><div><br></div><div>A police source told AFP they expect up to 200 people to attend the protest, while organisers estimated between 500 and 1,000.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’re going ahead with the event because it’s a private event on private land,” said Paul, a spokesman for the movement who asked not to give his family name.</div><div><br></div><div>He added that the wooded area is the subject of a dispute over its expropriation for the motorway. Local authorities say the land is illegally occupied.</div><div><br></div><div>Environmentalists have protested several times in recent months along the planned route of the A69. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 15:39:00', '2024-02-10 15:39:00'),
(11159, 11159, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Saudi Arabia has warned of “extremely dangerous repercussions” of an Israeli offensive in southern city of Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge from the Israel-Hamas war.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Kingdom’s foreign ministry in a statement Saturday said that “Rafah represents the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of civilians who the brutal Israeli aggression have forced to flee.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Kingdom said “it stresses it is complete refusal and strong condemnation of the forcible displacement [of Palestinians] and renews calls for an immediate ceasefire.</div><div><br></div><div>“The deliberate violations to international and humanitarian laws stresses the need for the United Nations Security Council to meet soon to prevent Israel from causing an imminent humanitarian disaster.”</div><div><br></div><div>The UN says about half of Gaza’s 2.4 million people are now sheltering in the city, with many sleeping outside in tents and makeshift shelters, and mounting concern about lack of food, water and sanitation.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said a major Israeli offensive in Rafah “can only lead to an additional layer of endless tragedy.”</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu has ordered military officials to draw up plans for “evacuating” Rafah alongside “destroying” Hamas fighters in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses reported new strikes on Rafah early Saturday, raising fears among Palestinians of a looming ground invasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas said in a statement that any military action would have catastrophic repercussion that “may lead to tens of thousands of martyrs and injured if Rafah... is invaded.”&nbsp; - Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 15:55:13', '2024-02-10 15:55:13'),
(11160, 11160, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An Amnesty International report says Myanmar junta’s January airstrike on Kanan village near the Indian border in Tamu Township, Sagaing Region, should be investigated as a war crime.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The rights group has called on the United Nations Security Council to refer the incident to the International Criminal Court.</div><div><br></div><div>The January 7 airstrike on St Peter’s Baptist Church killed 17 civilians, including nine children, injured more than 20 people and damaged the church, school and six houses.</div><div><br></div><div>The largely Christian village of Kanan has around 7,000 mostly ethnically Chin residents and is north of the town of Khampat in Tamu Township.</div><div><br></div><div>Khampat has been under the control of the civilian National Unity Government since November.</div><div><br></div><div>The junta has denied responsibility for the attack, claiming no planes were flying in the area that morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Amnesty said a video clearly shows a Chinese-made A-5 fighter jet above the village.</div><div><br></div><div>The rights group said the Tada-U air base near Mandalay is often used to launch airstrikes on Sagaing Region and satellite imagery shows A-5s at the airfield.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources told Amnesty that a People’s Defense Force was thought to be holding a ceremony in the village school that day.</div><div><br></div><div>No resistance fighters had been reported in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>Amnesty said the aircraft dropped several large bombs on a residential area when civilians were gathering for church and struck again at residents as they scattered.</div><div><br></div><div>These attacks were indiscriminate and should be investigated as a war crime, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, by December the junta had conducted 1,652 airstrikes, killing around 936 civilians and injuring 878 people.</div><div><br></div><div>The airstrikes destroyed 1,137 religious buildings, 76 schools and 28 hospitals, the research group said.</div><div><br></div><div>Amnesty is calling for a ban on jet fuel supplies to the regime as the military is still importing fuel, despite international sanctions.</div><div><br></div><div>Matt Wells of Amnesty’s Crisis Response Programme said: “These attacks must be investigated as war crimes and the UN Security Council should refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. The perpetrators of these crimes under international law must be brought to justice.” - The Irrawaddy</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-10 16:13:51', '2024-02-10 16:13:51'),
(11161, 11161, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday (February 11, 2024) announced the complete results of the country\'s General Election 2024 held on Feb. 8.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to the election results announced for the National Assembly, or the lower house of the country\'s parliament, independent candidates got 101 seats, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif got 75 seats and the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians of former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari got 54 seats. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 09:28:07', '2024-02-11 09:28:07'),
(11162, 11162, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday underlined the need for expanding the markets for the country\'s export products.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“In order to boost exports the markets for our products should be expanded along with their diversification ,” Hasina said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister made the remarks when a delegation of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) called on her at the Prime Minister\'s Office.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the business people to pay special attention on the quality of the products.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister\'s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon told reporters that the BGMEA delegation briefed the prime minister about business, trade, exports and recent market conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM gave patience hearing when the delegation members referred to some problems arising from various factors including the global situation and assured to solve those.</div><div><br></div><div>The delegation included BGMEA President Faruque Hassan, former BGMEA President and former Commerce Minister Tipu Munsi, former Presidents Abdus Salam Murshedy, Md Shafiul Islam and Md Siddiqur Rahman. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 10:24:23', '2024-02-11 10:24:23'),
(11163, 11163, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Hundreds of thousands of people chanted “Death to Israel” in rallies across Iran to mark the Islamic Revolution’s 45th anniversary today, with some burning US and Israeli flags amid the ongoing war between Israel and Tehran-backed Hamas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>President Ebrahim Raisi, in a televised speech, accused Tehran’s arch-foe the US and some western countries of backing “the Zionist regime’s (Israel) crimes against humanity in Gaza”.</div><div><br></div><div>State TV said millions had turned out at rallies and it showed large crowds chanting “Death to Israel, Death to America!”, a common practice during state-organised rallies on the anniversary of the 1979 revolution that toppled the US-backed monarch.</div><div><br></div><div>State media published a picture of some marchers hanging an effigy of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu by a noose.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel’s four-month-old war on Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza has rippled across the Middle East, with groups backed by Iran mounting attacks on Israeli and US targets.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this month, US forces carried out strikes against Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in retaliation for a deadly attack on US troops at a remote outpost in Jordan.</div><div><br></div><div>Backing the Palestinian cause has been a pillar of the Islamic Republic since the revolution that overthrew the US-backed shah, and a way for the Shi’ite-dominated country to fashion itself as a leader of the Muslim world.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas is part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance”, a regional alliance that includes Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, Shi’ite militia groups in Iraq and the Houthis who control a large part of Yemen.</div><div><br></div><div>Iran, which says all members of the alliance make their own decisions independently, has repeatedly declared that Tehran will not directly intervene in Gaza-related hostilities unless it is itself attacked by Israel or the US.</div><div><br></div><div>The revolution anniversary marchers today included soldiers, students, clerics and senior political and military officials.</div><div><br></div><div>Black-clad women with small children were among those flocking streets across the country, many carrying portraits of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 12:12:07', '2024-02-11 12:12:07'),
(11164, 11164, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Muslims in Bangladesh will observe the holy Shab-e-Barat on the night of February 25 as the Shaban moon has been sighted.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>As the moon was sighted on Sunday, the month of Shaban will begin from February 12.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram office in the evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional Secretary of Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Awal Hawladar presided over the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement was made after analysing data collected from the district admistrations, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and Space Research and Remote Sensing Institute.</div><div><br></div><div>Shab-e-Barat is observed on the 15th night of the Arabic month of Shaban. Muslims offer special prayers, recite the Holy Quran, and take part in other religious rituals. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 15:50:38', '2024-02-11 15:50:38'),
(11165, 11165, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP on Sunday presented a list of its 15 leaders and activists who the party said died in prison before and after last October 28.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi provided journalists with the list at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi claimed 15 BNP leaders and workers perished in prison either without receiving adequate medical care or medication or as a result of torture and persecution during police remand.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said that the prison authorities gave similar typed interpretations after all the deaths that they died on the way to hospitals. “The fact is that they died in prisons, not in hospitals.”</div><div><br></div><div>Those who died in custody as per the party list include Khulna Jubo Dal leader Kamal Hossain Mizan, Satkhira BNP leaders Abdus Sattar, and Mohsin-ul Mulk, Rangpur BNP leader Manowarul Islam, Dhaka south city unit BNP leaders Idris Al, Abul Bashar, and&nbsp; Imtiaz Ahmed, Gazipur BNP leaders&nbsp; Asaduzzaman Khan Hira, and Mohammad Shafiuddin Master, Pabna BNP leader&nbsp; Abul Kalam Azad, Chattogram city unit BNP leader Golamur Rahman Golap, Natore Jubo Dal leader Abul Kalam Azad, Rajshahi Jubo Dal leader&nbsp; Monirul Islam, Naogaon BNP leader&nbsp; Motibul Mandal and Dhaka city unit Sramik Dal leader Fazlur Rahman Kajal.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi criticised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comments that those who want to raise questions about the fairness of the 12th general election must clearly show evidence in favour of their assertions.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who commit crimes think of themselves as innocent. You (PM) yourself are the biggest proof of election fraud. Because the secretary of the Election Commission appointed by you himself said that the list of those who would win was given to the DCs.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said even the defeated candidates belonging to the ruling party presented information about vote fraud before the nation by holding press conferences.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the local and international media also depicted various election irregularities and empty polling stations amid the boycott by the country’s people.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the country’s people and the international community also know how the government launched an extreme crackdown on the BNP leaders and workers and sent hundreds of opposition leaders and followers to jail for holding a lopsided dummy election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said even Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud admitted that India kept Awami League in power by extending its support to the party, before addressing Sheikh Hasina: “Prime Minister, you cannot win people\'s hearts with lies.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 15:53:09', '2024-02-11 15:53:09'),
(11166, 11166, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the authorities concerned to take positive steps about the geographical indication (GI) certificates for the country’s products.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>She made the directive while chairing the Cabinet meeting held at her office here in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>The issue of GI products came up for discussion in the meeting, said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain at a press briefing in the Bangladesh Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Prime Minister asked all to be active and take initiatives about (the GI certification) our products,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Industry Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handed over the GI certificates for Tangail saree, Narsingdi\'s Amrita Sagar Banana and Gopalganj\'s Rosogolla to the Prime Minister at the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>In the meeting, the prime minister also unveiled the cover of a poetry book “Pitaroe Proticchobi” (Reflection of Father), composed by Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman.</div><div><br></div><div>The issue of GI certification has now come to the fore after the Indian government granted GI recognition to Tangail Saree, claiming that the products originated from West Bengal. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 15:56:26', '2024-02-11 15:56:26'),
(11167, 11167, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Bangladesh Bank (BB) has issued a notification regarding the formation of a bank\'s board of directors, as well as prescribing the responsibilities of the directors as per the ‘Bank Company Act’.</b></div><div><br></div><div>The Banking Regulations and Policy Department (BRPD) of Bangladesh Bank on Sunday issued the notification to ensure dynamism and good governance in the banking sector.</div><div><br></div><div>The notification was sent to the managing directors and chief executive officers of all scheduled banks for immediate execution.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the notification, the number of directors of a bank will be a maximum of 20, and independent directors will be three.</div><div><br></div><div>However, if there are less than 20 directors, there cannot be more than two independent directors. At the same time not more than three members from a single family can be directors, the notification stated.</div><div><br></div><div>To be a member of the board of directors, the minimum age of the concerned person must be 30 years. And should have 10 years of management business or professional experience.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the central bank, this policy has been formulated to ensure good governance in the banks. At the same time, the board of directors of the bank must be formed by suitable and professionally competent persons to carry out the business activities properly and smoothly.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“The bank\'s activities are mainly conducted with the money of the depositors. In this case, it is essential to protect the interest of the depositors. For this reason, the responsibility of the board of directors of a bank company is more important than that of other companies,” the BB notification stated.</div><div><br></div><div>Amendments were brought in the Bank-Company Act in 2023 to ensure good governance in the banking sector. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-11 16:05:17', '2024-02-11 16:05:17'),
(11168, 11168, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (February 12, 2024) asked the members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party (VDP) to stand with courage and sincerity to resist any ill attempt to ensure public security.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“As the largest force in the country, you have to rightly perform the duty bestowed upon you. You will have to resist any evil move to protect the public safety. You should do it with honesty, courage and sincerity,” she said.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister made this call while addressing the 44th national rally-2024 of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP at Bangladesh Ansar-VDP Academy in Shafipur, Gazipur.</div><div><br></div><div>She said it is a sacred duty of her government to ensure security to the people and investment, and uphold peace.</div><div><br></div><div>“To maintain political stability, proper economic environment and continuation of democratic governance are prerequisites for the overall development of the country,” she said, asking all to uphold such an environment in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on the country’s development attained during her government,&nbsp; Hasina said Bangladesh now has capacity to tackle any situation.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM requested all to work hard with honesty to continue the country’s development journey.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She recalled the contribution of the country’s largest force Ansar-VDP, having 61 lakh members and 42 battalions including two women battalions and a specialised battalion, to ensuring security to public and private structures and organisations.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said if Ansar is asked to perform duty for any national cause, they do it properly.</div><div><br></div><div>“Even now our Ansar members have been discharging their duties with very competence in various important places starting from different foreign embassies stationed in Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She appreciated the role of Ansar members to protect the country’s assets, including that of Bangladesh Railways from arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat group in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting her government’s steps to modernise the Ansar and VDP,&nbsp; Hasina said now the force is now earning fame at home and abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve been working to develop the Ansar and VDP,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM reiterated her government’s conviction to protect the country from terrorism, militancy and drugs. “Our drive against corruption will always continue,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She hoped the Ansar and VDP will continue their duty in containing the social diseases in future as well.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning her government’s vision 2041 to build a Smart Bangladesh, PM Hasina said Ansar and VDP will also be developed as a smart force and will continue working for the development of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the government will make every village a smart and safe locality in Smart Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>On her arrival at the rally venue, the prime minister was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister inspected a parade of Ansar and VDP from an open jeep and received salute. She handed over eight types of special medals to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their bravery and praiseworthy services.</div><div><br></div><div>The medals are Bangladesh Ansar Medal, President Ansar Medal, Bangladesh VDP Medal, President VDP Medal, Bangladesh Ansar Services Medal, President Ansar Services Medal, Bangladesh VDP Services Medal and President VDP Services Medal.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM later witnessed a colourful cultural programme performed by Ansar and VDP members. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 08:31:48', '2024-02-12 08:31:48'),
(11169, 11169, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Allies of imprisoned Pakistani ex-premier Imran Khan won more seats in national elections than the political parties who ousted him from power nearly two years ago, according to a final tally of results published Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The vote last Thursday to choose a new parliament was overshadowed by allegations of vote-rigging, an unprecedented mobile phone shutdown, and the exclusion of Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, from the vote.</div><div><br></div><div>People from the PTI ran as independent candidates because of moves by the Election Commission and Supreme Court to cripple their party’s participation. One step included stripping the party of its electoral symbol, which helps illiterate voters find candidates on the ballot. Another was banning party rallies.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan, who was kicked out of office through a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022, has been in prison since last August. He was barred from contesting the vote because of his criminal convictions and contends his sentences and the slew of legal cases against him are politically motivated.</div><div><br></div><div>The final tally showed that independent candidates secured 101 out of 266 seats in the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pakistan Muslim League-N party, or PML-N, led by three-time premier and ex-felon Nawaz Sharif, secured the second biggest number of seats at 75.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pakistan People’s Party, or PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, came in third with 54 seats. One result has been withheld and another vote was postponed because of a candidate’s death. The campaign to kick Khan out of office in 2022 was led by the PML-N and the PPP.</div><div><br></div><div>No party has won a majority to form a government, so Pakistan will have a coalition. The new parliament chooses the country\'s next prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The election result is an embarrassment for Sharif, who was marked out as the powerful security establishment\'s preferred candidate because of his smooth return to the country last October. Pakistan’s military has always cast itself as the ultimate arbiter in who becomes prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Sharif spent four years in self-exile abroad to avoid serving prison sentences but his convictions were overturned within weeks of his arrival in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Even on polling day, Sharif insisted he didn\'t want a coalition and demanded a full five-year term for one party. By Friday evening, seeing his party trail behind the independent candidates backed by Khan, he spoke of alliances and joining hands.</div><div><br></div><div>Sharif has never completed a term in office. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 09:14:10', '2024-02-12 09:14:10'),
(11170, 11170, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Monday hoped that better connectivity and new measures like trade in Indian Rupee will further enhance Bangladeshi exports to India.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He joined Bangladesh’s State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury at the inauguration of the Sultanganj, Godagari Port of Call, flagging off a cargo vessel from Sultanganj (Bangladesh) to Maia (India) to operationalize the important river connectivity route between India and Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The High Commissioner highlighted the new river route as part of the growing economic and connectivity links between India and Bangladesh and a visible symbol of the recent transformation of their relationship.</div><div><br></div><div>He stressed the importance of multimodal connectivity in unlocking the true potential of bilateral cooperation and described the re-opening of the Maia-Sultanganj river route as a step.</div><div><br></div><div>This will not only benefit the local economies on the two sides of the border, but will also contribute to national economies and strengthen sub-regional cooperation and integration, said the envoy.</div><div><br></div><div>The High Commissioner noted that India was today Bangladesh’s largest export destination in Asia.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about other forward looking initiatives, the High Commissioner noted the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Bangladesh, for which negotiations are going to start soon.</div><div><br></div><div>The inauguration of the Sultanganj, Godagari Port of Call and the flagging-off of a cargo vessel from Sultanganj (Bangladesh) to Maia (India) marks the first of the five trial movements of cargo vessels between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj, Godagari Port of Call in Bangladesh on Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Route 5&amp;6.</div><div><br></div><div>There is significant potential for cargo movement through this IBP Route, which is expected to give new impetus to Inland Waterways ecosystem in both countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation A.H.M. Khairuzzaman (Litton), Members of Parliament from Rajshahi-1 Omor Faruk Chowdhury and Chapainawabganj-3 Md. Abdul Wadud, and Senior Secretary of Shipping Md. Mustafa Kamal attended the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials from BIWTA, and Ministry of Shipping of Government of Bangladesh were also present. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 09:22:14', '2024-02-12 09:22:14'),
(11171, 11171, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thousands of supporters of Pakistan\'s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and members of other political parties blocked key highways and started a daylong strike in the volatile southwest Monday to protest alleged rigging of last week\'s elections.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thursday\'s vote to choose a new parliament was overshadowed by the vote-rigging allegations, an unprecedented mobile phone shutdown, and the exclusion of Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, from the vote.</div><div><br></div><div>While election winners were celebrating victory, PTI and other parties refused to accept their defeat in dozens of constituencies. Dozens of Khan’s supporters were briefly detained in the eastern city of Lahore over the weekend while protesting alleged vote-rigging.</div><div><br></div><div>Jan Achakzai, a government spokesman in the southwest province of Baluchistan, urged protesters to “show grace” by accepting defeat and moving away from the highways.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan could not run in the election because of the criminal convictions against him that he says are politically motivated.</div><div><br></div><div>Still, candidates backed by Khan won more seats than the political parties who ousted him from power nearly two years ago, according to the final tally published Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>No party won a majority, however, so the parties will have to hold talks on forming a coalition government. The new parliament chooses the country’s next prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Candidates aligned with Khan secured 101 out of 266 seats in the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pakistan Muslim League-N party led by three-time premier and ex-felon Nawaz Sharif secured 75. Sharif is currently in talks with allies to form a coalition government.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pakistan People’s Party, or PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, came in third with 54 seats. One result has been withheld and another vote was postponed because of a candidate’s death. The campaign to kick Khan out of office in 2022 was led by the PML-N and the PPP. </div><div><br></div><div>Pakistan’s military has always cast itself as the ultimate arbiter of who becomes prime minister, and Sharif was marked out as the powerful security establishment’s preferred candidate because of his smooth return to the country last October.</div><div><br></div><div>Sharif spent four years in exile to avoid serving prison sentences but his convictions were overturned within weeks of his arrival in Pakistan. - AP </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 10:04:45', '2024-02-12 10:05:14'),
(11172, 11172, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said members of Myanmar\'s Border Guard Police (BGP) and army who had fled to Bangladesh will be sent back to Myanmar soon.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"I don\'t want to share any specific date. That\'s confidential as security issues are involved. Both sides reached a consensus that they will be sent back soon,\" he told reporters wishing not to say anything on technical issues.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said they are working on their return to Myanmar. \"That\'s our priority. They (Myanmar) want to take them back.\"</div><div><br></div><div>It was not just the members of Myanmar\'s Border Guard Police (BGP) and army who had fled to Bangladesh, there were some of their family members, too.</div><div><br></div><div>Over a hundred people have also entered India and Myanmar took them back.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, the Foreign Minister said they kept the media informed from time to time about their arrival. \"There is no scope for any hide and seek.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Ambassador of Myanmar in Dhaka was summoned and a strong protest was lodged.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We never to want to see our security being compromised due to Myanmar\'s internal conflict,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh is hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas and for their growing presence Bangladesh is facing multiple problems on security, climate and illegal drugs fronts.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe, Myanmar is being shifted to Yangon on a temporary basis due to the current security situation there.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding his just completed first bilateral visit to India, Dr Hasan said he is impressed to see the level of respect shown by the Indian side to Bangladesh during the visit.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question on BNP, Dr Hasan said it takes time to restart an old car. \"BNP is like an old car. It stops after moving slightly.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He hoped that BNP wil behave in a democratic way and will follow the path of democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>\"No arson attacks by BNP will be allowed,\" the AL leader warned.</div><div><br></div><div>In fact, he said, the leaders and activists of BNP have become very disappointed after the last national election and their leadership is questioned.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh and India on Wednesday discussed areas of future engagement in line with the national development goals of the two countries, including the visions of \"Smart Bangladesh 2041\" and \"Viksit Bharat 2047\"</div><div><br></div><div>At the invitation of the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S.Jaishankar, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud paid an official visit to India from February 7-9, 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our discussions will strengthen (the) Bangladesh-India Maitri (friendship),\" Jaishankar said in a brief message shared from X, formerly known as Twitter.</div><div><br></div><div>This was Foreign Minister Mahmud\'s first official visit to India and his first bilateral visit to any country, after assuming office as the new Foreign Minister of Bangladesh in January 2024. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 10:39:23', '2024-02-12 10:39:23'),
(11173, 11173, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government is caught up in a dilemma in choosing the right option to reduce the gap between the cost of power production and revenues generated from sales.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Top policymakers are divided over whether the government should go for increasing the power tariff further or issuing more bonds through the banking system,” said a top official at the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).</div><div><br></div><div>He said if the government wants to raise the power tariff, either it has to do it before Ramadan or after Ramadan - these are the questions almost every day that are being discussed at the policy level.</div><div><br></div><div>They are also analysing the impacts of floating more bonds to reduce the burden of soaring losses on the part of BPDB, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official sources, currently, the production of each unit of electricity costs about Tk 12 while it sells at a rate of about Tk 6.7.</div><div><br></div><div>It means the government has to bear the brunt of Tk 5.3 per unit, a top BPDB official told UNB.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BPDB’s Annual Report 2022-23 shows, the BPDB, as a single buyer, generated 87,024 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2022-23 fiscal at a total cost of TK 98,646.42 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Its per unit production cost was at Tk 11.33 while it was selling electricity at Tk 6.7 per unit incurring a loss of about Tk 4.63 per unit.</div><div><br></div><div>The bulk tariff was last raised by 8.06 percent to Tk 6.70 from Tk 6.20 per unit on January 31 with effect from February 2023.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Against this, its revenues were Tk 50,858.25 crore, incurring a loss of Tk 47,788.17 crore, showed the BPDB Annual Report.</div><div><br></div><div>With this huge loss, the government has been in great trouble as it has to purchase electricity worth Tk 82,778.25 from private sector power producers while it generates electricity worth Tk 13,306.62 crore from its own generation plants.</div><div><br></div><div>The annual report also shows that the BPDB’s average per unit production cost from its own plants is Tk 7.63, while it is Tk 14.62 at the independent power producers or IPPs (private sector), at rental plants Tk 12.53, at public plants Tk 6.85 and imported power from India at Tk 8.77.</div><div><br></div><div>The government purchases electricity from the private sector and India in dollars.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official sources, the government\'s cumulative outstanding bills have now jumped to about $5 billion, of which the backlog amount in the power sector is about $4 billion (about Tk 43,093 crore), and the remaining $1 billion is in the energy sector.</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid also admitted the severity of the crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>“Actually the crisis is not of local currency. Somehow we can manage it. But the main crisis is the dollar. We’re not getting dollars from Bangladesh Bank as per our needs,” he recently told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He noted that the power and energy sectors need at least $1 billion a month to meet payment obligations.</div><div><br></div><div>In such a situation, the government recently introduced a number of bonds through Bangladesh Bank to facilitate the BPDB to clear some dues, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Initially, we have floated bonds worth Tk 5000 crore and it may go up to Tk 12,000 crore,” said a BPDB official on condition of anonymity, adding that it will not be enough to cover the losses, although the government is providing subsidies on a regular basis.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“That’s why the government will have to go for raising power tariff further or introducing more bonds,” he said adding, if more bonds are floated, it may squeeze the private sector’s credit from the banking sector.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>But a final decision on what they would do still remains pending.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 10:55:58', '2024-02-12 10:55:58');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11174, 11174, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Tasrif Khan and his band ‘Kureghor’ will perform in a concert to be held at Jagannath University (JnU) on February 28 to collect fund for the treatment of a cancer-affected student.</b></div><div><br></div><div>The student is Zaheer Uddin Shakhawat, of the Marketing Department of the university of 2016-17 academic year , has been suffering from blood cancer (non-Hodgkin lymphoma).</div><div><br></div><div>The concert will be held at 3 pm on the day in the science faculty premises of the university.</div><div><br></div><div>Along with ‘Kureghor’, popular bands including Metrolife, ODD Signature, Pratibimbo, and Chandergari will participate in the concert.</div><div><br></div><div>On behalf of the organisers, Al Shahriar Shawon, a student of the academic year 2020-2021, said, \"We have taken this initiative to collect money for Zahir bhai\'s treatment.&nbsp; He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the capital.&nbsp; Now around Tk 20 lakh is required for his treatment. We have taken the initiative to think about this..”</div><div><br></div><div>The ticket price for the students of Jagannath University has been fixed at Tk 100 while for outsiders Tk 150. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 11:13:00', '2024-02-12 11:13:00'),
(11175, 11175, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Former Bangladesh captain Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu has been appointed the new chief selector of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), replacing Minhajul Abedin Nannu.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sports Minister and BCB President Nazmul Hasan made the announcement after the first BCB board meeting of the year on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>“We discussed the appointment of the chief selector at length,” Nazmul said. “Ultimately, we agreed on Gazi Ashraf. We considered several candidates, but Gazi Ashraf was our unanimous choice,” said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Former Bangladesh opener Hanan Sarkar has joined the selection panel as a selector, bringing his experience in age-level cricket selection. Hannan boasts a distinguished career with 17 Tests, 20 ODIs, and over 4000 runs in first-class cricket.</div><div><br></div><div>The panel was completed by former Bangladeshi spinner Abdur Razzak, who was also a member of the last panel.</div><div><br></div><div>Gazi Ashraf\'s appointment is somewhat surprising, as he has not been prominently discussed for the position in recent times. A former batter, Gazi Ashraf captained the Bangladesh team in its first seven ODIs between 1986 and 1990 and is highly respected within the country\'s cricketing circles.</div><div><br></div><div>Minhajul Abedin, who became chief selector in June 2016, and Habibul Bashar have been removed from the selection panel. However, Nazmul confirmed they would be offered other positions within the BCB, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“The board appreciates the contributions of Minhajul and his panel,” Nazmul said. “They have served with distinction, and we want to retain their expertise. We will appoint them to suitable positions in due course.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 13:52:09', '2024-02-12 13:52:09'),
(11176, 11176, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka University administration on Monday sent&nbsp; Prof. Naadir Junaid of the Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) department to three months of forced leave in light of allegations of a sexual harassment complaint filed by a female student.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The department\'s chairperson Abul Mansur Ahmed read out the university\'s official decision to the students in the department’s corridor around 4:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the interest of maintaining the smooth operation of the university\'s educational activities, you are required to take a leave for three months starting from February 12, abstaining from all academic and administrative responsibilities,” he announced in the letter in front of the students.</div><div><br></div><div>“Furthermore, the matter will be presented in the next syndicate meeting for a thorough investigation into the allegations raised against you. Any necessary actions will be taken in accordance with the decisions made by the syndicate,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The students of the department started gathering in the department’s corridor from 10 am this morning for the second day to press home their three points of demand following yesterday\'s decision to boycott all academic activities indefinitely.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Around 2:15 pm, they carried out a protest rally that marched to the Vice Chancellor’s office where they went to submit their memorandum.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As the VC was not present in the office then, they marched to the VC\'s residence. There, the department\'s chairperson Abul Mansur Ahmed requested them to wait till 4 pm as he said the VC was in a meeting with foreign delegates.</div><div><br></div><div>Abul Mansur Ahmed said, “Wait till 4 pm, VC sir confirmed he will give a written final decision about your demands.”</div><div><br></div><div>Before heading to meet the VC, as part of their protest, the students locked and sealed the professor\'s office and the department\'s classrooms.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, a student of Dhaka University filed a written complaint alleging sexual harassment and prolonged psychological abuse against Prof Naadir Junaid of the university\'s Mass Communication and Journalism Department on Saturday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>In the complaint submitted to the Proctor, Md. Maksudur Rahman, the student brought a host of allegations, including threatening her in various ways for not accepting his romantic advances, monitoring her through the CCTV camera, continuously calling her at odd hours, and expressing sexual interest.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the complaint, students from all batches collectively announced an indefinite class boycott and protest program on Saturday night. Additionally, the students declared Prof. Naadir persona non-grata on campus.</div><div><br></div><div>In a memorandum submitted to the department’s chairperson, Prof Abul Mansur Ahmed on Sunday morning, students raised three key points: urgent formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the sexual harassment allegations against Prof. Naadir Junaid; swift and decisive punishment for sexual predators; and the suspension of the teacher from all academic activities during the investigation period. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 13:54:51', '2024-02-12 13:54:51'),
(11177, 11177, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll from a landslide in the southern Philippines has climbed to 68 as officials said today the window of finding more survivors is closing.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Rescuers were looking for 51 more people in the wake of the Feb 6 landslide, which struck outside a gold mine in Maco town in Davao de Oro province and buried homes and vehicles that were supposed to ferry employees of the mining company.</div><div><br></div><div>Disaster authorities plan to shift their focus from search and rescue to search and retrieval beginning tomorrow, Maco town disaster officer Ariel Capoy said.</div><div><br></div><div>Torrential rains have battered Davao de Oro in recent weeks, triggering floods and landslides, forcing many families to flee their homes.</div><div><br></div><div>The US, through the US Agency for International Development, was providing US$1.25 million in humanitarian aid to the affected communities in the southern islands, its embassy in Manila said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The US defence department also provided two C-130 cargo planes to help deliver food packs in the affected communities. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 14:12:12', '2024-02-12 14:12:12'),
(11178, 11178, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The UK announced today sanctions on four “extremist Israeli settlers” accused of committing human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, following a similar move by the US earlier this month.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The curbs follow what the UK called “unprecedented levels of violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank” over the past year by some residents of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts there.</div><div><br></div><div>The sanctions represent a rare move by London and Washington against Israelis, as war rages with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>The transatlantic allies’ steadfast support for Israel’s military action in the territory has drawn heavy criticism both internationally and among sections of their domestic populations.</div><div><br></div><div>Announcing the new curbs – which comprise UK asset freezes alongside travel and visa bans – British foreign secretary David Cameron said “Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence”.</div><div><br></div><div>He added, “Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through.”</div><div><br></div><div>Cameron said “extremist Israeli settlers” are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and “forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs,” branding the behaviour “illegal and unacceptable”.</div><div><br></div><div>“Extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Two of the individuals sanctioned – Moshe Sharvit and Yinon Levy – have in recent months used physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property, Cameron’s foreign ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Their actions are “part of a targeted and calculated effort to displace Palestinian communities,” it added.</div><div><br></div><div>London also targeted Zvi Bar Yosef, who it said had set up an illegal outpost in the West Bank in 2018 which has been described by local Palestinian residents as a “source of systematic intimidation and violence”.</div><div><br></div><div>A fourth person London sanctioned, Ely Federman, had been involved in multiple incidents against Palestinian shepherds in the South Hebron Hills, according to the foreign ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Levi was the only one of the quartet to also be targeted by the US, when it unveiled sanctions against four Israeli settlers on Feb 1. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 14:23:15', '2024-02-12 14:23:15'),
(11179, 11179, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A communications network blackout in Sudan, blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has hobbled aid delivery and left the war-weary population of almost 50 million unable to make payments or contact the outside world.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The RSF has been fighting Sudan’s army for control of the country since April in a war that has killed thousands, displaced almost eight million, and sparked warnings of famine.</div><div><br></div><div>Four industry sources told Reuters that the RSF began shutting down the networks on Feb 5, completing the blackout two days later.</div><div><br></div><div>After 10 months of conflict, the RSF controls most of the capital Khartoum, and some of Sudan’s infrastructure that is based there, including the headquarters of the telecoms providers.</div><div><br></div><div>The RSF did not respond to requests for comment. An RSF source said on Feb 5 the paramilitary had nothing to do with the outages.</div><div><br></div><div>The sources said that RSF soldiers had threatened the blackout unless engineers restored service to the western Darfur region, which the RSF controls and which has experienced a blackout for months.</div><div><br></div><div>A telecom industry official blamed the situation there on a lack of fuel and dangerous working conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>Starlink devices</div><div><br></div><div>Devices hooked up on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system have proliferated, despite a government order against them, but most are in the dark in a country where smartphone use for most aspects of life was ubiquitous and many had access to WiFi or data networks.</div><div><br></div><div>Commerce in Sudan has become largely reliant on e-wallets as income has dried up, belongings are stolen, and banks are stretched.</div><div><br></div><div>On social media, some have posted pleas for help reaching family members to inform them of deaths.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am very worried for my family,” said 48-year-old doctor Mohamed al-Nour, living abroad. “I can’t contact them and they depend on my money transfers.”</div><div><br></div><div>The outage has severely restricted the work of volunteer emergency response rooms, which provide crucial food and medical assistance.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve lost our bearings completely,” said one volunteer from Khartoum now outside the country. “No trader will give us food for free. People will start to starve. And the same goes for medical supplies.”</div><div><br></div><div>Abdelgaffer Omer, another volunteer, from Bahri, said the kitchens there had been about to restock. “What they had wouldn’t last more than a week or 10 days and it’s already been a week.”</div><div><br></div><div>Aid agencies face similar difficulties paying suppliers and ensuring the safety of staff, says Mathilde Vu of Norwegian Refugee Council, slowing an already stretched response to multiple disease outbreaks and waves of displacement.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are not able to support our teams right now. If you send any of your colleagues to a distribution site and there is any issue we wouldn’t be able to support them. That is very stressful,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>A government source said the national telecom authority was working with companies to restore services as soon as possible, denying negotiations with the RSF.</div><div><br></div><div>The three companies did not respond to requests for comment, though Kuwaiti-owned Zain and South African-owned MTN have previously said the outages were out of their control.</div><div><br></div><div>Fighting continued in the capital and west of the country, with the head of the RSF claiming gains in a speech yesterday. The United Nations also said fighting had flared on the edges of the densely populated city of Al-Fasher. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 14:26:04', '2024-02-12 14:26:04'),
(11180, 11180, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A hawker sustained bullet injuries while four others including three policemen were injured in a clash between police and hawkers in New Market area of Chattogram port city over evicting hawkers on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Obaidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said a team of police went to the New Market area to evict hawkers as per the directives of the city corporation authorities around 4 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said when the police and executive magistrates were evicting some hawkers, a group of hawkers gathered there.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, they brought out a procession and obstructed police in the eviction drive.</div><div><br></div><div>A chase and counter chase took place among them, triggering a clash that turned the New Market area into a battlefield.</div><div><br></div><div>The hawkers hurled brick chips targeting police, prompting them to take action.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional forces of police also joined them and fired rubber bullets to disperse the hawkers.</div><div><br></div><div>A hawker sustained bullet injuries during the firing and he was taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, three policemen and a hawker were injured in the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Vehicular movement and shops on Reazuddin Bazar, GPO and Kotwali area remained at standstill during the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, police evicted hawkers from the Station Road in New Market area due to traffic congestion on February 8. The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) were monitoring the area every day to check the position of hawkers. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 14:56:12', '2024-02-12 14:56:12'),
(11181, 11181, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Left-handed opener Najmul Hossain Shanto will take over as captain of the Bangladesh national cricket team in all formats, replacing Shakib Al Hasan in at least one format.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan Papon, also the sports minister, announced the decision following the board\'s first meeting of the year on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Najmul Hossain Shanto has been appointed as the new captain in all formats,” Nazmul Hasan stated. “He will lead Bangladesh in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is for at least this year.”</div><div><br></div><div>The decision marks a shift from previous statements by BCB\'s cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, who indicated during the recent home series against New Zealand that Shakib would continue as captain.</div><div><br></div><div>Shanto\'s appointment as T20I captain may come as a surprise, as Shakib remains a regular in the format for Bangladesh. However, a combination of factors influenced the decision, according to Nazmul Hasan.</div><div><br></div><div>“Shakib is facing ongoing issues with his eyesight,” the BCB president explained. “With upcoming series against Sri Lanka and the World Cup on the horizon, we felt appointing a new captain now provides crucial stability.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BCB president expressed hope that this change will facilitate smooth preparations for the World Cup.</div><div><br></div><div>Shanto has proven his leadership abilities while captaining Bangladesh in Shakib\'s absence. He recently expressed a desire for a longer stint as captain while interacting with the media.</div><div><br></div><div>Shanto boasts a successful captaining record with Bangladesh, having led the team to three victories in six ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests. He also demonstrated leadership experience as captain of the Bangladesh U-19 team.</div><div><br></div><div>The vice-captain position remains open. The board president indicated that several names are under consideration and that Bangladesh may have different vice-captains for Test and ODI formats.</div><div><br></div><div>As the full-time captain, Shanto’s first assignment is going to be the home series against Sri Lanka, comprising three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests. The series will be played across two venues in Sylhet and Chattogram. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 15:00:07', '2024-02-12 15:00:07'),
(11182, 11182, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested 30 pirates along with huge firearms and ammunition while they were trying to commit mass robbery in fishing boats in the Bay of Bengal early Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The identities of the arrestees could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>Tipped off, a team of Rab-7 conducted a drive in the Bay of Bengal (Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar coastal areas) and arrested 30 pirates along with firearms and ammunition while committing mass robbery in the Bay of Bengal using two trawlers early in this Monday morning, said Commanding officer of Rab-7, Lieutenant Colonel Mahbub Alam.</div><div><br></div><div>The pirates were taken to the Patenga No 15 ghat. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 15:18:00', '2024-02-12 15:18:00'),
(11183, 11183, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government is reviewing the economic situation of the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“With the preliminary symptoms, it seems that the country’s economic situation is moving towards improvement,” Finance Minister AH Mahmud Ali said in Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>He made the statement while responding to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker elected from Kishoreganj Sohrab Uddin.</div><div><br></div><div>The Minister hoped that in the next few days the total scenario of country’s economy will be clear.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In his question Sohrab Uddin said that the country\'s economy is in turmoil due to the dollar crisis and money laundering.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is a need to allow undisclosed money for legalising to face the crisis of money due to money laundering,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that this sort of opportunity was also provided in the past under special arrangements.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sohrab Uddin wants to know whether the government will give an opportunity to legalise undisclosed income through paying extra tax to prevent money laundering and eliminate the dollar crisis.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“However, it is not black money, but legal and undisclosed income,” said the independent MP.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, the finance minister said that the government is reviewing the entire thing.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Not only the black money, but the entire economic situation is under review. After seeing the initial symptoms, it seems to be that we are heading towards improvement. After a few more days, I will get a complete picture. Until then, please be patient,” he said</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the written questions of Independent Member elected from Kusthia-4 Abdur Rauf, Ali said that some 36.62 lakh people have submitted income tax returns in the country till January, 2024.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the question of another independent member of parliament, Hushamuddin Chowdhury, the finance minister said that the number of TIN holders across the country is 99.70 lakh.</div><div><br></div><div>“But some 36.62 lakh returns have been submitted and some Tk 5901 crore was deposited in the national exchequer,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Ali, responding to a question of independent member Saiful Islam, said that some 56 projects are going on with the financial assistance of the World Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question of his question, the finance minister said that as a result of the government\'s action, point-to-point inflation has started decreasing gradually from November 2023.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to the latest data, point-to-point inflation stood at 9.41 percent in December, while it was 9.74 percent in June, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Answering to ruling party lawmaker Samil Uddin Ahmed Shimul\'s question,&nbsp; Ali said that 87.70 percent of the target of revenue collection has been achieved till December 2023 of the fiscal year 2023-24.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“During this time, the revenue collection was Tk 1.65 lakh crore. From the stamp duty the collection was Tk 1626 crore. The deficit is Tk 23,227 crore,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the question of Awami League MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, the finance minister said that the Japanese government has given financial assistance of $3.38 million in 2023 for the development of human resources in Bangladesh, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to a question from ruling party MP Mamunur Rashid Kiran, the finance minister said that a new return form and a one-page return form has been introduced to simplify the income tax return process.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that TRP (Tax Return Preparer) programme will be introduced to simplify return filing process.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-12 15:28:32', '2024-02-12 15:28:32'),
(11184, 11184, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday put emphasis on the rural development along with building infrastructure.</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I think besides the infrastructural development we also need the overall development of the rural areas,” she told the ECNEC meeting at NEC conference room in Agargaon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She asked authorities concerned to quickly finish the development projects which are beiny delayed due to allocation of small funds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I will ask the cabinet secretary to convey this to all secretaries in different ministries so such projects are completed quickly,” she said</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said with the finishing these projects it would be easy for the government to take up new development programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said that deadline of some development projects have been increased, but hose also have to be completed very soon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Because, if that remains unfinished costs of the projects will increase unnecessarily and it also kills time. Make sure that this is done,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that for the socioeconomic development of the country the government must take development projects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, she asked all to remain cautious while taking any kind of development projects so that the government could attain its goal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that due to global condition the countryis having some pressure on economy. Otherwise the country was moving fast towards prosperity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The growth was increasing, development was expediting, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the whole world came to a standstill, and when the whole world started to move from that situation, it was hit by the Ukraine-Russia war followed by sanctions, counter-sanctions,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also mentioned that the world is bracing for another phase of instability after Israeli troops launched heinous attacks on the innocent people in Palestine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As a result, the cost and time of transportation has increased manifold,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that due to these external factors the pressure is on in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said she has requested all to utilise every inch of arable land of the country for production of food grains.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“And it has given us better results,” she said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 07:24:04', '2024-02-13 07:24:04'),
(11185, 11185, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said Tuesday that the dangers that keep him awake at night regarding artificial intelligence are the \"very subtle societal misalignments\" that could make the systems wreak havoc.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sam Altman, speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai via a video call, reiterated his call for a body like the International Atomic Energy Agency to be created to oversee AI that\'s likely advancing faster than the world expects.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There\'s some things in there that are easy to imagine where things really go wrong. And I\'m not that interested in the killer robots walking on the street direction of things going wrong,\" Altman said. \"I\'m much more interested in the very subtle societal misalignments where we just have these systems out in society and through no particular ill intention, things just go horribly wrong.\"</div><div><br></div><div>However, Altman stressed that the AI industry, like OpenAI, shouldn\'t be in the driver\'s seat when it comes to making regulations governing the industry.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We\'re still in the stage of a lot of discussion. So there\'s you know, everybody in the world is having a conference. Everyone\'s got an idea, a policy paper, and that\'s OK,\" Altman said. \"I think we\'re still at a time where debate is needed and healthy, but at some point in the next few years, I think we have to move towards an action plan with real buy-in around the world.\"</div><div><br></div><div>OpenAI, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup, is one of the leaders in the field. Microsoft has invested some $1 billion in OpenAI. The Associated Press has signed a deal with OpenAI for it to access its news archive. Meanwhile, The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft over the use of its stories without permission to train OpenAI\'s chatbots.</div><div><br></div><div>OpenAI\'s success has made Altman the public face for generative AI\'s rapid commercialization — and the fears over what may come from the new technology.</div><div><br></div><div>The UAE, an autocratic federation of seven hereditarily ruled sheikhdoms, has signs of that risk. Speech remains tightly controlled. Those restrictions affect the flow of accurate information — the same details AI programs like ChatGPT rely on as machine-learning systems to provide their answers for users.</div><div><br></div><div>The Emirates also has the Abu Dhabi firm G42, overseen by the country\'s powerful national security adviser. G42 has what experts suggest is the world\'s leading Arabic-language artificial intelligence model. The company has faced spying allegations for its ties to a mobile phone app identified as spyware. It has also faced claims it could have gathered genetic material secretly from Americans for the Chinese government.</div><div><br></div><div>G42 has said it would cut ties to Chinese suppliers over American concerns. However, the discussion with Altman, moderated by the UAE\'s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar al-Olama, touched on none of the local concerns.</div><div><br></div><div>For his part, Altman said he was heartened to see that schools, where teachers feared students would use AI to write papers, now embrace the technology as crucial for the future. But he added that AI remains in its infancy.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think the reason is the current technology that we have is like ... that very first cellphone with a black-and-white screen,\" Altman said. \"So give us some time. But I will say I think in a few more years it\'ll be much better than it is now. And in a decade it should be pretty remarkable.\" - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 09:20:45', '2024-02-13 09:25:36'),
(11186, 11186, '<div><b>The European Commission officially extended an exemption today from contested rules to leave a share of agricultural lands fallow, which had become a flashpoint for protesting farmers across the bloc.</b></div><div><br></div><div>First lifted in 2023 in response to market disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the rules will remain partially suspended this year, according to the decision published in the European Union’s official journal.</div><div><br></div><div>Instead of keeping 4% of arable land unproductive, farmers will be allowed to use it for “nitrogen-fixing crops” such as lentils or peas, or “catch crops” grown between regular harvests, and remain eligible for EU subsidies.</div><div><br></div><div>Heeding calls from several EU members including France, the commission agreed last month – at the height of the rolling farmer protests – to grant a new partial exemption.</div><div><br></div><div>The modified rule “would put less restrictions on how they can use the arable land and would reduce the income losses while still ensuring some environmental benefits,” reads the updated text.</div><div><br></div><div>The commission initially proposed that 7% of land be used for nitrogen-fixing crops, but that figure was later revised down to 4%.</div><div><br></div><div>“There are some changes following negotiations with member states,” commission spokesman Olof Gill told reporters yesterday. “The logic was to provide further flexibilities for our farmers.”</div><div><br></div><div>The fallow land rules were imposed as part of the bloc’s common agricultural policy to promote biodiversity.</div><div><br></div><div>It is one of several measures dropped by the bloc in a bid to assuage the farmer movement – which has spooked leaders ahead of June’s European elections – along with a plan to cut pesticide use in agriculture.</div><div><br></div><div>The list of farmers’ complaints is long but mostly boils down to them feeling they can no longer make a living working the land.</div><div><br></div><div>Part of that is because they face red tape and climbing costs associated with expanding EU regulations to meet climate targets.</div><div><br></div><div>The EU acknowledged that a combination of geopolitics and extreme weather meant farmers were struggling to meet the fallow land rule, which “in certain cases can have a significant short-term impact on their revenue and put at risk the viability of their activities.” - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 12:05:37', '2024-02-13 12:05:37'),
(11187, 11187, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russia attacked the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro with missiles and drones today, damaging a power plant and forcing authorities to close schools and evacuate a hospital, Ukrainian officials and media said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The city of just under one million people came under attack from a missile and four groups of drones approaching from the south, east, and north, Ukraine’s Air Force said on the Telegram messaging app.</div><div><br></div><div>It reported shooting down 16 of 23 drones.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine’s largest private energy provider DTEK said a thermal power plant was significantly damaged. There were no casualties, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>The company did not say where the power plant was located, but Dnipro’s water utility company said on Telegram that “due to power outages” water supply had been partially suspended and Ukrainian media outlets said a power plant in Dnipro was hit.</div><div><br></div><div>Regional governor Serhiy Lysak said energy infrastructure had been hit, but gave no further details. He said 10 drones were destroyed over the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Dnipro mayor Borys Filatov said authorities were closing schools in one neighbourhood and evacuating at least one hospital ahead of an expected cold snap that would strain the energy grid.</div><div><br></div><div>Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. There was no immediate response from Russia’s defence ministry to a request for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Both Russia and Ukraine have increased their air attacks away from the frontline in recent months, targeting each other’s critical energy, military, and transport infrastructure. According to Reuters reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 12:16:35', '2024-02-13 12:16:35'),
(11188, 11188, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China on Tuesday called on Israel to halt military operations in Gaza as soon as possible, a day after Israeli forces rescued two hostages from the Gaza Strip in a dramatic operation that also killed at least 74 Palestinians, according to Palestinian hospital officials.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The raid took place in Rafah, the city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled to escape fighting elsewhere in the Israel-Hamas war. Women and children were among those killed in the airstrikes, Palestinian officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>China\'s Foreign Ministry added in a brief statement on Tuesday that Israel should \"do everything possible to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Rafah.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Palestinian death toll from the war has surpassed 28,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. A quarter of Gaza\'s residents are starving.</div><div><br></div><div>The war began with Hamas\' assault into Israel on Oct. 7, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity. Three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army after escaping their captors in December. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 12:21:24', '2024-02-13 12:21:24'),
(11189, 11189, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian security forces fired tear gas today to stop thousands of farmers demanding minimum crop prices from marching on the capital New Delhi after talks with the government failed.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Local broadcasters showed thick clouds of tear gas fired to disperse protesters near Ambala, some 200km north of the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Police have set up a fearsome blockade of metal spikes, cement, and steel barricades on the highways from three surrounding states leading to the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>“Maximum numbers have been deployed”, Ranjay Atrishya, assistant commissioner of Delhi Police, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>Public gatherings of more than five people have been banned in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Farmers in India have political heft due to their sheer numbers, and the threat of renewed protests comes ahead of national elections likely to begin in April.</div><div><br></div><div>Two-thirds of India’s 1.4 billion people draw their livelihood from agriculture, accounting for nearly a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product,, according to government figures.</div><div><br></div><div>Indian broadcasters showed columns of hundreds of tractors moving toward the capital from the surrounding states of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The farmers are demanding a law to fix a minimum price for their crops, besides a clutch of other concessions including waiving off loans.</div><div><br></div><div>Farmers have called for a “Delhi Chalo”, or “March to Delhi”, echoing protests in January 2021 when farmers breached barricades and marched into the city on Republic Day.</div><div><br></div><div>Protests by farmers against agricultural reform bills in November 2020 lasted for more than a year, forming the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government since it came to power in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>Tens of thousands of farmers then set up makeshift camps, with at least 700 people killed during the protests.</div><div><br></div><div>In November 2021, a year after protests began, Modi pushed through parliament the repeal of three contentious laws that farmers claimed would let private companies control the country’s agriculture sector.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands of Indian farmers die by suicide every year because of poverty, debt, and crops affected by ever more erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 12:23:23', '2024-02-13 12:23:23'),
(11190, 11190, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the Awami League government is showing its arrogance after usurping power through the last month’s ‘dummy’ election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“They (govt) are now showing their arrogance after the farcical dummy election held on January 7 which was turned down by the country’s people. They’re also trying to flaunt the power they\'ve usurped to people,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He came up with the remarks before distributing BNP’s leaflets in the city’s Fakirapool area as part of the party’s fresh programme demanding the cancellation of the 12th parliamentary polls and a fresh election under a non-partisan government.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the country\'s people have woken up against the government to ensure its fall through a united movement.</div><div><br></div><div>“We all must take to the streets together in the movement to demand the cancellation of the dummy election...We have started the leaflet distribution programme with that goal,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s recent comment that there were many crackdowns on the army and many were sent to the gallows during the tenure of Ziaur Rahman, Rizvi said their party founder did everything through a legal process against those who worked against the army.</div><div><br></div><div>“But you (PM) have made military officers disappear. Where is Brigadier General Abdullahil Amaan Azmi? He was subjected to enforced disappearance during the tenure of your government,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the Awami League government killed about 20,000 leaders and workers of (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) JSD and other opposition parties and dissidents in 1972-1975. “Similarly, countless opposition leaders and workers have been killed during the tenure of this regime. Many people, including Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, have been made forcibly disappear.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Later, Rizvi along with some party leaders and activists distributed leaflets among the pedestrians, shop owners, transport workers and rickshaw pullers in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>The leaflet titled \'Save the country, save the people\' demanded the cancellation of the January 7 one-sided by-election, the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina government, and the establishment of an impartial election commission under a caretaker government, the release of jailed BNP leaders and activists, including its chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the party’s countrywide programme, BNP leaders and workers distributed leaflets in all metropolitan cities on Tuesday also to mount pressure on the government to reduce the prices of essential commodities, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>BNP on Sunday announced a six-day fresh programme, including mass contact and leaflet distribution, across the country beginning Tuesday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 13:39:26', '2024-02-13 13:39:26'),
(11191, 11191, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen on Tuesday said that Bangladesh has made continuous progress in the pharmaceutical industry as 98 percent of the country\'s total demand for&nbsp; medicine is now produced locally.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Almost all medicines produced in Bangladesh are being exported to 157 countries of the world,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the question of independent MP elected from Dhaka-19 Muhammad Saiful Islam, the minister said that incentives are being given by the government to encourage the export of medicines produced in the country, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“As a part of this, incentives are being given at the rate of 10 percent this year,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 14:02:18', '2024-02-13 14:02:18'),
(11192, 11192, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the people of Bangladesh are enjoying democracy now as the Awami League has come to power for the fourth consecutive term.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“People are enjoying democracy now,” she said while Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) secretary general Indra Mani Pandey called on her at her office in Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s deputy press secretary KM Shakhwat Moon briefed the reporters after the call on.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said that there was a time when the country had plunged under military rules.</div><div><br></div><div>She termed people of the country as one of her strengths.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina mentioned that the government has always put emphasis on the rural development.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that she visited numerous villages and encouraged people not to leave single inch of arable land without food production.</div><div><br></div><div>“I requested all to engage in food production in whatever way they can,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that Bangladesh and BIMSTEC will work together to achieve the common goals.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that India has always been a friendly country to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>She recalled with gratitude that during 1971 India had helped Bangladesh a lot and gave shelter to some one crore people.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman she and her sister Sheikh Rehana took refuge in India.</div><div><br></div><div>The BIMSTEC secretary general congratulated the prime minister on her re-election.</div><div><br></div><div>He expressed satisfaction regarding the activities of Bangladesh with BIMSTEC.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that the BIMSTEC will continue its excellent relationship with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He lauded Bangladesh’s development and PM’s vision to establish smart Bangladesh and graduation of Bangladesh as developing country from LDC status.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that Bangladesh plans to complete the construction work of the proposed BIMSTEC Secretariat Building within three years with the objective of inaugurating it by the BIMSTEC leaders during the 7th Summit to be held in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>She Mentioned that the areas of cooperation under BIMSTEC has been restructured and brought down to seven sectors with a lead country for each sector.</div><div><br></div><div>Trade, Investment and Development is one of the most important sectors of BIMSTEC cooperation and Bangladesh is the lead country in this sector, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing hope the next BIMSTEC Summit will continue to intensify the forum\'s activities further when Bangladesh takes the Chairmanship after the next summit.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister expressed hope of taking the BIMSTEC process to a new height as the new SG and Chairmanship would be shared by two very friendly nations - India and Bangladesh- and the Secretariat is hosted in Dhaka, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina reiterated that Bangladesh stands ready to assume more responsibilities in BIMSTEC process after the 6th Summit upon assumption of the Chairmanship of the Group.</div><div><br></div><div>PMO secretary Mohammad Salahuddin were present.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:25:45', '2024-02-13 15:25:45');
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(11193, 11193, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday said that the Myanmarese security forces who had fled to Bangladesh will be sent back to Myanmar very soon.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"They (Myanmar) have sent a message to us saying that they will take them back by ship very soon. Hopefully they will take their members back within 1-2 days. They have no conflict with us, no war, they have come here for their self defense,\" the Home Minister said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Home Minister came up with the remark in response to a question from reporters after addressing at the opening ceremony of Highway Police\'s \'Service Week-2024\' at Bangladesh Police Auditorium of Rajarbagh Police Lines on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 330 members of Myanmar army, border guards, police, immigration and other officials took refuge recently in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that there is a war going on all around Myanmar. Their forces are fighting with the Arakan Army on the border of Bangladesh.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"We see that their war has become so intense that Myanmar\'s BGP, government officials, I think one or two military personnel have infiltrated us here. Some of them came with weapons, some entered without weapons. But they came to save their own lives, not to fight,\" the Home Minister added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"After that, our BGB members have disarmed them and kept them here safely. Among them, the injured have been given medical care. Later, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we informed them to take them back,\" he further said.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to another question, the Home Minister said, \"We have made it clear that we already have 1.2 million Rohingya here. We will not allow anyone from Myanmar to settle here, be it Rohingya or anyone else.\"</div><div><br></div><div>We have already asked the Myanmar government to take back those who are coming here to defend themselves. They are going to take them back. Our BGB, Police and Coast Guard are all working together in bordering areas.&nbsp; Despite fighting inside the Myanmar border, none of them seem to come to this border. Even then, no one can enter here,\" the Home Minister said, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>When asked whether any of the BGP members who have taken refuge were involved in the attack on the Rohingyas, he said, \"We do not have any list of them. But we saw miles after miles were burned, dead bodies were floating in the river. Their army was stationed there during the massacre we saw. But I don\'t know if they did the massacre. It is being tried in the international court.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:34:52', '2024-02-13 15:34:52'),
(11194, 11194, '<div><br></div><div>Information and Broadcasting State Minister Mohammad Ali Arafat has said Bangladesh Betar is playing a commendable role in creating public participation in the government\'s development initiatives for the country\'s progress.</div><div><br></div><div>Arafat was speaking at a discussion session held at the Bangladesh Betar Central Office in Agargaon, Dhaka, on the occasion of World Radio Day 2024, as the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>The junior minister said Bangladesh Betar plays a commendable role in the nation\'s development by fostering public engagement in these initiatives. To achieve an advanced Bangladesh, Bangladesh Betar, along with other commercial FM radios and community radios, must work tirelessly.</div><div><br></div><div>He further mentioned that in the era of technological advancement, radio faces significant challenges. Radio needs to compete with various social media platforms, which not only offer quick and affordable entertainment but also spread misinformation, rumors, and sensational news. Despite such challenges, Bangladesh Betar maintains its own standards, providing content that is objective, reliable, and dependable in both entertainment and news broadcasting, even in adversarial circumstances.</div><div><br></div><div>As this year\'s World Radio Day theme, \"Radio across the century - Information, Entertainment, and Education spreading through radio,\" Arafat called upon the personnel of Bangladesh Betar, artists, and skilled individuals to continue their efforts during this time of rapid change.</div><div><br></div><div>World Radio Day was established on November 3, 2011, during the 36th General Conference of UNESCO. It has been globally observed on February 13 since 2012. Bangladesh Betar commemorated the day with a vibrant parade, listener conferences, discussions, and cultural events.</div><div><br></div><div>Rabindra Sri Barua, Director General of Bangladesh Betar, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Mohammad Humayun Kabir Khondokar, and Dr. Susan Marie Vaijes, Head of UNESCO Dhaka Office and Representative of Bangladesh, were present at the time, among others. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:37:24', '2024-02-13 15:37:24'),
(11195, 11195, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Khaled Mahmud, vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)\'s Cricket Operations Department, expressed surprise on Tuesday at the appointment of Gazi Ashraf as the new chief selector of the national team.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“It was really surprising for me. I hadn\'t heard his name as a candidate. Many other names were doing the rounds, but I didn\'t hear his,” Mahmud told reporters in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahmud said he expected to be informed about the appointment of the chief selector as he is the vice-chairman of the Cricket Operations Department.</div><div><br></div><div>“Though I’m the vice-chairman of the cricket operation, I didn\'t know that we were appointing a new selector. It’s a surprising move. I even don’t know why I should be at this position,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahmud, however, said he has no doubt about Ashraf\'s cricketing knowledge and ability.</div><div><br></div><div>“I have no doubt about Lipu bhai\'s (Ashraf) cricketing knowledge,” he said. “He is a very senior cricketer and has been involved with cricket for a long time. He has captained the national team. So, there is no question about his cricketing knowledge,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahmud also said he is hopeful that Ashraf will be able to do a good job as the chief selector.</div><div><br></div><div>“He has a good cricketing brain and is a very intelligent person. I am sure he will be able to work well with the other selectors and the coaching staff,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Ashraf, a former Bangladesh captain, was appointed as the chief selector on Monday. He replaced Minhajul Abedin, who had been in the role since 2016.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahmud also expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of Hannan Sarkar in the selection panel.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am very happy that Hannan has been included in the selection panel. He is very experienced and has a good understanding of the game. He will be a valuable asset to the selection panel,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Ashraf will take over the role of the chief selector soon for a two-year tenure. In panel, the other two members are Hannan Sarkar and Abdur Razzak. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:40:29', '2024-02-13 15:40:29'),
(11196, 11196, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On Wednesday, the start of Falgun, the eleventh month in the Bengali calendar and officially the start of the joyous Spring season of Bengal, falls on the same day as Valentine\'s Day, for the fifth year in a row.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Every year on February 13, the Bangladeshis used to celebrate Pahela Falgun, the second biggest festival in the Bengali calendar. However, in 2020, Bangla Academy changed the Bangla Calendar to align it with the Gregorian calendar, and Pahela Falgun was combined with Valentine\'s Day, which has always been celebrated on February 14.</div><div><br></div><div>The country is now all prepared to welcome the first day of Falgun amid colourful celebrations and festive attires of yellow and red. Welcoming the king of all six seasons, which offers vivid sunlight and a mild temperature increase in the weather following the short-lived Winter season.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi citizens will also celebrate Valentine’s Day with their loved ones tomorrow, keeping pace with the rest of the world, to symbolise and celebrate love among their beloveds. Although the added festivities of Pahela Falgun brought a new and refreshing tone to the day, netizens especially the youths have been observing the day for the last couple of decades now as a mandatory opportunity for celebration.</div><div><br></div><div>The tradition of celebrating the Pahela Falgun in Bangladesh started in the Bengali calendar year 1401. Since then, the Jatiya Bawshonto Utsab Udyapan Parishad has been celebrating Pahela Falgun regularly with jovial cultural festivity at the Bakultala of Charukala (Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art) in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>This year, the organisation will begin the Pahela Falgun festivities in Charukala Bakultala at 7 am and 3 pm with two different seasons. It will also host similar festivities in the afternoon on the open stage at Uttara Rabindra Sarani and Bahadur Shah Park in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Different organisations including the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and many other organisations, institutions and businesses will be celebrating this year’s festive February 14 with multiple festivities,</div><div><br></div><div>BSA will greet the day with a special dance recital titled ‘Bawshanto Nrittyo’ in the capital’s Ramna Park at 3:30 pm with 225 dance artists. A festive procession will be heading to the BSA premises after that, and the cultural event at the open premises of the academy will feature musical performances, recitations, dance recitals and choreography of Spring-themed Bengali fashion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Minister of Housing and Public Works, RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury will join the event as the chief guest, while Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed will join as the special guest.</div><div><br></div><div>The ongoing Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2024 at Bangla Academy and Suhrawardi Udyan already observed an influx of crowds on the long-standing usual day of Pahela Falgun in the past, and the book-sellers and fair authorities are expecting an even bigger crowd on Wednesday amid the festivities.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the Valentine’s Day specials, several top entertainment artists are releasing multiple new songs, dramas and OTT content to entertain their fans on this festive day. Television channels, OTT platforms, FM Radio stations, social media platforms and YouTube content creators are also scheduled to air special programmes marking the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>To make it even more memorable for couples and FnF (friends and family), several restaurants, resorts, five-star hotels, and dining establishments are also offering appealing packages on this festive day. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><b><font color=\"#4a7b8c\">&nbsp;Pahela Falgun-Valentine’s Day</font></b><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:43:02', '2024-02-13 15:43:02'),
(11197, 11197, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A total of 1,721 people died of Dengue from January 2023 to February 5 this year, Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen revealed in parliament on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Chattogram-11 M Abdul Latif, the minister said the Health Service Division has taken various measures to reduce casualties from dengue.</div><div><br></div><div>About the measures, Dr Samanta said pre-season (pre-monsoon), season (monsoon) and post-season (post-monsoon) surveys of Aedes mosquitoes are ongoing in Dhaka city.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The results of the survey are being communicated to all concerned city corporations, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Minister mentioned that the pre-season survey has been completed and the survey results were sent to all concerned city corporations, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“At present, the seasonal survey is going on across the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>The health minister also said the Aedes mosquito survey program is being completed every 2 months at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.</div><div><br></div><div>He said a new edition of national guidelines on dengue patient management were prepared and distributed.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Samanta Lal Sen also said an integrated control room for dengue prevention and control has been opened under the initiative of the Disease Control Wing of the Directorate General of Health Services, IEDCR and MIS.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:48:27', '2024-02-13 15:48:27'),
(11198, 11198, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the Awami League government would be brought to book for the misdeeds it committed during its entire regime.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir said on Tuesday after distributing leaflets in the capital as part of the party’s programme.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “Between 1972 and 1975, as many as 20,000 leaders and activists of Jasad and opposition parties, including Siraj Sikder, were killed during the Awami League government.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Even at present, numerous leaders and activists of the BNP have been killed. Many people, including BNP leaders Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, have become the victims of enforced disappearances. All the misdeeds and murders committed by the Awami League government in its regimes will be tried through the international investigation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the people have rejected the 7 January “dummy election” and taken a stand against it.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everyone has taken to the streets and participated in the movement to oust the government. The whole nation is united. Inshallah, this government will be brought down by being united by all,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-13 15:52:12', '2024-02-13 15:52:12'),
(11199, 11199, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Sundarbans, the world\'s largest mangrove forest, has become a <b>hub of activity, drawing nature enthusiasts from around the globe with its stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife. This natural wonder is not only a key tourist attraction but also plays a vital role in promoting environmental conservation and boosting local revenue.</b></span><b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>During the prime visiting months from October to February, the Sundarbans offers visitors cool river waters and pleasant weather, making it an ideal destination for exploring its unique ecosystem. Recent statistics reveal a significant uptick in tourism, with 216,143 visitors, including 2,143 international guests, in the fiscal year 2022-2023, generating Tk 3.94 crore in revenue for the government. This marks a notable increase from previous years, highlighting the forest\'s growing appeal and importance to Bangladesh\'s economy.</div><div><br></div><div>According to data collected from the local forest office, the number of tourists was 1,89,570 in the fiscal year 2018-2019 and of them, 2,261 came from other countries. The government earned Tk 1.51 crore during this period.</div><div><br></div><div>In the fiscal year, 2019-2020, the number of tourists was 1,72,979. Of them 2,317 came from overseas. A total of Tk 1.87 crore was collected as revenue during this period.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, a total of 1,46,211 tourists came to the Sundarbans in the 2020-21 fiscal year and the government collected Tk 1.57 crore from 1,45,891 local and 320 foreign tourists.</div><div><br></div><div>The revenue reached Tk 2.24 crore as a total of 1,55,477 tourists — 1,54,374 local and 1,103 foreign — visited the Sundarbans in 2021-2022 fiscal year.</div><div><br></div><div>The Sundarbans, recognized for its intricate network of tidal waterways, mudflats, and a sanctuary for the Royal Bengal Tiger, among other rare wildlife, is crucial for the ecological balance and protection of coastal regions. However, environmentalists warn that human activity poses a threat to its biodiversity, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and conservation efforts to ensure the sustainability of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the rising tourist influx, M Nazmul Azam, secretary of the Tours Operator Association of the Sundarbans, calls for enhanced facilities and security measures to ensure a safe and enriching experience for visitors. The construction of the Padma Bridge has further facilitated access to this natural treasure, promising a boost in tourism and conservation opportunities.</div><div><br></div><div>Mihir Kumar, forest conservator of the Khulna Forest Region, stressed the importance of the Sundarbans as a vital ecological haven for wildlife, including the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger. The forest\'s significance extends beyond tourism, contributing to the protection and maintenance of coastal ecosystems and the overall environmental health of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>To foster greater environmental stewardship, the coastal communities celebrate February 14 as \'Sundarbans Day.\'&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Initiated in 2001 by the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan, Khulna University, and numerous environmental organizations, this day aims to raise awareness about the mangrove forest\'s conservation needs and the impacts of climate change. This annual observance underscores the collective responsibility to safeguard the Sundarbans for future generations. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 08:04:52', '2024-02-14 08:04:52'),
(11200, 11200, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indonesian voters were choosing a new president Wednesday as the world’s third-largest democracy aspires to become a global economic powerhouse a quarter-century after shaking off a brutal dictatorship.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The front-runner, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, is the only candidate with ties to the Suharto era. He was a special forces commander at the time and has been accused of human rights atrocities, which he vehemently denies.</div><div><br></div><div>Two former provincial governors, Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, are also vying to succeed the immensely popular President Joko Widodo, who is serving the final of his two terms in office. Widodo’s rise from a riverside slum to the presidency has shown the vibrancy of Indonesia’s democracy in a region rife with authoritarian regimes.</div><div><br></div><div>Widodo\'s successor will inherit an economy with impressive growth and ambitious infrastructure projects, including the ongoing transfer of the nation\'s capital from congested Jakarta to the frontier island of Borneo at a staggering cost exceeding $30 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>The election also has high stakes for the United States and China, since Indonesia has a huge domestic market, natural resources like nickel and palm oil, and diplomatic influence with its Southeast Asian neighbors.</div><div><br></div><div>Polls opened at 7 a.m. in each of the three time zones across the tropical nation\'s 17,000 islands inhabited by 270 million people. The logistics of the vote were daunting: Ballot boxes and ballots were transported by boats, motorcycles, horses and on foot in some of the more far-flung locations.</div><div><br></div><div>A fierce thunderstorm flooded several streets of Jakarta at dawn Wednesday. Last week, damage from heavy rains in Central Java\'s Demak regency prompted the postponement of the election in 10 villages.</div><div><br></div><div>Aside from the presidency, some 20,000 national, provincial and district parliamentary posts were being contested by tens of thousands of candidates in one of the world\'s largest elections, which authorities expect to be largely peaceful. About 10,000 aspirants from 18 political parties were eyeing the national parliament’s 580 seats alone.</div><div><br></div><div>The official vote tally is a laborious process that could take about a month, but early results based on sampling from registered private polling and survey groups are considered a reliable indicator of the official results.</div><div><br></div><div>Subianto, the oldest presidential candidate at 72, lost in two previous runs to Widodo but is now the front-runner, based on independent surveys. He picked Widodo’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice-presidential running mate in a move that could shore up his chances given the outgoing president\'s popularity.</div><div><br></div><div>Raka, 36, was allowed to run when the Constitutional Court made an exception to the minimum age requirement of 40. The court was then headed by Widodo’s brother-in-law, who was removed by an ethics panel for not recusing himself, and Widodo was accused of favoritism and nepotism.</div><div><br></div><div>Critics have accused Widodo of trying to build a political dynasty despite his being the first president to emerge outside the political and military elite since the 1998 end of the dictatorial rule of Suharto, characterized by widespread human rights violations, plunder and political unrest.</div><div><br></div><div>Subianto, a former lieutenant general who married one of Suharto\'s daughters, was a longtime commander in the army special forces, called Kopassus. He was dishonorably discharged in 1998 after Kopassus forces kidnapped and tortured political opponents of Suharto.</div><div><br></div><div>Of at least 22 activists kidnapped that year, 13 remain missing to this day, and their families protest weekly outside the presidential palace demanding the activists be accounted for. Subianto never faced a trial and vehemently denied any involvement, although several of his men were tried and convicted.</div><div><br></div><div>During the campaign period that concluded last weekend, Subianto and his strategists used AI and social media platforms like TikTok to soften his image by portraying him as a cuddly grandfather to his youthful running mate. Rejected by human rights activists, he danced on the campaign stage and promised to generate nearly 20 million jobs in his first term if elected.</div><div><br></div><div>Baswedan, the former head of an Islamic university, served as governor of Jakarta until last year. A former Fulbright scholar, Baswedan was education and culture minister from 2014 to 2016, when Widodo removed him from the Cabinet after accusing him of failing to address problems by thousands of students affected by forest fires.</div><div><br></div><div>Baswedan opposes Widodo’s plan to move the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to Nusantara on Borneo island, which involves constructing government buildings and residential enclaves by clearing lush tropical rainforests.</div><div><br></div><div>In an interview with The Associated Press last month, he said democracy in Indonesia is under threat, given Subianto’s choice of the president\'s son as running mate.</div><div><br></div><div>“This means that there is a decline in trust, it means that our democracy is experiencing a decline in quality, it means that many legal rules are being bent,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Pranowo is the ruling party candidate but does not have Widodo\'s support. He was a national legislator for the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle for 10 years before being elected in 2013 for the first of two terms as governor of vote-rich Central Java region.</div><div><br></div><div>While governor, Pranowo refused to allow Israel to participate in the Under-20 FIFA World Cup to be held in his province. FIFA subsequently dropped Indonesia as host of the games, angering Indonesian soccer fans and Widodo.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel and Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, do not have diplomatic ties.</div><div><br></div><div>Under Widodo, Indonesia saw a period of remarkable growth averaging 5% annually, except in 2020, when the economy contracted due to the coronavirus pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>His economic roadmap, called “Golden Indonesia 2045,” projects Indonesia becoming one of the world’s top five economies with GDP of up to $9 trillion, exactly a century after it won independence from Dutch colonizers. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 08:09:32', '2024-02-14 08:09:32'),
(11201, 11201, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Saraswati Puja, a cornerstone festival for the Hindu community, is being observed with great enthusiasm and religious fervor across Bangladesh this Wednesday. This revered occasion falls on the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the Bangla month of Magh, known as \'Vasant Panchami.\'</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom and knowledge, the festival holds special significance for students and educational institutions, where devotees gather to perform puja in educational institutions and temples, seeking blessings for enlightenment and learning.</div><div><br></div><div>In a gesture of solidarity and goodwill, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have extended their warm wishes to the Hindu community on the auspicious occasion of Saraswati Puja.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the day\'s celebrations, the central Puja Udjapan Committee at Jagannath University is hosting a Saraswati Puja event on campus. Additionally, Dhaka is buzzing with festive arrangements, hosting multiple Puja ceremonies at various locations, embracing the spirit of communal harmony and cultural heritage. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fasl</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 08:28:13', '2024-02-14 08:28:13'),
(11202, 11202, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a move to unite leading businesses and spur greater action on women’s employment across industries in the private sector, a flagship network ‘Partnership for Women’s Employment: The Business of Equity,’ was launched on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The International Finance Corporation (IFC), in partnership with European Union funded program Accelerating Climate Smart &amp; Inclusive Infrastructure in South Asia (ACSIIS), and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), launched the program.</div><div><br></div><div>The two-year partnership will act as a catalyst for economic growth and inclusion, helping empower women across Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Women comprise one-third of the country’s workforce, with only 4 percent of businesses having women in top management.</div><div><br></div><div>Care responsibilities, access to jobs, mobility limitations, and social norms are key barriers to women’s economic participation. Closing these gender gaps can add up to $30 billion to Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP).</div><div><br></div><div>“The business case for increasing women’s participation in the workforce is irrefutable. Inclusive businesses have better financial performance, talent retention, reputation, and investor confidence,” said Zareen Tasnim, Program Lead, Partnership for Women’s Employment, IFC, Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“This partnership – a first of its kind in Bangladesh – will help equip businesses with practical knowhow on closing corporate gender gaps while contributing to companies’ bottom line, productivity, and growth, leading the way for a thriving private-sector anchored in equity and inclusion.”</div><div><br></div><div>Global research indicates that women’s economic participation in the private sector yields better financial results, greater innovation, and push for improved company culture.</div><div><br></div><div>For instance, companies with gender diverse boards generate over 50 percent higher return on equity and over 65 percent higher return on investment.</div><div><br></div><div>This initiative will also focus on creating a respectful and supportive workplace, particularly for working parents, and increasing women\'s presence in the green economy, aligning with Bangladesh’s focus on climate sustainability and a just transition.</div><div><br></div><div>“The European Union is dedicated to advancing gender equality, promoting women’s economic empowerment and opportunities for women and together, we are building an inclusive and equitable environment for all,” said Charles Whiteley, Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Partnership for Women’s Employment aims to boost women‘s participation by fostering their advancement and retention and engage in actively dismantling gender-specific economic barriers by cultivating respectful workplaces.”</div><div><br></div><div>Leading companies including Akib Bashir Group, Bata Bangladesh, BRAC Bank, City Bank, DBL Group, Eastern Bank, Energypac Electronics, Fakir Knitwears, IDCOL, IPDC, Mutual Trust Bank, PRAN Group, Prime Bank, Singer, Standard Group and Urmi Group, with a combined workforce of over 149,000 employees have already joined the partnership. Participating businesses range from financial services, fast-moving consumer goods, electronics, agribusiness, to textile and apparels.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Partnership for Women’s Employment will foster commitment, mutual learning and action by the companies around a variety of employer-supported strategies, policies and practices to boost women\'s participation in Bangladesh’s private sector,” said Kamran T. Rahman, President of MCCI.</div><div><br></div><div>“This will present an opportunity to build on the country’s growth and success story and unlock the immense potential of women in the workforce, paving the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.”</div><div><br></div><div>IFC works to reduce gaps between men and women in the private sector, enabling companies and economies to improve their performance.</div><div><br></div><div>Various IFC initiatives across the globe – including in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands – on investing in women’s employment opportunities have proven to be an effective business strategy.</div><div><br></div><div>To join the Partnership for Women’s Employment, they need to apply before February 27, 2024. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 08:30:40', '2024-02-14 08:30:40'),
(11203, 11203, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said&nbsp; more than 1550 women seeking to enter the parliament in reserve seats reflect that women’s awakening has occurred in Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“When we see 1,553 women are hopefuls for only 48 reserved seats we can conclude that women’s awakening has occurred in Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made this remark while addressing a meeting with the women aspiring for Awami League’s nomination to run for the parliament reserve seats at Ganabhaban here this morning.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;She said&nbsp; women are now successfully working and proving their competence in every sector.</div><div><br></div><div>“Wherever we send women, they all work successfully…. Our women are showing their competence,” said Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>Citing the success of women in sports and other sectors, she said, “There is no logic to create various barriers for women.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She said it is irrational that women can’t join sports, business and jobs as it was a woman( Khadijah) not a man who had first accepted Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said Bibi Khadijah had been a businesswoman and she had supported Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM) with all her money and assets to preach and spread Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that Islam has given enough rights to women, even transgender community, she said, “There is no scope to neglect women. We’re very conscious in this regard. Today no woman of Bangladesh upto the rural level doesn’t lag behind.”</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister expressed her optimism that the larger number of women would come up through a direct vote in future in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>There are 350 seats in parliament, including 50 reserved&nbsp; for women. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 09:25:27', '2024-02-14 09:25:27'),
(11204, 11204, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three hundred thirty three members of Myanmar security forces and others, who have taken shelter in Bangladesh amid conflict between Myanmar military and armed rebel group there, will be sent back to their country by a ship on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Under the supervision of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Myanmar nationals, including members of Border Guard Police (BGP), will be handed over to the authorities of Myanmar at 8 am through Naval jetty ghat in Inani of Cox’s Bazar district, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Tuesday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said that the security forces’ members&nbsp; will be sent back to Myanmar very soon.</div><div><br></div><div>A tense situation has been prevailing along the border between Bandarban\'s Naikhongchhari Ghumdhum and Tumbru amid fierce fighting, skirmishes and gunfire between the armed forces of the military ruler and insurgent groups inside Myanmar for over two weeks. Amid&nbsp; the conflict, 330 members of Myanmar army, border guards, police, immigration and other officials took refuge recently in Bangladesh, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, two people--a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man-- were killed when mortar shells from the Myanmar side landed on a kitchen at Jalpaitli village of Ghumdhum union in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban recently.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 09:55:29', '2024-02-14 09:55:29'),
(11205, 11205, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a stump speech for his re-election on a global stage Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates, describing his years in power as pushing for \"minimum government, maximum governance.\"</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Modi\'s comments come as he prepares for the inauguration of a stone-built Hindu temple near Abu Dhabi, the country\'s capital, after meeting with the Emirati leader he\'s repeatedly described as \"his brother.\" That personal touch seems aimed at further cementing ties with the UAE, an oil-rich country that supplies India\'s energy needs while also serving as a home for some 3.5 million of his countrymen abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I believe that people should neither feel the absence of a government, but at the same time, nor should there be pressure from the government,\" Modi said in a speech before the World Governments Summit in Dubai. \"In fact, I believe that the government should interfere as little as possible in the lives of people.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Modi entered the hall at the summit in Dubai, accompanied by the city-state\'s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Now on his seventh trip to the UAE since becoming prime minister, Modi already received a warm welcome from the autocratic nation\'s president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also the ruler of Abu Dhabi.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi described a series of his government\'s achievements, while also broadly touching on challenges facing the world.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Terrorism, with every passing day, has been taking on new forms and is posing new challenges to mankind. Even climate-related challenges are becoming bigger with the passage of time,\" Modi said. \"On the one hand, there are domestic concerns and on the other the international systems seem in disarray. And amidst all of this, every government faces a very big challenge of safeguarding its relevance.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He added: \"It is as a friend to the world that India is moving forward.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Modi\'s arrival came as Indian police on Tuesday used tear gas and detained some farmers who clashed with them and tried to break barricades, blocking their way to New Delhi to demand guaranteed crop prices. In 2021, farmers camped for months in the Indian capital after Modi withdrew controversial agriculture laws that had triggered the earlier protests.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest protests could pose a significant challenge for Modi and his governing Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the coming elections in India, the world\'s largest democracy. However, Modi is widely expected to win a third term.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi\'s visit highlights the nations\' long-standing economic and historic ties, from spice selling and gold smuggling in the UAE\'s formative years to tens of billions of dollars\' worth of annual bilateral trade today.</div><div><br></div><div>The countries signed a free trade deal in 2022 aimed at doubling their bilateral trade to $100 billion. The countries have agreed to allow India to settle some payments in rupees as opposed to dollars, lowering transaction costs.</div><div><br></div><div>The relationship also underscores the Emirates\' realpolitik foreign policy. The UAE has embraced Modi as Muslims in India increasingly come under attack by Hindu nationalist groups. Modi received the Emirates\' top civilian honor in 2019 even as he stripped statehood from the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi\'s original visit to the Emirates in 2015 was the first by an Indian prime minister in 34 years. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 10:49:47', '2024-02-14 10:49:47'),
(11206, 11206, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Japan’s space agency says its new flagship H3 rocket will have a second test flight on Saturday, two days later than an initially planned liftoff that was postponed due to a bad weather forecast at the launch site in southwestern Japan.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The liftoff was originally scheduled for Thursday but was postponed due to thunder and strong wind forecasted at the Tanegashima Space Center.</div><div><br></div><div>The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said Wednesday that its H3 rocket will attempt a test flight on Saturday with an alternative launch window through the end of March.</div><div><br></div><div>JAXA has been developing H3 for more than a decade as a successor to its current mainstay, H-2A, which has just two more flights planned before its retirement.</div><div><br></div><div>The upcoming launch is being closely watched as a test for Japan\'s space development after H3 failed in its debut flight last March, when the rocket had to be destroyed along with its payload, the advanced land observation satellite, or ALOS-3. This time, the rocket will carry a mockup of the ALOS satellite, called VEP-4.</div><div><br></div><div>JAXA says the mission\'s primary goal for the second test flight is to put the rocket into the intended trajectory. The agency also wants to place two observation microsatellites into orbit.</div><div><br></div><div>H3 is designed to carry larger payloads than H-2A at much lower costs to be globally competitive.</div><div><br></div><div>Expectations are high following a recent steak of successes. JAXA made a historic precision moon landing last month of its spacecraft that had been launched from the H-2A rocket, days after the 48th H-2A rocket successfully placed a spy satellite into its planned orbit. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 12:03:56', '2024-02-14 12:03:56'),
(11207, 11207, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b style=\"\">A Dhaka court on Wednesday granted bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in a case filed over vandalising the residence of the Chief Justice (CJ) during the grand rally of the party on October 28 last year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court\'s acting judge Faisal Atiq Bin Quader passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard, lawyer Syed Joynul Abedin said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said since his clients secured bail in all the cases filed against them, so there is no bar to walk out of jail.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence during the BNP rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from Fakhrul, 59 BNP leaders and activists were accused in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 11 cases were filed against Fakhrul and 10 cases against Khasru over violence centering the October 28 rally in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul was arrested from his Gulshan house on October 29 and has been in jail since then. Amir Khasru was arrested from his Gulshan residence in the small hours of November 3. - UNB&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 12:08:40', '2024-02-14 12:08:40'),
(11208, 11208, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat has said that no media house can retrench journalists suddenly or with short notice.</b></div><div><br></div><div>“Notice of retrenchment to anyone must be served at least three months before implementation,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The state minister said at a meeting with a Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC) delegation at his ministry\'s conference room in the Secretariat on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that the government doesn’t want to suppress freedom of speech while preventing misinformation.</div><div><br></div><div>He also agreed to a demand placed by journalists to bring social media under a policy and ensure accountability.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As journalists underscored the need to bring all social media, including YouTube and Facebook, under a policy and accountability, I, as the state minister for information and broadcasting, just agreed to the demand and will try to fulfill it after consulting with journalists and other stakeholders,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Legal action will&nbsp; be taken against the journalists involved in irregularities,” he warned.</div><div><br></div><div>\"No one can run television without Cleanfeed, if they do; they will also be brought under justice,” the state minister added.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time, the state minister sought cooperation from journalists in fulfilling their (journalists) demands, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>The work of digitizing the cable network service across the country will begin soon, the state minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 12:57:22', '2024-02-14 12:57:22'),
(11209, 11209, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Afghanistan\'s Mohammad Nabi has dethroned Bangladesh\'s Shakib Al Hasan as the top-ranked all-rounder in the ICC Men\'s ODI Player Rankings.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Nabi\'s remarkable 136-run performance in the first ODI against Sri Lanka propelled him to the top spot, making him the oldest player (39 years, one month) to achieve this status.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib\'s reign as the No. 1 ODI all-rounder had been an impressive one. He held the position for a record 4,276 days, with an unbroken stretch of 1,739 days since May 7, 2019. This marks the longest uninterrupted tenure at the top of the ODI rankings for any player.</div><div><br></div><div>Nabi\'s ascent underscores Afghanistan\'s growing prominence in the cricketing world.&nbsp; Previously, the country has seen Rashid Khan (ODI/T20I bowling) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (T20I bowling) top the ICC rankings.</div><div><br></div><div>The first two ODIs against Sri Lanka saw notable performances on both sides.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai climbed 19 places to 57th due to his unbeaten 149, while Sri Lanka\'s Charith Asalanka (97*), Pathum Nissanka, and Sadeera Samarawickrama&nbsp; gained in the batting rankings. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dilshan Madhushanka made strides in the bowling rankings. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-14 13:04:03', '2024-02-14 13:04:03'),
(11210, 11210, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emerged as a key figure of interest at the Munich Security Conference that concludes on February 18.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In discussions with Bangladeshi journalists on Friday evening (Munich time), Mahmud emphasized the global recognition received by Hasina, the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, during the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Throughout the first day of the conference, PM Hasina engaged in seven bilateral meetings and a panel discussion, focusing notably on the Rohingya and Palestine issues during her talks with the Prime Ministers of Qatar and Denmark.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, she met with the Director General of the World Health Organization, the President of Women Political Leaders, and the Global Chairman of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.</div><div><br></div><div>The WHO\'s Director General extended congratulations to Saima Wazed for her election as the regional director of the organization.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the meeting with the senior managing director of the World Bank, the foreign minister said, “You know that the World Bank has financed USD 16 billion in 56 ongoing projects in Bangladesh. They have made a commitment of $509 million in budget support this year and $700 million in aid to Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh.”</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina, addressing the World Bank, sought expedited release of funds.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said a good election was held in Bangladesh by overcoming domestic and foreign conspiracies.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 70 countries, including India, United Kingdom, United States, European Union, and United Nations as well as other international organizations have so far congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, The foreign minister highlighted the statistics of elections in various European countries in recent times and described the 42 percent votes cast in the parliamentary election in the country as very acceptable.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that 29.7 percent of the votes were cast in the elections in Portugal in 2021, while 31.84 percent of votes were cast in the Romanian elections.</div><div><br></div><div>30 percent votes were cast in the Hong Kong elections, said the Foreign Minister. \"There was no opposition in these countries.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 08:43:29', '2024-02-17 08:43:29');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11211, 11211, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Daily commuters including service holders and traders have expressed joy as the Metro Rail authorities are operating trains every 8 minutes during peak hours from Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The number of metro rail trips increased to 26 and as a result a total of 178 trains will run each day instead of 152, said MN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).</div><div><br></div><div>About the new timings, Siddque said, three trains will run from Uttara between 7:10 am to 7:30 am and&nbsp; train will run from 7:31am to 11:48 am every 8 minutes during peak hours. After that, train will run from 11:49am to 3:12pm (off peak hours)&nbsp; every12 minutes as before and&nbsp; every 8 minutes from 3:13pm to 8:00 pm (peak hours), he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Nazrul Isalm, a regular commuter of the Metro Rail at Mirpur-11 Rail Station, said the pressure of commuters is comparatively less due to the new schedule and it’s a relief for people.</div><div><br></div><div>Hossain, another commuter at the same station, said “It will be better if the timing can be reduced to 3.5 minutes.”</div><div><br></div><div>Except Friday, now Metro Rail will run from Uttara-Motijheel from 7:10 am to 8:40 pm while the MRT and Rapid Pass users can travel by metro rail that leaves Motijheel&nbsp; station at 8 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>At present, the trains run every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 12 minutes during off-peak hours. The new timings are applicable for peak hours only, said MN Siddique, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that earlier the number of trains\' trips were 152 every day, now it has been increased to 178.</div><div><br></div><div>Siddique also said that currently metro trains carry about 2.70 lakh passengers on an average every day.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the first metro rail in Dhaka on December 28, 2022. At that time the metro train was running from Uttara to Agargaon.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 10:03:14', '2024-02-17 10:03:14'),
(11212, 11212, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that anti-liberation forces must not be allowed to raise their heads again and ruin the country\'s march towards prosperity.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"We have been taking Bangladesh ahead towards prosperity. The advancement must go on. Stay alert so none can push the country back and make it the country of Rajakars,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said this while addressing a reception accorded by the Bangladeshi diaspora in Germany at Hotel Burgerhaus Garching at Munich on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>She also asked all to stay alert so none can conspire against the fate of the people of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>She reiterated her commitment to build Bangladesh as a secular state where people of every faith will enjoy equal rights.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We will materialise the dream of the father of the nation to transform Bangladesh into a prosperous, developed and smart Sonar Bangladesh in the spirit of the Liberation War and secularism,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said she is committed to reach the fruit of the Liberation War to every doorstep.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I never consider my needs, rather think what I can do for the betterment of the country and its people,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina said that Awami League as the pro-people party and people of the country have got everything including Bangla as mother tongue and country\'s independence through Language Movement and Liberation War movement under the leadership of the father of the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Awami League is the biggest strength of mine. We have been able to tackle various disasters like the Covid-19 pandemic as we have the party,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said she has always tried to do something for the masses.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Whenever I get chance I do work for the welfare of the people,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The ruling party chief said the people have faith and confidence in Awami League as they always find the party beside them when they need.</div><div><br></div><div>Giving a brief description of the overall development of the country, she said they have made huge socio-economic development of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our development is not only establishing mega establishments rather to make development at the grassroots,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister termed BNP as the party of looters saying that it does nothing for the wellbeing of the people rather make their own fortunes.</div><div><br></div><div>She came down heavily on the BNP as it did not take part in the 12th parliamentary election fearing defeat and instead torched vehicles and burned people to death.</div><div><br></div><div>She claimed that BNP did not take part in the election as they knew that people would not vote for them.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The party which was formed from the pockets of a military dictator always believes in agencies and they can do nothing without their help,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She blamed BNP for destroying the electoral process by holding yes/no vote and presidential election.</div><div><br></div><div>\"BNP snatch away the voting rights of the people and make the election a farce through manipulations,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>But, the Awami League has returned the voting power to the people through long struggle, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the 12th parliamentary election held on January 7 was the most free, fair and credible election since 1975.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the people of the country particularly women cast votes independently in the last parliamentary polls.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If the Awami League was not voted to power this time, the massive development which had taken place in the last 15 years with the party in power since 2009, would have been ruined. The looters (BNP) would loot everything,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to expatriate Bangladeshis to send remittances through proper banking channels.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that her government has been establishing 100 economic zones across the country, she asked the expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the economic zones with foreign partners.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud and local mayor of Munich spoke at the event while Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan moderated the programme. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 10:33:12', '2024-02-17 10:33:12'),
(11213, 11213, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the Palestinian state is not a gift or a favor but \"a right imposed by international law and legitimate international resolutions.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This came in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\'s latest rejection of international pressure for Palestinian statehood Friday following a Washington Post report on Wednesday regarding the ongoing negotiation for \"a fixed timetable for the establishment of a Palestinian state\" by the United States and a small group of Arab countries.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We strongly reject international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians,\" Netanyahu said in a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden Friday night.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Netanyahu once again challenges international and American consensus on the right to end the occupation and establish the Palestinian state, declaring his rejection of international and UN recognition of it,\" said the ministry in a statement Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu imposes \"his traditional conditions and dictates on the world and the Palestinian people in order to thwart any efforts or ideas regarding the statehood of the Palestinian people, foremost among them his rejection of any international intervention,\" according to the statement.</div><div><br></div><div>It considered Netanyahu\'s positions as \"political terrorism par excellence and a clear interpretation of the true goals of settlement and annexation of the West Bank, including Jerusalem.\" - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 10:59:26', '2024-02-17 10:59:26'),
(11214, 11214, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A headmaster of a school was crushed to death under the wheels of a truck in Gaibandha’s Dinajpur-Gobindaganj highway’s Kata area.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased, Lutfor Rahman, 55, was the headmaster of Bairagihat Govt Primary School.</div><div><br></div><div>The accident occurred around 9:30 am on Saturday when the man was on his way to the local kitchen market.</div><div><br></div><div>According to his family, he was on his way to Gobindaganj’s market to buy groceries for his son’s wedding reception programme.</div><div><br></div><div>According to locals, the speedy truck ran over his motorcycle and fled the scene, leaving him dead on the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>Immediately after the accident, the family members took his body home, said Matiur Rahman, in-charge of the Bairagi Hat Police Investigation Centre of Gobindaganj Police Station. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 11:16:29', '2024-02-17 11:16:29'),
(11215, 11215, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>As March 2024 nears, gamers are eagerly awaiting the release of a diverse array of virtual adventures. From dark and immersive narratives to strategic war simulations and spellbinding cooperative roguelikes, the lineup brings thrilling and exciting games. As each game offers its own unique blend of gameplay mechanics, storytelling, and visual aesthetics, players are poised to embark on unforgettable journeys into the realms of fantasy, mystery, and horror. Let’s dive into the tantalizing selection of virtual experiences set to captivate gamers in the third month of 2024.</b></div><div><br></div><div>10 Most Anticipated Virtual Games Releasing in March 2024&nbsp;</div><div>Biomorph</div><div><br></div><div>Biomorph is a dark adventure game developed by Lucid Dreams Studio. In this game, players explore a vast world filled with puzzles, platforming challenges, and deadly monsters. What sets Biomorph apart is its unique mechanic: players can absorb the powers of the creatures they defeat. However, these creatures can return stronger than before, posing even greater threats.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As players progress, they level up their character, collecting new abilities, mementos, and chips. Along the way, they uncover secrets about the fallen civilization and their own mysterious origins. The game features stunning hand-drawn visuals and quirky characters, creating an immersive experience for players. The game will be released on 4th March.</div><div><br></div><div>Classified: France \'44</div><div>Classified: France \'44 is a World War II-based strategy game developed by Absolutely Games and Team17 Digital. Set in Nazi-occupied France, players lead a special forces group, the Jedburghs, aiding the Resistance. The game will be launched on March 5.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Featuring turn-based tactics, players engage in historic firefights from WWII, shaping D-Day\'s outcome with an RPG system to build skilled soldiers. Three editions are available: Standard, Deluxe, and Overlord. Deluxe includes the base game and first DLC, while Overlord includes the full season pass. Pre-orders include the Resistance Pack; Steam offers \"Shadow\" and \"Ghost\" sets.</div><div><br></div><div>Key features include a unique morale system affecting enemy forces, tactical stealth actions, and replayable campaigns with 15 endings. The game prioritizes historical authenticity, reflecting real military tactics.</div><div><br></div><div>The Outlast Trials</div><div>Red Barrels presents \"The Outlast Trials,\" a chilling cooperative horror experience set in the midst of the Cold War. Players find themselves as unwilling test subjects of the Murkoff Corporation, subjected to cruel experiments in brainwashing and mind control. The game will be released on 5th March.</div><div><br></div><div>Survival in \"The Outlast Trials\" can be undertaken solo or in teams of 2, 3, or 4 players. Working together isn\'t mandatory for essential tasks, but cooperation can greatly increase your chances of survival. To earn your freedom, you must navigate through immersive story-driven therapies called Trials and shorter challenges known as MK-Challenges. These tests push the limits of your endurance and sanity.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Outlast Trials\" delves into the psychological horrors of manipulation and coercion, challenging players to endure the brutal trials imposed by the Murkoff Corporation. However, be warned: the game contains intense violence, gore, graphic sexual content, and strong language, along with strobing and flashing lights that may cause seizures in a small percentage of individuals. This game is strictly for mature audiences.</div><div><br></div><div>Hex Gambit: Respawned</div><div>Hex Gambit: Respawned is a quirky and competitive digital board game developed by One Man Left Studios and published by Blowfish Studios. The game has been set to release on March 6, 2024.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Described as a blend of chess, Into The Breach, and American football, the game allows players to command a squad of minions in turn-based strategy gameplay for 1-4 players. With mechanics like bouncing over opponents\' heads and swatting characters across the map, Hex Gambit offers creative tactics and plenty of surprises.</div><div><br></div><div>Features include single-player challenge mode, local multiplayer for up to 4 players with support for 0-4 controllers, and various game modes like Free For All and 2v2. It promises to be an engaging addition to game nights, combining accessibility for new players with deep strategic possibilities.</div><div><br></div><div>Reveil</div><div>Reveil is a narrative-driven first-person psycho-thriller game developed by Pixelsplit and published by Daedalic Entertainment. This video game will debut on March 6, 2024.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>While playing this exciting game, the gamers will dive into the unsettling story of Walter Thompson, exploring his dark past at the Nelson Bros Circus and unraveling the mysteries that haunt him. With a focus on story, puzzles, and exploration, Reveil promises a visually stunning and mentally challenging experience. Players have to navigate through versatile puzzles, confusing clues, and a disturbing psyche to uncover the truth behind Walter\'s past and the events unfolding around him.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As players delve deeper into the narrative, they will face unanswered questions and ominous challenges, testing both their own resolve and Walter\'s sanity.</div><div><br></div><div>Blade Prince Academy</div><div>Blade Prince Academy redefines the tactical RPG genre with its innovative real-time with pause combat system, developed by Angel Corp and published by Firesquid. The game is about to be released on 7 March 2024.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Set in the vibrant city of Abjectalia, players take charge of a squad of Blade Princes, elite warriors skilled in devastating combat combos. As students at the prestigious academy, they must navigate the delicate balance between defending the city from imminent threats and managing their academic and social responsibilities.</div><div><br></div><div>With striking visuals and immersive gameplay, Blade Prince Academy promises an engaging experience where every decision comes with a price, adding depth to its dark pact narrative.</div><div><br></div><div>WWE2K24</div><div>WWE 2K24 developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, is set to revolutionize sports entertainment gaming on March 8, 2024.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Wrestling lovers can now embark on a journey through WrestleMania\'s iconic moments in the gripping 2K Showcase of the Immortals. With a star-studded roster blending WWE Legends like \"Stone Cold\" Steve Austin and Undertaker with current Superstars such as \"The American Nightmare\" Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, the game offers ultra-realistic graphics to heighten the excitement.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Players will have options to explore new match types like Casket and Ambulance matches, and dive into MyRISE mode to forge your path to WWE stardom. Plus, with MyFACTION mode and Universe mode, control the WWE Universe like never before. Get ready to step into the ring and make history in WWE 2K24.</div><div><br></div><div>Alone in the Dark</div><div>Return to Derceto Manor is a reimagination of the classic survival horror game, Alone in the Dark, set to release on March 20. Developed by Pieces Interactive and published by THQ Nordic, this game pays homage to the 90s cult classic horror title.</div><div><br></div><div>Experience psychological horror and Southern Gothic themes as you step into the shoes of either Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood. Explore Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally ill, where dark secrets lurk in every corner.</div><div><br></div><div>Set in the 1920s South, join Emily and Edward as they uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Emily\'s uncle. Encounter strange residents, nightmarish realms, and dangerous monsters as you delve deeper into the mansion\'s secrets.</div><div><br></div><div>Immerse yourself in atmospheric horror with a haunting doom jazz soundtrack, and experience the thrill of desperate survival in a world where reality begins to crumble. Choose your perspective as you unravel the dark secrets of this gothic mansion in a deep psychological story penned by Mikael Hedberg, renowned horror writer of SOMA and Amnesia.</div><div><br></div><div>Open Roads</div><div>Open Roads is an upcoming narrative adventure game developed by the Open Roads Team and published by Annapurna Interactive, slated for release on March 28.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The game follows Tess Devine and her mother, Opal, as they embark on a road trip journey after discovering old notes and letters in their attic. These documents hint at family secrets, burglaries, and a hidden treasure near the Canadian border.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the ominous warnings, Tess and Opal set out to explore long-abandoned family properties, delving into the past and unearthing buried memories. Through this journey, they not only uncover the truth they\'ve been searching for but also strengthen their bond with each other. Open Roads promises to deliver a heartfelt and compelling narrative experience filled with mystery and self-discovery.</div><div><br></div><div>Vellum</div><div>Vellum is a cooperative action roguelike developed and published by Alvios Games, scheduled for release on March 28.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In Vellum, players explore magical tomes, unleashing ink-infused spells and uncovering pages of increasing power. A unique feature allows players to decide how their foes evolve, offering a fresh twist on traditional roguelike gameplay.</div><div><br></div><div>Whether playing solo or in a group, Vellum promises dynamic gameplay filled with synergy and strategy. Harness the power of signature ink to enhance spells and navigate through the corrupted Tomes of the Illuminated Library, facing off against the Torn. With strategic decisions shaping enemy upgrades and spells, players must carve their way through challenges in this monochromatic world.</div><div><br></div><div>Conclusion</div><div>All these exciting virtual games are scheduled for launch in March 2024, spanning a variety of genres and gameplay experiences.</div><div><br></div><div>From dark adventures like \"Biomorph\" and \"Alone in the Dark\" to cooperative horror in \"The Outlast Trials,\" there\'s something for every gamer.&nbsp; \"WWE 2K24\" brings expanded features and stunning graphics to wrestling fans, while \"Blade Prince Academy\" offers real time role playing gaming experience. \"Open Roads\" promises a heartfelt narrative journey, while \"Vellum\" introduces a unique twist on roguelike gameplay.</div><div><br></div><div>Overall, this March is going to be an exciting month for gamers, offering a diverse range of virtual experiences to explore. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 11:21:40', '2024-02-17 11:21:40'),
(11216, 11216, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has said there is no alternative to strong global partnerships, collective action and inclusive funding for developing countries to deal with the climate change impacts.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said the flow of climate financing for the developing countries is gradually shrinking but it is the need of the hour to ensure adequate funding for these countries to achieve adaptation and resilience to global climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the call while speaking at an event titled \"Cause and Effect : A Two Front Battle against Climate Change\" held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Minister Hasan, who has expertise on climate issues, said Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries with the highest threat of climate change, despite being the country with the lowest carbon emissions (0.48% of global emissions).</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, he said, Bangladesh is also identified as a unique example to the world in dealing with climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>The Minister said a flagship plan in the field is the \"Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the multi-dimensional initiatives in this field.</div><div><br></div><div>He also highlighted the PM’s policies and programmes including the Climate Change Trust Fund, Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 and National Adaptation Plan to combat sea level rise, increase in salinity in the coastal areas of the country, drought in the northern region, storms in the southern region, tidal waves, outbreak of floods across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Norway\'s International Development Minister Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, Pakistan\'s Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, United Arab Emirates\' Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam binte Mohammed Saeed Almheiri and other panelists reiterated the importance of global concerted efforts to deal with the climate issues. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 12:16:31', '2024-02-17 12:16:31'),
(11217, 11217, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader, criticized the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as the primary source of extremism in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During a press conference held at the Awami League president\'s office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Quader today accused the BNP of fostering extremism and engaging in reckless political tactics.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader asserted, \"Extremism in Bangladesh originated with the BNP. Unlike the BNP, the Awami League engages in responsible discourse, not baseless rhetoric.\" He likened BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to a \"reckless driver,\" accusing the BNP of aiming to disrupt political stability, a pattern they have historically followed.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the tragic assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975, Quader blamed General Ziaur Rahman and Khandaker Mostak for initiating the politics of murder and conspiracy in Bangladesh. He criticized the BNP\'s attempts to shift the blame for such historical atrocities onto the Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader also commented on the BNP\'s current political strategy, suggesting that their repeated criticisms of the government stem from a lack of substantive issues and are an attempt to rally their base out of frustration and defeatism, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the issue of the recent tensions along the Myanmar border, Quader emphasized the need for \"intelligent diplomacy,\" noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively pursuing a peaceful resolution under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s guidance. He stressed the importance of monitoring all parties\' movements and avoiding conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>The press conference was attended by Awami League organizing secretaries Abu Saeed Al Mahmud Swapan and Sujit Roy Nandi, office secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, and other leaders from both the central and metropolitan units of the Awami League.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 12:30:15', '2024-02-17 12:30:15'),
(11218, 11218, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An activist of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was allegedly beaten to death by Awami League counterparts in Chattogram\'s Raozan upazila on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This incident took place in the Hajipara area of Raozan municipality on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Md Musa, 45, a resident of the area.</div><div><br></div><div>Eyewitness said when Musa went to a local mosque to offer Jumma prayers, 10 to 12 youths led by local AL leader Iqbal, attacked him and beat him mercilessly, leaving him unconscious.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was rescued by the locals and taken to the Upazila Health Complex where the doctor declared him dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Wishing anonymity to avoid the wrath of the ruling party, an upazila BNP leader said Musa was an active worker of BNP. For the past 15 years, he was out of the area due to threats from Awami League cadres, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“We have come to know that the ruling party is trying to cover up the incident by managing the doctors and the administration to pass off a heart attack as the cause of his death,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Quoting doctors, Raozan Police Station OC Abdullah Al Haroon said Musa suffered a heart attack during an altercation with his opposition group.</div><div><br></div><div>“As we received a complaint from the victim\'s family, we will look into the matter,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 13:26:13', '2024-02-17 13:26:13'),
(11219, 11219, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israel has not presented specific evidence that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid and its recent targeted killings of Gaza police commanders safeguarding truck convoys have made it “virtually impossible” to distribute the goods safely, a top U.S. envoy said in rare public criticism of Israel.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>With the departure of police escorts following Israeli strikes, criminal gangs are increasingly targeting the convoys, said David Satterfield, the Biden administration\'s special Middle East envoy for humanitarian issues. He said the lawlessness as well as regular Israeli protests at crossing points by those opposed to aid going into Gaza have disrupted delivery and distribution.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are working with the Israeli government, the Israeli military in seeing what solutions can be found here because everyone wants to see the assistance continue,” Satterfield told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Friday. A solution \"is going to require some form of security escorts to return.”</div><div><br></div><div>Satterfield said that Israeli officials have not presented “specific evidence of diversion or theft” of U.N. assistance, but that the militants have their own interests in using “other channels of assistance ... to shape where and to whom assistance goes.”</div><div><br></div><div>Even before the latest setback, the U.S. has said aid reaching Gaza is woefully inadequate. More than half of Gaza\'s 2.3 million people are packed into the southern city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt, having heeded Israeli evacuation orders. Yet nowhere is safe, with Israel also carrying out airstrikes in Rafah.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s air and ground offensive, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has killed over 28,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. It as caused widespread destruction, displaced some 80% of the population and sparked a humanitarian crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>Rafah area residents say it\'s common for groups of children and teenagers to try to stop trucks as they enter Gaza and to grab supplies.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, police opened fire after a crowd charged toward an aid truck that had emerged from the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the local Crossings Authority, said one person was killed.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has alleged repeatedly that Hamas is diverting aid, including fuel, after it enters Gaza, a claim denied by U.N. aid agencies. Last week, an Israeli airstrike on a car killed three senior police commanders in Rafah, the first entry point for aid deliveries. Two other officers were killed in another strike.</div><div><br></div><div>The police force is controlled by the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, but Satterfield noted that it also includes those who joined before Hamas seized Gaza in 2007.</div><div><br></div><div>EGYPT IS CONCERNED</div><div>Israel has said it is determined to expand its ground combat to Rafah, portraying it as the last significant stronghold of Hamas fighters, but has not given a timeline. Addressing international concerns, Israel has said it would develop a plan to evacuate civilians before invading the southern city.</div><div><br></div><div>U.S. President Joe Biden has urged Israel not to carry out the operation without a “credible” plan to protect civilians and to instead focus on a cease-fire, while Egypt has said such an operation could threaten diplomatic relations between the countries. Many other world leaders have issued similar messages of concern.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has said it has no plans to force Palestinians into Egypt. New satellite photos, however, indicate that Egypt is preparing for that very scenario. The images show Egypt building a wall and leveling land near its border with Gaza. Egypt has not publicly acknowledged the construction.</div><div><br></div><div>Two senior Egyptian officials said Saturday that Egypt is building additional defensive lines in an already existing buffer zone. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details with the media.</div><div><br></div><div>The buffer zone, which Egypt built in recent years as part of its battle against an Islamic State insurgency, is 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the border. It was meant to prevent weapons smuggling to and from Gaza through underground tunnels. Authorities said they destroyed over 1,500 tunnels over the years.</div><div><br></div><div>The newly fortified zone is not intended to shelter Palestinians fleeing Gaza, said Diaa Rashwan, the head of the State Information Service.</div><div><br></div><div>THE WAR DRAGS ON</div><div>The Israeli military launched its war in response to a cross-border Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 others hostage.</div><div><br></div><div>The Gaza Health Ministry on Saturday raised the overall death toll in Gaza to 28,858, saying the bodies of 83 people killed in Israeli bombardments were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the ministry says two-thirds of those killed are women and children. More than 68,000 people have been wounded, including 11,000 who need urgent evacuation for treatment outside Gaza, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>In recent weeks, Israel\'s military has focused on Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city and a Hamas stronghold. The city\'s Nasser Hospital has been portrayed by the military as a Hamas hideout and as one of its last targets in Khan Younis.</div><div><br></div><div>The army said Saturday that it has arrested 100 suspected Hamas militants at the hospital. Israel\'s defense minister has said at least 20 of those detained had been involved in the Oct. 7 attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The Health Ministry said troops had turned the hospital into “military barracks\" and detained a large number of medical staff, without providing details.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel says it does not target patients or doctors, but staff say the facility is struggling under heavy fire and dwindling supplies, including food and water. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 14:09:44', '2024-02-17 14:09:44'),
(11220, 11220, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, has said the window to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C is still open.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Climate change is an existential threat, but we have not yet entered the era of overshoot,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If emissions peak by 2025, are halved by 2030, and we achieve net zero by 2050, then the worst impacts of climate change can still be avoided, and we can limit temperature rise to 1.5 °C. The window, though, is a narrow one, and it will require strong ambition and political will,\" he also said.</div><div><br></div><div>Saber said this while speaking at the Munich Security Conference held in Munich, Germany, on Saturday, February 17, in a panel titled \"The unavoidable master risk? Addressing climate overshoot.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The environment minister said overshooting and breaching 1.5 °C will make what is already a disastrous reality even worse, and the IPCC has clearly stated that sustainable development will, in many cases, not be possible.</div><div><br></div><div>Saber said climate change is already exacerbating existing social, economic, and geopolitical vulnerabilities, putting national peace and stability at risk. He pointed to sea level rise as a major threat to Bangladesh, as well as increased drought in the north-western regions of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said climate change is already causing more frequent and extreme weather events, which are leading to the displacement of people from their homes. By 2050, an estimated 13.3 million people in Bangladesh (the entire population of the State of Bavaria) will be displaced by climate change, making it the country\'s number one driver of internal migration.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister called for urgent action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, saying that this is a matter of survival. He also said developed countries need to provide scaled-up and adequate financial assistance to developing countries to help them adapt to climate change and build resilience.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We should not rush into untested technology and chartered waters such as carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation modification and instead focus on what we know for certain works: mitigation, nature based solutions, and afforestation,\" he also said.</div><div><br></div><div>Former Costa Rican President and Commissioner of the Climate Overshoot Commission, Carlos Alvarado Quesada; former Pakistani Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar; and European Commission Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, also attended the panel discussion. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 14:26:48', '2024-02-17 14:26:48'),
(11221, 11221, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Train communication from Dhaka with other parts of the country remained suspended for half an hour as a crane fell on a rail track from Dhaka Elevated Expressway at Tejgaon in the capital on Saturday, reports UNB.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>However, no casualty was reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Sub-inspector Sunil, in-charge of Airport Railway Police outpost, said the crane, used for work on Dhaka Elevated Expressway project, fell on a rail track on Moghbazar-Tejgaon up line rail route around 7 pm, halting train movement of Dhaka with other parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the train movement resumed after half an hour after the removal of the crane from the rail track, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 14:30:00', '2024-02-17 14:30:00'),
(11222, 11222, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden said Friday there was no sign Russia has decided to go ahead and deploy an emerging anti-satellite weapon, the disclosure of which has rattled Washington this week.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The White House has confirmed that U.S. intelligence officials have information indicating Russia has obtained such a capability, although such a weapon is not yet operational. Biden said Friday that “there’s no evidence that they have made a decision to go forward with doing anything in space,” while he continued to stress that there was no immediate danger to humans.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is no nuclear threat to the people of America or anywhere else in the world with what Russia’s doing at the moment,” Biden told reporters at the White House during remarks on the reported death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.</div><div><br></div><div>The president confirmed that the capability obtained by Russia “related to satellites and space and damaging those satellites potentially,” and that those capabilities could “theoretically do something that was damaging.”</div><div><br></div><div>But Russia hasn’t moved forward with plans yet, and, Biden added: “My hope is, it will not.”</div><div><br></div><div>The news of the capability emerged this week after a cryptic warning from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who urged Biden to declassify information relating to what he called a “serious national security threat.\"</div><div><br></div><div>That declassification process had been underway when Turner released the statement, according to the White House.</div><div><br></div><div>Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Germany for the Munich Security Conference, raised the matter with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and “emphasized that the pursuit of this capability should be a matter of concern,” according to a U.S. official traveling with Blinken in Munich.</div><div><br></div><div>The official, who was granted anonymity to discuss details of meetings that hadn’t been publicly disclosed, said Blinken will continue raising it throughout his meetings at the security forum. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 15:10:56', '2024-02-17 15:10:56'),
(11223, 11223, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP senior leader Selima Rahman on Saturday alleged that the government did not stop at humiliating Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, and it has now occupied his business institutions.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“People see their (govt’s) tyranny and how Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus\' institutions are being encroached upon. They have humiliated him... Now, his telecom and other institutions have been completely usurped,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club, the BNP leader also said the tyranny of the current Awami League government is all-pervasive since it has set a new precedent in usurpation.</div><div><br></div><div>Selima, a BNP standing committee member, also said the ruling party men are indulging in rape and crimes against humanity.</div><div><br></div><div>“You have heard about the (rape) incident at Jahangirnagar University. Newspapers are reporting how women are being oppressed and harassed every day,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that the women sacrificed a lot during the country’s Liberation War, the BNP leader bemoaned that mothers are now being raped and harassed there in this country. “There is no remedy while irregularities are everywhere.”</div><div><br></div><div>Selima said the repressed women and oppressed people don’t get cooperation from people and justice from the judiciary due to the politicization of the state apparatus.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Nagorik Odhikar Andolon organised the rally demanding the unconditional release of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, standing committee member Mirza Abbas and other jailed opposition leaders, and protesting the growing price hikes in daily essential commodities.</div><div><br></div><div>Selima said the country’s people are going through a tough time to cope with the skyrocketing prices of all commodities.</div><div><br></div><div>She also slammed the government for its inaction to lower the soaring prices of the commodities by controlling the business syndicate.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader called upon the people from all walks of life to take to the streets to establish a pro-people government by ousting the current “fascist’ regime.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Vice-Chairman Abdul Awal Mintu said Bangladesh\'s only Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus\'s building is being occupied by the pro-government people. “He (Muhammad Yunus) himself said he was not getting any cooperation from the police, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the prices of essential items will not go down until the current government remains in power. “I can guarantee that the people of this country will be in danger because of the current fragile economic condition.</div><div><br></div><div>The government is going to destroy the country\'s economy after ruining the country’s politics, election system and state machinery, he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-17 15:32:11', '2024-02-17 15:32:11');
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(11224, 11224, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>As outrage over the death of chief Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny reverberates across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin is turning a deaf ear to Western anger as he prepares to extend his 24-year rule in an election next month and police across Russia continue to squelch any protest attempts.</b></div><div><br></div><div>The U.S. and its allies are pondering new sanctions against Russia over Navalny’s death and the Kremlin’s recent actions in Ukraine. But as U.S. aid for Ukraine remains stuck in Congress and NATO allies in Europe struggle to fill the gap, many wonder what the West can actually do to stop the ruthless Kremlin leader, given that multiple previous rounds of penalties have failed to.</div><div><br></div><div>“There isn’t really the room for any great value in additional sanctions” against Russia, already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, Mark Galeotti, head of the London-based Mayak Intelligence consultancy firm noted in a YouTube commentary.</div><div><br></div><div>Instead, Galeotti said, the West should focus more on working with Navalny’s allies and helping ordinary Russians get access to information channels that counter Kremlin propaganda.</div><div><br></div><div>Such efforts are key especially now, according to Galeotti, who described Navalny’s death as yet another step in Putin\'s transition from “hybrid authoritarianism” to “brutal thuggish despotism.”</div><div><br></div><div>The U.S. and NATO allies have been weighing more actions to bolster support for Ukraine, where the Russian military has just forced Ukrainian troops to retreat from the key eastern stronghold of Avdiivka after a four-month ferocious battle. The allies discussed ways to increase the cost of war to Russia to force Putin to back down.</div><div><br></div><div>But the 71-year-old leader has vowed to press on, refusing to relinquish any of his gains and declaring in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson last week that the West will “sooner or later” be forced to negotiate a deal — on his terms.</div><div><br></div><div>Navalny\'s death shows Putin’s “complete ruthlessness and disdain … for both Western and international opinion,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador to Belarus and senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Russia announced Navalny\'s death on Friday, just as Western leaders gathered at a security conference in Munich.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin is “throwing down a gauntlet to the West,” Gould-Davies said. “As we come up to the second anniversary of the (Ukraine) war, he is again testing Western resolve.”</div><div><br></div><div>Navalny’s death should serve as a “wake-up call” to U.S. Republicans opposing aid for Ukraine in Congress and also encourage European NATO allies to bolster their assistance to Ukraine, Gould-Davies said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Ultimately it depends on the lessons that the West draws,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>But Navalny’s death didn\'t appear to move the U.S. House speaker Friday to commit to a proposed $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, seen as crucial to a Ukrainian victory.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Putin, the longest-serving Russian leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, is steamrolling toward another six years in power in a campaign involving three token rivals nominated by Kremlin-friendly parties. Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who made ending the war in Ukraine his chief campaign slogan, was barred from running by election officials.</div><div><br></div><div>Yet, while there was little doubt that Putin would prevail in the election, Navalny\'s death still demonstrated \"how much he saw Navalny as a threat,” Gould-Davies said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The way the Kremlin has conducted that election campaign so far suggests that they are not confident,” he said, adding that “even from prison, Navalny managed to get his voice out.”</div><div><br></div><div>Navalny\'s death just weeks before the March 15-17 presidential election possibly marked “the final act of the dismantling and crushing of any semblance of Russian organized opposition” ahead of the vote, Gould-Davies said.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite his assured victory next month, Putin still fears Western interference in the election and viewed Navalny as “an adversary manipulated by the West to undermine national and state interests,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.</div><div><br></div><div>“He sincerely believes that the West would and will use the moment to undermine the stability and to afflict political damage to his campaign,” she wrote in a commentary. “That will push him to take an even more hawkish, more repressive approach to any hostile manifestation, which he may link to external attempts to interfere. This may specifically create a more restrictive approach to the media and social networks.”</div><div><br></div><div>Navalny, who died at age 47, emerged as a major threat more than a decade ago, playing a key role in galvanizing massive street protests against Putin\'s rule in Moscow in 2011-2012 and running a successful campaign to expose government corruption.</div><div><br></div><div>For many Russians, Navalny was a powerful symbol of hope, Galeotti said, conveying even from his remote Arctic prison a vision of the “beautiful Russia of the future” — a slogan in defiance of the Kremlin’s message to Russians to “just survive, just keep your head down.”</div><div><br></div><div>In 2020, Navalny narrowly survived nerve agent poisoning in Siberia that he blamed on the Kremlin. He recovered in Germany but was immediately arrested upon his return in January 2021. He remained in custody after that, convicted three times and handed a 19-year prison term on charges of extremism.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin didn’t comment on Navalny’s death and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed statements by Western leaders holding the Kremlin responsible as “outrageous and inadmissible.”</div><div><br></div><div>But Western leaders view any such comments from the Kremlin with the same suspicion they cast toward the death of mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash two months after his troops staged a brief rebellion against the Kremlin. The crash last August was widely seen as the Kremlin’s revenge for the mutiny, which marked the most serious challenge to Putin’s rule since his first election in 2000, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Just as with Prigozhin\'s demise, Navalny\'s death “shows how completely ruthless” Putin is, Gould-Davies said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 08:59:17', '2024-02-18 08:59:17'),
(11225, 11225, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman sustained a head injury after being struck by a ball during practice.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The incident occurred while Mustafizur, representing Comilla Victorians in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was participating in a practice session at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday (February 18, 2024).</div><div><br></div><div>While returning to his run-up area during a net session, Mustafizur was hit directly on the left side of his head. He was immediately taken to a hospital in Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>Following a CT scan, the medical team from the Comilla Victorians confirmed that Mustafizur did not sustain an internal head injury. However, he will remain under observation as a precautionary measure, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“After (the) CT scan we are satisfied that he had only external injury. There was no intracranial bleeding,” stated S M Zahidul Islam Sazal, the physio of the Victorians.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sazal further mentioned that Mustafizur received stitches for the open wound.</div><div><br></div><div>Mustafizur\'s performance in the BPL has been consistent. In nine matches, he has secured 11 wickets for the reigning BPL champions.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 09:20:19', '2024-02-18 09:20:19'),
(11226, 11226, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief executives of humanitarian agencies and human rights organizations have called upon all states to do everything in their power to prevent further military offensives and forge a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We are appalled by the harrowing developments in Rafah, Gaza’s most populated area where 1.5 million people are sheltering as their last resort - over half a million of them children,\" they said in a joint statement.</div><div><br></div><div>If Israel launches its proposed ground offensive, thousands more civilians will be killed and the current trickle of humanitarian aid risks coming to a complete halt. If this military plan is not stopped immediately, the consequences will be catastrophic, said the signatories of the statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The signatories are Ana Alcade, acting Secretary General, ActionAid International; Dr Agnès Callamard, Secretary General, Amnesty International; Charlotte Slente, Secretary General, Danish Refugee Council; Manuel Patrouillard, CEO, Handicap International-Humanity &amp; Inclusion; Amitabh Behar, Executive Director, Oxfam International and Rob Williams CEO, War Child Alliance.</div><div><br></div><div>With significant damage to over 70 percent of civilian infrastructure, many areas in Gaza have been reduced to rubble and are uninhabitable.</div><div><br></div><div>Most hospitals are non-functional or only partially operational and are completely overwhelmed.</div><div><br></div><div>There is little food, clean water, shelter, or sanitation.</div><div><br></div><div>\"People are living in the most inhumane conditions, many of them out in the open. It defies belief that the Israeli military has forcibly displaced the majority of the population from their homes into Rafah - with six times as many people than before now squeezed into the area - and then announced plans to attack it,\" according to the statement received here from ActionAid Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement also said, \"The Israeli government\'s strategy of systematic and repeated forcible transfer of the civilian population has led to the forced displacement of more than three quarters of the population, many of whom left without adequate shelter or homes to return to. Collectively punishing civilians by denying them adequate shelter, food, clean water and other essentials needed for their survival and obstructing humanitarian relief consignments destined to alleviate starvation may amount to grave breaches of the obligations of an occupying power under International Humanitarian Law, constituting war crimes.”</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling mandated Israel to take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Not only has this not happened, the situation on the ground has deteriorated further. Israel’s airstrikes in Rafah killed at least 100 Palestinians in a single day, defying both international calls for moderation and potentially the ICJ order.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 1.5 million people trapped in Rafah have nowhere safe to go, and many have already been displaced multiple times. All of the Israeli supposed-safe spaces have been compromised, without exception, further proof that there was never truly anywhere safe in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire is more urgent than ever as Israel’s relentless bombardment and siege have decimated Gaza and left the Palestinian civilian population starving, facing famine, and with diseases rife while obstructing attempts to alleviate their suffering. The Israeli military offensive has made it virtually impossible for our collective agencies to meaningfully and effectively deliver humanitarian work, compromising not only safety but also the very principles guiding our humanitarian efforts. Rafah has been the primary entry point for aid and bombardment will then prevent any assistance from getting through,” the statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The silence, and at times material support of Israel’s military by powerful nations, signals distressing complicity in Gaza’s deepening crisis. Whether through the transfer of weapons, diplomatic obstruction of resolutions, or silence, such actions have effectively granted Israel impunity. The harrowing situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need for governments worldwide to stop the supply of arms and ammunition used in these atrocities. We also call for a permanent ceasefire to protect civilian lives and release of hostages and Palestinian detainees, and full, unhindered access for humanitarian aid and workers, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“States bear legal and moral responsibilities to protect civilians, prevent war crimes and uphold international law. We urge all States to consider that their inaction or continued support not only deepens the tragedy but also implicates them.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 10:43:33', '2024-02-18 10:43:33'),
(11227, 11227, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At 91, a yogurt seller from Chapainawabganj’s Bholahat upazila, Ziaul Haque, may have missed out on formal education himself, but he has been a beacon of learning for hundreds in his community.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Living in Chamamusribhuja village, Ziaul has dedicated his life to social welfare, significantly impacting the lives of those around him through education and various community services.</div><div><br></div><div>In recognition of his lifelong commitment to bettering the lives of others, Ziaul was awarded the ‘Ekushey Padak,’ the country’s second-highest civilian honor, this year in the social service category.</div><div><br></div><div>A testament to his dedication, Ziaul has been a familiar face in his community, selling yogurt for over six decades.</div><div><br></div><div>The Cultural Affairs Ministry announced the award on February 13, placing Ziaul in the esteemed company of other notable awardees. His contributions have previously earned him accolades, including the ‘Shada Moner Manush’ award in 2006.</div><div><br></div><div>Upon receiving the news, an elated Ziaul expressed his joy and humility, seeing the recognition as a motivation to continue his social work. Despite the challenges of poverty that cut his own educational journey short after class five, Ziaul turned his circumstances into a mission to support the educational aspirations of others in his community.</div><div><br></div><div>He has been particularly supportive of financially disadvantaged but talented students, offering books and academic materials funded by his yogurt sales. In 1969, Ziaul established a home library now boasting around 14,000 books, from novels to educational texts, which he offers free to local students. His generosity extends beyond education; he has provided housing for the homeless, dug wells for clean drinking water, and donated winter clothing and Qurans to madrasa students.</div><div><br></div><div>Reflecting on his contributions, Ziaul finds deep satisfaction in the educational opportunities he has been able to provide, valuing the progress of local children over his own educational setbacks. His efforts have kept many children in school, a legacy he is proud to leave behind.</div><div><br></div><div>Ziaul\'s family, along with the entire district, celebrates this well-deserved recognition. Local journalist Rubel Ahmed and many others in Bholahat commend Ziaul’s spirit and integrity, acknowledging the profound impact of his library and philanthropy on the community’s youth and educators alike. Ziaul Haque’s story is a powerful reminder of the difference one individual can make in the lives of many. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 11:21:42', '2024-02-18 11:21:42'),
(11228, 11228, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged world leaders to stop genocide in the Palestinian city of Gaza.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh has always stood against genocide. What is happening in Gaza I feel is a genocide.  So, we never support it,\" she said in an interview with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2024 on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said the Palestinian people have the right to live and have their own state. \"The Gaza people have the right to live…. So, we should help them, and stop this invasion and war,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>She called upon the world community to extend support and help to the suffering children, women, and people of Palestine.</div><div><br></div><div>At this time she cited that Bangladesh has already sent some assistance for them, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question regarding a planned Israeli operation on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the premier said Bangladesh never supports such an offensive. \"Palestinian people should have the right to have their own state, that is clear,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There is a two-state theory in 1967 UNO resolution. It should be implemented,\" said Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 11:43:01', '2024-02-18 16:58:59'),
(11229, 11229, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Sunday sent Daily Star executive editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque and his wife Tania Khandaker to jail after a 4-day remand in a case over the death of a domestic worker who fell off their flat on the eighth floor of a building in the city\'s Mohammadpur.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury passed the order when police produced them before the court on completion of their remand.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 13, the court put Ashfaqul and his wife Tania on a four-day remand each in the case when Nazmul Hasan, in-charge of Mohammadpur police station and also the investigating officer of the case, produced them before the court with a 10-day demand prayer.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocate Chaitanno Chandra Haldar filed a petition seeking bail for his clients.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 7, the court sent the couple to jail after rejecting their remand and bail petitions.</div><div><br></div><div>The court asked police to interrogate them in jail gate for three days.</div><div><br></div><div>Fifteen-year old Preeti Urang, daughter of Moulvibazar’s Lokesh Urang, used to work as a domestic help at the flat of Ashfaqul in the capital’s Mohammadpur and she died falling from the flat on February 6.</div><div><br></div><div>Preeti had been working at the house of Ashfaqul for two years.</div><div><br></div><div>Preeti’s father Lokesh Urang filed a case under 304(Ka) of Penal Code after her death. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 12:13:12', '2024-02-18 12:13:12'),
(11230, 11230, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government will be able to supply onion and sugar, imported from India, to the market before the month of Ramadan, said State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Already a proposal for importing 50,000 mts of onion and one lakh mts of sugar was sent to India and got assurance from them about 20,000 mts of onion and 50,000 mts of sugar but we hope we would be able to import products as per our demand,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister got assurance from India about onion and sugar supply and we will get good news over it within Thursday, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the government is trying to import daily essentials from other neighbouring countries, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A meeting of the task force committee will be held on Tuesday, said the junior minister adding the price of edible oil is expected to be refixed in the meeting, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>The government will ensure market monitoring at the field level during Ramadan and after fixing the price of edible oil it will take measures to prevent hike in oil prices, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 12:35:49', '2024-02-18 12:35:49'),
(11231, 11231, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia said its forces took complete control Saturday of a city in eastern Ukraine that was the focus of intense combat for months, a development that Moscow could use to boost morale as the second anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches with the war largely at a stalemate.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Russian Defense Ministry\'s announcement came the same day Ukraine’s military chief said he was withdrawing troops from the city of Avdiivka, where the outnumbered defenders had battled a Russian assault for four months.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Kremlin that Russian forces were working to clear final pockets of resistance at the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant, officials said in a statement. Videos on social media Saturday appeared to show soldiers raising the Russian flag over one of the plant’s buildings.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a personal message of congratulating to his troops in the city, state news agency Tass reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Avdiivka’s capture as an “important victory.”</div><div><br></div><div>Along with the invasion\'s upcoming anniversary on Feb. 24, Russia also is preparing for a March presidential election that is all but guaranteed to give Putin another six-year term. The Kremlin has cracked down heavily on dissent during the war, and the death Friday of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny has silenced the voice of Putin\'s most formidable foe.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine is back on the defensive against Russia in the nearly 2-year-old war, hindered by low ammunition supplies and a shortage of personnel. Speaking at the Munich SecurityConference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned his country\'s allies that an “artificial deficit” of arms for Ukraine risked giving Russia breathing space and allowing \"Putin to adapt to the current intensity of the war.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Our actions are limited only by ... our strength,” Zelenskyy said, pointing to the situation in Avdiivka after the commander of Ukraine\'s armed forces said he was withdrawing troops from the city to prevent their encirclement and to save soldiers’ lives.</div><div><br></div><div>President Joe Biden said he told Zelenskyy in their Saturday phone call that he remains confident Congress will ultimately approve additional funding for Ukraine. But asked if he was confident more U.S. funding would come through before Ukraine loses more territory, Biden acknowledged, “I’m not.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Look Ukrainians have fought so bravely, ” Biden said “There is so much on the line. The idea now when they are running out of ammunition that we’re going to walk away. I find it absurd.”</div><div><br></div><div>White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson called the withdrawal “the cost of Congressional inaction.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a short statement posted on Facebook, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said the Ukrainian troops were moving to “more favorable lines.\"</div><div><br></div><div>“Our soldiers performed their military duty with dignity, did everything possible to destroy the best Russian military units, inflicted significant losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are taking measures to stabilize the situation and maintain our positions,” the statement read.</div><div><br></div><div>The withdrawal was Syrskyi’s first major test since his appointment this month as Ukraine’s new army chief.</div><div><br></div><div>In his previous position as commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, he faced criticism for holding on to the city of Bakhmut for nine months, a siege that became the war’s longest and bloodiest battle and cost Ukraine dearly, but also served to sap Russia’s forces.</div><div><br></div><div>In recent days, reports emerged that Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka faced a deteriorating situation.</div><div><br></div><div>Rodion Kudriashov, deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, said Friday that Ukrainian troops were still holding out against the onslaught of about 15,000 Russian soldiers, but he expected the situation would “soon become critical.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The enemy is trying to penetrate our defense and in some places to bypass our positions,” he told The Associated Press.</div><div><br></div><div>The 3rd Brigade said on its social media account Friday that its soldiers were at the huge Avdiivka Coke Plant. Russian warplanes have been dropping about 60 bombs a day, relentlessly shelling the area and launching assaults with armor and infantry, the brigade said.</div><div><br></div><div>A video showed dense black smoke over the factory, said to be caused by burning fuel oil reservoirs. The post said: “Poisonous smog spreads all over the plant.”</div><div><br></div><div>Russian media reported the Kremlin’s forces were making extensive use of plane-launched glide bombs, which fly at a shallower angle, to batter Ukrainian positions.</div><div><br></div><div>Heavily fortified with a web of tunnels and concrete fortifications, Avdiivka lies in the northern suburbs of Donetsk, a city in a region of the same name that Russian forces partially occupy. Capturing Avdiivka could be a timely boost for Moscow and serve as a possible springboard for Russia to drive deeper into the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Fewer than 1,000 people remain in the city, according to the Donetsk regional governor, Vadym Filashkin. The city, with a prewar population of about 31,000, is today a bombed-out shell of what it once was.</div><div><br></div><div>Aerial footage of Avdiivka obtained by The Associated Press in December showed an apocalyptic scene and hinted at Russia’s staggering losses, with the bodies of about 150 soldiers — most wearing Russian uniforms — lying scattered along tree lines where they sought cover.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said Thursday that taking Avdiivka would be more of a symbolic win for the Kremlin and would not bring significant changes to the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line that has barely budged in recent months.</div><div><br></div><div>“The potential Russian capture of Avdiivka would not be operationally significant and would likely only offer the Kremlin immediate informational and political victories,” the institute said in an assessment, - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Russian forces would be highly unlikely to make rapid operationally significant advances from Avdiivka if they captured the settlement, and the potential Russian capture of Avdiivka at most would set conditions for further limited tactical gains,” it added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 14:17:58', '2024-02-18 14:17:58'),
(11232, 11232, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj continue to be afflicted by an acute gas crisis, even though Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company, the state-owned distributor of natural gas, claims the situation has improved.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>As reported in the media previously, garments and textiles firms in the industrial belt of these central districts have been suffering from an acute gas crisis for the last few months.</div><div><br></div><div>“The factories are in dire straits,” a top top-level manager of a group of textile factories in Gazipur told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Most of the industries in Gazipur do not get adequate supply of gas during their operational periods, the most crucial hours during which their machines need to be running. Inadequate supply manifests in the form of low pressure gas flow, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Low pressure gas flow is akin to low voltage electricity - many appliances won\'t run, even though an electric charge is present.</div><div><br></div><div>The textiles group official said that due to the lack of gas supply, production in various factories is being disrupted and they are on the verge of shutting down.</div><div><br></div><div>In the ongoing gas crisis, important machines like generators and broilers in the dyeing section of the factories are not being run. This has been posing a great risk for the industries to continue their production and pushing them towards huge financial losses.</div><div><br></div><div>“Many industries would not be able to pay the salaries and festival bonuses during the coming Eid if the situation does not improve,” said an industry owner.</div><div><br></div><div>Industry insiders said there are more than 300 factories in Kaliakoir and other areas in Gazipur.</div><div><br></div><div>All these industries have been suffering from the nagging gas crisis and some of them have already suspended their productions.</div><div><br></div><div>Each of the industries has more than 1000 workers. But following the gas crisis, they have to reduce their production target while some of them use CNG at a higher cost to continue their operations.</div><div><br></div><div>A similar situation is prevailing in the Mirpur, Tongi and Narayanganj areas, said Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).</div><div><br></div><div>He said that despite increasing the price, the government is not able to provide adequate gas.</div><div><br></div><div>“Production in garment factories has come down to half due to non-availability of gas. Many buyers meanwhile are pushing for air shipments as the normal schedule for shipments has failed in keeping the commitment,” he said adding, some buyers are asking for discounts on the rates.</div><div><br></div><div>“Some customers are upset and cancel the order in such a situation,” he noted.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) has also alleged that no industry in the country is able to run at its full potential due to the gas crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>A Bangladesh Chamber Of Industries delegation, led by its president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), raised the allegation when it met Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at his ministry office.</div><div><br></div><div>The lone chamber for industries said the prices of electricity and gas were increased on the pretext of increasing prices on the international market in the hope that the government would ensure their continuous supply.</div><div><br></div><div>“But despite the declining trend of energy prices in the international market, it is being heard that the prices of electricity and gas will be increased again,” BCI said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>It demands for a sustainable solution to the problem. “If a long term plan is given to the industrial sector in terms of power and gas supply, it can move forward accordingly.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Titas Gas general manager Arpana Islam admitted the gas crisis. But she claimed that the situation has improved to some extent recently following measures to increase the gas supply.</div><div><br></div><div>She advised to talk to Petrobangla when asked whether there is any possibility in near future to further improve the gas supply situation.</div><div><br></div><div>Petrobangla official statistics reveal that in the last one month the total gas supply across the country has increased by just 100 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) or so, leaving a deficit between production and supply of about 1500 mmcfd.</div><div><br></div><div>The Petrobangla data shows that on February 16 it produced 2671 mmcfd gas including its import from abroad against a demand for more than 4000 mmcfd.</div><div><br></div><div>The TItas Gas data also shows that about 30 power plants now remained out of operation due to gas shortage. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 14:21:16', '2024-02-18 14:21:16'),
(11233, 11233, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>LGRD Minister Tazul Islam on Sunday said around 17,000 metric tonnes of waste are generated from the country’s 12 city corporations every day and the government has taken various measures for recycling wastes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a query from ruling Awami League MP elected from Noakhali-2 Morshed Alam at parliament, the minister said scrutiny of different proposals is going on to produce power from waste in the city corporations, except Barishal and Rajshahi city corporations,.</div><div><br></div><div>Tazul Islam said the amount of waste generated from Dhaka South City Corporation is 3213 MT, Dhaka North City Corporation 3400-3600 MT, Chattogram City Corporation 2135 MT, Sylhet City Corporation 375 MT, Barishal City Corporation 500 MT, Khulna City Corporation 1000 MT, Rajshahi City Corporation 350 MT, Rangpur City Corporation 120 MT, Narayanganj City Corporation 1000 MT, Cumilla City Corporation 210 MT, Gazipur City Corporation 4,000 MT and Mymensingh City Corporation 500 MT.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 39 percent of the total waste come from the two city corporations of Dhaka city, the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>Tazul said that Local Government Department has taken initiative to produce power from the waste of Dhaka North City Corporation.</div><div><br></div><div>“A project was taken to build incineration plant for producing power from the waste of Amin Bazar landfill through WtE Power Plant North Dhaka Private Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board with financing from China Machinery Engineering Corporation,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the minister said, scrutiny of six proposals is going on to produce power from the waste of Dhaka North City Corporation.</div><div><br></div><div>Thirteen proposals were sent to the Power Division for producing power from the waste of Chattogram City Corporation, said the said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The technical committee of Bangladesh Power Development Board has selected proposals of four companies. Work is going on to implement the project,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the minister also said an incineration plant was set up at the Chattogram City Corporation area to produce power from medical waste of this city corporation, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with ‘Waste Concern’ to set up medical incineration at Narayanganj City Corporation, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 14:34:39', '2024-02-18 14:34:39'),
(11234, 11234, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four people were killed when a pick-up van rammed into a CNG autorickshaw on Gorai-Sakhipur regional road at Bashtoil Telipara in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail district on Sunday</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Lutfur Rahman alias Moijuddin, 40, son of Yusuf Mia, Rahima Begum, 45, son of Tara Mia, Akash Mia, 30, son of Bidyut Mia and Nazmul Islam, 34, son of Samej Mia of the upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>The accident occurred around 4 pm when the Sakhipur-bound pick-up hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, leaving four people dead on the spot, said Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Mirzapur Police Station. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 15:07:52', '2024-02-18 15:07:52'),
(11235, 11235, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Deputy Leader of the opposition and Jatiya Party Member Anisul Islam Mahmud on Sunday said extortion has become a culture in the society.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“My appeal to my fellow Members of Parliament. Let us unite in this one cause, where no penny will be spent. Nothing is needed. Only we will pledge not to support them, just resist them. By doing this, I think Bangladesh will survive,” he said in Parliament standing on a point of order.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the news published in a newspaper, Anisul Islam Mahmud said that extortion money has to be paid for transportation of goods. It adds to the total price. \"If you want to construct home, you have to pay extortion,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that if anyone wanted not to pay any extortion money, then they have to give the work of supplying rod, brick, cement or sand to the extortionist.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The poor hawkers have to pay extortion while extortionists are also there at the rickshaw stands. Extortion has become a terrible disease,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that if action is not taken against it, there will be trouble ahead.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon all members of Parliament to unite and take a pledge not to support extortionists and to resist them, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Participating in the unscheduled discussion, another Jatiya Party member and opposition chief whip Mujibul Haque showing a newspaper report said that the money for the sale of forms in Chattogram University is divided among the vice-chancellor, pro vice-chancellors and other teachers.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“CU Chhatra League wants to be a part of this money sharing like they did in the past.”</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the Education Minister, Mujibul Haque said, if this is correct, then let the people know what measures have been taken.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 15:53:13', '2024-02-18 15:53:13'),
(11236, 11236, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>British Labour leader Keir Starmer said today there should be a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, setting out his stance before parliament is expected to debate a conflict that has caused division in the opposition party.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>With Labour well ahead in the polls before an election later this year, Starmer is keen to present a united front to voters, but the conflict in Gaza has tested that unity.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly a third of his lawmakers defied him last year to back calls for an immediate ceasefire and the party had to withdraw support for a candidate over his comments about Israel earlier this month.</div><div><br></div><div>This week, the Scottish National Party is expected to bring a motion to parliament to call for an immediate ceasefire – something Starmer’s foreign policy chief David Lammy said the party would examine and then come to a decision on.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the Scottish Labour conference, Starmer said: “What we all want to see … (is) an end to the fighting not just now, not just for a pause, but permanently. A ceasefire that lasts … that is what must happen now,” reports Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He added that any ceasefire could not be one-sided.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Starmer, like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, had called for a “sustainable ceasefire” and his aides said his words did not amount to a change in position.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 16:23:38', '2024-02-18 16:23:38'),
(11237, 11237, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Authorities in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, ordered its officials today not to take pictures or videos of “living things”.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In a letter addressed to civil and military officials, the provincial department of interior directed them “to refrain from taking pictures of living things in your formal and informal gatherings, because it causes more harm than good”.</div><div><br></div><div>It said text or audio content on officials’ activities was allowed.</div><div><br></div><div>Images of humans and animals are generally avoided in Islamic art, extending for some Muslims to an aversion to any images of living things.</div><div><br></div><div>A spokesman for Kandahar’s governor told AFP the letter was authentic.</div><div><br></div><div>To what extent the order would be applied and how it would be enforced were unclear.</div><div><br></div><div>Taliban government spokesmen did not immediately reply to requests for clarification or comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Television and pictures of living things were banned under the previous Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001.</div><div><br></div><div>Several media outlets have refrained from using images of people and animals since the Taliban returned to power more than two years ago, - AFP </div><div><br></div><div>However, official central government departments frequently distribute and share pictures of senior officials meeting foreign dignitaries.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 16:30:07', '2024-02-18 16:36:47'),
(11238, 11238, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least one person has been arrested and more are wanted after a company scammed people out of tens of millions of dollars, promising cheap iPhones after a ban on them in Iran.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A division of Iranian law enforcement tasked with economic crimes said on Friday that the main suspect in the case of a firm called Kourosh Company had fled the country, but a “main member” of the company was arrested and two more are wanted.</div><div><br></div><div>It said that, in coordination with the judiciary, “all the assets of the main suspect of the case were confiscated” without saying how much the assets were worth.</div><div><br></div><div>Starting last year, Iran banned official registration of all new iPhone models made by United States tech giant Apple. The ban was extended this year, affecting all iPhone 15 models.</div><div><br></div><div>All phones imported into Iran must be registered upon entry – even those belonging to tourists – or else they are considered contraband and only have network coverage for one month on any local SIM card.</div><div><br></div><div>All new iPhone 14 and 15 handsets are being smuggled into Iran and can readily be found in shops in Tehran and across the country, but the ban has caused chaos.</div><div><br></div><div>People have found temporary workarounds to circumvent the ban with spoofing methods, but the phones could still get disconnected after a while. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 16:40:18', '2024-02-18 16:40:18'),
(11239, 11239, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked the expatriate Bangladeshis to give a befitting reply to the conspiracies against the country\'s prosperity with correct information.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Some people don\'t want the progress of the country and the continuation of democracy. They are conspiring against the country\'s prosperity by giving false information. You (expatriate Bangladeshis) have to give a reply to the conspiracies raising correct information,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister made the remarks while exchanging views with the leaders of All European Expatriate Awami League at her Place of Residence in Munich, Germany on Sunday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked them to maintain communication with the leaders of their host countries and inform them of the real pictures of Bangladesh. “Every expatriate will have to work as an ambassador of Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said some Bangladeshis try to tarnish the image of the country in foreign lands. “Stay vigilant so that they can’t do it,” she added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that her government has been establishing 100 special economic zones and several high-tech parks across Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina called upon the Bangladeshi diaspora to invest personally or with foreign partners in Bangladesh. “You can search your investment partners. You can invest in Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said the expatriate Bangladeshis can contribute to the socio-economic development of Bangladesh and its people, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on her government’s measures to ensure the country\'s overall development, she said, \"We have ensured development up to the grassroots.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh has got the status of a developing country and will start its journey towards becoming a developing nation in 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>So, the expatriate Bangladeshis can play a pivotal role to smoothen the journey towards a developing nation, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said they have been working to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina reiterated that Bangladesh held the country\'s most free, fair and credible election on January 7, 2024 since 1975.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, among others, were present.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-18 16:58:04', '2024-02-18 16:58:04'),
(11240, 11240, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Habibur Rahman said on Monday there is no specific security threat centering the observance of Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21 but police have taken all necessary measures.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said this while talking to reporters after visiting security measures at Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>The entire area will be kept under monitoring of CCTV cameras while bomb disposal, SWAT, fire service, medical and other teams will be remain stand-by, Habibur said .</div><div><br></div><div>Security measures have been taken through patrolling with drone and mobile in the Shaheed Minar area, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>About the foolproof security measure for the month-long Ekushey book fair, he said that a control room has been set up there and all kinds of security equipment and security units are working there through cameras, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Police are vigilant to tackle any situation like deterioration of law and order, he said, adding that measures have been taken to control traffic congestion centering the observation of the 21st February.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that movement of vehicles will remain restricted on some roads and vehicles will be able to enter and exit through some designated roads.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 09:05:29', '2024-02-19 09:05:29');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11241, 11241, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 53 men were massacred in a major escalation of tribal violence in Papua New Guinea, Australian media reported Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A tribe, their allies and mercenaries were on their way to attack a neighboring tribe when they were ambushed Sunday in Enga province in the South Pacific nation\'s remote highlands, Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Acting Superintendent George Kakas told Australian Broadcasting Corp.</div><div><br></div><div>Police expected to find more dead bodies among the wounded who had escaped into the woods, he said. “These tribesmen have been killed all over the countryside, all over the bush,” Kakas told ABC.</div><div><br></div><div>Bodies were collected from the battlefield, roads and the riverside, then loaded onto police trucks and taken to the hospital. Kakas said authorities were still counting “those who were shot, injured and ran off into the bushes.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We presume the numbers will go up to 60 or 65,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Kakas said it could be the highest death toll from such violence in the highlands, where there are few roads and most of the inhabitants are subsistence farmers.</div><div><br></div><div>Police in the capital of Port Moresby did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for information on the massacre.</div><div><br></div><div>Papua New Guinea is a diverse, developing nation of 10 million people with 800 languages in a strategically important part of the South Pacific.</div><div><br></div><div>Internal security has become an increasing challenge for its government as China, the United States and Australia seek closer security ties.</div><div><br></div><div>Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was ready to assist Papua New Guinea, which is Australia\'s nearest neighbor and the largest single recipient of Australian foreign aid.</div><div><br></div><div>“That is very disturbing the news that has come out of Papua New Guinea,” Albanese said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We remain available to provide whatever support we can in a practical way, of course, to help our friends in PNG,” Albanese added.</div><div><br></div><div>Albanese said Australia was already providing “considerable support” for Papua New Guinea and was helping train the country’s police officers.</div><div><br></div><div>Tribal violence in the Enga region has intensified since elections in 2022 that maintained Prime Minister James Marape\'s administration. Elections and accompanying allegations of cheating and process anomalies have always triggered violence throughout the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Enga Gov. Peter Ipatas said there were warnings that tribal fighting was about to erupt, reports AP.</div><div><br></div><div>“From a provincial perspective, we knew this fight was going to be on and we (alerted) the security forces last week to make sure they took appropriate action to ensure this didn’t occur,” Ipatas told ABC.</div><div><br></div><div>Ipatas described the violence as a \"very, very sad occasion for us in the province and it’s a bad thing for the country.” </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 09:59:19', '2024-02-19 10:03:55'),
(11242, 11242, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Historic hearings are opening on Monday at the United Nations’ top court into the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Palestinian representatives will speak first as the International Court of Justice begins hearing legal arguments following a request submitted by the U.N. General Assembly for a non-binding advisory opinion into Israel\'s policies in the occupied territories.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the case opens at the court\'s Great Hall of Justice against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, it focuses instead on Israel’s open-ended control over the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem.</div><div><br></div><div>The Palestinian legal team will tell the panel of international judges that Israel has violated the prohibition on territorial conquest by annexing large swaths of occupied land and the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and has imposed a system of racial discrimination and apartheid.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want to hear new words from the court,” said Omar Awadallah, the head of the U.N. organizations department in the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>After the Palestinians address the court on Monday, an unprecedented 51 countries and three international organizations will speak. The court will likely take months to issue its opinion.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel is not scheduled to speak during the hearings, but could submit a written statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Yuval Shany, a law professor at Hebrew University and senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, said Israel will likely justify the ongoing occupation on security grounds, especially in the absence of a peace deal.</div><div><br></div><div>It is likely to point to the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas-led militants from Gaza killed 1,200 people across southern Israel and dragged 250 hostages back to the territory.</div><div><br></div><div>However, Palestinians and leading rights groups argue that the occupation goes far beyond defensive measures. They say it has morphed into an apartheid system, bolstered by settlement building on occupied lands, that gives Palestinians second-class status and is designed to maintain Jewish hegemony from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Israel rejects any accusation of apartheid.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state. Israel considers the West Bank to be disputed territory, whose future should be decided in negotiations.</div><div><br></div><div>It has built 146 settlements across the West Bank, according to watchdog group Peace Now, many of which resemble fully developed suburbs and small towns. The settlements are home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers, while around 3 million Palestinians live in the territory.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel annexed east Jerusalem and considers the entire city to be its capital. An additional 200,000 Israelis live in settlements built in east Jerusalem that Israel considers to be neighborhoods of its capital. Palestinian residents of the city face systematic discrimination, making it difficult for them to build new homes or expand existing ones.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel withdrew all of its soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005, but continued to control the territory\'s airspace, coastline and population registry. Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza when the Palestinian militant Hamas group seized power there in 2007.</div><div><br></div><div>The international community overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal. Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem, home to the city’s most sensitive holy sites, is not internationally recognized.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s not the first time the court has been asked to give an advisory opinion on Israeli policies.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2004, it said a separation barrier Israel built through east Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank was “contrary to international law.” It also called on Israel to immediately halt construction. Israel has ignored the ruling.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, late last month, the court ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in its campaign in Gaza. The order came at a preliminary stage of a case filed by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, a charge that Israel denied.</div><div><br></div><div>South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, has long compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to the apartheid regime of white minority rule in South Africa, which restricted most Black people to “homelands” before ending in 1994.&nbsp; - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 10:09:55', '2024-02-19 10:09:55'),
(11243, 11243, '<div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Monday morning after attending the three-day Munich Security Conference in Germany, her first foreign tour since winning last month’s national polls.</div><div><br></div><div>A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the PM and her entourage departed München Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich at around 9:08 pm on Sunday (local time) (2:10am on Monday Bangladesh time). The flight landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 11am.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister left for Munich on February 15 on a three-day official visit. </div><div><br></div><div>During her stay in Munich, Hasina attended the Munich Security Conference and held meetings with several global leaders on the sidelines of the conference.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier held meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Qatar Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and former Prime Minister and President of Women Political Leaders (WPL) Silvana Koch-Mehrin, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Pedro\'s Adhanom Ghebreyesus, President of Global Affairs at Meta and former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK Sir Nick Clegg, among others, met Sheikh Hasina there.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister also joined a community reception accorded to her by Bangladeshi diaspora in Germany and different European countries in Munich. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 10:44:37', '2024-02-19 10:44:51'),
(11244, 11244, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former Foreign Minister of Singapore George Yeo has said if Bangladesh wants to get&nbsp; closer to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), such as becoming its sectoral dialogue partner, it has to view the Rohingya issue from the regional bloc\'s view also - in which Myanmar is a full member.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“You need to incorporate the view of ASEAN, not dismissing the importance of the Rohingya issue but also not allowing it to become such a dominating issue,” he said addressing a discussion here in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group, hosted the discussion as part of its Distinguished Speaker Series, titled “Bangladesh and ASEAN in a Multipolar World” at Hotel Renaissance in the city’s Gulshan area.</div><div><br></div><div>George Yeo said now Bangladesh wants to be a sectoral dialogue partner of the ASEAN, with one issue dominating the agenda.</div><div><br></div><div>Otherwise, Yeo, who held multiple cabinet positions besides the foreign minister\'s in his distinguished career, feels promoting Bangladesh as a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN can be done \"without too much difficulty, if you put in the diplomatic footwork.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Terming the Rohingya crisis a human tragedy, the former Singaporean foreign minister in his keynote address said, “There is no simple solution. Because the problems are rooted in history and the solutions could be rooted in history.”</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, he said ASEAN didn’t condemn the Rohingya genocide when it happened as it considers it an internal political problem. “ASEAN has tried to separate the humanitarian issue in Rakhine estate from a political issue,” he said, adding that ASEAN doesn’t interfere in the affairs of its member countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the ASEAN members, the Muslim countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, also Singapore are sympathetic towards the Rohingya people. Others don’t have the same view. Laos has shared traditional relations with Myanmar, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In Myanmar, the Rohingya is a side issue but in Bangladesh it is a central issue, he continued.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on the development of Bangladesh, George Yeo highly praised the recent progress of the country in different economic and social indexes.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cosmos Foundation President, scholar-diplomat, and former Foreign Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh Caretaker Government chaired and conducted the discussion, while Enayetullah Khan, Chairman of the Cosmos Foundation, delivered the welcoming remarks.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Chowdhury said the discussion on ASEAN and Bangladesh is a timely one and the deliberations at this time are apt for two broad reasons.</div><div><br></div><div>Raising the first reason, he said, “Bangladesh, in the midst of a graduation process from the list of LDCs, would be looking to rewarding relationships with friendly multilateral economic associations of which ASEAN is a key one.”</div><div><br></div><div>The scholar-diplomat said they, in particular, see the ASEAN Economic Community ambition as commendable. “It envisions the concept of the region as a single market and production base, which will render the region competitive, with equitable economic development and fully integrated into the global economy,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Masterplan on ASEAN Connectivity is also a laudable goal. “No surprise, therefore, in our inclination to wanting to be a Regional Dialogue Partner and seeking the support of all friendly countries including Singapore,” he went on.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Chowdhury said the second reason is the burgeoning turmoil in Myanmar, an ASEAN member, which is now threatening to spill into Bangladesh as well, with protagonists from contending sides looking to Bangladesh as a safe haven.</div><div><br></div><div>“We understand the ASEAN principle of non-interference in another member-state\'s affairs. We also note, however, it contributes to the failure to rein in the junta leadership, and the ineffectiveness of the Five-point Consensus. Very applicable to the junta is that dire dictum of Tacitus: \'They create a desolation and call it peace,\'\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Citing that ASEAN is a political institution, he said there is a huge risk that its inability to resolve the Myanmar crisis will take a toll, not only on its credibility, but on its unity.</div><div><br></div><div>Enayetullah Khan, also Editor-in-Chief, United News of Bangladesh (UNB), in his welcoming remarks expressed deep gratitude to George Yeo despite his pressing schedule.</div><div><br></div><div>He said a highly successful career in public life for Yeo saw him as a Cabinet Minister for 23 years, including as Foreign Minister between 2004 and 2011.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about Bangladesh-Singapore relations, he said, “We are happy that our leaders Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have such a close rapport! We are looking forward to the day that rapport can be translated into a mutually rewarding free trade agreement.”</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that his own experience of Singapore has been most exciting, the Chairman of the Cosmos Foundation said he has sought to put them together in a book titled ‘Bangladesh and Singapore: A tale of two nations’ that he hopes to launch simultaneously in Singapore and Dhaka in the near future. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 11:36:02', '2024-02-19 11:36:02'),
(11245, 11245, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Joypurhat court on Monday sentenced five to death with fined of Tk 50, 000 each in a case over the killing of a man in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat district around 14 years back.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Joypurhat Additional Sessions Judge Court Judge Md Nurul Islam passed the order in the presence of four out of the five convicts, said the court’s public prosecutor Nependranath Mandal.</div><div><br></div><div>The convicts are Sahida Begum, her son Rabbani, Mozaffar Hossain, Amina Begum and her son Rafiul Islam, hailing from Koktara village of the upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>All the convicts except Amina were on the dock during the delivery of the judgment.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also acquitted four people as the allegations brought against them were not found to be true.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case statement, all the nine accused-equipped with lethal arms attacked neighbour Abu Taher over previous enmity&nbsp; on March 25, 2010, leaving him injured, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>The victim succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital after a few days of the attck.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the deceased’s father Abu Hossain filed a case accusing nine people with the Panchbibi police station.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 12:06:04', '2024-02-19 12:06:04'),
(11246, 11246, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange\'s fight to avoid facing spying charges in the United States may be nearing an end following a protracted legal saga in the U.K. that included seven years of self-exile inside a foreign embassy and five years in prison.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Assange faces what could be his final court hearing in London next week as he tries to stop his extradition to the U.S. The High Court has scheduled two days of arguments over whether Assange can ask an appeals court to block his transfer. If the court doesn\'t allow the appeal to go forward, he could be sent across the Atlantic.</div><div><br></div><div>His wife says the decision is a matter of life and death for Assange, whose health has deteriorated during his time in custody.</div><div><br></div><div>“His life is at risk every single day he stays in prison,” Stella Assange said Thursday. “If he’s extradited, he will die.”</div><div><br></div><div>WHAT IS ASSANGE CHARGED WITH?</div><div>Assange, 52, an Australian computer expert, has been indicted in the U.S. on 18 charges over Wikileaks\' publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010.</div><div><br></div><div>Prosecutors say he conspired with U.S. army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>He faces 17 counts of espionage and one charge of computer misuse. If convicted, his lawyers say he could receive a prison term of up to 175 years, though American authorities have said any sentence is likely to be much lower.</div><div><br></div><div>Assange and his supporters argue he acted as a journalist to expose U.S. military wrongdoing and is protected under press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the files published by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.</div><div><br></div><div>“Julian has been indicted for receiving, possessing and communicating information to the public of evidence of war crimes committed by the U.S. government,” Stella Assange said. “Reporting a crime is never a crime.”</div><div><br></div><div>U.S. lawyers say Assange is guilty of trying to hack the Pentagon computer and that WikiLeaks’ publications created a “grave and imminent risk” to U.S. intelligence sources in Afghanistan and Iraq.</div><div><br></div><div>WHY HAS THE CASE DRAGGED ON SO LONG?</div><div>While the U.S. criminal case against Assange was only unsealed in 2019, his freedom has been restricted for more than a dozen years.</div><div><br></div><div>Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012 and was granted political asylum after courts in England ruled he should be extradited to Sweden as part of a rape investigation in the Scandinavian country.</div><div><br></div><div>He was arrested by British police after Ecuador’s government withdrew his asylum status in 2019 and then jailed for skipping bail when he first took shelter inside the embassy.</div><div><br></div><div>Although Sweden dropped its sex crimes investigation, Assange has remained in London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison while the extradition battle with the U.S. continues.</div><div><br></div><div>A judge in London initially blocked Assange’s transfer to the U.S. on the grounds he was likely to kill himself if held in harsh American prison conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>But subsequent courts cleared the way for the move after U.S. authorities provided assurances he wouldn’t experience the severe treatment that his lawyers said would put his physical and mental health at risk.</div><div><br></div><div>Stella Assange and her husband\'s supporters have criticized those assurances as being meaningless because they are conditional.</div><div><br></div><div>WHAT ARE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FROM THE HEARING?</div><div>If the London court rejects Assange\'s plea for a full appeal, he could be extradited to the U.S. once British officials approve his removal.</div><div><br></div><div>His legal team plans to appeal an adverse ruling to the European Court of Human Rights, but they fear he could possibly be transferred before the court in Strasbourg, France, could halt his removal.</div><div><br></div><div>If he prevails at next week\'s hearing, it would set the stage for an appeal process that is likely to further drag out the case.</div><div><br></div><div>“This procedure has been marked by prolonged and creeping time frames,” Wikileaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said. “We call it punishment through process. It is obviously a deliberate attempt to wear him down to punish him by taking this long.”</div><div><br></div><div>While the U.K. Supreme Court rejected Assange\'s petition, saying he didn\'t raise an “arguable point of law,\" his wife said his new bid will raise several points that are grounds for appeal.</div><div><br></div><div>Lawyers for Assange plan to argue he can\'t get a fair trial in the U.S., that a U.S.-U.K. treaty prohibits extradition for political offenses and that the crime of espionage was not meant to apply to publishers.</div><div><br></div><div>“The drafters of the Espionage Act did not intend for publishers to fall within its ambit,” Stella Assange wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Unchallenged expert evidence showed that receipt and publication of state secrets is routine, and that there was an ‘unbroken practice of non-prosecution’ of publishers. The prosecution ‘crosses a new legal frontier’ and ‘breaks all legal precedents.’”</div><div><br></div><div>WHAT IS ASSANGE\'S CURRENT STATE?</div><div>Stella Assange said her husband\'s mental and physical health has declined dramatically and he\'s aged prematurely in prison. He experienced a mini-stroke in October 2021 and was so ill in December that he broke a rib coughing.</div><div><br></div><div>“I worry about him every time he gets sick,” Stella Assange said. “The mental toll is extreme.”</div><div><br></div><div>The couple, who got married at Belmarsh Prison almost two years ago, have two young sons, Gabriel and Max, who were conceived during Assange\'s stay in the embassy, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The boys visit their father in prison every week, undergoing security checks that include being patted down by guards and sniffed by dogs, Stella Assange said. The couple is protective of the children, who haven’t been told why their father is behind bars, according to their mother.</div><div><br></div><div>“I don’t think it’s fair on them to know what’s really going on,” she said as she choked up. “They know exactly what a prison is. They know that the guards are stopping Julian from leaving the prison even though he wants to come home.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 12:23:22', '2024-02-19 12:23:22'),
(11247, 11247, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A group of protesters burned an Israeli flag in front of the International Criminal Court (ICJ) as public hearings on Israeli practices in Palestine began on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>One of the protesters is seen in an Anadolu footage to have taken down the flag from a car window as the vehicle drove by the protesters. The flag was burned by protesters later on.</div><div><br></div><div>The public hearings started following the UN General Assembly\'s request for an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.</div><div><br></div><div>A General Assembly resolution asked the ICJ to determine legal consequences \"arising from the ongoing violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination,\" and \"from its adoption of related discriminatory legislation and measures.\"</div><div><br></div><div>At least 50 countries will present their arguments regarding the legality or otherwise of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories, according to the court.</div><div><br></div><div>South Africa brought a genocide case against Israel to the ICJ in late December and asked it to grant emergency measures to end the bloodshed in Gaza, where more than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>The court on Jan. 26 ordered Israel to take \"all measures within its power\" to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza but fell short of ordering a cease-fire.</div><div><br></div><div>It also ordered Israel to take \"immediate and effective\" measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>A cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group, Hamas, on Oct. 7 killed less than 1,200 people, but the ensuing Israeli offensive into Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory\'s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave\'s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite international outcry, Israel now plans a ground invasion of Rafah, which holds around 1.4 million refugees.</div><div><br></div><div>The Palestinian death toll from Israel\'s offensive in the Gaza Strip has risen to 29,092, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, the ministry said 69,028 others were also injured in the ongoing onslaught. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 13:46:14', '2024-02-19 13:46:14'),
(11248, 11248, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas has been freed from jail after nearly three and a half months of his arrest, having secured bail in all 11 cases against him.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 6:55 pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP leaders and activists of the senior leader of the party and his wife Afroza Abbas received him at the jail gate.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking at the jail gate, Abbas said: “Our movement for the restoration of democracy will continue.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Monday, a Dhaka court granted bail to Mirza Abbas in a case over vandalising the property of the state.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Judicial Magistrate Julhas Uddin granted the bail on a bond of Tk 10,000.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional Public Prosecutor Anwarul Kabir Babul opposed the bail of Abbas in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrested Abbas on October 31 last year from Dhaka’s Shaheedbagh in a case filed for sabotage under the Explosive Substances Act.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was sent to jail on November 5.</div><div><br></div><div>Police showed Abbas arrested in a case filed with Railway Police Station on January 24.</div><div><br></div><div>Eleven cases were filed against him centering BNP’s October 28 rally. Earlier, he secured bail from 10 cases.</div><div><br></div><div>He was shown arrested in five cases filed with Paltan Police Station and four cases filed with Ramna police station on February 1, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>On February 5, a court granted bail to the BNP leader in six cases, in three more cases on February 6 and in another case on February 18, over the attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 15, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury were freed on bail.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 13:58:39', '2024-02-19 13:58:39'),
(11249, 11249, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">More than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the territory\'s Health Ministry said Monday, marking another grim milestone in the deadliest round of violence in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until “total victory” against Hamas, raising fears that troops will soon move into the southernmost town of Rafah on the Egyptian border, where over half of Gaza\'s 2.3 million people have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.</div><div><br></div><div>The Health Ministry said 107 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours. That brings the total number of fatalities to 29,092 since the start of the war.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its records, but says around two-thirds of those killed were women and children. It says over 69,000 Palestinians have been wounded.</div><div><br></div><div>The Health Ministry is part of the Hamas-run government in Gaza but maintains detailed records of casualties. Its figures from previous wars in Gaza have largely matched those of U.N. agencies, independent experts and even Israel\'s own tallies.</div><div><br></div><div>The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel from Gaza on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 100 captives were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Militants still hold around 130, a fourth of them believed to be dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel responded to the attack by launching one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history on the besieged enclave, which has been ruled by Hamas since 2007.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel says it has killed over 10,000 Palestinian militants, without providing evidence. The military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames the high death toll on Hamas because the militant group fights in dense residential neighborhoods. The military says 236 of its soldiers have been killed since the start of the ground offensive in late October.</div><div><br></div><div>The war, which shows no sign of ending, has driven around 80% of the Palestinians in Gaza from their homes and has left a quarter of the population starving, according to U.N. officials.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, Benny Gantz, a retired general and a member of Netanyahu\'s three-man War Cabinet, warned that the offensive would expand to Rafah if the hostages are not freed by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin around March 10. The holy month of dawn-to-dusk fasting is often a time of heightened tensions in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has said it is developing plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah, but it\'s not clear where they would go in the devastated territory, large areas of which have been flattened. Egypt has sealed the border and warned that any mass influx of Palestinians could threaten its decades-old peace treaty with Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States, Israel’s top ally, says it is still working with mediators Egypt and Qatar to try to broker another cease-fire and hostage release agreement. But those efforts appear to have stalled in recent days.</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu has rejected what he says are “delusional” demands by Hamas. The militant group has said it won\'t release all of the remaining hostages until Israel ends the war and withdraws from Gaza. It is also demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including top militants. According to AP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 14:09:26', '2024-02-19 14:09:26'),
(11250, 11250, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Yemen’s Houthi militia would continue to ensure conflict in the Red Sea even if the Israel-Hamas war ended, according to the chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Rashad Al-Alimi said the only way to remove the danger was through military operations.</div><div><br></div><div>He said current strikes by the US and UK would not deter Houthi threats, but vowed to defeat the organization and end its attacks if his government received international backing and Iran was pressured to end its military support.</div><div><br></div><div>“To put an end to this Houthi piracy, we must address the threat’s origins and source; this can only be accomplished by restoring state institutions, putting an end to the coup and applying maximum pressure on the Iranian regime,” the Yemeni leader said. </div><div><br></div><div>Since the Houthis began the Red Sea strikes in November, Yemen’s government has sought international assistance to evict them from Yemeni territories under their control. Al-Alimi warned that if they were not destroyed, they would use the Red Sea as a negotiating chip. He blamed Iran for financing the Houthi assaults as well as Yemen’s instability.</div><div><br></div><div>“As long as Iran continues to back this militia and provide weapons to it, it will continue to pose a danger to Red Sea shipping and may blackmail other regions in the future,” said the Yemeni leader. </div><div><br></div><div>The Houthis have launched hundreds of drones and missiles against commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden over the past four months. The organization claims to exclusively strike ships linked to or destined for Israel, forcing the country to allow humanitarian supplies to reach the besieged Gaza Strip. In response to the assaults the US, supported by several partners, has carried out dozens of strikes on military installations, drone and missile launchers, and other sites in Houthi-controlled Yemen.</div><div><br></div><div>Similarly, Yemen’s information minister, Moammar Al-Eryani, said he had sent letters to the CEOs of key social media firms requesting that accounts for Houthi officials and the militia’s media propaganda material be deleted from their platforms.</div><div><br></div><div>Posting on X, the Yemeni minister sent letters bearing his stamp and signature to the platform’s leaders, as well as those of Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and Instagram, urging them to comply with the US designation of the Houthis as terrorists. “We confirmed that Houthi militia pages on social media platforms, whether official or affiliated with individuals (leaders, media figures, activists), are spreading terrorist ideas, promoting hate speech, inciting violence and murder and brainwashing children and recruiting them,” Al-Eryani said. </div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Yemen’s embassy in Cairo said on Sunday that Brigadier General Hassan Farhan Al-Obeidi, the head of the Yemen army’s military production department, had been discovered dead from stab wounds. Egyptian officials are investigating.</div><div><br></div><div>Baligh Al-Mekhlafi, information counselor, told Arab News the embassy had received an alert about Al-Obeidi’s death shortly before 2 a.m. The Yemeni officer had arrived in Cairo 20 days earlier, traveling to Turkiye before returning to Egypt a week ago.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will share any fresh information that we get on the case,” Al-Mekhlafi said. </div><div><br></div><div>Al-Obeidi has been regarded as a military specialist in the production of local armored vehicles and weaponry since the days of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. When the Houthis seized power in late 2014, he joined anti-Houthi forces and participated in military action against them in Marib, his home province. - Al Jazeera </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 14:34:28', '2024-02-19 14:35:39'),
(11251, 11251, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian experts said that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should take harsher decisions against Israel, as the conflict in Gaza that has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians continues.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"These decisions are soft, they could have been harsher. Everything has been formulated on a basic level, but despite this, the ICJ has no opportunity to put pressure on Israel and ensure the implementation of these decisions,\" Fyodor Lukyanov, research director of the Valdai Discussion Club, told Anadolu.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing that although most of the international community supports these decisions and condemns Israeli actions in Gaza, Lukyanov said they live in a world \"where the moral dimension plays a very minor role.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He said Israel will not achieve its military and political goals amid the great civilian losses and destruction in Gaza, but the issue of creating a Palestinian state may not be resolved, which would mean that all these losses may be \"in vain.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Arguing that the international community\'s attempts to stop Israel\'s attacks in Gaza and to improve the situation are not sufficient, Lukyanov said that Middle Eastern countries are playing a stronger role in regional politics due to the limited opportunities for external powers to resolve the issue.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Even the US does not have the tools to influence Israel. Even Americans want to end this tragedy, but the Israeli administration thinks differently. China is watching the situation from the sidelines. Even Russia has different priorities for the coming years,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Lukyanov also said that the more responsibilities regional countries assume, the faster they can solve their own problems \"without turning to external powers and without suppressing each other.\" He argued that foreign powers are playing a “destabilizing role” and that the situation would be better without them.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\'s political future depends on the outcome of the conflict, but added that Israeli citizens will ask Netanyahu questions about many issues soon after the war ends and Netanyahu\'s political life may come to an end. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 14:39:36', '2024-02-19 14:39:36'),
(11252, 11252, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday announced that party-backed independent candidates — who emerged victorious in the Centre, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2024 general elections — would join right-wing party Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as part of their parliamentary strategy.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He addressed the media in Islamabad today alongside party leaders Raoof Hasan, PTI PM candidate Omar Ayub Khan, SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahadat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) Secretary General Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our candidates have submitted their affidavits with us and with their consent today we are announcing that PTI-supported independents are joining the Sunni Ittehad Council,” Barrister Gohar said.</div><div><br></div><div>He made it clear that the party reached a “formal agreement” with the SIC, and it would be submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan today.</div><div><br></div><div>“There are 70 reserved seats in the National Assembly and there are 227 reserved seats in the entire country,” he said. “These seats are only provided to political parties.</div><div><br></div><div>“Therefore, to protect our reserved seats and provide the cover to our members, we have reached a formal agreement under which all our candidates have joined the party and we will present this documentation before the ECP,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Gohar said a request would also be filed in the ECP regarding the allocation of reserved seats as per the party strength and law.</div><div><br></div><div>“We claim that the PTI has won 180 National Assembly seats,” he said, adding that all the independent candidates contested the polls on PTI tickets and were supported by the party, reports Dawn</div><div><br></div><div>“Thankfully, they have won in a big number in all provinces, of these only three have been notified yet,” Barrister Gohar said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 14:42:57', '2024-02-19 14:42:57'),
(11253, 11253, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Law Minister Anisul Huq on Monday said the government is implementing medium and long-term multi-dimensional plans to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The law minister was answering a question on behalf of Planning Minister Abdus Salam from Opposition Chief Whip Mujibul Haque Chunnu.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is true that reducing income inequality is a time consuming matter, although high economic growth has been achieved and poverty reduced significantly,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the latest BBS household income-expenditure survey, the Gini coefficient value of income inequality in 2022 is 0.499 for Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>However, on the basis of consumption, inequality in Bangladesh stands at 0:30-0.32, which has reduced the impact of income inequality.</div><div><br></div><div>The law minister said that economists believe that consumption expenditure is a more reliable measure of inequality. Income inequality is a natural feature of market economies, rooted in the unequal distribution of wealth and human capital.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said through inclusive growth that sees the benefits of growth equally distributed among the population, it is possible to reduce income inequality.</div><div><br></div><div>The law minister said that the government is sincere about eradicating poverty and income inequality. Inclusive economic development is at the core of all long and medium term planning development strategies of the government.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question of Awami League MP elected from Natore-2&nbsp; Shafiqul Islam Shimul, the law minister said that the initiative to build underground lines and underground substations in various areas including the metropolitan areas of the country with the aim of modernising the public safety and power system, and providing fair and quality electricity is going on, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“Already about 2,742 kilometres of underground line construction work has been completed by electricity distribution organisations/companies.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-19 16:09:53', '2024-02-19 16:09:53'),
(11254, 11254, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government will not impede peaceful protests organized by the BNP; however, a strict warning was issued by Obaidul Quader, Awami League’s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges minister, highlighting that any introduction of violent elements into these movements would lead to governmental intervention.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He disclosed this information during a press conference held this afternoon at the Awami League President’s office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The minister stated that if the movement incorporates violent activities, terrorism, or arson, obstructions will be inevitable. “Why would we obstruct if they organize peaceful programs?” he questioned.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the current political agenda of the BNP, the AL leader commented that blaming the government is the main issue of opposition politics in Bangladesh. He criticized the opposition for accusing the government of any and every crime and even complaining to the United States. “BNP leader Moin Khan has complained to the US Embassy about the lack of human rights and democracy in the country. This is the state of our main opposition party,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the claim of BNP leaders that the Awami League lost and BNP won the election, Quader stated, “Everyone knows who won the election. Did the BNP win without participating in it? It’s nothing but the raving of a lunatic.”</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to journalists’ questions about the clash of the Chhatra League at the University of Chittagong, Obaidul Quader mentioned, “Actions are being taken, and new considerations are being made. The party has decided to be as strict as necessary to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”</div><div><br></div><div>Present at the press conference were Awami League’s Organizing Secretary BM Mozammel Haq, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon, among other central leaders of the Awami League.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-02-20 09:01:56', '2024-02-20 09:01:56');
