INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11709, 11709, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia secured the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh with ease, claiming a comprehensive six-wicket win on Sunday, leaving one match remaining.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the second ODI, Bangladesh batted first, managing only 97 runs in 44.1 overs, with Nahida Akter, batting at number nine, top-scoring with 22 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, Australia chased down the target in just 23.5 overs, with six wickets in hand and 157 balls to spare.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sophie Molineux led Australia\'s bowling attack with three wickets, supported by Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, and Georgia Wareham, who each took two wickets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ellyse Perry anchored the chase of a paltry target with an unbeaten 35.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sultana Khatun and Rabeya Khan claimed one wicket each for Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh failed to prove their mettle in both batting and bowling departments. Their ground fielding was also an area of concern.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ahead of the series, Bangladesh promised a better performance against the World Champions, but that promise did not materialise.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The third and final ODI of the series is scheduled for March 27. Following the ODI series, both teams will contest in a three-match T20I series. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 13:00:29', '2024-03-24 13:00:29'),
(11710, 11710, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow that killed more than 130 people.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a letter sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, she condemned the ‘cowardly’ and ‘senseless’ terrorist attack carried out on Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I am greatly shocked and resentful at the loss of so many innocent lives,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also prayed for the salvation of the departed souls of the victims and extended her heartfelt condolences to their families.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina prayed for the early recovery of those who suffered injuries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said such an act of terrorism is an attack on the whole human civilisation and its values.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, I express our solidarity with the friendly people of Russia and would like to assure you that in this difficult time, we stand by the side of Russia,” reports UNB&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that her government has always followed the principle of zero tolerance against all kinds of terrorism. “I look forward to further strengthening our bilateral cooperation for combatting such heinous terrorism.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 13:06:24', '2024-03-24 13:06:24'),
(11711, 11711, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Senegal began voting Sunday for a new president in an unpredictable race following three years of turmoil and political crisis.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Around 7.3 million voters are registered in the West African nation where two favourites have emerged: the governing coalition\'s former prime minister Amadou Ba and anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye.</div><div><br></div><div>They were both once tax inspectors but now appear to have little in common. Ba, 62, is offering continuity while the 43-year-old Faye promises profound change and left-wing pan-Africanism.</div><div><br></div><div>Both say they will claim a first-round victory -- but a second round looks probable with 15 other candidates in the field, including a sole woman, at a date yet to be decided.</div><div><br></div><div>Former Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall, 68, is considered to have an outside chance.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s a symbolic and historic day for me because it wasn\'t easy to hold these elections, it was gained through a great fight,\" voter Mohamed Bop, 42, told AFP in Dakar.</div><div><br></div><div>\"So, I\'m very relieved and proud,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The eventual winner will be tasked with steering traditionally stable Senegal out of its recent troubles, and managing revenues from oil and gas reserves that are shortly to start production.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting will end at 1800 GMT and provisional results could be known overnight. The first official results are expected during the coming week.</div><div><br></div><div>Senegal has traditionally been considered a beacon of democracy and stability in the coup-hit region, where Russia is strengthening its influence.</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of observers will be out representing civil society, the African Union, the ECOWAS regional group and the European Union.</div><div>A raucous campaign, lasting just two weeks after being shortened, followed a dramatic last-minute delay to the election date, originally scheduled for February 25.</div><div><br></div><div>President Macky Sall\'s intervention to delay the presidential vote sparked unrest that left four people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Sall, who won praise abroad last year by renouncing a possible third-term bid, said he called off the vote over fears it would not go smoothly.</div><div><br></div><div>After weeks of political crisis, the country\'s top constitutional body stepped in and forced him to reset the date to March 24, despite clashing with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>Sall\'s hand-picked would-be successor Ba has positioned himself as a last bastion against \"bandits\" and urged people to vote \"for experience and competence instead of entrusting the reins of the country to adventurers\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"We don\'t need officials who need two years of apprenticeship,\" Ba said at his final campaign rally on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We need to consolidate what we have. We need to go even faster and further,\" he said, with a vow to create one million jobs in five years.</div><div>But he must also face the darker side of Sall\'s legacy that includes mass arrests, persistent poverty and 20 percent unemployment, and thousands of migrants setting off on the perilous voyage to Europe each year.</div><div><br></div><div>The recent unrest in Senegal was the latest chapter in episodes of violence since 2021, triggered partly by the stand-off between the firebrand opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko and the state.</div><div>Economic and social tensions, as well as concerns that Sall would run for a third term, also fuelled the unrest that left dozens killed and hundreds arrested.</div><div><br></div><div>The election has also been fired up by a rapidly passed amnesty law that led to the March 14 release from prison of opposition leaders Faye and the charismatic Sonko.</div><div><br></div><div>Although Faye is Sonko\'s deputy, he is only on the ballot because Sonko has been barred from standing and in voters\' eyes, they are a package deal.</div><div><br></div><div>Both have attacked Ba as \"the greatest danger facing Senegal today\".</div><div>They have also questioned where his wealth came from, branding him a \"billionaire civil servant\" who \"will be the president of foreign countries\".</div><div><br></div><div>Faye on Friday pledged to bring \"radical reform\" to Senegal, including renegotiations of mining, oil and gas and defence contracts, while at the same time offering assurances to foreign investors.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Henceforth we will be a sovereign state, independent, which will work with everyone, but in win-win partnerships\", he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The pair are hoping to harness Sonko\'s charisma and popular appeal in a country where half of the population is under 20.</div><div><br></div><div>Sonko has drawn a passionate following with Senegal\'s youth through his rhetoric on sovereignty, as well as attacks on elites, multinationals and colonial ruler France.</div><div><br></div><div>Experts have warned of the potential for tensions to flare on Sunday and after -- particularly if Ba wins in the first round, or Faye fails to reach the second. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 13:51:04', '2024-03-24 13:51:04'),
(11712, 11712, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"text-align: left;\">Two projects\' joint grand launching workshop&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">was held at Kamrul Islam Siddiqui Auditorium in LGED Bhaban. P</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">rojects are- South Chattogram Regional Development Project and Urban Management and Infrastructure Development Project.&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Tajul Islam spoke in the workshop\'s opening session as the chief guest.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The first project in Matarbari area of Maheshkhali Upazila in Cox’s Bazar is part of the Big-B development strategy of the Japanese government to develop South and Southeast Asia with Bangladesh at the center. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The objective of the project is to develop basic infrastructure for the residence and civic facilities of the large number of workers who will gather in the area as a result of the extensive development of about 35 projects including power projects, deep sea ports under the \'Maheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Development Initiative\' fast track project.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from this, the project also includes the construction of various infrastructures to deal with the humanitarian crisis caused by Rohingya refugees and local residents due to the sheltering of Rohingya refugees coming to Teknaf, Ukhia from the neighboring country. All these infrastructures will be constructed in Maheshkhali Upazila and Municipality, Chakoria Upazila and Municipality, Teknaf Upazila and Municipality, and Ukhia and Cox\'s Bazar Sadar Upazila. The expenditure for this has been estimated at Tk 3,644 crores of which 68.5% will be completed by JICA ODA loan assistance and 31.5% by Bangladesh Government\'s own financing.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The money will be spent on construction of roads, bridge-culverts, markets, parks, cyclone shelters, township development, installation of deep tubewells for water supply, development of waste management, construction of infrastructure for primary drains and flood control and irrigation facilities, capacity building and development of municipalities and LGEDs.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project received administrative approval in May 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by December 2028. For the infrastructure development of the project, the loan is taken in terms of repayment period of 30 years with 10 years’ grace period under JICA loan facility at 0.7% interest rate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The second project is Urban Management and Infrastructure Development Project. This project will be implemented with the financial support of ADB and donor agency AFD. A planned, inclusive, and sustainable urbanization is the objective of the project. For this, infrastructure development and management efficiency will be increased through \'result based lending\' strategy in 63 municipalities across the country. The operation and maintenance activities of 25 municipalities have also been taken up. The financial cost for this has been estimated at $ 602 million. Out of which Bangladesh government will provide financial assistance of $100 million, ADB $302 million and AFD $200 million.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project received approval on June 20, 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 30 June 2028. At least 900 km of drains, 1500 km of roads will be constructed under this project. The development of poor settlements will also be ensured through the participation of 50% women in the municipality in the construction work. The work of the project is already progressing. A work order of 800 crores has been given by inviting tenders for works of Tk 1100 crores. The Minister, LGED Chief Engineer and members of the donor agencies expressed their satisfactions over the progress of the project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Special guests from ADB, FDA emphasized on inclusive development. Referring to the construction of infrastructure for the poor in the IUGIP project, they said the sustainable development is not possible by keeping them out of development facilities. Besides, they also mentioned that development of management system and construction of climate tolerant projects are prerequisites for sustainable development.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">JICA representative thanked the LGED Chief Engineer for organizing the event. He said it is an important project. He emphasized on expediting the land acquisition process, high quality of work, regular monitoring and timely completion of projects. The Chief Engineer thanked all the donor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office, Dr. Muhammed Sher Ali, Additional Secretary (Development) of Local Government Department spoke as the special guests. Chief Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department Md. Ali Akhtar Hossain presided over the function. Additional Chief Engineer Muzakka Jaher delivered the welcome address on the occasion. Project Director of LGED\'s SCRIDP project Abdus Sattar and Project Director of LGED\'s IUGIP project Abdul Barek also spoke in the workshop. LGED officials, mayors and officials of different municipalities under the project area, LGED officials and project consultants at the field level were present on the occasion.</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 14:06:59', '2024-03-24 14:06:59'),
(11713, 11713, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked all to identify and honour the dedicated souls who have been working silently for the welfare of people in different parts of the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are many dedicated souls in different areas – villages and urban areas—of the country. I would like to call upon you to find such dedicated persons who have been working not for themselves but for the welfare of the people.&nbsp; They never can come to the limelight or don’t want to come to limelight,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier made this call while giving out the Independence Award-2024 to 10 distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She handed over the highest civilian award to the recipients or their family members at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said it would be a great thing if all make efforts to find out the persons who are working for the welfare of the people with their own ventures being self-motivated and they can be awarded. “We’ve been trying our best to do so,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She greeted all the awardees who received the Independence Award-2024 for their contribution in different fields.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"I believe that many people will be inspired to work for the welfare of the country and people (after seeing recognition of good works) with conferment of the award,\" said Hasina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM slammed the BNP-Jamaat clique and their accomplices who had distorted the history of the Liberation War after assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the people of several generations were taken to destruction by distortion of the history of the 1971 Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But today new generations want to know and understand the history and build their life with inspiration they get from it. So, it\'s the matter of great optimism for us,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After assuming power, the Awami League let people particularly the new generation know the true history of the Liberation War of 1971, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that Bangladesh will start its journey as the developing country in 2026, she said, \"We have been able to scale up Bangladesh at least one step.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said now they have been working to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Sonar Bangladesh by 2041 in line with her party\'s 2024 election manifesto.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to arson violence unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat alliance that hampered country\'s journey towards prosperity, she hoped that they would come to their sense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Awami League has proved that a country can prosper if peace and democratic trend continues,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza, saying Bangladedh always supports Palestine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She reiterated Bangladesh\'s stance that the country is always against war. \"We never want war, we want peace,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said Bangladesh even try to solve the Rohingya issue through holding talks with Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Freedom fighter Kazi Abdus Sattar Bir Pratik, Freedom fighter flight sergeant Md Fazlul Haque (posthumous) and Freedom fighter Shaheed Abu Nayem Md Nazib Uddin Khan (Khurram) (posthumous) received the prestigious award for their contributions to Bangladesh\'s independence and the Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Mobarak Ahmad Khan was honoured with the award for his contribution to science and technology, while Dr Harishankar Das for his contribution to medicine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammad Rafikuzzaman and Firoza Khatun received the honour for their contribution to culture and sports respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aranya Chiran, freedom fighter Prof Dr Mollah Obaidul Baki and SM Abraham Lincoln were given the award in the social service category.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the awardees, Rafikuzzaman expressed his feelings in the award giving ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain moderated the function and read out the citations with a brief life sketch of the recipients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has been honouring individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of Independence Day on March 26 since 1977. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 08:53:31', '2024-03-25 08:53:31'),
(11714, 11714, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Bhutan on Monday signed three new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance mutual cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The MoUs are: Establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, Setting up a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, and technical cooperation on consumer rights.</div><div><br></div><div>Another MoU on cultural exchange was renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>Health Minister Smanta Lal Sen, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Directorate of National Consumers\' Right Protection Director General (Additional Secretary) A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed signed the MoUs for Bangladesh side.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the MoU signing agreement held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, on his arrival, the Bhutanese King was received by the Prime Minister at her office.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King held a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prior to the MoU signing ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>They will also have a one-to-one meeting. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 09:10:15', '2024-03-25 09:10:15'),
(11715, 11715, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Monday was accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a four-day state visit to Bangladesh to attend a series of programmes including Independence Day celebrations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is first state visit paid by any foreign dignitary since the formation of the new government after January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and First Lady received the king and his delegation members who arrived at 10am by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>The king was given state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the two countries were played.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, he was headed for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday afternoon, the king will have a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have a one-to-one meeting too.</div><div><br></div><div>Three new MoUs will be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan while another MoU on cultural exchange will be renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>The king and the prime minister will witness the signing of the MoUs.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the king at his place of residence the same day before the meeting with the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the king will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.</div><div><br></div><div>He will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>The royal guest will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and his wife.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and a dinner reception in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a \"close friend\" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan on Sunday said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are in discussion to that end,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan,\" Hasan said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 09:18:10', '2024-03-25 09:18:10'),
(11716, 11716, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a move to cater to the increasing demand for late-night transportation, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced the extension of metro rail service hours beyond 9 pm, starting from Wednesday, March 27.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During a press briefing scheduled for tomorrow, the Managing Director of DMTCL, M. A. N Siddique, will provide detailed information regarding this significant service extension.</div><div><br></div><div>According to sources from DMTCL, the last train from Motijheel will now depart at 9:40 pm, and from Uttara end at 9:20 pm. This extension will introduce trains running every 12 minutes during the additional service hours, adding 10 more trains to the current schedule.</div><div><br></div><div>Consequently, the total number of daily trips will increase from 184 to 194.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, the Dhaka metro rail operates from 7 am to 8:40 pm, with trains running every 8 minutes during peak hours (7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm) and every 12 minutes during off-peak hours (11 am to 2:30 pm).</div><div><br></div><div>This expansion of metro rail service is aimed at enhancing the commuting experience for Dhaka\'s residents, providing a more flexible and accessible transportation option during the evening hours. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 09:24:51', '2024-03-25 09:24:51'),
(11717, 11717, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thailand delivered its first batch of humanitarian aid to war-torn Myanmar on Monday, in what officials hope will be a continuing effort to ease the plight of millions of people displaced by fighting.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>But critics charge that the aid will benefit only people in areas under the Myanmar military’s control, providing it with a propaganda boost while leaving the vast majority of displaced people in contested areas without access to assistance.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar is wracked by a nationwide armed conflict that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule. The fighting has displaced millions of people and battered the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>Thailand sent ten trucks over the border from the northern province of Tak, carrying some 4,000 packages of aid to three towns in Kayin State, also known as Karen State, where it will be distributed to approximately 20,000 displaced people.</div><div><br></div><div>The parcels contained aid worth around 5 million baht ($138,000), mostly food, instant beverages and other basic items such as toiletries.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 2.8 million people in Myanmar are displaced, according to U.N. agencies, most by fighting that arose after the army’s takeover. They say 18.6 million people, including 6 million children, require humanitarian aid.</div><div><br></div><div>Carl Skau, Chief Operating Officer of the U.N.’s World Food Programme, said earlier this month that one in four of the displaced is at risk of acute food insecurity.</div><div><br></div><div>The initiative for what has been called a humanitarian corridor is being carried out by the Thai Red Cross, with funding from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry and logistical support from the army, which traditionally has played a major role in border activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials from Thailand and Myanmar\'s Kayin State attended a send-off ceremony, which was presided over by Thai Vice Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Myanmar\'s Red Cross will handle distribution of the aid.</div><div><br></div><div>Drivers from Myanmar took the trucks across the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, which crosses the Moei River on the border.</div><div><br></div><div>\"That corridor puts humanitarian aid into the hands of the junta because it goes into the hands of the junta-controlled Myanmar Red Cross,” Tom Andrews, the U.N. independent human rights expert on Myanmar, said last week.</div><div><br></div><div>“So we know that the junta takes these resources, including humanitarian, and weaponizes them, uses them for their own military strategic advantage. The fact of the matter is, is that the reason that humanitarian aid is in such desperate need is precisely because of the junta.”</div><div><br></div><div>Andrews said the areas in desperate need are \"conflict areas in which the junta has absolutely no influence or control whatsoever. So those are the areas we need to focus on.”</div><div><br></div><div>Large areas of the country, especially frontier areas, are now contested or controlled by anti-military resistance forces, including pro-democracy fighters allied with armed ethnic minority organizations that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades.</div><div><br></div><div>Thai officials say the process of distribution will be monitored by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management to ensure it reaches people fairly and equally.</div><div><br></div><div>Vice Foreign Minister Sihasak said after the ceremony that the aid is expected to be delivered to the three towns the same day, and that Myanmar will send photos as proof it has been delivered.</div><div><br></div><div>“I would like to emphasize that this is truly humanitarian aid and not related to the politics or conflicts in Myanmar. I think, now, people should think about the interests of the Myanmar people as a priority,” he said. “Of course, if the initiative today is carried out smoothly, and meets the objectives that we set, Thailand as a neighbor will see how we can expand the help to other areas.”</div><div><br></div><div>The humanitarian corridor project was initiated by Thailand with support from Myanmar and other fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during an ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in Laos in January.</div><div><br></div><div>Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had said ASEAN needs to actively push to implement what it calls the Five-Points Consensus, which it agreed to just a few months after the army’s 2021 takeover.</div><div><br></div><div>The agreement called for an immediate end to violence, dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties.</div><div><br></div><div>But Myanmar’s generals, despite initially assenting to the consensus, failed to act on it, leaving ASEAN looking powerless.</div><div><br></div><div>Dulyapak Preecharush, a professor of Southeast Asia Studies at Bangkok\'s Thammasat University, said the aid initiative is a good start for Thailand, which has been quiet and inactive” about Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>“The readiness of Thailand to deliver the aid is not an issue, but when the aid is delivered to Myanmar, it will face obstacles from violent fighting and different stakeholders who will have their gains and losses.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sihasak said Thailand hopes the aid will be distributed equally and transparently, and that the delivery of the aid will help create a “good atmosphere” that will contribute to the peace process in Myanmar. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 10:46:40', '2024-03-25 10:46:40'),
(11718, 11718, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Bhutan on Monday signed three new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance mutual cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The two friendly South Asian countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture, education, culture, people to people contact etc, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The MoUs are: Establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, Setting up a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, and technical cooperation on consumer rights. Another MoU on cultural exchange was renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>Health Minister Smanta Lal Sen, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Directorate of National Consumers\' Right Protection Director General (Additional Secretary) A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed signed the MoUs from Bangladesh side.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutanese Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk, Bhutanese Commerce Secretary Tashi Wangmk and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Choden signed the MoUs on behalf of their country.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the MoUs signing held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Bangladesh offered to increase the number of annual medical seats for Bhutanese students from 22 to 30 while the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh offered two seats for the Bhutanese Foreign Service officers every year for capacity building.&nbsp; Bangladesh will also extend necessary assistance in setting up a Diplomatic Training Institute in Bhutan.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, Bangladesh offered special training to Bhutanese officials in Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) annually for three years.</div><div><br></div><div>As a special gesture of goodwill and friendship, Bangladesh handed over computers and laptops for the capacity building and skills development of the government officials of Bhutan.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, on his arrival, the Bhutanese King was received by the Prime Minister at her office.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King held a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prior to the MoU signing ceremony. They also had a one-to-one meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at his place of residence in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current excellent level of cooperation between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>They agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture, education, culture, people to people contact etc.</div><div><br></div><div>The King also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32. He paid tribute to father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait.</div><div><br></div><div>The King visited different parts of the museum guided by Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana and PM Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed.</div><div><br></div><div>He also signed visitors’ book there.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning. This is the first state visit by any foreign dignitary since the formation of the new government after the January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and First Lady received the King and his delegation members who arrived by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>The king was given state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the two countries were played.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, he was headed for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>Programmes Ahead</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the king will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar. He will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>The royal guest will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and his wife.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and a dinner reception in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a \"close friend\" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan on Sunday said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are in discussion to that end,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan,\" Hasan said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:08:41', '2024-03-25 11:08:41'),
(11719, 11719, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>France raised its terror alert to its highest level on Sunday following a terrorist attack that killed at least 137 people at a Moscow concert hall.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Following the attack in Moscow, a Defense and National Security Council (meeting) was convened this evening at the Elysee by the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron),\" Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said in a statement on X.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group claiming responsibility for the attack \"and the threats weighing on our country, we have decided to raise the Vigipirate posture to its highest level: attack emergency,\" he said, referring to France\'s national security alert system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The death toll from the concert hall shooting on Friday in a Moscow suburb rose to 137, said the country’s federal investigative authority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A statement by Russia’s Investigative Committee said the bodies of 137 people have been found at the site, three of which it said are children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The investigation of the crime scene continues. To date, 62 bodies have been identified. For the remaining victims, genetic tests are being carried out to establish their identities,” the statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said more than 500 rounds of ammunition and 28 magazines as well as two Kalashnikov assault rifles were found at the scene.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s Health Ministry says 180 people have been hospitalized and that 142 of them are receiving in-patient treatment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk late Friday as the rock band Picnic was about to perform and a fire later broke out at the building.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Vladimir Putin declared March 24 a national day of mourning for those killed in the attack, with flags lowered to half-mast.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian authorities have arrested 11 people in connection with the attack, including four directly involved, according to the Federal Security Service. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:17:57', '2024-03-25 11:17:57');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11720, 11720, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The grand imam of Egypt\'s Al-Azhar University, the highest seat of learning for Sunni Muslims, said Sunday that the international community\'s reactions to Israel’s war on Gaza have been “disappointing.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb’s remarks came during his reception of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Cairo, according to a statement from Al-Azhar.</div><div><br></div><div>The two men discussed the latest developments in Gaza, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Al-Tayeb said that “what is happening in Gaza threatens to undermine the efforts of communication and rapprochement that we have been undertaking for years and attempts to bridge the gap between East and West.”</div><div><br></div><div>The international community\'s response to the aggression on Gaza has been disappointing and frustrating, unlike that of the people in Western societies, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The grand imam praised the stance of the people, saying “we have seen great fairness from Western and American peoples, and even from some fair-minded Jews who came out to demand an end to the aggression on Gaza.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Egyptian statement quoted Guterres as saying: “I convey our appreciation to Al-Azhar as a strong voice defending and supporting the Palestinian people and our insistence on exerting pressure on the international community to respect the rights of Palestinians and reduce their suffering.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Yesterday, I visited the Rafah crossing to send a message about the necessity of stopping the aggression and for the international community to fulfill its duties with decisions and not just words.</div><div><br></div><div>“I saw on the other side of the Palestinian crossing the Palestinians suffering from severe shortages of food and drink and the spread of various infectious diseases. We all have to highlight and stop this suffering immediately. It is our responsibility,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres emphasized that “Islamophobia has developed significantly and has become one of the most widespread forms of discrimination and hatred, aided by modern technological developments.”</div><div><br></div><div>He cited the situation in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and other parts of Africa, saying “I do not recall a more dangerous period than what we are experiencing now.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also stressed his continued support for justice in Gaza, adding that “no one will be able to silence his voice.”</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres arrived Saturday in the Egyptian city of El-Arish adjacent to the Gaza Strip on his second visit since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza last October and visited wounded Palestinians who were transferred from the Gaza Strip for treatment at the city\'s hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since a cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,200 Palestinians have since been killed and over 74,500 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’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>Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:21:29', '2024-03-25 11:21:29'),
(11721, 11721, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 16 business establishments, mostly wooden furniture shops, were gutted in a devastating fire in Manikganj’s Shibaloy upazila early today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Md Nadir Hossain, warehouse inspector of Shibaloy upazila Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the blaze broke out at one of the furniture shops in Aricha Bandar area around 4 am, and soon spread to other furniture shops, one sawmill and one house.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought it under control around three hours after the fire, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The fire service officer assumed that the fire originated from an electronic short-circuit, causing damages of around Tk 50 lakh. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:45:48', '2024-03-25 11:45:48'),
(11722, 11722, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said India will help Bangladesh to import hydropower from Bhutan the way India helped in importing hydropower from Nepal.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while talking to reporters after his meeting with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>The two sides are in discussion to that end but there is no plan to sign any agreement during the ongoing state visit of the Bhutanese King.</div><div><br></div><div>At the meeting with the Bhutanese King, Minister Hasan laid emphasis on people to people contact.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister requested the Bhutanese King to join BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) initiative and enhance air connectivity.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, there are only two flights on Dhaka-Thimphu route which needs to be increased, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Bhutan is a very beautiful country. Those who visited Bhutan, want to go again and again,\" he said, adding that they also discussed ways to allow people visit Bhutan by road.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current excellent level of cooperation between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>They agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture,education, culture, people to people contact etc.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:58:00', '2024-03-25 11:58:00'),
(11723, 11723, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Sri Lanka emphatically clinched the first Test against Bangladesh, securing a commanding victory by 328 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The visitors demonstrated superior batting and bowling prowess throughout the contest.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka\'s captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, was the standout performer, achieving the rare feat of scoring centuries in both innings (102 and 108). His exceptional performance earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhananjaya\'s partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who also scored two centuries in this match with a superb century in the second innings (164), set the foundation for Sri Lanka\'s dominance. Together, they propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable second-innings total of 418, establishing an insurmountable target of 511 runs for Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s batting faltered throughout the match. In the first innings, they were dismissed for a meager 188, with only Taijul Islam offering some resistance with a score of 47.</div><div><br></div><div>The second innings mirrored their initial collapse, as Bangladesh crumbled for 182. A brief period saw them lose five wickets for just 47 runs. Mominul Haque provided a glimmer of hope with a tenacious 87, but it wasn\'t enough to alter the course of the match.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka\'s relentless pace attack overwhelmed the Bangladeshi batsmen. Kasun Rajitha led the charge, claiming an impressive eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara also bowled with pace and precision, consistently unsettling the Bangladeshi batters and claiming vital wickets.</div><div><br></div><div>This resounding victory underscores Sri Lanka\'s skill and determination. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their batting inconsistencies before the second Test in Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>“Individually, I am very happy. The way I performed helped the team as well, especially away from home. The wicket had something for the fast bowlers, so we talked about playing late and choosing the right shots. It paid off. Kamindu also batted really well on his comeback match,” Dhananjaya, the Sri Lankan captain, said to the broadcaster.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who failed as a batter, gave credit to Dhananjaya and Kamindu for their performance, and said his team need to improve their batting, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“We have a lot of work to do before the next Test, and we will come back with a plan to fight back strongly,” Najmul said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 12:09:20', '2024-03-25 12:09:20'),
(11724, 11724, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said people joined the war against Pakistan army with the aim of building a democratic Bangladesh but the dreams of 1971 are now elusive.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bengali students, youth, farmers, labourers and soldiers joined the Liberation War against Pakistan army with the aim of building democratic Bangladesh where people will have freedom of speech and people’s government and for economic emancipation but it’s a matter of sorrow that the 1971’s dreams are now elusive, said Fakhrul.</div><div><br></div><div>He said this in a rally of freedom fighters organised by BNP on the occasion of the Independence Day in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the ruling Awami League (AL) has established a one-party rule in the country under the cover of democracy, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“They have no constitutional right to rule the people of the country as they formed a government without people’s mandate and by staging one-sided polls on January 7 which was not acceptable to our foreign friends too,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said it in a rally of freedom fighter organised by BNP on the occasion of the Great Independence Day as a chief guest in front of party’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that the government is using modern technology to keep eye on opposition leaders and activists’ daily activities. When people try to stage protest against the ruling party then they use spyware to suppress them.</div><div><br></div><div>“The movement against a fascist regime is not easy but we have been continuing it for 15 years,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 14:34:58', '2024-03-25 14:34:58'),
(11725, 11725, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Several Palestinians were killed and injured on Sunday evening when Israeli warplanes bombed a house in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli army targeted a house in Jenin city in the east of Rafah, belonging to the Issa family, resulting in casualties including children, eyewitnesses told an Anadolu correspondent.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of the injured and killed, including children, were evacuated from the targeted house to hospitals in Rafah by medical teams and civil defense.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said the bombing destroyed the house and caused significant damage to nearby houses and properties.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to a lack of resources, Palestinian Authority teams struggle to clear the rubble from the targeted homes.</div><div><br></div><div>The exact death toll and injuries from the house bombing have yet to be determined.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite warnings from regional and international leaders and organizations, Israel is planning a ground invasion of Rafah, which houses approximately 1.4 million displaced Palestinians who were driven to the area by the Israeli army under the guise of safety, only to launch attacks that resulted in casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\'s office announced in a statement that he approved plans for a military action in Rafah and that the army is preparing to evacuate residents, but did not specify a timeframe for the launch of the offensive.</div><div><br></div><div>Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been conducting a destructive war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties, mostly children and women, leading Israel to face historical charges of \"genocide\" before the International Court of Justice. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 14:50:00', '2024-03-25 14:50:00'),
(11726, 11726, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh is all set to celebrate its 54th Independence Day, also commemorated as the country\'s National Day, on Tuesday with a vow to build the developed, prosperous, and harmonious Smart \'Sonar Bangla\' dreamt of by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh\'s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div><br></div><div>After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people and at the cost of chastity of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>The day is a public holiday.</div><div><br></div><div>Different sociocultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>The day\'s programme will begin with a 31-gun salute before President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pay their tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, foreign diplomats, leaders of different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life will place wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.</div><div><br></div><div>The national flag will be hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places will be illuminated on the auspicious occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>National dailies will bring out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Special prayers will be offered at all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship across the country seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation, four national leaders, martyrs of the War of Liberation and all other patriotic sons of the soil.</div><div><br></div><div>Special meals will be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes and other public institutions to mark the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Different political parties as well as socio-cultural and professional organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and other social and cultural organisations will organize different programmes including cultural programmes, art exhibition, sports, an exhibition of documentary films and posters based on the history and tradition of the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Postal Department will release a commemorative postage stamp marking the Independence and National Day.</div><div><br></div><div>All children\'s parks and museums will be kept open with free entry across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the head of state, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the head of government, have issued separate messages on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>In his message, the President said, \"I recall with deep respect the millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the War of Liberation. I recall with deep reverence our Four National Leaders, heroic freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters, foreign friends and people from all walks of life who made contributions to attain our right to self-determination and freedom movement.”</div><div><br></div><div>“I hope, based on the unprecedented achievements of the government in the country\'s overall development activities and socio-economic indicators in the past years, we will be able to face these challenges in the days to come, InshaAllah,” said the president.</div><div><br></div><div>“To expedite the progress of the country, let the nation embrace the spirit of the liberation war and the ideals of the Father of the Nation and move forward in building ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal)’ dreamt by Bangabandhu--this is my expectation on the great Independence Day,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In her message, the Prime Minister said, “On this auspicious occasion, I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to all the Bangladeshi citizens living in the country and abroad, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>I remember with the most profound respect the Greatest Bangali of all time, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose firm and far-sighted leadership we achieved independent and sovereign Bangladesh.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The Awami League government believes in the philosophy of upgrading the fate of the people. We are running our government through immediate, short, medium, and long-term plans to uplift the living standard of ordinary people and develop the country. Moreover, we regularly monitor the implementation progress of our election manifesto. Due to these reasons, people\'s trust and strong support for Awami League continues,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“On this very occasion of Independence Day and National Day, being imbued with the spirit of our great Liberation War, let us take the oath to build developed-prosperous non-communal smart \'Sonar Bangla\' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 15:35:39', '2024-03-25 15:35:39'),
(11727, 11727, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Saudi Arabia has announced it will build a theme park based on the famed Japanese animated series Dragon Ball, sparking mixed reactions from fans.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It will feature a 70m (229.6ft) dragon at its centre and at least 30 rides, the firm behind the project says.</div><div><br></div><div>The park would be the world\'s first such attraction based on the popular media franchise.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement was met with some criticism from fans, citing Saudi Arabia\'s human rights record.</div><div><br></div><div>The park will cover more than half a million square metres, according to Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) which is wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government\'s investment fund.</div><div><br></div><div>The plans are part of \"a long-term strategic partnership\" between the QIC and Toei Animation, the Japanese producer of Dragon Ball.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the official Dragon Ball website, the park will include a roller coaster inside the dragon modelled after Shenron, a wish-giving dragon that features in the franchise.</div><div><br></div><div>Qiddiya is a major entertainment and tourism project being built near Saudi Arabia\'s capital Riyadh.</div><div><br></div><div>It is part of the energy-rich nation\'s plans to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>While some Dragon Ball fans have welcomed the plans for the theme park, others on social media have questioned the decision to locate the attraction in Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>The country has been criticised for its human rights record, treatment of women and lack of recognition of LGBTQ+ rights.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement comes just weeks after the death of Dragon Ball\'s creator, Akira Toriyama.</div><div><br></div><div>Toriyama died on 1 March, aged 68. Only his family and very few friends attended his funeral, according to a statement on the Dragon Ball website.</div><div><br></div><div>Fans around the world paid tribute to Toriyama for creating characters that have become a part of their lives.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dragon Ball comic series debuted in 1984. It follows a boy named Son Goku in his quest to collect magical dragon balls that can give him super powers.</div><div><br></div><div>It is one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time. According to BBC reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>theme park&nbsp;<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 15:57:53', '2024-03-25 15:57:53'),
(11728, 11728, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called upon the people to take the country&nbsp; forward overcoming all evil tricks and conspiracies.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“On the 54th Independence Day, let’s come forward in unison and take the development and progress of Bangladesh forward,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made this call at her televised address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day.</div><div><br></div><div>The speech was broadcast at 7:30 pm simultaneously by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and some private television channels, radio stations and online platforms.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said she has tirelessly been trying to put a smile on the faces of the common people by improving their fortunes with support and cooperation from all.</div><div><br></div><div>On this 53rd anniversary of independence, she unequivocally said that her government has successfully been able to fulfill the expectations of the countrymen to a large extent.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is not a hollow rhetorical claim. Today Bangladesh is a shining example in the developing world for socio-economic development,” said Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government proved that a country can be taken forward with political will and proper plans amid limited resources.</div><div><br></div><div>But it is an unpleasant truth that the conspiracy to undermine the independence and sovereignty of the country and to thwart the desire for economic emancipation has not stopped even today, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The conspirators are still lurking to figure out how to stop the ongoing progress of Bangladesh,” said PM Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the forces who suffered defeat in 1971 and the killers of the 1975 massacre and also their collaborators are still hell-bent on avenging their defeat.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister alerted the people that the conspirators will strike whenever they get the chance.</div><div><br></div><div>“The only obstacle on their way is Awami League. If AL can be annihilated or weakened by any trick, the rise of the defeated forces is inevitable. So, be careful,” she urged.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said the AL government runs the country following “Friendship to all malice towards none,’ the foreign policy dictum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve no master rather we’ve friends,” she said, adding that the Bengali nation will never be browbeaten by any one.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that AL formed the government for the fourth time in a row by gaining an absolute majority in the January 7 parliamentary elections, the AL president extended her thanks and gratitude to the people for keeping confidence in her party.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our goal is to establish Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous Smart Bangladesh by 2041 carrying forth the development and progress what we’ve so far attained,” she said adding that Bangladesh will be the hunger-poverty-free non-communal golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Awami League has been governing the country for the past 15 years with the mandate of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>But this 15-year journey was not entirely a bed of roses, she said, citing different natural and manmade disasters and wars including Covid-19 pandemic, arson violence, Russia-Ukraine war, and high global inflation.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on the strong position of the country in different economic and socio-economic indexes and the agricultural sector, she said Bangladesh is now the 35th largest economy in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>She said different completed infrastructures including Padma Bridge, Dhaka Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River in Chittagong, Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and highways with four or more lanes which connected Divisional cities with Dhaka have brought a revolutionary change in the communication sector.</div><div><br></div><div>About the commodity prices during Ramadan, she said the government has stockpiled several goods such as sugar, chickpea, pulse, and edible oil alongside giving permission to import 50,000 metric tonnes of onion and the same amount of potatoes.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, fish, meat, egg and milk are being sold at affordable prices for the marginalised people at 25 points in the capital since the beginning of Ramadan, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The TCB sells rice, pulse, edible oil, sugar, and chickpea at cheaper prices among one crore cardholder families across the country, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>On the occasion of the Eid-ul Fitr, the government has given a special allocation of 100,628 metric tonnes of rice for one crore families and each family will get 10km rice at free of cost, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>At the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the prices of some commodities including dates, imported fruits, lemons, watermelons, onions were slightly higher.&nbsp; But the prices of these items have come down to normal and affordable levels within a few days, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>“When the price of goods increases, the common man, especially the people with limited income, suffer. We’re trying our best to ease people\'s suffering,” said PM Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 16:11:34', '2024-03-25 16:11:34'),
(11729, 11729, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Former British royal spokesman Paddy Harverson has urged the public to allow the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, the necessary time and space to recuperate following Catherine\'s recent cancer diagnosis.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Harverson, who had worked for the couple, defended how Kensington Palace handled the news, reports BBC.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is not just an institution, it\'s a family... you also have to remember they\'re human beings,\" he said while speaking on the BBC\'s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.</div><div><br></div><div>Catherine, 42, disclosed her cancer diagnosis on Friday, revealing that treatment had commenced subsequent to abdominal surgery. While specifics about her condition remain undisclosed, Kensington Palace has expressed confidence in her full recovery.</div><div><br></div><div>The revelation followed a period of intense speculation surrounding Catherine\'s health, compounded by her absence from official events since Christmas. Speculation peaked following a photograph released on Mother\'s Day, which triggered social media frenzy due to perceived inconsistencies.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing concerns about the timing of the announcement, Victoria Newton, editor of The Sun, explained that Catherine had strategically chosen to disclose her diagnosis on the last day of her children\'s school term to shield them from unwanted attention, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Harverson defended the royal family\'s handling of the situation, denouncing the incessant speculation propagated by social media platforms. He emphasized the need for understanding and support during this challenging time, dismissing notions of the family\'s fragility in light of recent health issues.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement prompted an outpouring of support from well-wishers, with a Kensington Palace spokesman expressing gratitude for the understanding of the couple\'s request for privacy. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly reached out to offer their support to William and Catherine, the report also said.</div><div><br></div><div>As the royal family navigates Catherine\'s diagnosis, Buckingham Palace remains hopeful that King Charles will join them for Easter Sunday service, underscoring the monarch\'s pride in his daughter-in-law and the family\'s close-knit bond during this trying period. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 16:15:20', '2024-03-25 16:15:20'),
(11730, 11730, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck have paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>They paid their homage by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar this morning, marking Independence and National Day.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck first placed their wreaths at the altar of the memorial followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>After placing the wreaths, the President, the Bhutanese King and the Prime Minister stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, flanked by senior Awami League leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also chief of the ruling party, laid another wreath at the altar of the memorial.</div><div><br></div><div>The President, the Bhutanese King and the Prime Minister also signed on the visitors book.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh\'s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div><br></div><div>After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people, Bangladesh achieved its independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>The day is a public holiday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 07:50:43', '2024-03-26 07:50:43'),
(11731, 11731, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Bangladeshi cattle trader was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in Naogaon and another was injured in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday.Al Amin, 38, fell victim to gunfire by the BSF near the Nitpur border area of the Pashur upazila of the district.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident happened approximately two kilometers inside the Indian territory adjacent to the Malda district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lt Col Mohammad Sadikur Rahman, commanding officer of 16th Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said that Al Amin was a resident of the Kallanipara village of the Nitpur area.According to reports, on Monday night, a group of Bangladeshi nationals, including Al Amin, attempted to smuggle cattle from India into Bangladesh through the Malda border area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When they were returning to Bangladesh on early Tuesday, members of the 159th BSF Battalion stationed in the Tokkapara camp opened fire, resulting in Al Amin being fatally shot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the incident, the BSF took custody of Al Amin\'s body for further procedures.Similarly, in Lalmonirhat\'s Aditmari upazila, a Bangladeshi national was injured in gunfire by the BSF near the Durgapur border area early Tuesday .</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The injured Liton Mia, 19, was detained by the BSF.According to locals, Liton, along with a group of four others, attempted to smuggle cattle by crossing the border pillar 923 in the Durgapur border area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Upon detecting their illegal entry, the BSF personnel from the 75th Battalion stationed at the Rathar camp fired shots at them. While others managed to escape, Liton was wounded by gunfire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lt Col Mofazzal Hossain Akand, CO of 15th Battalion of BGB in Lalmonirhat, said he has initiated inquiries to ascertain the facts and has also sent a protest letter regarding the matter. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 08:54:52', '2024-03-26 08:54:52'),
(11732, 11732, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Independence Day on March 26.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the United States of America, Blinken extended warm wishes to all Bangladeshis on this special day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US looks forward to enhancing the partnership and people-to-people ties between the two countries in the year ahead, Blinken said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The United States is proud to partner with Bangladesh on many of today’s most pressing issues, including combating climate change, advancing economic development, responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis, supporting peacekeeping operations worldwide, and addressing global health challenges,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken said the partnership plays an important role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As Bangladesh celebrates another year of independence, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening democratic governance and protecting human rights – efforts which will increase Bangladesh’s prosperity,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 09:09:07', '2024-03-26 09:09:07'),
(11733, 11733, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman this morning, on the occasion of Independence and National Day.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her return from the National Memorial in Savar, the Prime Minister paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After placing the wreath, she stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh\'s independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina stayed at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum for some time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flanked by central leaders of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, president of the party, laid another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of AL.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh\'s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people, Bangladesh achieved its independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 09:18:25', '2024-03-26 09:18:25'),
(11734, 11734, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On Independence Day, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, levied serious allegations against the current administration, claiming that extensive development projects have been marred by rampant corruption and large-scale money laundering activities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to Dr. Moyeen, hundreds of thousands of crore taka have been illicitly transferred abroad, casting a shadow over the country\'s developmental achievements.</div><div><br></div><div>At the National Memorial in Savar, where the BNP leader paid his respects, he voiced a question: “Hundreds of thousands of people of the country have sacrificed their lives. Today, after 53 years of independence, a question has emerged in the minds of 18 crore people: Where is democracy?”</div><div><br></div><div>He criticised the ruling Awami League, arguing that despite their proclamations, they have effectively established a one-party rule. He detailed the government\'s alleged repressive measures, including filing one lakh cases against opposition leaders and activists and imprisoning 50,000 opponents, as evidence of this autocratic shift.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader further challenged the authenticity of the Awami League\'s narrative of the independence struggle, questioning their departure from the battlefield on March 25, 1971, amidst the Pakistan military\'s crackdown. Contrarily, he highlighted BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in defiantly declaring Bangladesh\'s independence and actively engaging in the Liberation War. According to UNB repots </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 09:23:32', '2024-03-26 09:47:39'),
(11735, 11735, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume direct flights to Italy’s Rome from Tuesday night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We are all set to resume the flight. As per our market analysis, the Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka route will be another popular one, like our London (UK), Toronto (Canada), and Narita (Japan) routes,\" said Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka direct flight is resuming after nine years prompting by large number of expatriate Bangladeshi community residing in Italy.</div><div><br></div><div>Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Faruk Khan will inaugurate the flight as the chief guest along with Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro at 9:30 pm at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).</div><div><br></div><div>The inaugural flight is schedule to depart Dhaka at 3:30am.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision to resume the flight was thoroughly assessed from a commercial standpoint while Bangladeshi expatriates in Rome have increased sevenfold since 2009, said the Biman CEO. </div><div><br></div><div>\"The planning of Biman\'s route expansion to different cities in Europe is a reflection of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s commitment to the expatriate Bangladeshis,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dhaka to Rome flight will be Biman\'s third European destination, as currently the national flag carrier is operating flights to London and Manchester.</div><div><br></div><div>After announcement of the Rome flight the visa applications to Italy has increased three folds, the Biman CEO said referring to the Italian Embassy in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Azim said he is also planning to use Rome as a stopover for Biman\'s Dhaka-Toronto-Dhaka flight, as currently the state-owned carrier is using Istanbul for refuelling its Canada-bound flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Biman initially began operating flights to Rome on April 2, 1981 and stopped on April 6, 2015, facing financial losses due to massive fuel consumption by the then DC-10 carrier.</div><div><br></div><div>Between March 27 and March 31, flight BG-355 will depart Dhaka every Monday,Tuesday, and Thursday at 2:00 a.m. local time and reach Rome at 7:00 a.m. local time.</div><div><br></div><div>From April 1, the flight will take off from Dhaka every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 3:00am as per the summer schedule and arrive at the capital of Italy at 9:10am.</div><div><br></div><div>The flight will leave Rome at 10:45 a.m. and land in Dhaka at 11:45 p.m.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 10:35:18', '2024-03-26 10:35:32'),
(11736, 11736, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 14-year-old school student died after his bicycle collided with a tolly van in Kushtia Sadar Upazila.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The incident happened at the Harishankarpur area of the city on Tuesday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Ali, a student of Saota High School of Kumarkhali Upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Eyewitnesses reported that the student, riding his bicycle from his own home to the city during the rush hour, was hit. The collision caused him to fall under the van, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>After being informed, police recovered the body, and sent it to Kushtia General Hospital Morgue for autopsy, said Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Sohel Rana of Kushtia Model Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 10:46:12', '2024-03-26 10:46:12'),
(11737, 11737, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chinese President Xi Jinping has said Bangladesh and China enjoy \"solid and profound\" political trust, and \"fruitful practical cooperation\" in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two nations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping noted that over the past 53 years, Bangladesh has steadfastly upheld its independence, strived to develop its economy and improve people\'s livelihood, and made remarkable achievements, laying a solid foundation for realising the dream of “Sonar Bangla”.</div><div><br></div><div>He sent a letter of congratulation to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on the occasion of Independence Day.</div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbours, and the friendship between the two countries has grown from strength to strength.</div><div><br></div><div>He emphasised that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh relations and stands ready to work with President Mohammed Shahabuddin to further advance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation and deepen China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent messages of congratulation separately to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud respectively. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 10:56:47', '2024-03-26 10:56:47'),
(11738, 11738, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On Independence Day, Sajeeb Wazed, ICT Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, and the gallant freedom fighters who played pivotal roles in Bangladesh\'s Liberation War.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a heartfelt post on his verified Facebook page, Wazed recounted the historical night of March 26, over five decades ago, when Bangabandhu made the decisive declaration of independence moments before his arrest by the Pakistani military. “26 March, our Independence Day. On this day 53 years back, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared our independence just before he was arrested and taken away by the Pak Army in the middle of the night,\" Wazed wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>Echoing Bangabandhu\'s powerful wireless message from that fateful night, Wazed shared, “\'This may be my last message: from today Bangladesh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangladesh, wherever you might be and with whatever you have, to resist the occupation army. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh and final victory is achieved.’”</div><div><br></div><div>The resolve and bravery of Bangladesh\'s sons and daughters, who took Bangabandhu\'s call to heart, were highlighted by Wazed as he commemorated their triumph in the Liberation War, achieved in just nine months. “Then the bravest sons of this soil retaliated, fought and won the Liberation War in just 9 months. I remember Bangabandhu and our valiant freedom fighters on this day,” Wazed emphasized.</div><div><br></div><div>Concluding his tribute, Wazed extended a message of pride and remembrance to all, “Happy Independence Day to all!”</div><div><br></div><div>This Independence Day, the nation collectively reflects on the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of Bangabandhu and the freedom fighters, whose actions forever changed the course of Bangladesh\'s history. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 11:25:55', '2024-03-26 11:25:55');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11739, 11739, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A cease-fire in the Gaza Strip must be “substantive, not symbolic” to end the “darkest chapters” of humanity, a UNICEF official said on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Gaza has shattered humanity\'s records for its darkest chapters. Humanity must now urgently write a different chapter,\" UNICEF spokesman James Elder said at a UN press briefing in Geneva.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The hostages must go home, the people of Gaza must be allowed to live,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the challenges that UNICEF as well as other partners face while trying to reach the north to deliver aid, he said that if the existing Erez crossing point, which is \"10 minutes from where those people are putting their hands to their mouth pleading for food,\" could be used in the north, the humanitarian crisis could be \"turned around in a matter of days\" but efforts to provide aid are being \"hampered.\"</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,300 Palestinians have since been killed and over 74,694 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli war, now in its 172nd day, has pushed 85% of Gaza’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>Gaza, particularly residents in the north, is on the verge of starvation as a UN-backed report warned of an imminent famine.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 11:56:45', '2024-03-26 11:56:45'),
(11740, 11740, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two Palestinian brothers in the Swedish city of Malmo have begun producing a soft drink named Palestine Cola, with an aim to donate any profits to Palestinians.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, where it has so far killed more than 32,200 Palestinians, prompted mass protests around the world and boycotts of many international brands, including top beverage and coffee companies and fast-food chains.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the worldwide campaign to boycott Western producers that profit from Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank or support Israel in any way, Mohamed and Ahmad Hassoun saw a market gap due to high demand for substitutes for larger brands.</div><div><br></div><div>Their company, Palestine Drinks, was launched in February, Mohamed Kiswani, the press officer for Safad Food AB, the Swedish firm behind it, told Anadolu.</div><div><br></div><div>Palestine Cola represents “a symbol of unity and purpose,” according to the company.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hassoun family comes from the large Palestinian town of Safad, from where they were driven out during the British mandate in 1948.</div><div><br></div><div>They were forced to live in refugee camps in the south of Lebanon, before eventually relocating to Sweden.</div><div><br></div><div>On a cold November day in Malmo, the two brothers sat down to try and come up with a project to help Palestinians, who are facing what many around the world say is a genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>This is when Palestine Drinks began to take shape, with experts and consultants helping the family, which owns a successful car and property company in Sweden but had no previous experience in the food and beverage industry.</div><div><br></div><div>“The market, restaurants, stores and people wanted alternatives to the larger brands, so we thought why not make it a charity project and call it Palestine Drinks, for people to remember the name and to be proud of the brand. So that’s the main reason why this idea came to life,” Kiswani said between back-to-back meetings.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have launched an alternative brand for everyone who wants … a company that supports Palestinians.”</div><div><br></div><div>Overwhelming response</div><div><br></div><div>Proud of its role as a project to help fellow Palestinians, the brothers initially saw it as a small initiative targeting only the Swedish market.</div><div><br></div><div>When the drinks hit the shelves, however, the public response was overwhelming and totally unexpected.</div><div><br></div><div>“As soon as we pushed out a million cans, they just immediately sold out, as this brand markets itself,” said Kiswani, adding that a key factor is that people are confident that it is for a good cause.</div><div><br></div><div>The drinks are currently sold in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but orders keep coming in from other parts of Europe, the US, Australia, Japan, Arab countries, parts of Asia and even Latin America.</div><div><br></div><div>The company feels the sky is the limit for this brand and is currently in the process of expanding beyond Scandinavia, with plans to have it available in other countries within the next two or three months.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, we have about 900 orders from companies all over the world wanting to be our distributor. We have not had time to answer all the emails yet,” Kiswani said.</div><div><br></div><div>The company’s drinks are designed to appeal to all taste buds “regardless of preference,” available in original, sugar-free, orange and lemonade flavors, as well as an energy drink variant.</div><div><br></div><div>“We decided to go with the cola flavor, which we thought tasted better than other alternatives on the market today,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The can’s logo features an olive tree, a Palestinian symbol since ancient times, and a bottom pattern that represents the Palestinian keffiyeh, a historic emblem of Palestinian nationalism.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, the main idea here is to reach all of the world, to keep everyone remembering that Palestine exists in the memory of this family and in the memory of every Palestinian family,” said Kiswani. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 12:08:29', '2024-03-26 12:08:29'),
(11741, 11741, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President of China Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin  congratulated President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina respectively on the occasion of Independence Day 26 March. </b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping noted that over the past 53 years, Bangladesh has steadfastly upheld its independence, strived to develop its economy and improve people\'s livelihood, and made remarkable achievements, laying a solid foundation for realizing the dream of “Sonar Bangla”.</div><div><br></div><div>Chinese President pointed out that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbors, and the friendship between the two countries has grown from strength to strength. In recent years, our two countries have enjoyed solid and profound political trust, and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.</div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping emphasized that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh relations and stands ready to work together to further advance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation and deepen China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent messages of congratulations separately to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in his letter to Sheikh Hasina said, \'On behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation and on my own behalf, please accept congratulations on the occasion of the national holiday of the People\'s Republic of Bangladesh - the Independence Day.\'</div><div><br></div><div>He observed with satisfaction that the Russia-Bangladesh relations have been developing in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect and that trade and economic cooperation is gradually advancing, and perspective joint projects are being realised. </div><div><br></div><div>\'I am convinced that active work between the governments will contribute to strengthening the entire gamut of practical interaction. This fully corresponds with the interests of the Russian Federation and the People\'s Republic of Bangladesh\' said the premier.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian PM wished Sheikh Hasina, sound health, well-being and new achievements in her responsible work and to the friendly Bangladeshi people - happiness and prosperity.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/r/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 13:05:05', '2024-03-26 13:29:03'),
(11742, 11742, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda urged the land officials to work towards building a smart Bangladesh by implementing sustainable, people-friendly land services, inspired by the spirit of independence.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The land minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled \'Leadership and Development Thoughts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman\' on the occasion of the Great Independence and National Day 2024 at Bhumi Bhaban on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chairman of Land Appeal Board AKM Shamimul Haque, Chairman of Land Reform Board Md Abdus Sabur Mandal, Director General of Land Records and Survey Directorate Anis Mahmud were also present as discussants in the meeting held under the chairmanship of Land Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman. Public officials of the Ministry of Land and its affiliated offices/agencies were present at the discussion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The land minister said, after our independence, Bangabandhu had given importance to the proper and sustainable use of land and the just rights of the people over land in building the country and nation. After the independence of Bangladesh, he took various landmark decisions. His worthy daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in the same continuation, took land management reforms seriously and made it a part of Smart Bangladesh and Delta Plan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Narayon Chandra Chanda also addressed the land officials, stating that just as heroic freedom fighters once plunged into the historic struggle for the national liberation of our country and its people at the call of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; minister also said that, in the same manner, in this independent Bangladesh as called by the Prime Minister, we as the people\'s representatives and the public servants should work diligently to change the economic fate of the country and the people by implementing Smart Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister further stated that land is directly and indirectly related to the interests of every citizen of the country. The lack of efficient and proper land management is a hindrance to national development. To ensure a smart Bangladesh, efficient and proper land management must be ensured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The secretary said Bangabandhu was the leader of the soil and the people. He inspired the entire nation under one umbrella. As public servants, we all have much to learn from his unprecedented leadership. At this time, the secretary reiterated the commitment of all working under the Ministry of Land to work with the spirit of independence and said, collectively, we will endeavor in our respective fields to implement the Prime Minister\'s vision of Smart Bangladesh to the best of our abilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The speakers discussed the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the emergence of Bangladesh. The discussants highlighted Bangabandhu\'s leadership and role in every democratic and independence movement conducted for the liberation and rights of the Bangalis, including the anti-colonial movement from 1944, the All Party State Language Action Council in 1948, the Language Movement of 52, the United Front election of 54, the movement against military rule of 58, the 6-point movement of 66, the mass uprising of 69, the election of 70, and the great liberation war of 1971 and nation building after the victory in the Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/r/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 13:36:48', '2024-03-26 13:49:29'),
(11743, 11743, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two people have so far been rescued from the freezing Baltimore waters after a huge container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Footage showed the moment the 1.6 mile long bridge fell into the water just before 1.30am local time this morning after the Singapore-flagged Dali ship slammed into one of the bridge’s pillars.</div><div><br></div><div>Multiple cars were crossing over the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.</div><div><br></div><div>Baltimore Police said in a press briefing that a desperate search is currently under way for at least seven people missing in the water.</div><div><br></div><div>Just two people have been pulled from the water five hours on from the incident, one of whom is currently fighting for their life in hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Sonar has detected multiple vehicles still in the water.</div><div><br></div><div>Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency and the White House is monitoring the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Marine Traffic website, the ship was bound for Colombo Port in Sri Lanka at the time. - yahoo news</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 13:57:30', '2024-03-26 13:57:30'),
(11744, 11744, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr. Rebeka Sultana today hosted a reception at Bangabhaban marking the country\'s 54th Independence and National Day - 2024, where visiting Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were present.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bhutanese King is now on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh at the special invitation of Bangladesh President Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the 54th Independence Day celebrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He along with his spouse Queen Jetsun Pema joined the reception on the lawn of the Bangabhaban at about 5:00 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As many as 2600 guests were invited in the Independence and National Day reception.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu\'s daughter and Prime Minister\'s sister Sheikh Rehana, President\'s spouse Dr Rebeka Sultan, South East Asian Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) and PM\'s daughter Saima Wazed, attended the reception.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the invitees, cabinet members, advisers, state ministers, Bhutanese delegation members, foreign diplomats, Supreme Court judges, senior officials of the three services, members of parliament, senior political leaders, academics, business community leaders, artistes, valiant Freedom Fighters and family members of Birshreshtha gallantry award recipients and distinguished citizens attended the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Media personalities including, editors and journalist leaders also attended the reception alongside top civil and military officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the occasion, President Shahabuddin, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with President\'s wife Dr Rebeka Sultana and Bhutanese Queen cut a cake placed at the VVIP Enclosure on the eastern side of the green field.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also exchanged greetings among each other and attended a photo session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, they exchanged greetings with the injured freedom fighters and other dignitaries and guests at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the reception was followed by an iftar and dinner party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prior to it, a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pesh Imam of Bangabhaban Jame Mosque Maulana M Saiful Kabir conducted the munajat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every year, the March 26 brings the most tragic reminiscence of the history\'s blackest episode that heralded a nine-month bloody ordeal from the night of March 25, 1971, achieving the long-cherished independence on December 16 the same year at the cost of a sea of blood.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the wake of the military crackdown by the then Pakistan occupation force, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the Independence of Bangladesh through the then EPR (East Pakistan Rifles) wireless at 00-30 hours on March 26 (the night following March 25) in 1971 at his historic Road-32 residence at Dhanmondi here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is very auspicious and precious to the Bengali nation. - BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 14:32:11', '2024-03-26 14:32:11'),
(11745, 11745, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a significant move to enhance late-night transportation options, the Dhaka Metro Rail has announced an extension of its operating hours. Starting today (March 27, 2024), the service will run an additional hour past its previous closing time, now concluding at 9:40 pm.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This decision, as explained by MAN Siddique, the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), is a direct response to the increasing public demand for extended metro service hours. The announcement was made on March 25, marking a pivotal change in the metro\'s schedule to accommodate the needs of late-evening commuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the new timetable, the final train from the Motijheel station is scheduled to leave at 9:40 pm, while the last departure from the Uttara terminal will be at 9:20 pm. This adjustment will see the introduction of trains departing every 12 minutes during the newly added service hour, integrating an additional 10 trains into the daily rotation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this extension, the total number of daily metro trips will rise from 184 to 194, reflecting the DMTCL\'s commitment to improving public transportation accessibility and convenience.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prior to this change, Dhaka Metro Rail\'s operation hours spanned from 7 am to 8:40 pm. The service frequency included trains running every 8 minutes during peak hours—from 7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm—and every 12 minutes during off-peak periods, between 11 am and 2:30 pm. This schedule adjustment is anticipated to significantly benefit the city\'s metro users by providing more flexible travel options during the evening. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 06:43:30', '2024-03-27 06:43:30'),
(11746, 11746, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a significant move to enhance late-night transportation options, the Dhaka Metro Rail has announced an extension of its operating hours. Starting today (March 27, 2024), the service will run an additional hour past its previous closing time, now concluding at 9:40 pm.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>This decision, as explained by MAN Siddique, the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), is a direct response to the increasing public demand for extended metro service hours. The announcement was made on March 25, marking a pivotal change in the metro\'s schedule to accommodate the needs of late-evening commuters.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the new timetable, the final train from the Motijheel station is scheduled to leave at 9:40 pm, while the last departure from the Uttara terminal will be at 9:20 pm. This adjustment will see the introduction of trains departing every 12 minutes during the newly added service hour, integrating an additional 10 trains into the daily rotation.</div><div><br></div><div>With this extension, the total number of daily metro trips will rise from 184 to 194, reflecting the DMTCL\'s commitment to improving public transportation accessibility and convenience.</div><div><br></div><div>Prior to this change, Dhaka Metro Rail\'s operation hours spanned from 7 am to 8:40 pm. The service frequency included trains running every 8 minutes during peak hours—from 7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm—and every 12 minutes during off-peak periods, between 11 am and 2:30 pm. This schedule adjustment is anticipated to significantly benefit the city\'s metro users by providing more flexible travel options during the evening. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 07:30:44', '2024-03-27 07:30:44'),
(11747, 11747, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Nobel laureate Professor Yunus has visited Venice and Milan to finalise the partnership between&nbsp; &nbsp;Milan Cortina Winter Olympic and Yunus Sports Hub.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his visit to Venice on March 18, Prof Yunus was the honorary host of the launch event of Impact 2026, the social procurement programme delivered as a partnership between Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 (organizer of the 2026 winter Olympic and Paralympic Games), Yunus Sports Hub and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aim of the programme is to make sure that social businesses benefit from the economic opportunities of the 2026 Games.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He opened the event with a keynote speech promoting the concept of social business and the world of three zeros in sports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event was hosted by the&nbsp; Ca’Foscari University of Venice, the Veneto region and the City of Venice, said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The&nbsp; Ca’Foscari University of Venice established a&nbsp; Yunus Social Business Centre five years back during Professor Yunus\'s&nbsp; visit to the university at the invitaion of the university, dedicating the Centre for implementation of social business in the academic curriculum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Faculty members of several other Yunus Social Business Centres in different parts of Italy also arrived in Venice to participate in&nbsp; the launching ceremony and meet Professor Yunus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 19, Prof Yunus addressed the students of the university of Bocconi , the topmost Italian management school.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof Yunus expounded his vision about a world of three zeros, social business, and its link with sports . The event was organized within the framework of the launch of the Executive Master in Events, launched in partnership between University of Bocconi and Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his visit to Milan Professor Yunus received the Italian rapper, singer, songwriter, social media personality and businessman, superstar Fedez.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fedez expressed his interest in partnering with him in the movement towards building a World of Three Zeros.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When&nbsp; Fedze expressed his desire to create a social business in Europe jointly with Professor Yunus, he accepted the offer and invited him to visit Bangladesh to finalise the partnership. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 08:19:53', '2024-03-27 08:19:53'),
(11748, 11748, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A senior Indian opposition politician will run the capital from his prison cell, a senior aide said Tuesday, facing down growing calls by rivals demanding he resign.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of New Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to compete against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in upcoming elections, was arrested on Thursday in connection with a long-running corruption probe.</div><div><br></div><div>Atishi Marlena Singh, New Delhi’s education minister and fellow member of Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man Party, AAP), said “statutory and constitutional provisions” allowed him to remain in his post while behind bars.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are very clear that Arvind Kejriwal will remain the chief minister of Delhi,” Singh, 42, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“If he were to resign when there’s been no trial and no conviction, it opens up the route for other opposition chief ministers to be removed,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>India’s main financial investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which arrested Kejriwal, has launched probes into at least four other state chief ministers or their family members.</div><div><br></div><div>All the investigations involve political opponents of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).</div><div><br></div><div>While Modi enjoys high levels of support among his backers, critics accuse him of using law enforcement agencies to intimidate opposition leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>Kejriwal, 55, denies the charges against him.</div><div><br></div><div>His supporters, who held a rally in the city on Tuesday demanding his release, say charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at sidelining challengers of Modi ahead of the polls.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi’s political opponents and international rights groups have long sounded the alarm on India’s shrinking democratic space.</div><div><br></div><div>“All the center has to do is file some fake cases, and then the ED goes and arrests them,” according to Singh.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly a billion Indians will vote to elect a new government in six-week-long parliamentary elections starting on April 19, the largest democratic exercise in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Many analysts see Modi’s re-election as a foregone conclusion, partly due to the resonance of his assertive Hindu-nationalist politics with members of the country’s majority faith.</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of BJP loyalists held a rival march through New Delhi on Tuesday, chanting support for Modi and demanding Kejriwal resign.</div><div>“You can run a gang from jail but not a government,” BJP lawmaker Manoj Tiwari told the crowd. “A government cannot be run from prison.”</div><div><br></div><div>In February, Jharkhand state’s chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested and jailed on corruption charges.</div><div><br></div><div>Soren, who denies all charges, resigned and handed power to a colleague. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 08:51:57', '2024-03-27 08:51:57'),
(11749, 11749, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian officials persisted Tuesday in saying Ukraine and the West had a role in last week’s deadly Moscow concert hall attack despite vehement denials of involvement by Kyiv and a claim of responsibility by an affiliate of the Daesh group.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Without offering any evidence, Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, followed similar allegations by President Vladimir Putin, who linked the attack to Ukraine even as he acknowledged that the suspects who were arrested were “terrorists.”</div><div>The Daesh affiliate claimed it carried out the attack, and US intelligence said it had information confirming the group was responsible. French President Emmanuel Macron said France also has intelligence pointing to “an Daesh entity” as responsible for the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>But despite the signs pointing to Daesh, Putin insisted on alleged Ukrainian involvement — something that President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected, accusing the Kremlin leader of trying to drum up fervor as his forces fight in Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Bortnikov alleged that Western spy agencies also could have been involved in the deadliest terror attack on Russian soil in two decades, even as he acknowledged receiving a US tip about the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>“We believe that terrorists prepared the action, while Western special services have assisted it and Ukrainian special services had a direct part in it,” Bortnikov said without giving details.</div><div><br></div><div>He repeated Putin’s claim that the four gunmen were trying to escape to Ukraine when they were arrested. casting it as a proof of alleged involvement by Kyiv.</div><div><br></div><div>But that assertion was undercut slightly by Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. who said Tuesday the suspects were headed for Ukraine because they feared tight controls on the Belarus border.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia is still reeling from the attack Friday in which gunmen killed 139 people in the Crocus City Hall, a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow. Health officials said about 90 people remain hospitalized, with 22 of them, including two children, in grave condition.</div><div><br></div><div>The four men accused of carrying out the attack appeared in a Moscow court on Sunday on terrorism charges and showed signs of severe beatings. One appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing.</div><div><br></div><div>The men are citizens of Tajikistan, authorities said, and were identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19. They were charged with committing a terrorist attack resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.</div><div><br></div><div>A senior Turkish security official confirmed Tuesday that two of them spent a “short amount of time” in Turkiye before traveling together to Russia on March 2.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the suspects, Fariduni, entered Turkiye on Feb. 20, checked into a hotel in Istanbul’s Fatih district the next day, and checked out Feb. 27, the official said. The other, Rachabalizoda, checked into a hotel in the same district on Jan. 5, checking out on Jan. 21.</div><div><br></div><div>The official said Turkish authorities believe the two “became radicalized in Russia” because they were not in Turkiye for long. There was no warrant for their arrest so they were allowed to travel freely between Russia and Turkiye, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.</div><div><br></div><div>The Daesh group, which lost much of its ground after Russia’s military action in Syria, has long targeted Russia. In October 2015, a bomb planted by Daesh downed a Russian jetliner over the Sinai desert, killing all 224 people aboard, most of them Russian vacationers returning from Egypt.</div><div><br></div><div>The group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, also has claimed several attacks in Russia’s volatile Caucasus and other regions in the past years. It recruited fighters from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, Putin warned that more attacks could follow, alleging possible Western involvement. He didn’t mention the warning about a possible imminent terrorist attack that the US shared confidentially with Moscow two weeks before the raid.</div><div><br></div><div>Three days before the attack, Putin denounced the US Embassy’s March 7 notice urging Americans to avoid crowds in Moscow, including concerts, calling it an attempt to frighten Russians and “blackmail” the Kremlin ahead of the presidential election.</div><div><br></div><div>Bortnikov said Russia was thankful for the warning but described it as very general.</div><div><br></div><div>“The information about preparations for terror attacks in large gatherings of people was of a general nature,” he said. “Of course, we reacted to that information and took corresponding measures to prevent such incidents.”</div><div><br></div><div>He added that the FSB acted on the tip, targeting a group of suspects he didn’t identify but which eventually proved false. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>“We are thankful, of course, but we would like to see more specifics,” Bortnikov said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 10:29:32', '2024-03-27 10:29:32'),
(11750, 11750, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A consignment of 300 tonnes of potatoes, imported from India, made their way into the country through Benapole land port recently. This rounds up the total shipment of 1000 tonnes of potatoes during the month of Ramadan.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A total of 32 trucks with potatoes arrived at the land port between March 13 and March 24, said Mizanur Rahman, revenue officer of Benapole Checkpost and Cargo Department, on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Integrated Food and Beverage imported the potatoes from India.</div><div><br></div><div>Masum Billah, representative of Transmarine Logistic Limited C&amp;F Agent, said the last consignment of potatoes will be unloaded today.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole port, said 700 metric tonnes of potatoes have been released from the port. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 10:37:00', '2024-03-27 10:37:00'),
(11751, 11751, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russia on Wednesday said it sent over 29 tons of humanitarian aid for the besieged Gaza Strip, where more than 32,400 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 74,800 injured since Oct. 7 last year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A statement by Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said on Telegram that a special flight it dispatched earlier in the day has delivered the 20th batch of humanitarian aid to representatives of the Egyptian Red Crescent in the city of El-Arish, who will then redirect the aid to Gaza residents.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry said earlier that the humanitarian aid consists of cereals, flour, sugar, and other long-term storage products, as well as personal hygiene products, most of which were collected at the initiative of authorities from the Russian Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.</div><div><br></div><div>“In total, since the beginning of the humanitarian mission, 20 flights of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations have delivered more than 480 tons of cargo,” it further said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Palestinian territories since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed around 1,200 people.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,400 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 74,800 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’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>Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.​​​​​​​ - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:05:40', '2024-03-27 11:05:40'),
(11752, 11752, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday once again questioned Ziaur Rahman’s loyalty during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.</b></div><div><br></div><div>“(Mirza) Aslam Beg (who was an army officer at that time in Bangladesh) wrote a letter to Ziaur Rahman during the Liberation War expressing satisfaction of his activities,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>This raised the question whether Zia had fought for Bangladesh or Pakistan, she said while addressing a discussion meeting at Awami League office in city’s Tejgaon, organised by the AL on the occasion of the&nbsp; Independence&nbsp; and National Day celebrated on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>In that letter, she claimed, Mirza Aslam Beg also said that wife and sons of Ziaur Rahman were fine in Dhaka Cantonment.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The question is if the person had proclaimed the independence then why the Pakistanis took care of the wife and sons of that person in cantonment, and wrote a letter stating satisfaction over his job,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The ruling Awami League chief said that the war was fought in the eleven sectors of the country during the Liberation War, but the sector led by Zia saw the most killings of the freedom fighters.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The most casualties were in there,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that during any operation&nbsp; Ziaur Rahman used to keep himself in a safe place pushing the freedom fighters to the action field which caused huge casualties as he could not take decision based on ground reality.</div><div><br></div><div>“The casualties happened due to the lack of proper leadership by him (Ziaur Rahman),” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that the successful operation in any battle means attaining desired goal through fewer casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>“Zia could not do that, as a result Aslam Baig expressed satisfaction,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>General Beg served as the third Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army from 1988 until his retirement in 1991. His appointment as chief of army staff came when his predecessor, President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, died in an air crash on August 17, 1988.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the proclamation of the Independence on the night of March 25 (early of March 26), she said that Bangabandhu’s proclamation was relayed through wireless, But after the assassination of the Father of the Nation, the history was distorted.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the distorted history it was said that one major standing on a drum blew the whistle and Bangladesh got independence. A country can not attain independence&nbsp; this way. If this could be done then the history of Bangladesh would have written differently,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that nowadays BNP leaders are searching for democracy, and one BNP leader claimed that on March 25 Awami League leaders fled from Bangladesh. If that is true who then fought the fight and who brought the victory.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the elected public representatives of the 1970 elections formed the first ever government of independent Bangladesh with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the president and Syed Nazrul Islam the vice-president and Tajuddin Ahmed as the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>After forming this government on April 17 of 1971 they took oath at Meherpur and carried out the Liberation War, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that Ziaur Rahman was a sector commander of that government as a salaried person under the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (BNP leaders) must not forget this fact. They must not forget that after the Independence Ziaur Rahman was promoted from Major to Major General. These ungrateful persons forget that also.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina ridiculed a BNP leader’s act of&nbsp; burning his shawl calling for boycott of Indian goods.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked BNP leaders to search the indian sarees under the possession of their wives and burn those and also stop using indian species in their kitchen.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that people rejected BNP for their arson terrorism and killing of people.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who were rejected by people, could not win election in democratic system, now they are searching for democracy,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League Advisory Council Members Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Abdur Razzaque, and Shajahan Khan, Health Affairs Secretary and State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana, Dhaka District President Benzir Ahmed, Dhaka City South General Secretary Humayun Kabir, and Dhaka City North General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi.</div><div><br></div><div>AL publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and his deputy Syed Abdul Awal Shameem moderated the discussion. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:28:11', '2024-03-27 11:28:11');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11753, 11753, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Despite repeated efforts by the Power Division, no progress has been made in bringing the distressing overhead internet and satellite TV cables underground although power utilities are implementing their project in this regard.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has even not possible to make the operators of internet and satellite TV cables agreed to join the ongoing underground cabling projects of the power utility bodies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) has been implementing its first project in the Dhanmondi area to take its all overhead transmission lines underground.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But despite repeated calls by the DPDC, no internet or TV cable operator agreed to join the project. They were even offered free of cost to join the scheme. But no response was received,”&nbsp; a top official of the Power Division told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In such a frustrating situation, recently the Power Division reconstituted its previous committee and also convened a meeting to find a solution to it. But finally the meeting was not held for unknown reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Member secretary of the reconstituted committee and director of the Power Cell Md. Salim Ullah Khan informed that the power Division’s efforts will continue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But the other departments and agencies are not interested in cooperating with the Power Division’s efforts in this regard,” he told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sources at the Power Division blamed the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) and internet service providers (ISPs) for the horrible situation of the overhead cables.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a number of meetings, the previous committee of the Power Division found it difficult to address the problem without their cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to its report submitted to Power Division, Summit Communications Limited (SCL) and Fiber@Home (FAH) have been working as NTTN in the city and they laid underground cables for operating their main internet network in the city while some 1734 legal and some 5,000 illegal internet service providing (ISP) companies have been operating as local ones to provide internet connections to homes and offices through overhead cables.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the system, the ISPs are supposed to take connections from SCL and FAH to take internet service to homes and offices from the main network. Recently, Bahon Limited, another NTTN company, also joined the network.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But NTTN companies alleged that the ISPs are not taking connections from Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) or Access Point (AP) installed by NTTN as it will cost them financially, says the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the report reveals, the IPS companies alleged that they do not prefer taking connections from LDP or AP as they do not get required and instant solutions from the NTTN companies if any problem takes place in any internet service connection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the NTTN are charging excessively in providing connections to the ISP companies from their LDP and AP, the report mentions quoting the ISP companies.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the circumstances, the ISP companies are hanging overhead cables indiscriminately and giving connections to homes and offices without following any rule or regulation, the report says, adding that only the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) can step in and resolve the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, the committee adopted an 11-point recommendation to have a solution and take all overhead cables underground through coordination with electricity distribution companies —DPDC and Desco.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee found that the haphazardly hanged internet, security and satellite&nbsp; TV cables are not only posing a great threat to the power distribution system, but also creating a major obstacle to the government’s move for the beautification of the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rashed Amin Biduyt, an official of the Bahon Limited, said they are not joining the DPDC underground cabling project due to technical reasons as it will not fulfill its requirements to facilitate connections to ISPN, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But we\'re laying our own cables underground with the permission of the South City Corporation,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:48:34', '2024-03-27 11:48:34'),
(11754, 11754, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Another injured victim, who lost five of her family members due to electrocution caused by a torn wire of Palli Bidyut in Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district, died at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka on Tuesday night.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was identified as Sonia, 12, daughter of Foyzur Rahman of East Goalbari village in Juri upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on Tuesday, five members of&nbsp; her family- father Foyzur Rahman, 52, a van puller, mother Shiri Begum, 45, and two sisters-- Samia Begum, 15, Sabina Begum, 13 and brother Sayem Mia, 8 died from electrocution as a live electric wire of local Palli Bidyut Samity fell on their house that also caused fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sonia, who received burn injuries, was first taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital and from there she was taken to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka where she succumbed to her injuries at night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local people also condemned the negligence on the part of Palli Bidyut Samity and demanded that the electric line be replaced immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a three-member probe body was formed to look into the death of six people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Urme Binte Salam provided Tk 50,000 to the family members of the deceased. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:58:17', '2024-03-27 11:58:17'),
(11755, 11755, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh will import 50,000 metric tons of onion from India.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in a meeting on Wednesday approved in principle a proposal of the Commerce Ministry in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali presided over the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the proposal, state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), a subordinate body of the Commerce Ministry, will import the onion from Indian National Cooperative Export Limited on G-to-G basis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the price of the onion was not disclosed in the meeting as the proposal will again come to the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase for approval, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“At that time, the rate of the onion might be disclosed,” said an additional secretary of the Cabinet Division who briefed reporters about the decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 12:01:48', '2024-03-27 12:01:48'),
(11756, 11756, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>All events centering Pahela Baishakh including those at Ramna park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, and Rabindra Sarobar, must conclude by 6 </b>pm.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The decision was taken at a meeting on law and order during celebration of Pahela Baishakh at a conference held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Other decisions taken at the meeting include those who are attempting to spread misinformation about the celebration of Bangla New Year via social media platforms like Facebook will be brought under law.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, fireworks and lanterns will remain prohibited to ensure public safety during the upcoming Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla new year celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>District administrations, district police, and event organisers will ensure security by coordinating arrangements for nationwide celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>Special security measures will be taken at important locations such as Ramna Botomul, Ramna park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, and Rabindra Sarobar. Law enforcement forces and intelligence agencies will be vigilant during these events.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangla Academy will ensure necessary security measures during the Pahela Baisakh fair.</div><div><br></div><div>Personal security arrangements need to be in place alongside law enforcement agencies during the celebration programmes. Volunteers and law enforcement agencies will collaborate to ensure security, said the Home Ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Special security arrangements will be made for diplomatic zones and establishments.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Fire service teams, including fire trucks and ambulances, will be present at significant points in Dhaka and throughout the country during celebrations. Medical teams will also be available, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mobile courts and law enforcement units will be deployed to prevent any incidents of harassment, vandalism, pickpocketing, or other undesirable activities during the celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>Playing banned instruments like vuvzela horn will be prohibited during the celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>High-quality food will be served in prisons across the country during the New Year, and cultural events will be organised, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>Measures will be taken to prevent drug abuse during the Bangla New Year celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:00:17', '2024-03-27 13:00:17'),
(11757, 11757, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Workers of all sectors including readymade garments will get their salary and festival bonus before starting the government holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr, State Minister for Labour and Employment Nazrul Islam Chowdhury said on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the announcement while talking to reporters during the 77th meeting of the Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment at the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>The state minister further said that based on discussion and agreement between the employers and workers, the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays will be coordinated with public holidays so that holidaymakers can reach their destinations conveniently.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, no workers can be laid off before Eid, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Among others, Secretary of Ministry of Labor and Employment Md Mahbub Hossain, Director General of Labor Directorate Md Tariqul Alam, President of Bangladesh Employers Federation Ardashir Kabir, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Faruque Hasan, Acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Mukta Sramik Federation Md Shahidullah Badal, Bangladesh Trade Union Center General Secretary Dr Wazedul Islam Khan were also present. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:20:40', '2024-03-27 13:20:40'),
(11758, 11758, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said BNP leaders should unconditionally apologise to the nation for their undemocratic activities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“BNP is the main obstacle to the implementation of democratic ideals in this country,” he said in a statement sent to the media.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, alleged that BNP which had been born in the womb of dictatorship, continues its ill-attempt to undermine the ideals and values of the great Liberation War and democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP leaders should seek unconditional apology before the nation for their undemocratic activities. But, instead of doing that, they are giving ill-motivated statements as always,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>When the killers of democracy talk about democracy today, that means they have different intentions. “It is nothing but their crocodile tears for democracy,” he said adding that BNP has no responsibility towards democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL general secretary said their cry for democracy is mainly to take the country back to the misrule of era of Tarique Rahman who is the mastermind of the August 1 grenade attack, the master of Hawa Bhaban, Khwab Bhaban, the son of corruption, terrorism and corruption.</div><div><br></div><div>He said some 21,000 Awami League leaders and activists were killed during the BNP-Jamaat alliance regime after 2001, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“The democratic and patriotic civil society of this country is united today against this evil force of darkness,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL leader protested and condemned the falsehood and ill-motivated statements delivered by BNP leader.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:26:17', '2024-03-27 13:26:17'),
(11759, 11759, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">ironment Programme\'s Food Waste Index Report, published Wednesday, tracks the progress of countries to halve food waste by 2030.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The U.N. said the number of countries reporting for the index nearly doubled from the first report in 2021. The 2021 report estimated that 17% of the food produced globally in 2019, or 931 million metric tons (1.03 billion tons), was wasted, but authors warned against direct comparisons because of the lack of sufficient data from many countries.</div><div><br></div><div>The report is co-authored by UNEP and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), an international charity.</div><div><br></div><div>Researchers analyzed country data on households, food service and retailers. They found that each person wastes about 79 kilograms (about 174 pounds) of food annually, equal to at least 1 billion meals wasted worldwide daily.</div><div><br></div><div>Most of the waste — 60% — came in households. About 28% came from food service, or restaurants, with about 12% from retailers.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is a travesty,” said co-author Clementine O’Connor, the focal point for food waste at UNEP. “It doesn’t make any sense, and it is a complicated problem, but through collaboration and systemic action, it is one that can be tackled.”</div><div><br></div><div>The report comes at a time when 783 million people around the world face chronic hunger and many places facing deepening food crises.</div><div><br></div><div>Food waste is also a global concern because of the environmental toll of production, including the land and water required to raise crops and animals and the greenhouse gas emissions it produces, including methane, a powerful gas that has accounted for about 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times.</div><div><br></div><div>Food loss and waste generates 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. If it were a country, it would rank third after China and the U.S.</div><div><br></div><div>Fadila Jumare, a Nigeria-based project associate at Busara Center for Behavioral Economics who has studied prevention of food waste in Kenya and Nigeria, said the problem further disadvantages many people who are already food insecure and cannot afford healthy diets.</div><div><br></div><div>“For humanity, food waste means that less food is available to the poorest population,” said Jumare, who wasn\'t involved in the report.</div><div><br></div><div>Brian Roe, a food waste researcher at Ohio State University who wasn\'t involved with the report, said the index is important to tackling food waste.</div><div><br></div><div>“The key takeaway is that reducing the amount of food that is wasted is an avenue that can lead to many desirable outcomes — resource conservation, fewer environmental damages, greater food security, and more land for uses other than as landfills and food production,” said Roe, who wasn’t involved in the report.</div><div><br></div><div>The report showed notable growth in coverage of food waste in low- and middle-income countries, the authors said. But it may fall to wealthier nations to lead in international cooperation and policy development to reduce food waste, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The report said many governments, regional and industry groups are using public-private partnerships to reduce food waste and its contributions to climate and water stress. Governments and municipalities collaborate with businesses in the food supply chain, whereby businesses commit to measure food waste.</div><div><br></div><div>The report said food redistribution — including donating surplus food to food banks and charities — is significant in tackling food waste among retailers.</div><div><br></div><div>One group doing that is Food Banking Kenya, a nonprofit that gets surplus food from farms, markets, supermarkets and packing houses and redistributes it to schoolchildren and vulnerable populations. Food waste is an increasing concern in Kenya, where an estimated 4.45 million tons of food is wasted every year.</div><div><br></div><div>“We positively impact the society by providing nutritious food and also positively impact the environment by reducing the emission of harmful gases,” said John Mukuhi, the group\'s co-founder and executive director.</div><div><br></div><div>The report’s authors said they found that the differences in per capita household food waste between high-income and lower-income countries were surprisingly small, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Richard Swannel, a co-author and director of Impact Growth at WRAP, said that shows food waste “is not a rich world problem. It\'s a global problem.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The data is really clear on this point: that here is a problem right around the world and one that we could all tackle tomorrow to save ourselves money and reduce environmental impact,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:36:39', '2024-03-27 13:36:39'),
(11760, 11760, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b style=\"\">Admission test results of all units of Dhaka University\'s undergraduate progamme of the academic year 2023-2024&nbsp; will be published at 3.30 pm on March 28.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>DU vice-chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal will reveal the results from the Abdul Motin Chowdhury virtual classroom.</div><div><br></div><div>By providing information, applicants will be able to check their results at admission.eis.du.ac.bd website or use the short message service (SMS) available on any mobile operator.</div><div><br></div><div>A press release issued by DU public relations office confirmed the information.</div><div><br></div><div>The admission test for Arts, Law and Social Science unit was held on February 23; for the Business Education unit on February 24, and the test for the Science unit was on March 1, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>The test (Drawing and MCQ) for the Fine Arts unit was held on March 9.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:45:28', '2024-03-27 13:45:28'),
(11761, 11761, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the people, especially the youth, to strengthen their fight for establishing democracy and voting rights.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this at a discussion meeting organised by BNP on the occasion of the Independence Day at the Engineers Institute auditorium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that the only duty of BNP is now to make people aware of their rights and mobilise them in the struggle for establishing democracy in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirza Fakhrul said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multi-party democracy in the country, while the party’s current chairperson Khaleda Zia fought against an autocratic regime for nine years and established democracy in the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He said we have been fighting against a fascist regime for the last 15 years, and during this period about 22 BNP leaders and activists killed, 60,000 were charged with false cases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The opposition leader said the ruling AL has established not only a fascist regime but apartheid too in the country. They have demolished houses of BNP leaders and activists who are now fleeing from one place to another. They destroyed the businesses of BNP leaders and activists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul also alleged that many young people are not getting government jobs as they are being identified as children of BNP leaders and activists.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He accused the AL government of creating divisions among the people along the political lines. To them some belong to BNP and some others to AL, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ruling AL is distorting the history of the country’s independence as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. AL has always acted against democracy though they speak loudly in the favor of democracy.&nbsp; AL had established one-party BaKSAL (The Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League) in the country, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AL is once again going to establish one-party rule in the country following same way by destroying all democratic institutions, he alleged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those who fought against Pakistan in 1971 had only one motto to establishe democracy in the country, Fakhrul said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After independence AL had destroyed the nation’s dream by forming BaKSAL and now they are also doing same thing, Fakhrul said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the AL government did little for the country’s economic development in the last 15 years. They have rather used the electoral system to ascend to power denying people’s right to vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said AL government uses the state apparatus to stifle the voices of democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is not a single institution which has not been destroyed by AL. They made it through appointing AL people everywhere, he claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirza Fakhrul said there is no alternative to struggle for establishing democracy in the country, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He urged the BNP leaders and activists to fight against the autocrats for bringintg back democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP standing committee members, senior leaders and other associate bodies’ leaders also spoke on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 14:07:15', '2024-03-27 14:07:15'),
(11762, 11762, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government of Bangladesh has no complete list of public services against which it levies fees or charges.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are thousands of public services against which the government levies fees or charges, but there is no complete list of such fees and charges and when those were imposed,” according to an official document of the Finance Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According the official document titled ‘Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26)’ of the Finance Division of the Finance Ministry, the government has partially set up an online database of all non tax revenue (NTR) items with the fees, charges or prices and their dates of imposition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This partial database has opened scope with the hope of increasing NTR income manifolds from administrative fees,” it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the government is not only focusing on enhanced revenue mobilisation from NTR by raising fees or charges, but also putting its best effort to ensure efficient and satisfactory service delivery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has taken numerous initiatives to make service delivery systems paperless and to minimise human deployment in this system. This is one of the key features to building Smart Bangladesh by 2041, the document said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has multiplied public investment during the last one and a half decade, of which the SOEs/Autonomous Bodies (ABs) have enjoyed capital support either in the form of loans or equities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Loans are registered under government accounts through Subsidiary Loan Agreements (SLAs) and thereby interest is charged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“However, there is no consolidated database for equity investments of the government and therefore there is no precise estimate for dividend income,” the official document said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has taken the initiative to create an exhaustive database for equity investments in the SOEs/ABs as well as establish a Financial Reporting Council for setting standard financial statements to ensure proper assessment of these organisations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the ‘Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26)’, With the economic advancement of the country the scope and volumes of public services have evolved and expanded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Government organisations are engaged in delivering various new services in new forms to the public.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has taken initiatives to explore such novel and voluminous services against which fees/charges may be collected through organising stakeholders’ consultation workshops, seminars, etc.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">As per the Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26) of the Finance Division, some Tk 5343 billion will come from tax revenue sector in the 2024-25 fiscal year and Tk 6463 billion in 2025-26 fiscal year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the next two fiscal years, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will provide Tk 5095 billion and Tk 6171 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the Income Tax wing, the collection will be Tk 1753 billion for the next fiscal while Tk 2123 billion for 2025-26 fiscal, and the collection from import duties will be Tk 1511 billion and Tk 1830 billion respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the VAT and supplementary Duties, the revenue collection will be Tk 1831 billion and Tk 2218 billion respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The non-NBR tax for the 2024-25 fiscal and 2025-26 fiscal will be Tk 248 billion and Tk 292 billion respectively with non-tax revenue collection will be Tk 529 billion and Tk 634 billion respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The target for running 2023-24 fiscal is Tk 5000 billion with Tk 4500 billion from tax revenue. Of the total amount, Tk 4300 billion will come from NBR through Tk 1480 billion from income tax, Tk 1275 billion from import duties, Tk 1545 billion from VAT and supplementary duties. Some Tk 200 billion will be collected from the non-NBR sector while Tk 500 billion from the non-tax revenue sector. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 07:35:47', '2024-03-28 07:35:47'),
(11763, 11763, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, has highly appreciated the contributions of the Bangladeshi Americans in building the foundation of bilateral relations between the two nations.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lu was addressing, as the guest of honour, a reception hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Tuesday evening on the occasion of Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran delivered the welcome address at the function held at Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Assistant Secretary of State said that there are huge number of Bangladeshi Americans in the United States and it is their strength and tremendous hard work that builds the foundation of the excellent relations between the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are so proud of the work of the Bangladeshi Americans, what they do to support the relations between our two great nations,” Bangladesh Embassy in Washington quoted Lu as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, Lu referred to Bangladeshi-American entrepreneurs who have excelled in different fields with their unique and innovative ideas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Assistant Secretary of State concluded his remarks by saying, “Happy Birthday Bangladesh and Joy Bangla.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his welcome remarks, Bangladesh Ambassador Muhammad Imran extended heartfelt greetings to all Bangladeshis living at home and abroad on the occasion of Independence and National Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and three million martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Imran said Bangladesh attaches high importance to its long-standing partnership with the United States. Ever since the establishment of the two countries’ relations, excellent understanding and collaboration with the United States have played a positive role in Bangladesh’s development journey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that Bangladesh also shares with the United States a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We sincerely believe that two countries will be able to strengthen and advance the relationship further and explore new areas of cooperation,\" Ambassador Imran said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh looks forward to the support and cooperation from all its friends to realise the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to transform Bangladesh into “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal), a hunger-and poverty-free prosperous Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the US Assistant Secretary of State and the Bangladesh Ambassador jointly cut a cake in the presence of the guests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the reception began with the playing of the national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States. It was followed by a screening of a documentary on the Liberation War and development of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, Director, Office of Foreign Missions, US State Department; ambassadors and diplomats of different countries, senior officials of the State Department, and representatives from the US Government, USAID, USTR, NDI, IRI and other organisations were present at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event was also attended by Ambassador Muhammad Ziauddin, Ambassador at Large of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and former Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, Dr. Ahmed Kaikaus, ex-Alternate Executive Director of World Bank Group and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Saddam Selim, a Bangladeshi American elected a State Senator from Virginia and Dr. Siddiqur Rahman, the President of the US chapter of Bangladesh Awami League, and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To celebrate Independence and National Day, the Bangladesh Embassy arranged daylong programs that included hoisting of the National Flag, placing a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, screening of a documentary and holding a discussion session and a special prayer. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 07:50:56', '2024-03-28 07:50:56'),
(11764, 11764, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who won a Nobel Prize in economics for his insights into how ingrained neurological biases influence decision making, died Wednesday at the age of 90.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman and his longtime collaborator Amos Tversky reshaped the field of economics, which prior to their work mostly assumed that people were “rational actors” capable of clearly evaluating choices such as which car to buy or which job to take. The pair\'s research — which Kahneman described for lay audiences in his best-selling 2011 book “Thinking, Fast and Slow” — focused on how much decision-making is shaped by subterranean quirks and mental shortcuts that can distort our thoughts in irrational yet predictable ways.</div><div><br></div><div>Take, for instance, false confidence in predictions. In an excerpt from his book, Kahneman described a “leaderless group” challenge used by the Israeli army\'s Psychology Branch to assess future leadership potential. Eight candidates, all unknowns to one another, had to cross a six-foot wall together using only a long log — without touching the wall or the ground with the log, or touching the wall themselves.</div><div><br></div><div>Observers of the test — including Kahneman himself, who was born in Tel Aviv and did his Israeli national service in the 1950s — confidently identified leaders-in-the-making from these challenges, only to learn later that their assessments bore little relation to how the same soldiers performed at officer training school. The kicker: This fact didn\'t dent the group\'s confidence in its own judgments, which seemed intuitively obvious — and yet also continued to fail at predicting leadership potential.</div><div><br></div><div>“It was the first cognitive illusion I discovered,” Kahneman later wrote. He coined the phrase “ the illusion of validity ” to describe the phenomenon.</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman’s partner, Barbara Tversky — the widow of Amos Tversky — confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Tversky, herself a Stanford University emerita professor of psychology, said the family is not disclosing the location or cause of death.</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman\'s decades-long partnership with Tversky began in 1969 when the two collaborated on a paper analyzing researcher intuitions about statistical methods in their work. “The experience was magical,” Kahneman later wrote in his Nobel autobiography. “Amos was often described by people who knew him as the smartest person they knew. He was also very funny ... and the result was that we could spend hours of solid work in continuous mirth.”</div><div><br></div><div>The two worked together so closely that they flipped a coin to determine which of them would be the lead author on their first paper, and thereafter simply alternated that honor for decades.</div><div><br></div><div>“Amos and I shared the wonder of together owning a goose that could lay golden eggs -– a joint mind that was better than our separate minds,” Kahneman wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman and Tversky began studying decision making in 1974 and quickly hit upon the central insight that people react far more intensely to losses than to equivalent gains. This is the now-common notion of “loss aversion,” which among other things helps explain why many people prefer status quo choices when making decisions. Combined with other findings, the pair developed a theory of risky choice they eventually named “prospect theory.”</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman received the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for these and other contributions that ended up underpinning the discipline now known as behavioral economics. Economists say Tversky would certainly have shared the prize had he not died in 1996. The Nobel is not awarded posthumously. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"37\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 08:18:19', '2024-03-28 08:18:19'),
(11765, 11765, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a momentous sale that has captivated movie buffs and collectors alike, the infamous piece of wooden debris that kept “Titanic” movie’s Rose afloat — and arguably led to Jack\'s demise — has sold for a staggering $718,750 at auction, reports the BBC.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>This piece of film history has been the center of a long-standing debate since the movie\'s release in 1997: could it have supported both Rose and Jack, potentially saving them both from the icy grip of the Atlantic?</div><div><br></div><div>The prop, which has ignited discussions among fans for over two decades, was a highlight at an auction featuring items and costumes from Planet Hollywood\'s extensive collection. The scene in question features Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, insisting the makeshift raft was only big enough for Rose, played by Kate Winslet, leading to his tragic end in the cold ocean waters.</div><div><br></div><div>The debate over the scene reached such heights that even \"Titanic\" director James Cameron addressed it in a 2012 \"Mythbusters\" episode. Amidst criticism of Rose\'s perceived selfishness and Jack\'s decision-making, Cameron asserted that the script necessitated Jack\'s death, humorously noting that perhaps the prop should have been made smaller to avoid doubt. \"The dude\'s going down,\" Cameron stated, putting a script-driven end to the speculation.</div><div><br></div><div>Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale, revealed the item, often mistaken for an actual door, was based on a piece of the ill-fated 1912 voyage\'s debris. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 08:29:43', '2024-03-28 08:29:43'),
(11766, 11766, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said that there has been progress in the government’s efforts to free the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean along with 23 sailors on board.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Our aim is to rescue the sailors unharmed and at the same time rescue the ship. I just want to say that we have advanced much,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan Mahmud said they are in contact and are making multifaceted efforts to rescue the crew members.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the reported food shortage on the ship, he said food shortage has never happened in the past when ships have been hijacked. “Hopefully it won’t happen in this case either.”</div><div><br></div><div>After 9 days of taking the Bangladeshi ship and holding 23 sailors hostage, Somali pirates contacted the owners. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 08:50:20', '2024-03-28 13:29:24'),
(11767, 11767, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>r<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Around hundreds of houses were damaged while a number of trees were uprooted during a nor’wester in Faridpur district early Thursday (March 28, 2024).</span></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twenty villages under Pachuria and Bana unions in Alfadanga upazila of the district were battered by the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents of the 20 villages – Sirgram, Garania, Pakuria, Taboni, Tonapara, Sialdi Charpara, Joydebpur, Aushir haat, Kutharakandi, Majpara, Arpara in Bana union; Jugibarat, Bhatpara, Chandra, Pachuria, Deuli, Charnarandia, Dhuljuri and Charbhatpara in Pachuria union – remained in darkness as many electric wires were also snapped during the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A vast track of cropslands were also damaged while trees were uprooted, halting road communications in different parts of the upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AKM Zahidul Hasan Zahid, chairman of Alfadanga upazila, said the storm started sweeping through the upazila around 1 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many people have taken shelter under the open sky as their thatched houses were blown away during the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional General Manager of Alfadanga Sub-zonal officer of Palli Bidyut Samity, said some electric poles were uprooted while some wires got snapped, disrupting power connection, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Work is going on to resume power supply, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quamrul Ahsan Talukdar, deputy commissioner of Faridpur, said directives have been given to provide all-out support to those affected in the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 09:15:05', '2024-03-28 09:15:05');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11768, 11768, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a meeting of US Congress members that \"victory\" in Gaza and \"getting\" Hamas\' senior leadership in the enclave are only \"a few weeks away.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, Netanyahu told a bipartisan group from the US Congress, “We’ve killed many senior leaders [of Hamas], including number four in Hamas, number three in Hamas. We’ll get number two and number one. That’s victory. Victory is within reach. It’s a few weeks away,\" reports CNN.</div><div><br></div><div>Hosting the congressional delegation in Jerusalem, which the Prime Minister\'s Office claimed was organised by the pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Netanyahu said it was \"very important to maintain bipartisan support\" but \"especially in these trying times.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu stated that Israel \"had no choice\" but to enter Rafah because its \"very existence is on the line.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister stated that Israel has had a \"remarkable alignment\" with the Biden administration since the October 7 Hamas attack, but they have fundamentally opposing views on an Israeli incursion into Rafah, the report said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has received international condemnation before of its planned onslaught on the southern Gaza city, where over one million Palestinians are currently taking shelter. Netanyahu had previously stated to the delegation that displaced Palestinians in Gaza could \"just move\" out of Rafah and \"move with their tents.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"There is all of the Gaza Strip north of Rafah,\" Netanyahu remarked. \"People can move up or down,\" he continued.</div><div><br></div><div>Disagreements regarding the possible invasion of Rafah and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza have strained relations between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this week, Netanyahu postponed a scheduled government trip to Washington in protest over the United States\' abstention from a UN Security Council vote that allowed a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza to pass, the report also said.</div><div><br></div><div>The resolution, proposed by the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council, demanded an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and “the urgent need to expand the flow” of aid into Gaza.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 09:19:59', '2024-03-28 09:19:59'),
(11769, 11769, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the use of non-lethal weapons has increased in recent days compared to the past, leading to a decrease in death toll along Bangladesh-India border.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We have long been discussing with India. When I visited India recently, we discussed the issue with much importance so that non lethal weapons are used along the border. Now, compared to the past, use of non lethal weapons has increased,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister described the recent border killings in Lalmonirhat and Naogaon and mentioned that flag meeting was held between Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Security Force.</div><div><br></div><div>There was a protest from the BGB side, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said they want to see no such incident in the border areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) have agreed to bring down the border casualties of Bangladeshi nationals to zero by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness programme, preventing criminals or inhabitants from crossing border and sharing information, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Since BGB and BSF are in engagement, he said, they think problems can be solved there.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 09:38:53', '2024-03-28 09:38:53'),
(11770, 11770, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday described Yunus Centre\'s \"lying\" and Professor Muhammad Yunus\' receiving an award from an Israeli sculptor \"very unfortunate.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"I am very surprised.....it\'s very unfortunate,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there was no single word of protest from Prof Yunus when people including children and women are killed in Gaza when there is crimes against humanity.</div><div><br></div><div>\"In this situation in Gaza, Prof Yunus received an award from an Israeli. What is this? What does it mean? Is it not supporting Israeli killings in Gaza?\" Hasan asked.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Prof Yunus was not awarded by the UNESCO but it was lies spread by Yunus Centre.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said it is not the first time Yunus Centre did it but they did spread same falsehoods in the past.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury on Wednesday said the UNESCO did not confer “The Tree of Peace” award to Nobel laureate Professor Yunus.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohibul, who is also the Chairman of the Bangladesh UNESCO Commission, made the statement to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>He said \"Dr Yunus was conferred the \'Tree of Peace\' award by an Israeli sculptor, upon invitation from the Ganjavi Foundation in Azerbaijan.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that Dr Yunus’ claim that he received the award from UNESCO is untrue.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The information propagated by the Yunus Centre regarding the UNESCO award is inaccurate and misleading,\" said the minister. \"It is imperative that we set the record straight and ensure that such misinformation does not tarnish the reputation of our country. An explanation will be sent to the UNESCO headquarters regarding this matter as it is humiliating for Bangladesh.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The minister also warned of legal repercussions if the Yunus Centre persisted in spreading false claims about the UNESCO award. He emphasised the need for immediate cessation of such misleading information to prevent further damage to the reputation of both Dr Yunus and Bangladesh on the international stage.</div><div><br></div><div>However, comments from the Yunus Centre were not immediately available. - unb</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 10:09:24', '2024-03-28 10:09:24'),
(11771, 11771, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid has made history as the first Bangladeshi umpire to join the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The announcement follows the International Cricket Council\'s (ICC) annual review.</div><div><br></div><div>A selection panel made up of ICC General Manager Cricket Wasim Khan (Chair), Sanjay Manjrekar (former player and commentator), Tony Hill (retired umpire), and Mike Riley (consultant officiating expert) chose Sharfuddoula for the promotion.</div><div><br></div><div>Since joining the International Panel in 2006, Sharfuddoula has extensive experience, having officiated 10 men\'s test matches, 63 men\'s ODIs, 44 men\'s T20Is, 13 women\'s ODIs, and 28 Women\'s T20Is.</div><div><br></div><div>He has also participated in major tournaments like the ICC Women\'s Cricket World Cups (2017 and 2021), the ICC Men\'s Cricket World Cup 2023, and the ICC Women\'s T20 World Cup 2018, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“It is a great honour to be named on the ICC Elite Panel. To be the first from my country on the panel makes it extra special, and I look forward to justifying the faith shown in me,” as Sharfuddoula was quoted by the ICC.</div><div><br></div><div>“I would like to thank the ICC and the BCB for backing me and my other colleagues for all their help and guidance. I would also like to thank my family and friends for standing by and supporting me,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 10:43:53', '2024-03-28 10:43:53'),
(11772, 11772, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Oil prices increased on Thursday due to supply concerns fueled by Russia’s decision to implement output cuts and the unsuccessful attempts to bring about a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>International benchmark Brent crude traded at $85.70 per barrel at 10.46 a.m. local time (0746 GMT), a 33% rise from the closing price of $85.41 per barrel in the previous trading session.</div><div><br></div><div>The American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $81.72 per barrel at the same time, an 0.45% increase from the previous session that closed at $81.35 per barrel.</div><div><br></div><div>Ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to bolster oil prices by increasing the risk of supply disruptions.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian drone attacks on the Novoshakhtinks plant, the biggest oil refinery in southern Russia, sparked supply concerns with major oil routes coming under threat, boosting prices due to fears of output cuts in Russia, one of the world\'s biggest producers.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the failed attempts for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza escalated tensions in the Middle East, where most of the global oil resources are located, causing supply concerns.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>While Hamas welcomed the move, Israel rejected the truce demand and vowed to continue its offensive until \"total victory\" is achieved.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s decision also triggered concerns that the Houthis will continue their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, one of the world\'s busiest maritime routes for oil and fuel shipments.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the strengthening of the of the US dollar against other currencies limited further price rises with expectations of a demand curb.</div><div><br></div><div>The US dollar index increased by 0.14% to 104.48. A strong dollar is projected to limit demand by making oil more expensive for foreign currency users.</div><div><br></div><div>Data showing that US commercial crude oil and gasoline inventories increased last week also reflected weak demand and limited the upward movement of prices.</div><div><br></div><div>The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that commercial crude oil inventories in the country increased by about 3.2 million barrels last week, while gasoline inventories increased by about 1.3 million barrels. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 10:54:17', '2024-03-28 10:54:17'),
(11773, 11773, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Met office forecast rains or thundershowers in Dhaka and six other divisions of the country in&nbsp; 24 hours commencing&nbsp; 9 am on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a Met office bulletin, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 11:19:16', '2024-03-28 11:19:16'),
(11774, 11774, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Thursday approved a total of 11 development projects including Tk 3,059-crore one to construct 674 Union Parishad complex bhabans in 322 upazilas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Prime Minister and Ecnec chairperson Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area.</div><div><br></div><div>Planning Minister Maj Gen (Retd) Abdus Salam briefed reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The total estimated cost of 11 projects is Tk 8,425.52 crore (only additional cost of revised projects is incorporated here). Of the cost, Tk 7,939.87 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund, while Tk 485.65 crore from foreign sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the projects, seven are new while three are revised schemes. Besides, one project got the Ecnec’s nod to extend time, not cost.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the project factsheet, Union Parishad Complex Bhaban Construction (Phase-III) will be implemented at 674 unions of 322 upazilas in 62 districts by December, 2028.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the fresh projects, the rural infrastructure development in the districts of greater Rangpur region will be implemented at the cost of Tk 2,500 crore in 35 upazilas of five districts by June 2028.</div><div><br></div><div>The other new five projects include Bangladesh Chancellery Bhaban and Residential Bhaban Construction at Cairo in Egypt involving&nbsp; TK 165.97 crore, upgrading and widening Kashinathpur-Dashuria-Natore-Rajshahi-Nababganj-Kansat-Sonamajjid-Baliadighi Border (N-06) National Highways (Nababganj Part) with Tk 481.89 crore, development of Infrastructures to enhancing capacity and fish production in the existing government fish farms with Tk 371.32 crore, improvement of Fish Landing Centre of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation in Cox’s Bazar with Tk 232.83 crore; and Establishment of Bangladesh Handloom Board Complex at Mirpur in Dhaka with Tk 115 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The three revised projects are Collection of 20 Meter Gauge Diesel Electric Locomotives and 150 Meter Gauge Passenger Carriages for Bangladesh Railways (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 288.07 crore (now cost Tk 2,157.68 crore), Promoting Resilience for Vulnerable through Access to Infrastructure, Improved Skills and Information (Provati) (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 166.83 crore (now cost Tk 924.51 crore); and establishment of full-fledged Cancer, Cardiac and Kidney Treatment Centres in 8 divisional cities (1st revised) with extra cost of Tk 1,044.61 crore (now cost Tk 3,433 crore).</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the meeting cleared Relocation of Bangladesh Betar Shahbagh Complex to Agargaon in Dhaka, and its construction and modernization (3rd revised) project, just extending time not cost. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 11:36:06', '2024-03-28 11:36:06'),
(11775, 11775, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Qatar want to expand the existing ties with broader cooperation in the areas of manpower, energy, trade and investment following the planned visit of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Bangladesh next month.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The two countries are in discussion to finalise nearly a dozen of cooperation documents which will be signed during the visit, said a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The two-day visit is likely to take place on April 21-22, he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The two sides are now working on the MoUs and agreements that will be signed after the Emir’s meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already held an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss various aspects of the visit.</div><div><br></div><div>In March last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha.</div><div><br></div><div>She sought increased energy, particularly LNG, from Qatar to meet the energy demands.</div><div><br></div><div>The State of Qatar recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign State on March 4, 1974 following the 2nd OIC Summit held in February 1974.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh opened its diplomatic mission in Doha on June 25, 1975. The State of Qatar reciprocated by opening its diplomatic mission in Dhaka in 1982.</div><div><br></div><div>Bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar are based on mutual respect, shared values, common religious ground, shared culture, and tradition.</div><div><br></div><div>People-to-people contacts bolstered by more than four hundred thousand Bangladeshi workers who are highly appreciated as disciplined and hardworking is one of the dominant features of bilateral relations, according to the MoFA.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh and Qatar consider each other as brotherly countries and important development partners in materialising Bangladesh’s Vision 2041 and Qatar’s vision 2030. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 12:57:01', '2024-03-28 12:57:01'),
(11776, 11776, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said in matters concerning climate change and sustainability, all development partners should come on a single platform to prevent resource fragmentation. To maximize resource utilization, duplication and overlapping should be minimized. With numerous challenges and existential threats posed by climate change, securing resources, both financial and for capacity building, is essential.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Environment Minister said this as the chief guest at the Dissemination Workshop for the Country Environmental Analysis 2023, Building Back a Greener Bangladesh, hosted at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Environment minister said the nation\'s health is paramount, and the government is committed to enhancing air and water quality. Priority interventions for climate action are being sequenced, and the government is actively formulating a time-bound plan. Policy adjustments will be made as necessary to address emerging needs. During the workshop, Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury emphasized the importance of sustainable practices and highlighted initiatives aimed at fostering a greener future for Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdoulaye Seck, the World Bank\'s Country Director for Bangladesh and Additional Secretary (Environment) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest&nbsp; and Climate Change also spoke among others.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The event brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss strategies for environmental preservation and sustainable development.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The workshop featured presentations and discussions on key findings from the Country Environmental Analysis 2023 report, focusing on challenges and opportunities in advancing environmental conservation efforts. Participants engaged in productive dialogue, exchanging ideas to address pressing environmental issues and promote eco-friendly practices across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/R/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 13:28:30', '2024-03-28 13:28:30'),
(11777, 11777, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said 80 per cent of BNP leaders and activists faced torture unleashed by the ‘fascist’ Awami League government.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They can’t retain power without unleashing torture and suppressing people. Their first victim of suppression is BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and she is fighting for,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirza Fakhrul said these at a programme of distribution Eid gift among families of the victims of enforced disappearance on behalf of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman organised by Aamra BNP Paribar (We are BNP Family) held at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He said when BNP started movement against the fascist government or one-party rule or one woman’s rule, aiming to establish people’s right and democracy, they started repression on the BNP men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They have created such an environment of fear where no one can talk, write freely,” he alleged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fascist regime’s repression reached such a level that the opposition leaders and activists’ family member including father, mother, son, daughter and wife were not spared, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After getting bail, the victims shared the experience of inhuman torture in prison like uprooting their nails, breaking their legs and so on. The most pathetic was they could not get any treatment, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Urging unity of all forces BNP secretary general said, “As a democratic political party we are doing more than our capacity to free the country from this horrible situation.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said, there is no alternative to forge unity like 1969, 1971, 1990 where people fought against fascist, autocrat regime to restore democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 14:34:23', '2024-03-28 14:34:23'),
(11778, 11778, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The work of Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Project (IUGIP) is continued in full progress. Minister for the Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives Tajul Islam inaugurated the “Launching workshop “ of the project earlier this week.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The LGRD Minister, Chief Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department and Members of the donor agencies expressed their satisfactions over the progress of the project.</div><div><br></div><div>The work of the project is ongoing against a work order of Tk 850 crore has already been given by floating tenders for 112 packages under work of Tk 1200 crores. The tender evaluation of the remaining work of Tk 350 crore is now under process. Besides, the supply of equipment contract of 6 packages valued Tk 120 crore will be completed by June this year, according to LGED sources.on the other hand three categories of consulting firm like MDS, GICD &amp; IVA are also recruited.</div><div><br></div><div>The project is being implemented with the financial support of donor agencies ADB and AFD. The objectives of the project is to achieve a planned, inclusive, and sustainable urbanization. Under the project, infrastructure development and management efficiency of municipalities will be increased through ‘result based lending’ strategy in 63 municipalities across the country.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The operation and maintenance activities of another 25 municipalities comes from UGIIP-3 have also been taken up. The financial cost of the project has been estimated at $ 602 million. Out of which Bangladesh Government will provide financial assistance of $100 million, ADB $302 million and AFD $200 million, the sources added.</div><div><br></div><div>The project was approved by the ECNEC on June 20, 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 30 June 2028. At least 900 km of drains, 1500 km of roads and 7 Community facilities including climate resilient &amp; inclusive public space will be constructed under this project.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The development of poor settlements will also be ensured through the participation of 50 per cent women of the municipality in the construction work. Rezaul Islam was the first Project Director of the project while Md.Abdul Bareque was appointed as new Project Director of the project on January 2 this year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to this Correspondent, Project Director Abdul Bareque said the work is going on full swing.</div><div><br></div><div>He expects that the project will be completed in the stipulated time.</div><div>Sources in the ADB &amp; AFD emphasized on inclusive development through construction of infrastructure for the poor under the IUGIP project.</div><div><br></div><div>The sustainable development is not possible by keeping them out of development facilities. Besides, they also mentioned that development of management system and construction of climate resilient projects are prerequisites for sustainable development, sources added</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/R/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 18:21:56', '2024-03-28 18:21:56'),
(11779, 11779, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a step towards global trade compliance, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has undertaken a comprehensive review of Bangladesh\'s tariff regime, identifying 60 tariff lines where current customs duties and associated charges surpass the bound rates established in the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of its initial measures, customs duties on 6 items have been reduced, signaling Bangladesh\'s commitment to aligning its trade practices with international standards.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The initiative, detailed in an official document, sets forth a plan to gradually adjust these rates to fall within the WTO-agreed bound tariffs by 2026. Bound tariffs represent the maximum most-favored nation (MFN) tariff rate a country commits to at the WTO, serving as a ceiling that applied tariffs cannot exceed. This regulatory framework ensures that trade policies remain predictable and stable, providing security for traders and investors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Countries typically negotiate bound tariffs during their accession to the WTO or through subsequent trade negotiations, setting these rates higher than their applied tariffs to retain policy flexibility. However, exceeding these bound rates without proper adjustments can lead to international disputes and demands for compensation, emphasizing the importance of adherence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The recalibration effort by Bangladesh reflects a broader trend among WTO members, where developed, developing, and transitioning economies have significantly increased the proportion of imports with bound tariff rates, enhancing global market stability.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additionally, the government has resolved to eliminate the minimum import price requirement, already removing it from 55 items with a strategic plan to phase it out entirely from the remaining 130 products by 2026. This move aims to simplify the import process and foster a more competitive market environment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The document outlines a cautious approach to tariff reduction, ensuring that local industries are not adversely affected and that revenue mobilization remains robust.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NBR\'s strategy involves a careful balancing act, prioritizing the protection of domestic sectors while advancing the country\'s export competitiveness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This progressive adjustment of customs duties and the abolition of the minimum import price underscore Bangladesh\'s efforts to integrate more seamlessly into the global trading system, promoting economic growth and development in alignment with WTO commitments. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 06:53:41', '2024-03-30 06:53:41'),
(11780, 11780, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">N.C. State’s Jannah Eissa and UC Irvine’s Diaba Konate are bringing visibility and inspiration to some Muslim women by wearing hjiabs while they play basketball.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>They aren’t the first women to do it in NCAA Tournament play, but with record viewership and attendance they are certainly getting noticed.</div><div><br></div><div>“Representation really matters,” said Konate, whose team lost in the first round of the tournament to Gonzaga. “Just having people, young Muslim women wearing the hijab, we’re not there yet. Just seeing us play, I think it makes me really happy because I used to have people that I was looking up to. Now having people that look up to me makes me happy.”</div><div><br></div><div>Konate admires Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, who made NCAA history by being the first to wear a hijab in college basketball when she played for Memphis a decade ago. Abdul-Qaadir was instrumental in getting FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, to overturn its own ban on headgear in 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>Former UConn player Batouly Camara, who was one of the first to wear a hijab in Spain’s LF1 league, has enjoyed seeing Eissa and Konate represent their religion.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s truly inspiring to witness these two Muslim athletes competing at the highest level. This tournament serves as a significant moment, shining a spotlight on the best teams simultaneously with their faith,” said Camara, who founded the non-profit organization Women And Kids Empowerment (WAKE) in 2017. “It sends a powerful message to girls worldwide, affirming that they belong on the sports field, regardless of economic class, race, culture and more.”</div><div><br></div><div>Konate started 31 of 32 games for UC Irvine, averaging 7.5 points and nearly four assists. She moved to the U.S. from France after receiving a scholarship from Idaho State. She transferred to UC Irvine as a junior.</div><div><br></div><div>She’d like a chance to play in a hijab at home in France, where she won two medals playing on their youth teams. But currently, the French Federation of Basketball prohibits the wearing of “any equipment with a religious or political connotation.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Being French and hosting the Olympics, it really hurts to not be able to be ourselves,” said Konate, who first started wearing the hijab in 2020. “Hopefully, it changes.”</div><div><br></div><div>Eissa and Konate have never met, but are aware of each other.</div><div><br></div><div>“I just know there’s another woman wearing a hijab,” Eissa said. “I just saw a post about two days ago. I was so happy there are other people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Eissa, who turned 18 in February, was a walk-on at N.C. State. She joined the team after trying out in September. She didn’t play much this season — appearing in 11 games and hitting one 3-pointer.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this season, a group of young Muslim girls came to her game. They also showed up a few more times to support her.</div><div><br></div><div>“I’d love to say I was a role model to them. Never thought I could be a role model for someone I didn’t know,” said Eissa, who grew up in Cairo before coming to N.C. State. “Never knew one person could make such an impact. They were so young girls and girls my age looking up to me and I was so happy.”</div><div><br></div><div>Eissa chose N.C. State because her father got his PhD there and her two older sisters attend the university, reports AP</div><div><br></div><div>She said when having a bad day or an off day, she’d remember her young fans and it would bring a smile.</div><div><br></div><div>“If they see someone giving them hope, I’m happy that I’m the person to give it to them,” Eissa said. “I want to make it as far as I can for the image of women in hijabs.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 07:02:31', '2024-03-30 07:02:31'),
(11781, 11781, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Türkiye\'s national defense minister on Friday received a delegation of US members of Congress from the House Armed Services Committee in the capital Ankara, according to an official statement.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"National Defense Minister Yasar Guler received Mike Rogers, chairman of the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, Ranking Member Adam Smith, and members Salud Carbajal and Veronica Escobar. US Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry L. Flake was also present at the reception,\" the National Defense Ministry said on X.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting is expected to address Türkiye\'s national security concerns \"at the highest level,\" with a particular focus on issues including counter-terrorism and US support for the PKK/YPG terrorist organization.</div><div><br></div><div>The two sides are also expected to discuss Türkiye\'s acquisition of the F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits process, awaiting US congressional approval.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Visit to parliament</div><div><br></div><div>The delegation also paid a visit to Türkiye\'s parliament building, where they met with lawmakers on the legislature\'s Committee on National Defense.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the committee\'s Chairman Hulusi Akar said there were no problems in the procurement process for the fighter aircraft and kits, adding:</div><div><br></div><div>\"Necessary agreements and contracts have been made. Our Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has had meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ... This now stands before us as a project being followed up on and agreed upon in a normal manner, with no issues.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Akar said that during the meeting, the Turkish side had underlined \"the need for cooperation against the presence of PKK/YPG terror group in northern Syria and Iraq, as well as against the ISIS/Daesh presence.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"We expressed the necessity of working together as two allies,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>On the matter of Israel\'s ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, Akar said they highlighted the \"urgent need to prevent the deaths of children, women, and innocent people,\" adding that Türkiye harbors no \"hostility towards Israel\'s existence.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He said they also discussed other regional issues, including the Mediterranean and Greece, as well as the Southern Caucasus nations of Azerbaijan and Armenia.</div><div><br></div><div>Akar said they \"stressed the importance of Armenia accepting the hand that has been extended for peace,\" adding that the discussion was \"very positive and constructive.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"We agreed to continue discussions by meeting in Türkiye or the US,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing his satisfaction with the US delegation\'s visit, Akar said it provided an opportunity for the sides to express themselves face-to-face after a long period.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We hadn\'t been able to come together for a while. I hope from now on, for the benefit of our countries, NATO, regional institutions, peace, stability, and for mutual exchange of views and visits for the resolution of some issues between Türkiye and the US in our region, we will continue,\" Akar said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also conveyed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore.</div><div><br></div><div>For his part, the US Armed Services Committee Chairman Rogers said the talks mostly focused on security-related matters, expressing particular interest the in Turkish side\'s views on how the Russia-Ukraine war could be resolved.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Talks with presidential chief adviser</div><div><br></div><div>Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay also hosted a visiting delegation from the energy, trade, financial services, and budget committees of the US House of Representatives, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The strategic framework for energy, energy security, and cooperation opportunities between Türkiye and the United States has been discussed,” the ministry said on X.</div><div><br></div><div>Later on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\'s chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic also met with the US delegation in Istanbul.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides the four members of Congress and Ambassador Flake, US Consul General in Istanbul Julie Eadeh was also present at the meeting at the Dolmabahce Office.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, developments in US-Türkiye relations, as well as regional and international affairs were discussed.</div><div><br></div><div>The sides also discussed the fight against Daesh/ISIS and extremism, the PKK and its organized criminal activities, the Russia-Ukraine war, Palestine, focusing on the ongoing humanitarian crisis and Israeli attacks there.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan had received the delegation on Thursday, according to the Foreign Ministry. Turkish National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin was also scheduled for a subsequent meeting on Friday with the group of US lawmakers, security sources said. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 07:47:50', '2024-03-30 07:47:50'),
(11782, 11782, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The test run of a train on Bhanga-Rupdia route began on Saturday from Bhanga junction in Faridpur district as part of Padma Bridge Rail Link project.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The train left for Jashore’s Rupdia from Bhanga around 8:41 am in the morning, said Bhanga Rail Station master Zillur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md Shakhawat Hossian was the locomotive driver of the train and it will run with 120 km speed, he said adding it took only one hour to reach Rupdia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The train will leave for Bhanga from Rupdia rail station on March 31 and it will run on the route for some days on an experimental basis, said Zillur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A festive mood is prevailing among people over the operation of the train service on Bhanga-Rupdia route.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trial train run is under the observation of Bangladesh Army and high officials concerned of the Rail project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Already, a train on Dhaka-Jashore route has launched and the last portion of the project is Bhanga-Jashore which is 87.32 km long.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On October 14, 2023, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the construction work on a rail link between Dhaka and Jashore under the ‘Padma Bridge Rail Link Construction Project.’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The railway line is being constructed in three phases (plus a 3km link being built between Dhaka and Gandaria): 37km Gandaria-Mawa section, a 42km Mawa-Bhanga section, and an 87km Bhanga Junction-Jashore section. Some 43.2km of loops, siding and Y-connections bring the total track length to 215.2km.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The entire railway project from Dhaka-Jashore is scheduled to be completed by June, 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There will be 20 stations from Dhaka to Jashore, of which 14 are new and 6 are already there. The previous stations are also being modernised. Once completed, trains will be able to run at a speed of 120 to 130 kilometres.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">According to the railway sources, the Padma Bridge Rail Link project, a 172-km railway link being built to connect capital Dhaka to Jashore in the country’s south-west, is on course to be completed in June 2024. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 08:02:40', '2024-03-30 08:02:40'),
(11783, 11783, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh\'s most accomplished cricketer, finds himself at the center of a swirling debate regarding his commitment to the national team. His return to the team for the second Test starting tomorrow against Sri Lanka, after missing earlier matches in the series, has reignited questions about his priorities and the impact his sporadic appearances have on the team.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The left-handed all-rounder last appeared in a First-Class match a year ago, during a Test against Ireland in Dhaka. Now, after a year-long hiatus from the longest format of cricket, he is set to play another Test without any intervening First-Class appearances. He has not played any international matches in 2024, despite Bangladesh having played seven matches. While the reasons for his absence remain unclear, his abrupt end to the 2023 World Cup was due to a finger injury, which also caused him to miss the home Test series against New Zealand and the subsequent away T20I and ODI series against the same opponent following Bangladesh\'s disastrous World Cup outing.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib\'s undeniable talent and past contributions are unquestioned. He is a genuine all-rounder, capable of winning matches with both bat and ball. However, in recent years, his appearances for the national team have been inconsistent, with breaks taken for personal reasons, injuries, and even political activities (while the Bangladesh team was busy playing against New Zealand in New Zealand late last year, Shakib was actively campaigning for the national election in his constituency, Magura district). This inconsistency has led to a sense of unease and frustration among fans and experts alike.</div><div><br></div><div>During the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Shakib faced an eye issue that required medical attention. This issue reportedly affected him during the World Cup, contributing to his lean batting display, as he hinted in an interview with a cricket website. Despite this, he continued playing in the BPL, leading to rumors that he would take a break after the tournament. However, even before the BPL concluded, he contradicted earlier statements from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) by claiming that he had no issues with his eyes.</div><div><br></div><div>Ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka, Shakib declared himself available, and the BCB promptly included him in the squad. This sudden turnaround has raised eyebrows and fueled the perception that Shakib dictates his own terms when it comes to playing for the national team. With his standout performances over the years, he made himself a difficult figure to criticize, though, the performance doesn\'t.</div><div><br></div><div>His absence from the earlier matches of the Sri Lanka series was attributed to personal activities, including brand endorsements. While these pursuits are understandable, their prioritization over national duty has left some questioning his commitment.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib\'s leadership during the 2023 World Cup, which he himself acknowledged as one of Bangladesh\'s worst performances in the tournament, also comes under scrutiny. The team lost seven out of nine matches, including a shocking defeat to the Netherlands. This poor showing has led some to question his captaincy and ability to lead the team effectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, with his return for the second Test, Shakib\'s intentions and potential contribution are under the microscope. Is he returning to be the savior of a struggling team who lost the first Test by a margin of over 300 runs, or will his sporadic appearances further disrupt the rhythm and morale that the team is trying to build?</div><div><br></div><div>There are arguments to be made on both sides. On the one hand, Shakib\'s talent and experience are undeniable assets to the team. His presence can boost the morale of the players and provide much-needed stability in the batting and bowling departments. On the other hand, his inconsistent availability can disrupt team dynamics and make it difficult for the team management to build a cohesive unit.</div><div><br></div><div>Ultimately, the question of whether Shakib, in recent years, is a savior or disruptor for the Bangladesh national team remains open. His performance in the upcoming Test and his future commitment to the team will be crucial in determining the answer. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 08:13:32', '2024-03-30 08:13:32'),
(11784, 11784, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Bangladeshi man was killed and two others were wounded in firing by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) members early Saturday along Lalmonirhat border in Kaliganj upazila.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased is Murali Chandra, 44, son of Shusheel Gidal of North Balapara area and the injured are Mizanur Rahman and Liton Mia, residents of neighboring Chandrapur area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to BGB, members of a patrol team of 75-Chitrakot BSF camp opened fire on some Bangladesh cattle traders along the border, leaving Murali dead and two others injured, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Imtiaz Kabir, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station, confirmed the matter .</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lt. Colonel Md. Mofazzal Hossain Akand, commander of Lalmonirhat 15 BGB battalion, said that a flag meeting was held between the two countries over the death of the Bangladeshi national in BSF firing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 08:21:47', '2024-03-30 08:21:47');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11785, 11785, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An 8-year-old girl was the lone survivor after a bus full of pilgrims making their way to a popular Easter festival in rural South Africa slammed into a bridge on a mountain pass and plunged into a ravine before bursting into flames, killing all 45 others onboard.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was a tragic reminder of how deadly South Africa\'s roads become during the Easter period, when millions crisscross the country during the long holiday weekend. Authorities repeatedly warn motorists of the danger and had issued multiple messages urging caution just a day before Thursday\'s horrific crash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The girl somehow survived after the bus carrying worshippers from neighboring Botswana careened off the bridge, fell more than 150 feet (50 meters) and caught fire as it hit the rocks below, according to authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The girl was in a stable condition in the hospital after being admitted with serious injuries and was \"in safe hands,” an official with the local health department said Friday. Details of her injuries were not released.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Forensic investigators retrieved what they believed were 34 of the 45 bodies but couldn\'t be certain of the exact number, reflecting the gruesome nature of the crash. Many of the victims trapped inside the bus were burned beyond recognition, authorities said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, an official with the Limpopo provincial health department, said only nine of the bodies recovered were likely to be identifiable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the victims, who appeared to all be from Botswana, were on their way to the rustic town of Moria in Limpopo province for the Easter weekend pilgrimage that attracts hundreds of thousands of followers of the Zion Christian Church.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The church has its headquarters in Moria and it was the first time the full pilgrimage was being held since the COVID-19 pandemic. Worshippers flocked to the small town which features a giant star — the church’s emblem — and the words “Zion City Moria” painted in white on a hillside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The church was formed in South Africa in the early 1900s as a Christian denomination that also retains some African traditions. It has an estimated 7 million followers across the southern African region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramathuba said South African authorities had asked church leaders from Botswana to come and help identify the victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays in South Africa and many of its neighbors, when millions travel into, out of and across the nation. For some South Africans, it’s a chance to return to their home towns and villages from jobs in the cities. Migrants also travel back to their home countries to see family. Some, like the pilgrims that died on Thursday, make religious trips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Road travel can be treacherous; South Africa\'s Road Traffic Management Corporation reported that 252 people died in road crashes between Holy Thursday and Easter Monday last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities said it appeared the bus driver lost control and the vehicle slammed into the barriers along the side of the bridge and then went over the edge. The driver was among the dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South African Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga was in Limpopo province attending a road safety campaign when she was informed of the “devastating news” of the crash, according to the national Department of Traffic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramathuba said she had been at an Easter prayer meeting when she was called to the crash scene on the Mmamatlakala bridge near the town of Mokopane, which is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of the South African capital, Pretoria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I attended the scene of the accident, but now our focus as the health department is on the brave little survivor. She is in safe hands in a hospital with experts looking after her,” Ramathuba told reporters. She declined to give details of the child\'s injuries, but authorities released a photograph of the child lying in a hospital bed and being examined by a doctor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramathuba also declined to say if the child\'s parents or other family members were on the bus, saying authorities needed time to trace and inform families of the dead, who were mostly in Botswana.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, forensic investigators worked through the wreckage amid the rocks and steep cliffs. At least 11 bodies were believed still inside what was left of the charred bus, which was almost crushed flat, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We were at the scene,” said local resident Simone Mayema, who said he was one of the first to arrive after the crash. “We tried to help (but) there was nothing we could do because there was flames.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 09:05:02', '2024-03-30 09:05:02'),
(11786, 11786, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In Bangladesh, motorcycles, with their ease of navigation and cost-effectiveness, have become a popular mode of transport. However, this preference comes with a significant drawback: motorcycles are at the epicenter of the nation’s road safety crisis. While there was a hopeful decrease in motorcycle-related accidents in the past year compared to 2022, these two-wheelers remain the most common protagonist in the tragic tales of road accidents across the country. The situation is dire, with not only deaths being a common outcome but an increasing number of individuals suffering life-altering injuries, including the loss of limbs.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), a vigilant civic organization, illuminates this pressing issue with alarming statistics: from 2020 to 2023, 33-40% of all annual road accidents involved motorcycles. This figure has been on a distressing upward trajectory since the start of this year. According to the NCPSRR, the daily average ranges from 8 to 10 fatalities in 10 to 12 motorcycle accidents—a grim statistic that often escapes the attention of the national media spotlight.</div><div><br></div><div>The heart of this crisis is attributed to the presence of underage, unskilled, and unlicensed drivers on the roads. The lack of stringent enforcement by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the police has been pinpointed as a contributing factor. Ashis Kumar Dey, the general secretary of NCPSRR, doesn’t mince words when he lists the reasons behind the spike in motorcycle accidents: the proliferation of motorcycles, including many that are unlicensed, and reckless driving habits are significant contributors. Dey strongly believes that both law enforcement and the regulatory body, BRTA, need to intensify their efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>To combat this escalating problem, Dey proposes a comprehensive crackdown on underage and unlicensed riders and unregistered motorcycles. He advocates for the implementation of mobile courts across all districts for three consecutive months, a bold strategy aimed at curtailing the rampant violations contributing to road safety hazards.</div><div><br></div><div>The Road Safety Foundation (RSF) adds a quantitative dimension to the discourse with its annual report, revealing that in 2023, 6,524 individuals, including 974 women and 1,128 children, lost their lives in 6,911 road accidents across the country. Motorbike riders and pillion passengers comprised a staggering 38.12% of these fatalities.</div><div><br></div><div>Delving deeper into the data, RSF provides a comparative analysis of motorcycle accidents and fatalities over recent years, presenting a grim narrative of increasing incidents and loss of lives, peaking in 2022. However, a glimmer of hope emerges from the 2023 statistics, showing a 14.83% decrease in accidents and a 19.54% drop in fatalities compared to the previous year. Despite this positive trend, Saidur Rahman, executive director of RSF, remains cautious, warning that this decrease should not be prematurely celebrated as a sign of sustained improvement in road safety.</div><div><br></div><div>Rahman further elaborates on the challenges at hand, pointing out that motorcycles constitute 71% of all motor vehicles in the country, with a significant portion of these riders being teenagers and young adults. This demographic exhibits a pronounced disregard for traffic laws, exacerbated by a lack of stringent monitoring and enforcement, leading to reckless behavior and tragic outcomes.</div><div><br></div><div>The discourse takes a critical turn as Rahman highlights the frequent clashes between motorcycles and larger vehicles such as trucks, covered vans, and buses. The drivers of these larger vehicles often lack the necessary skill or are overworked, contributing to their involvement in accidents with motorcycles. The inadequacy of the public transport system and the chronic issue of traffic congestion have further popularized motorcycles as a preferred mode of transport, despite the associated risks.</div><div><br></div><div>In a noteworthy development, Rahman acknowledges the role of increased awareness and the efforts of highway police in the recent decline in motorcycle accidents. Abu Raihan Md Saleh, Joint Commissioner (Traffic-North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, supports this view, attributing the reduction in accidents to the rigorous enforcement of traffic laws. Saleh’s remarks underline the police’s commitment to curbing reckless riding, unregistered bikes, and license violations, although this has led to complaints from bikers about perceived overzealous policing.</div><div><br></div><div>Saleh also emphasizes the crucial role of parental responsibility in preventing underage and inexperienced individuals from taking to the roads on motorcycles. He expresses optimism that with heightened vigilance from parents and guardians, the trend of motorcycle accidents can be further curbed.</div><div><br></div><div>This multifaceted crisis of motorcycle safety in Bangladesh calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders: law enforcement, regulatory bodies, civic organizations, and the community at large. The statistics and stories paint a clear picture of the challenge ahead, yet they also offer a blueprint for action. By addressing the root causes of motorcycle accidents and implementing targeted safety measures, Bangladesh can hope to navigate its way out of this perilous situation, making its roads safer for everyone. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 09:47:01', '2024-03-30 09:47:01'),
(11787, 11787, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>With an air quality index (AQI) score of 154 at 9:01 am, Dhaka ranked 7th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div><br></div><div>India’s Delhi, Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Nepal’s Kathmandu occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 173, 170 and 161, respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered \'unhealthy\', particularly for sensitive groups while an AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ and an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div><br></div><div>In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 10:10:29', '2024-03-30 10:10:29'),
(11788, 11788, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) continued their demonstration on Saturday against the alleged activities of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on the campus where student politics is prohibited.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They boycotted all sorts of academic activities for the second consecutive day and demanded stricter action against those students who tried to revive student politics on the campus ignoring the ban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They gathered in front of Dr. M A Rashid administrative building in the the morning chanted slogans against student politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On October 11, 2019, Buet authorities banned student politics after Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League (BCL) activists at the university\'s Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours of October 7.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amid protests of general students, Buet authorities cancelled the hall allocation of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, a student of 21st batch of Civil Engineering department and also a member of BCL central panel, but no decision was taken about his expulsion as per the demand of the students.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The protesting students gave an ultimatum to the university authorities seeking expulsion of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi within 2 pm today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also demanded expulsion of those students whom they identified&nbsp; by analysing CCTV footages. They are ASM Anas Ferdous (ID: 1818004), Mohammad Hasin Arman Nihal (ID:2106101), Aniruddha Majumdar (ID:2106079), Zohirul Islam Emon (ID:2112031) and Sayem Mahmud Sajedin Rifat (ID: 2106126) for violating the rules of the university.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the students asked the university authorities to clarify its stance regarding the entrance of BCL men in the midnight and use of the seminar room for political purposes as it requires permission from Directorate of Students\' Welfare (DSW).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The students also sought resignation of Director of Student Welafare for ‘failing to do his duty and violating the regulation of the university’. They also declared to continue boycott of academic activities till March 31.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Buet authorities assured the protesting students of forming a probe to investigate the matter on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the midnight on March 28, BCL president Saddam Hussain along with other leaders and activists entered Buet campus when Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, an executive member of BCL central panel, was present and allegedly played vital role in the entering of&nbsp; the BCL men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, some leaders and activists of the newly formed BCL committees gave floral wreaths to the president, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the gatemen of Buet seeking anonymity also confirmed the matter of using the auditorium in the midnight of March 28 by BCL leaders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 10:57:49', '2024-03-30 10:57:49'),
(11789, 11789, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Gas supply in the country is expected to improve to some extent from the next week as a floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU), known as LNG terminal, is scheduled to resume operation from April 3 after end of its routine maintenance work.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, one of the two FSRUs went into maintenance programme last month, leading to a decline in the gas supply to the national grid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a result, the country’s gas supply came down by 500 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) to about 2,655 from.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the two FSRUs set up in Maheshkhali, one having 650 MMCFD capacity is owned and operated by US-based Excelerate Energy and another, having 500 MMCFD capacity, is owned and operated by Summit Group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Recently, the FSRU, owned and operated by Summit Group, came back from the maintenance programme and is now ready for operation. We hope it will resume operation from April 3 as per schedule,”&nbsp; Engr. Md. Kamruzzaman Khan, Director (Operation &amp; Mines), told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said resuming operation of the Summit’s FSRU will increase the gas supply by 500 MMCFD to the national grid which will improve the overall supply situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">said currently, Petrobangla can get a maximum 650 MMCFD gas supply from one FSRU. “But after Summit FSRU’s resumption of supply, we will get 1100-1150 MMCFD gas,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Petrobangla officials, however, said despite the Summit FSRU’s comeback, the country will continue to suffer from the gas crisis as there will remain a huge gap between gas demand and supply.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country’s gas demand is about 4000 MMCFD when FSRU will resume operation it will be able to increase the supply to maximum 3150, another official of Petrobangla said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Industries in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj have been experiencing an acute gas shortage for long due to the shortage in supply.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Low pressure gas flow is akin to low voltage electricity - many appliances won\'t run, even though an electric charge is present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to the lack of gas supply, production in various factories is being disrupted and some&nbsp; are on the verge of shutting down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the ongoing gas crisis, important machines like generators and broilers in the dyeing section of the factories are not operating. This has been posing a great risk for the industries to continue their production and pushing them towards huge financial losses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Industry insiders said there are more than 300 factories in Kaliakoir and other areas in Gazipur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All these industries have been suffering from the nagging gas crisis and some of them have already suspended their productions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">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. - unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 11:21:37', '2024-03-30 11:21:37'),
(11790, 11790, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted another round of airdrop of humanitarian assistance into northern Gaza Friday to provide relief to civilians affected by the ongoing war.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The joint operation included two C-17 U.S. Air Force aircraft, and U.S. Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of U.S humanitarian assistance supplies,\" CENTCOM said on X.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The planes dropped over 46,000 US meal equivalents into northern Gaza, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"During today\'s mission, approximately 26 bundles landed in the sea,\" it said. \"U.S. Central Command does not assess civilian harm or damage to infrastructure at this time but continues to monitor the situation\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pentagon previously said that safety is a \"top priority\" when planning the airdrops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In early March, the Department of Defense announced that it will undertake an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza to deliver up to 2 million humanitarian aid meals per day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas which killed nearly 1,200 people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nearly 32,500 Palestinians have since been killed and 74,900 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’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. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 11:26:48', '2024-03-30 11:26:48'),
(11791, 11791, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The bodies of eight suspected migrants, believed to be victims of a boat accident, were found on a beach in southern Mexico\'s Oaxaca state on Friday, the prosecutor\'s office said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"The victims were reportedly involved in an accident while traveling aboard a boat off the coast of Oaxaca,\" the prosecutor said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>It added that one man had survived the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>\"According to preliminary information, the people found may have been involved in a migration situation,\" the statement said, adding that the victims were believed to be \"of Asian origin\".</div><div><br></div><div>The shore where the bodies were discovered, Playa Vicente in San Francisco del Mar, sits along a route frequently used by people trying to reach the United States.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands of undocumented migrants -- often fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries -- transit through Mexico each year trying to reach the US border.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official data, migrants apprehended last year while crossing Mexico included citizens of China, India and Uzbekistan.</div><div>The rising numbers of migrants have overwhelmed Mexican immigration facilities and shelters, while the government has come under increased pressure from the United States to tackle the issue, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 11:47:21', '2024-03-30 11:47:21'),
(11792, 11792, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that the government hopes the United States authorities will take appropriate action if investigation finds New York Police Department officers guilty of “wrongfully” killing a Bangladesh youth.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Consul General of Bangladesh in New York went to the home of Win Rozario, a Bangladeshi youth who was shot by the police in the United States, and met the family. Speaking to the family, it appears that there was no need for the police to open fire. It is very sad. We regret the incident and an investigation is underway,” he told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NYPD officers fatally shot a youth in mental distress, wielding scissors, in his Queens home last Wednesday after he called 911. His family is now calling for justice over what they believe was a “wrongful killing”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the meeting of central leaders of Awami League with leaders of Rangpur division at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital, the Foreign Minister replied to questions from reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a separate question, Hasan said efforts are underway to rescue MV Abdullah crew members and bring back the ship safely through communication with the Somali pirates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I hope it will be resolved through discussion very soon. All the Bangladeshi sailors are in the cabin. They are fine. The pirates are not torturing them,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud said that three military members of the rank of major, captain and sergeant of Myanmar have re-entered Bangladesh, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are in the custody of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All Myanmar military personnel who entered Bangladesh earlier, including the three, will be sent back by sea soon, the Foreign Minister said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><b><i>Bangladeshi teen shot dead by NYPD officers</i></b><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 11:53:46', '2024-03-30 11:53:46'),
(11793, 11793, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Saturday alleged that the ruling Awami League&nbsp; doesn’t allow any opposition voice in the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this while visiting the family of Rabiul Islam Nayan, jailed member secretary of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Dhaka Metropolitan South, at his Moghbazar residence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that it is natural that some people in Bangladesh will support Awami League, some will work for BNP or any other party.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has fought for democracy, but it is now absent in the country. In these circumstances how shall we survive?,\" asked Moyeen Khan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He explained how Nayan\'s wife and his family members are being harassed for his political belief.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The family is not being allowed to move out elsewhere and police are constantly threatening them, said the BNP leader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are urging the government&nbsp; to stop repression of opposition members,\" said Moyeen Khan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The people are now striving for democracy, right to vote and freedom of speech, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We demand that the government steps down paving way for holding a free, fair and participatory polls and ensure people\'s basic rights in the country,\" said the BNP leader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the people of Bangladesh rejected the January 7 national polls as they did in 2014 and 2018, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">If AL wants to retain power by having people\'s love they have to ensure democracy, freedom of speech, right to vote for which the freedom fighters had&nbsp; sacrificed their lives in 1971, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We want to live in a free society for which we got separated from Pakistan. This is what the people of Bangladesh want,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, Replying to a reporter\'s query Dr Moyeen said BNP is fighting to go to power with popular votes, and not with backing of foreigners.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 12:54:30', '2024-03-30 12:54:30'),
(11794, 11794, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A college girl was allegedly raped by an Awami League leader of Tangail at gunpoint at his residence in Uttara area of the capital on Friday night.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victim filed a case under Women and Children Repression and Prevention Act against him with Turag police station early Saturday, said the police station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostafa Anowar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Accused Golam Kibria alias Boro Monir, vice president of the Tangail city unit AL, took the girl to his flat in Priyanka city residential area (R/A) in Uttara and raped her there, according to the case statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Receiving a call from national emergency service 999, police rescued the girl from the flat on Friday night but didn’t find the accused there during the drive, the OC said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victim’s mother alleged that a woman was involved in the rape incident, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also alleged that police were dilly-dallying to take the case from Friday night and they were pressuring them to file a case against unidentified people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OC Mostafa said legal action in this connection is underway.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 13:18:36', '2024-03-30 13:18:36'),
(11795, 11795, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The university (BUET) administration agrees to the demands of the students and it requires time to follow due process to meet the demands, said Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) vice chancellor Satya Prasad Majumder.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The BUET VC said this while talking to media at his office on Saturday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Just before half an hour, BUET students ended their demonstration today, Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>They declared that they would boycott all academic activities, including term final exams scheduled to be held on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>BUET students demonstrated for the second day to press home their five-point demand, following a gathering of leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League, on the BUET campus on Wednesday midnight, where student politics is banned.</div><div><br></div><div>The students demonstrated from 7:00am to 12:00pm on the campus on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>They alleged some outsider leaders and activists on Wednesday night entered the BUET campus and conducted political activities despite a ban on student politics after the murder of Abrar Fahad.</div><div><br></div><div>Civil Engineering department’s student Imtiaz Rabbi, BCL central committee member, is the main organiser of this political gathering.</div><div><br></div><div>The BUET campus was turbulent on Friday as the students registered a big protest.</div><div><br></div><div>The students demonstrated for five hours from 2:30pm to 8:00pm at a stretch placing a five-point demand.</div><div><br></div><div>They announced boycotting all the academic activities, including term final exams scheduled to be held on 30 and 31 March.</div><div><br></div><div>The demonstrating students updated their five-point demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Those are: expelling civil engineering department’s 21st batch student and BCL central committee member Imtiaz Rabbi permanently and cancelling his dormitory seat by 2:00pm today, as he was the main organiser of the political gathering on campus on Wednesday night violating the university’s rules; expelling five other students (ASM Anas Ferdous, Hasin Arman Nihal, Anirudh Majumder, Zahirul Islam, Sayem Mahmud) from their dormitories and from campus permanently; identifying those involved and ensuring their punishment; the administration has to issue a written notice for legal action against the entry of outsider political persons into the campus and implement it; resignation of the directorate of students\' welfare (DSW) for failing to discharge duties; a written undertaking about not taking any action to harass the demonstrating students.</div><div><br></div><div>After the demonstration of the students, the VC met newsmen. He said, \"We can expel Imtiaz from the dormitory. But the discipline committee has to call a meeting for term expulsion. An inquiry report will be required for the meeting of the discipline committee. The discipline committee cannot take any action without the inquiry report. If the punishment is given in this way, it will not stand in the court. So an inquiry will be required and the accused have to be given scope of self defence. We have to follow legal procedures. We have formed an investigation committee and it has started working. The six-member committee has time till 8 April. After receiving the investigation report, we will hear from the members of the committee.\"</div><div><br></div><div>About boycotting classes by the students, the VC said, \"We have not postponed the examination. They (students) boycotted it. They have not applied for the postponement of the examination. If they had applied, we would have considered it. They have made a mistake. The examination was held. But they were absent. As per the rule, the bell will ring whether the students come or not and this happened in BUET earlier. Later if they apply for examination, the academic council may consider.\"</div><div><br></div><div>When asked how BCL entered the BUET campus at midnight, Satya Prasad Majumder said, \"We will issue show cause notice to the security officer as to why he was allowed. He should not have allowed it. If anyone enters at midnight, it is illegal. Who has entered has to be identified. Punishment cannot be meted out before identifying. So it requires time. We will take legal action if any security guard allows outsiders.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Agreeing to the demands of students, the BUET VC said, \"It is not possible to implement demands in this way, by 9:00am or 2:00pm. What should be done to fulfill demands has been done. We will take action as per the rule when the inquiry report is submitted. We will not be able to do anything outside of the rule. If anyone is expelled out of the rule, that would not stand in the court. It requires time to do everything in accordance with the rules. As it is a month of Ramadan, extended time should have been given.\"</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the students of (Buet) continued their demonstration on Saturday against the alleged activities of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on the campus where student politics is prohibited.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/R/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-30 14:12:30', '2024-03-30 14:12:30'),
(11796, 11796, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Cashless payments are adding to the joys of Eid shopping, traveling, Iftar and Sehri meals. Thanks to the hefty discounts offered by banks and mobile financial services (MFS) credit card holders are making best use of the facilities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Banks keeping in mind the demand of different types of their customers, provide up to 80 percent discount, cashback, and buy one get one offers in purchasing products and services using credit and debit cards during this Eid festival.</div><div><br></div><div>Some banks are offering discounts on the purchase of various products including Eid clothes, shoes, and jewellery. In addition, iftar prices are discounted throughout the month of Ramadan. There are also many \'Eid gifts\' including buy one get one offers.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the people involved, the trend of increasing the prices of goods and services around the festival has been going on for a long time in Bangladesh. But with the passage of time, such a tendency is gradually decreasing; The picture is changing. Now in Bangladesh too, the prices of products are being discounted during the festival.</div><div><br></div><div>“Banks have added a new level in terms of discounts. They offer many benefits in avoiding cash, which discourages the risk of carrying cash and encourages purchases on cards. Banks have arranged special offers for their card holders,” Mashrur Arefin, Managing Director and CEO of City Bank told UNB while talking about Eid offers of banks.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that as many as 300 lifestyle stores offer up to 60 percent and more than 50 jewelery establishments offer up to 80 percent discount for their cardholders.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, customers will get up to 70 percent discount on online shopping payments. Besides, more than 130 restaurants have ‘buy one get one’ offer or up to 30 percent off on Iftar and Dinner.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, various offers have been announced on airfares for returning home and traveling abroad during Eid, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Encouraging a cashless society, currently, StanChart provides up to 60 percent discount, which is convenient to the customers in the use of seven types of credit cards to make Eid more enjoyable, said Sabbir Ahmed, head of consumer banking of StanChart.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hope our customers will go cashless to make the most of the benefits and privileges offered by our card offer\", he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Soumya Basu, Country Manager, Bangladesh, Nepal &amp; Bhutan of Visa told UNB, “We are on way to becoming a truly cashless Bangladesh with the rise of non-cash forms of payment.”</div><div><br></div><div>“During the holy month of Ramadan, we have witnessed that Visa cardholders continue to avail the benefits of digital payments – its convenience, inherent security, and speed – while they shop and spend online and offline,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We expect this trend of transacting digitally to accelerate in the days leading to Eid and are delighted to empower our cardholders with the security, ease of use, and power of the Visa network,” Soumya pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>Moulude Hossain, Deputy General Manager, Strategy and Product, ‘Upay’ of UCB told UNB that upay has thousands of merchant points across the country so that our users can practice piety without any additional stress during the holy month of Ramadan and enjoy Eid festivity hassle-free.</div><div><br></div><div>To add further convenience to \"our users’ lifestyles, we have recently introduced UCB-upay co-branded prepaid card, which anyone can avail of even without having a bank account,\" he said,</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, upay brought the most exciting offers for its valuable users in Ramadan to double the joy of Eid festivity, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>More banks including Eastern Bank, Brac Bank, Bank Asia, NBRC Bank, AB Bank, and Islami Bank Bangladesh, among MFSs bkash and Naga dalo offer discounts in Eid in cashless shopping and travelling. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 08:11:20', '2024-03-31 08:11:20'),
(11797, 11797, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecasts rain or thundershower in parts of the country in 24 hours, starting from 9:00 am Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Rain or thundershower accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at a few places over Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places in Mymensingh and Barishal divisions,” said a Met Office bulletin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Chuadanga at 36.5 degree Celsius in 24 hours till 6 am today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The highest rainfall, at 14 mm, was recorded in Kishoreganj’s Nikli. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 08:36:53', '2024-03-31 08:36:53'),
(11798, 11798, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A union parishad (UP) member was arrested over the gang rape of a female school student in Shariatpur’s Naria upazila on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liton Laskar, 50, is a member of Ward 3 of the Kedarpur Union Parishad of the upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liton and Sanjay Majumder, a part-time teacher of the school, called the victim to the library after the school closed on Sunday (March 24) and raped her, said Shariatpur Additional Superintendent of Police (Naria Circle) Ahsan Habib.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the police, Liton, who is the general secretary of the school\'s managing committee and a member of Kedarpur Union Parishad, had been harassing the girl for a long time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They threatened to kill the victim if she told anyone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After going home, the victim did not tell anyone at first, but on Thursday, she informed her mother and aunt. Later, the student was admitted to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday afternoon, the victim\'s mother filed a case at Naria Police Station, accusing Liton and Sanjay. Later, police arrested UP member Liton from the Mulfatganj area, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shariatpur ASP (Naria Circle) Ahsan Habib said efforts are underway to arrest the other accused, Sanjay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 08:55:44', '2024-03-31 08:55:44');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11799, 11799, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A number of students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are sounding the alarm over what they called a “worrying increase” in activities by the outlawed extremist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir. They reported a series of email campaigns throughout March, targeting hundreds of BUET students with what they described as “hate content.”</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a press briefing on the BUET campus on Saturday, a group identifying themselves as “general students” presented evidence of the emails. The content “decry the government as an obstacle to the establishment of Islamic rule,” and urge students to join efforts to overhaul the educational curriculum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These contents have been emailed to accounts of hundreds of current students in several phases throughout March, yet the issue seems to have been overlooked,” one of the students told media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They highlighted the efficiency with which Hizb ut-Tahrir activists have accessed a vast number of student email accounts, criticizing the university authorities’ apparent inaction. “It is alarming how Hizb ut-Tahrir activists got hold of such a large volume of email accounts, yet authorities remain reluctant to take any action,” they stated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Accusations have also been made against the Hizb-ut Tahrir and Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, for attempts to exploit student protests against campus politics for their gain. They referred to an earlier incident where some BUET students attended a secretive Islami Chhatra Shibir gathering in Sunamganj’s remote haor area, questioning the protesters’ silence on such matters, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They further referred to intimidation tactics along with criticism to alumni-led commemorative and national day tributes on campus, calling it a “biased stance”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 09:01:37', '2024-03-31 09:01:37'),
(11800, 11800, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Gas supply will remain suspended for emergency work on pipeline for 4 hours – from 10 am to 2 pm – in several Dhaka areas today.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The areas where gas supply is suspended include Khilgaon, Nandipara, Bashabo, Madartek, Goran, Sipahibagh, Rampura, Banasree, Mugda and Manda.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adjacent areas may experience low pressure in gas supply, Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd said, regretting the temporary inconvenience. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 09:12:59', '2024-03-31 09:12:59'),
(11801, 11801, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed a longtime aide and several advisers on Saturday in a continuing reshuffle while Russia unleashed fresh attacks overnight.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelenskyy dismissed top aide Serhiy Shefir from his post of first assistant, where he had served since 2019. The Ukrainian president also let go three advisers, and two presidential representatives overseeing volunteer activities and soldiers’ rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No explanation was given immediately for the latest changes in a wide-reaching personnel shakeup over recent months. It included the dismissal on Tuesday of Oleksii Danilov, who served as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi as head of the armed forces on Feb. 8. Zaluzhnyi was appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom earlier this month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s air force said Saturday that Russia launched 12 Shahed drones overnight, nine of which were shot down, and fired four missiles into eastern Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia unleashed a barrage of 38 missiles, 75 airstrikes and 98 attacks from multiple rocket launchers over the last 24 hours, Ukraine\'s armed forces said in social media posts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two people were killed and one wounded in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk province, regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin said Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian energy company Centrenergo announced Saturday that the Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant, one of the largest thermal power plants in the eastern Kharkiv region, was completely destroyed following Russian shelling last week. Power outage schedules were still in place for around 120,000 people in the region, where 700,000 people had lost electricity after the plant was hit on March 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent days, causing significant damage in several regions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials in the Poltava region said Saturday there had been “several hits” to an infrastructure facility, without specifying whether it was an energy facility.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the toll of Friday’s mass barrage of 99 drones and missiles hitting regions across Ukraine came to light on Saturday, with local officials in the Kherson region on Saturday morning announcing the death of one civilian. A resident of the Dnipropetrovsk region died in a hospital from shell wounds, according to regional Gov. Serhiy Lisak. - AP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 09:52:41', '2024-03-31 09:52:41'),
(11802, 11802, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The body of a member of Natore district women’s badminton team was recovered from a private female students’ hostel in Natore city last night.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was identified as Nusrat Maria Boishakhi, daughter of Rakibul Mridha of Bahadur village under the district’s Singra upazila. Nusrat was a first year student of the local NS Government College.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The hostel’s residents informed that Nusrat had been staying in a room on the third floor of the hostel ‘Hafsa Chhatri Nibas’ in Uttar Borogachha area of the district since last January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday night, after receiving no response from her for a long while, students informed the hostel owner Habibur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Being informed, local police and fire service broke into the room, and found Nusrat’s body hanging from the ceiling fan, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahmuda Sharmin Neli, additional superintendent of police (Sadar circle), said she has already visited the spot and the reason behind the death would be known upon investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Primarily, it seems that she died by suicide, the police officer said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"38\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 10:08:23', '2024-03-31 10:08:23'),
(11803, 11803, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said on Sunday that the first consignment of 1, 650 metric tonnes (MT) of onion will arrive in the county from India tonight.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He came up with the announcement while talking to reporters after a task force meeting on ‘commodity price and review of market condition’ at the conference room of the Commerce Ministry in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Onion will come from India tonight. Each kilogram of onion will be sold at Tk 40&nbsp; through open market sale (OMS) of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh in Dhaka and Chattogram within one day,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The state minister said 1, 650 MT of onion will come by the first train today and next consignments of imported onion will come in phases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has decided to import onion from neighbouring India through the G2G method after onion prices went up at the local market. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 11:01:02', '2024-03-31 11:01:02'),
(11804, 11804, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said there is no credit in projecting the country negatively at home and abroad.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He urged all to positively uphold the country, refraining from spreading propaganda.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s the responsibility of the media to call it white if it is white, and to call it black if it is black,\" said the Minister.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion at Jatiya Press Club hosted by International Relations Reporters Forum, Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin, International Relations Reporters Forum President Hasan Mahamud and General Secretary Mahamudul Haque Sujon also spoke at the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister said that the opposition is working overtime to project Bangladesh negatively.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that some of their “paid agents” spread propaganda that creates confusion among people.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Mainstream media need to work against those who spread propaganda,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister referred to how the same group circulated propaganda centering the Padma Bridge and during the Covid-19 pandemic on vaccine issues.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Criticizing BNP for its call to boycott Indian products, Hasan said such politics does not bring any good for the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There can be criticism but not at the cost of the country’s image,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasan appreciated journalists for their efforts despite the profession facing multiple challenges, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Journalists work under pressure from multiple fronts. They are engaged in journalism as they love this profession. They are brilliant,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 13:40:23', '2024-03-31 13:40:23'),
(11805, 11805, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday said the Awami League and their associate bodies embezzled people’s money in the name of development like quick rental, Padma Bridge, Metro Rail and flyovers.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“Not only AL and their associate bodies -Chhatra League, Jubo League, but also those who have supported AL shamelessly and helped it to suppress opposition are part of this looting, “he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He said these at an Eid gifts distribution programme organised by BangladeshJatiyayabadi&nbsp; Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) at BNP’s Nayapalton central office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He strongly criticised former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed’s role during BNP’s movement as he (Benazir) had tortured opposition leaders and activists brutally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“Today the nation has come to know he (Benazir) has built a haven on earth which beats the story of Alif Laila,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">How he has gained such a huge amount of wealth? Rizvi questioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Pointing at skyrocketing prices of commodities, he said purchasing of rice, pulse, oil, salt, fish, and meat has become difficult for common people, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Even people can’t arrange a drink to break their fast as lemon’s price has gone beyond their buying capacity, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It is unbelievable that per kilogram date is being sold at Tk750 which is absolutely impossible for a day labourer or rickshaw puller to buy, Rizvi added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 13:57:01', '2024-03-31 13:57:01'),
(11806, 11806, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government on Sunday set the automated retail prices of petroleum fuel for the month of April with effect from Monday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the new price, the diesel and kerosene will be sold at Tk 106 per litre instead of previous price at Tk 108.25, lowered by Tk 2.25 per litre.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices of octane and petrol have been kept unchanged at Tk 126 and Tk 122 per litre respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Energy and Mineral Resources Division set the new automated price through a gazette notification as per the government decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first automated price came into effect on March 7.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Issuing the gazette notification in this regard, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources in a clarification said that the new prices have been in line with the prices of the petroleum on the international market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the government on March 1 issued a “Fuel Pricing Guidelines” through a gazette notification to set an automated price for the petroleum fuel across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said the local prices will go up and down in line with the international price and every month such prices will be announced by the government for one-month tenure. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 14:05:12', '2024-03-31 14:05:12'),
(11807, 11807, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that exemplary measures will be taken against wildlife trafficking and poaching in Bangladesh. Minister Chowdhury announced plans to implement harsher penalties for offenders, surpassing those in neighboring countries, and to bolster the Wildlife Crime Control Unit of the Forest Department. Additionally, he pledged to amend regulations for more effective enforcement.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Environment Minister Saber Chowdhury made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Center for Research and Information convened on Sunday, 31 March 2024, at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss strategies for wildlife conservation and the prevention of illegal trafficking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Minister Chowdhury highlighted the importance of safeguarding wildlife, citing tigers as pivotal to the preservation of the Sundarbans. He expressed concern over Bangladesh\'s role as a transit point and domestic market for wildlife traffickers, underscoring the urgency of preventing unlawful activities. Furthermore, he stressed the imperative to protect the Chattogram Hill Tracts, a global biodiversity hotspot, through concerted efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Iqbal Abdullah Harun and senior officials of Centre for Research and Information were present on the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/R/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 15:01:02', '2024-03-31 15:01:02'),
(11808, 11808, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Detectives are investigating the incident that occurred in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said Harun or Rashid, Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DB chief came up with the information while talking to reporters on the BUET issue at his office in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about whether the Islami Chhatra Shibir is behind instigating the movement of the students, Harun, also the Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said “We are observing the situation and next steps will be taken after investigation.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The students of Buet have been staging demonstrations since Saturday against the alleged activities of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on the campus where student politics is prohibited.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 28, BCL president Saddam Hussain along with other leaders and activists entered Buet campus when Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, an executive member of BCL central panel, was present and allegedly played a vital role in facilitating the entry by the BCL men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amid protests of general students, Buet authorities cancelled the hall allocation of Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, a student of 21st batch of Civil Engineering department and also a member of BCL central panel, but no decision was taken about his expulsion as per the demand of the students.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">On October 11, 2019, Buet authorities banned student politics after Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League (BCL) activists at the university\'s Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours of October 7. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"38\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 15:07:03', '2024-03-31 15:07:03'),
(11809, 11809, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said that the government is closely investigating the recent incident at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), involving activists from the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Quader also expressed concerns over the potential for BUET to become a “breeding ground for negative political activities and militancy” if student politics are banned outright. “That day there were no political activities on BUET campus. And if I’m involved in politics, I can’t be on BUET campus — what kind of law is this?” — Quader stated during a dialogue with Chattogram division Awami League leaders and activists.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, made the remarks regarding the ongoing student protests at BUET. The situation intensified on March 28 when BCL president Saddam Hussain and others entered the campus, leading to the revocation of hall allocation for Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, a BCL central panel member, by BUET authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>This incident underscores the tension following the tragic death of Abrar Fahad in October 2019, which resulted in a ban on student politics at BUET by the authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>Furthermore, Quader reiterated the government\'s dedication to ensuring that the upcoming upazila parishad election is conducted freely and fairly. He urged party members to act responsibly and adhere to party discipline, cautioning against remarks that could jeopardize the party\'s integrity, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>In light of BNP leaders calling for boycotting Indian products and “restoration of democracy”, Quader dismissed these statements as empty rhetoric. “BNP is speaking the same language that Ayub Khan spoke in the Pakistan era. Now their issue is against India, and they’re trying to instigate an Indiaphobia.”</div><div><br></div><div>In response to BNP’s statement about the reserves, the minister said, “When BNP left power, Bangladesh\'s reserve was $3.5 billion. Now they are talking about reserves, when the reserve has exceeded $21 billion. This will increase further on the occasion of Eid.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 15:08:54', '2024-03-31 15:08:54'),
(11810, 11810, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Bangladesh expects the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to extend greater support to accelerate the socioeconomic development of its people.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She conveyed the expectation to ADB Vice President (Sector and Themes) Fatima Yasmin who paid a courtesy call on her at Ganabhaban here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“Our main goal is the socioeconomic uplift of the country’s people and inclusive development. The government is attaching priority on the development of rural people,” the premier was quoted as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She told the ADB official that her government has focused on enhancing the purchasing power of the country’s people as it would help expand industrialisation and create more job opportunities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina mentioned the sectors like climate change adaptation, agriculture, river excavation and restoration where the Manila-based Asian Development Bank can increase its assistance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM called upon the ADP to take more people-centric projects so that a large number of people could benefit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fatima said Bangladesh is a top priority country for the ADB as the regional lender enhanced its support towards the South Asian country five times since 2009 to 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">She told the prime minister that ADB is keen to implement projects centering river restoration as well as river-based tourism, recreation centres and irrigation alongside prioritising climate change adaptation, human and social development, technical education and health sector projects, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Fatima served as the senior secretary in the finance division of Bangladesh before joining the ADB in September last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Economic Relations Division Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky were present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\",\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 15:15:20', '2024-03-31 15:15:20'),
(11811, 11811, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The cabinet committee on law and order on Sunday recommended extension of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays by one day from April 9 to ensure hassle-free journey of holidaymakers.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The recommendation of the cabinet committee will be placed at the Cabinet meeting on Monday, said the committee chairman and also Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Depending on the sighting of Shawwal moon, the Eid-ul-Fitr is scheduled to be celebrated&nbsp; on April 10 or April 11 and the Eid holiday will be on April 10, 11 and 12.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 7, the people of the country will enjoy a holiday for holy Shab-e-Qadr and offices will remain open on April 8 and 9.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The proposal regarding the Eid holiday extension will be placed to the government on Monday, he said adding another proposal was sent to keep offices open on April 6(Saturday) instead of April 9.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the authorities concerned of banks have been asked to keep banks open in some industrial areas for payment of the salary of workers, said the minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Home minister will take steps in this regard after holding a meeting with the owners of factories so that the workers can get their wages, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Meanwhile, warning will be given to stop movement of unfit vehicles to mitigate sufferings of people. - unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 15:20:44', '2024-03-31 15:20:44'),
(11812, 11812, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israeli military strikes killed dozens of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, health officials said, as Egypt hosted an Israeli delegation for a new round of talks in a bid to secure a truce with Gaza’s Hamas rulers.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The warring sides have stepped up negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, on a six-week suspension of Israel’s offensive in return for the proposed release of 40 of 130 hostages still held by Hamas militants in Gaza after their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamas has sought to parlay any deal into an end to the fighting and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has ruled this out, saying it would eventually resume efforts to dismantle the governing and military capabilities of Hamas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamas would not be present at the talks in Cairo, an official told Reuters on Sunday, as it waited to hear from mediators on whether a new Israeli offer was on the table.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Israeli forces continued to blockade the two main hospitals, and tanks shelled areas in the middle and eastern areas of the territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Palestinian health officials said an Israeli air strike killed nine people in Bani Suhaila near Khan Younis, while another air strike killed four people in Al-Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Deir Al-Balah, health officials and Hamas media said an Israeli air strike hit several tents inside Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital, killing four people and wounding several, including some journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Gaza City, Israeli forces continued to operate inside Al Shifa Hospital, the territory’s health ministry said. Residents living nearby said residential districts had been destroyed by Israeli forces near Al Shifa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I went out looking to buy some medicine from a pharmacy and what I saw was heart-breaking. Complete streets with buildings that used to stand there had been destroyed,” said Abu Mustafa, 49.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">.”..This is not war, this is genocide,” he told Reuters over the phone from Gaza City.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Like the rest of the 2.3 million population of Gaza, Abu Mustafa, a father of six, is struggling to provide his family with food in the north of the enclave, where the United Nations warned famine was imminent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We’ve had enough, we sleep and wake up dreaming of a ceasefire that will end the war and preserve the lives of whoever remains in Gaza,” he said, refusing to give a name fearing Israeli reprisals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military (IAF) said forces operating in Al Shifa killed gunmen barricading the area and had found weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Several compounds used to launch anti-tank missiles and where snipers operated were struck by IAF aircraft” in the Rimal neighborhood near Shifa, the military said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It added that forces killed 15 gunmen in the central Gaza Strip and several in Khan Younis, including near Al-Amal hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel said it killed and detained hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad gunmen at Al Shifa during a raid. Hamas and medical staff deny any armed presence inside medical facilities, accusing Israel of killing and arresting civilians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the peace talks, Hamas also wants hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced from Gaza City and surrounding areas southward during the first stage of the war to be allowed back north.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, according to health authorities in the territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war erupted after Hamas militants broke through the border and rampaged through communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Court on Thursday unanimously ordered Israel, accused by South Africa of genocide in Gaza, to take all necessary and effective action to ensure basic food supplies to the population. Source: Reuters&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-31 15:26:23', '2024-03-31 15:26:23'),
(11813, 11813, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh\'s Finance Ministry is tackling what it identifies as one of its most formidable challenges: significantly amplifying public expenditure to catalyse sustained growth within the private sector.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An official document from the ministry underscores that, in comparison to other economies, Bangladesh\'s government spending as a percentage of GDP markedly trails, thereby emphasising the urgency to augment investment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Data from the World Economic Forum and the IMF (as of April 2023), reveal Bangladesh\'s public expenditure at 13.1% of its GDP, a figure that stands in stark contrast to countries like France at 58.5%, Sweden at 46.8%, and even neighbouring India at 28.8%. This discrepancy highlights the room for growth in Bangladesh\'s fiscal strategy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government, aiming to elevate GDP growth and living standards, views the expansion of its expenditure as crucial. This ambition is supported by the progressive implementation of reforms in Public Financial Management. Historically, the government has gradually increased its spending relative to GDP, signaling a positive trajectory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Outlined in the \'Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26)\' from the Finance Division, the government\'s medium-term strategy is geared towards securing inclusive and high growth. This strategy is aligned with Bangladesh\'s Vision 2041, the 8th Five Year Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on priority sectors including infrastructure, industrial production, food security, job creation, healthcare, and education among others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In anticipation of the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), significant allocations have been dedicated to human resource development, particularly in education and skills training. The fiscal projections set public expenditure targets at 15.2% for the 2023-24 fiscal year, 15.4% for 2024-25, and 16.2% for 2025-26.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The document further highlights Bangladesh\'s progression to a lower-middle-income country, with aspirations to attain upper-middle-income status by 2031. This ambition aligns with the developmental targets set within the 8th Five Year Plan and reflects the government\'s commitment to resuming the rapid economic growth witnessed pre-COVID-19 and pre-Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government prioritised life and livelihood protection, adopting an expansionary fiscal policy and channeling additional funds into critical sectors.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the global political and economic instability, these measures have begun to show promise, with expectations of returning to pre-pandemic growth levels and policies aimed at promoting pro-poor and inclusive growth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">As Bangladesh looks forward, the Finance Ministry is set on formulating strategies to enhance pro-poor growth, stimulate both domestic and international private investment, bolster public investment, curb inflation, generate employment, and alleviate the balance of payment pressures. These objectives underscore a holistic approach to not only recovering from recent global challenges but also setting a solid foundation for long-term, sustainable development. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 08:06:33', '2024-04-01 08:06:33'),
(11814, 11814, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) forecasts that around 15 million individuals are poised to exit the greater Dhaka area, including Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Gazipur, and Narayanganj city corporation areas, for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An estimated 60% of these holidaymakers, roughly nine million people, will opt for road travel, while the rest will utilise waterways and railways.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The projection, released in a press statement by NCPSRR on Monday, sheds light on the massive seasonal migration and its implications on transportation and safety.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite admitting potential inaccuracies due to the lack of a comprehensive database, NCPSRR\'s general secretary, Ashis Kumar Dey, stated that the report was compiled from a variety of sources, including research data, civic groups, and transport sector organizations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee has voiced concerns over the possibility of increased public suffering and accidents on the roads, similar to previous years. Nevertheless, it acknowledged the government\'s significant efforts to facilitate smoother Eid travel for millions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Drawing from the latest census, the report details the population distribution within the Dhaka division, noting that about 75% of the country\'s garment factories are in Gazipur. Workers, who predominantly reside in the Gazipur region, contribute to the large-scale exodus during Eid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additionally, significant populations in Narayanganj and adjacent districts add to the surge of travelers seeking to return to their native places for the Eid holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report highlights several challenges faced by travelers, including the inadequate capacity of the road transport sector to manage the massive flow of people within a week leading up to Eid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Issues such as the poor condition of long-distance roads, over 500 risky turning points nationwide, and the manual collection of tolls exacerbating traffic congestion are identified as major obstacles to smooth travel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite these hurdles, the NCPSRR remains optimistic that the implementation of government measures could alleviate some of the public\'s difficulties on the roads during this peak travel period. The focus now shifts to ensuring that these initiatives are carried out effectively to enhance the Eid travel experience for millions. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 08:43:02', '2024-04-01 08:43:02'),
(11815, 11815, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court on Monday stayed the decision of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) authorities restricting politics on the campus.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Imtiaz Rahim Rabbi, also a Buet student and a leader of Chhatra League, whose hall allotment was cancelled recently amid students’ protest against the gathering of some BCL leaders on the campus defying ban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the decision of Buet authorities banning politics on the campus, taken in 2019, should not be declared illegal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Secretary to the Home Ministry, Buet Vice-Chancellor and its registrar were made respondents to the rule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior Advocate Shaha Manjurul Haque stood for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Samrendra Nath Biswas and assistant attorney general Abul Kalam Khan Daud represented the state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Advocate Manjurul said with this order there is no bar to continue student politics on the campus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On October 7, 2019, Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League (BCL) activists at the university\'s Sher-e-Bangla Hall in the early hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On October 11, same year, Buet authorities banned student politics on the campus. It also issued a notification in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 19 2023, the Buet authorities again issued a notice prohibiting students and teachers from participation in politics on the campus. They issued the notice following media reports about the names of the members of BCL Central Committee where some students of Buet also got some posts in the committee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Thursday night , some BCL leaders including the president Saddam Hossain entered the campus, sparking anger among general students.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The staged demonstrations the following day protesting bid to revive political activities of BCL. They also held a press conference in front of Buet Shaheed Mianr on that day and continued their demonstration till Friday evening after taking position in front of the office of Directorate of Student Welfare on the campus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the authorities concerned cancelled the hall allocation of Imtiaz who allegedly played a vital role in facilitating the entry of the BCL men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A probe body was formed in this connection and it was asked to submit its report within April 8. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 09:47:41', '2024-04-01 09:47:41');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11816, 11816, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Jamdani weavers are working round the clock at Noapara Jamdani palli in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj to make new and fashionable Jamdani sarees with hope of good sale during Eid.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Visiting the Jamdani palli, the correspondent found that weavers are working relentlessly spinning the yarn with hands. The workers are not getting a chance to rest. This busyness runs from 5 am to 10 pm every day. Sometimes the clock goes past 10 pm to 11pm or even 12 pm. Such busyness is going on almost every day as Eid-ul-Fitr is around the corner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jamdani traders and BSCIC officials concerned expect a sale of Tk 150-160 crore on the occasion of Eid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, there are 407 entrepreneurs in 407 plots in the area under BSCIC Jamdani industrial estate. They have total 1,665 looms and about 3,500 people have been employed here. They have to do all the work without machines.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Maidul Islam, who has been weaving sarees at Jamdani palli for 20-22 years, said that the work pressure has increased a lot due to upcoming Eid. “There is no opportunity to rest amid the pressure of work,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weaver Nadeem said, “I have been weaving Jamdani sarees for 17 years. On the occasion of the upcoming Eid, the work has increased like every year. We want the work to increase. If the work increases, it will be good for the owners, financiers and workers.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shamim, a worker of Jamdani palli, said, “Earlier I used to come to the workplace at 9 am. Now I have to come at 5 am. Earlier I used to go home in the evening. Now I have to return home sometimes at 10 pm or 11 pm. Now the workload has increased.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ruhul Amin, owner of Junaid Jamdani Weaving, said, \"Our market is being destroyed due to Indian Jamdani. They weave jamdani by machine. They can sell at lower prices as their production costs are lower. But we can\'t. They can sell a saree for Tk 2000. But we need yarns of Tk 2000 to weave a Jamdani saree. We cannot sell a saree below Tk 5000.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Earlier we used to sell 100 sarees every month, but now our sales have reduced to half because of Indian sarees,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shah Alam, son of a Jamdani artisan family, said, “Now I see that Jamdani is sold online. But many people don\'t know about Jamdani saree. India\'s machine-made sarees are being sold as&nbsp; Jamdani. Actually those are not Jamdani sarees. If you want to buy original Jamdani sarees, you have to come to BSCIC.\", “Our Jamdani sarees are being exported. We are weaving new sarees&nbsp; targeting Eid. Now if you come to the palli, you will get a good saree,”he added, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zahirul Islam, officer of Rupganj Jamdani Industrial City, said that there are all kinds of entrepreneurs here. Some sell more and some less.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It can be assumed that those who have 15-20 looms will sell sarees worth Tk 1-1.5 crore during Eid-ul-Fitr. And those who have fewer looms will sell a little less. We are expecting total sales of Tk 150-160 crore this year in Jamdani Industrial Estate,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 10:02:18', '2024-04-01 10:02:18'),
(11817, 11817, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Demanding salary and Eid bonus, workers of Keya Knit Composite Limited in Konabari Jarun area of Gazipur blocked a road earlier today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sumon Mia, administrative officer of the factory, said the workers are owed salary for the month of February. It has been announced that all their dues will be paid before Eid. Still, they did not join work and took to the streets, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>KM Ashraf Uddin, officer-in-charge of Konabari Police Station, confirmed the matter, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Police went to the spot and asked them to move away from the road. After talks with the workers, they were taken to the factory, and the situation is normal now, the OC said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 10:39:44', '2024-04-01 10:39:44'),
(11818, 11818, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Monday said student politics on the university campuses is not the problem, the concern is over the control of a single student organision on the campuses.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Buet authorities will take decision whether they will allow student politics on the campus or not. Because of that (Abrar Fahad killing) the Buet authorities had banned student politics on the campus, they will see whether such situation is still continuing or not and take decision accordingly,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said these while talking to reports after visiting injured BNP Natore district unit’s join convener Dewan Shahin at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Dewan Shahin recently got seriously injured in an attack allegedly by some Awami League men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gayeshwar, a BNP standing committee member,&nbsp; said the situation at Jahangirnagar University is worse where Bangladesh Chhatra League secretary Manik had celebrated ‘rape century’. “It was stigma for the nation. But&nbsp; AL considers this shame as ornaments.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are behaving recklessly with the support of the administration, he alleged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said ruling Awami Legue (AL) is staying in power unleashing atrocities and by using muscle power against oppositions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the last 15 years Natore BNP leaders have been facing inhuman torture by AL men. “Despite oppression the leaders and activists did not leave BNP. The scenario of torture on BNP men across the Bangladesh is same to Natore,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Terming AL as an isolated political party, Gayeshwar said without terrorist activities they (AL) could not survive in politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In this situation we have to raise our voice and get ready to give reply to their brutality,”he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question from reporters, the BNP leader said the government is waiting to hear the death news of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, “I guess sweetmeat will be distributed at Gano Bhaban once they hear her death news.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have nothing to expect from this government. But what they are doing with the BNP Chairperson will be considered as a planned murder,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 10:53:46', '2024-04-01 10:53:46'),
(11819, 11819, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the government is working committedly for climate adaptation actions by spending 3.5 billion dollars every year. But actually, 9 billion dollar is needed for adaptation activities.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said collaboration among Government, NGOs and international development partners are important in this regard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said government will empower communities, particularly women, to overcome&nbsp; climate challenges and adapt to changing circumstances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Environment Minister said these while launching UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)\'s the Nature-Based Adaptation Towards Prosperous &amp; Adept Lives &amp; Livelihoods in Bangladesh (NABAPALLAB) project at a national program held at Hotel Intercontinental, in the Capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Minister Chowdhury said two critically important ecological areas, namely the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, and Hakaloki Haor, a vital breeding ground for birds and fish, will be worked on to be protected.&nbsp; Surrounding communities will be collaborated with to minimize disruptions to these habitats while providing training in income generation and natural disaster preparedness. communities will be involved in training in eco-friendly technologies, promoting sustainable resource management practices, and introducing solutions like saline-tolerant crops, renewable energy, and climate-resilient housing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sarah Cooke, the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Additional Secretary (Environment) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Fahmida Khanom, Ramesh Singh, Regional Director of CARE Asia; Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury, the Chief Conservator of Forests; Climate Expert Professor Dr Ainun Nishat and Selina Shelley Khan, Chief of Party, NABAPALLAB also spoke in the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Representatives of donor agencies, representatives of local communities, guests, and staffs working to protect Bangladesh\'s environment were also present in the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/R/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 11:01:15', '2024-04-01 11:01:15'),
(11820, 11820, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In view of the High Court\'s statement that “There is no obstacle to student politics in Bangladesh University of Engineering (Buet), Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satya Prasad Majumdar today gave a clear indication that student politics might be returning to Buet campus.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to the media at his office today, the Buet VC said, “We have to accept what the High Court says.&nbsp; Court order must be obeyed. To implement this, we have to go through some process,” reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Vice-Chancellor said that in order to maintain discipline on the campus, students, teachers and the administration have to reach a mutual decision, and for this to happen, discussion is necessary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will look into the matter based on discussion among teachers, students and the administration,” the Buet VC added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"38\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 11:24:30', '2024-04-01 11:24:30'),
(11821, 11821, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A female student of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Monday lodged a written complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher of Marketing department&nbsp; in the name of counselling several times.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victim, a student of Marketing department,&nbsp; lodged the complaint to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell of the university in the morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on March 23, the student in a Facebook post brought the allegation of sexual harassment against teacher Assistant Prof Saju Saha.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Assistant Prof Saju Saha sexually harassed me in the name of counselling. Besides, he put his hand on me. He wanted to grab my feet in the restaurant to hook up with me. Because of this, I could not even do the class properly,” reads the post.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“He is so confident that I can\'t prove anything... Because he didn\'t left anything to prove. But what I have is enough to prove his guilt. Even after so much harassment, I believed he would feel guilty. But there is no sign of regret in him. I maintained good behavior to finish the department (completion of academic study),” the post also reads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the Facebook post, the accused teacher repeatedly tried to convince the victim saying that his political career will spoil once the matter gets disclosed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 24, Saju Saha also lodged a general diary with Mirpur Model Police Station seeking legal action against the student for uploading the Facebook post for maligning him on social media, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about the harassment, the teacher defended himself saying, “I\'m surprised. In fact, all of a sudden, I don\'t even understand the allegations. I don\'t even understand what I did. As far as I understand from reading her post, it seems strange to me. She can say it better. I will follow legal path.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The department’s chairman&nbsp; Associate Prof Dr Ariful Haque said they have seen the Facebook post&nbsp; but so far they have not received any complaint from the student in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, “we will take necessary measure once the complaint is lodged.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"38\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 11:29:33', '2024-04-01 11:29:33'),
(11822, 11822, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The first consignment of 1, 650 metric tonnes (MT) of onion that arrived in the country on Sunday night is being handed over to dealers in Dhaka and Chattogram.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gholam Khorshed, additional director of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), said 1,650 tons of onions on 42 wagons, reached Sirajganj Bazar rail yard around 6am on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the unloading of the onion began around 9 am, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the first consignment, 1,000 tons of onions are being handed over to 100 dealers in Dhaka district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The remaining 650 tons of onion will be sent to Gazipur and Chattogram, said Gholam Khorshed, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that the government has decided to import onion from neighbouring India after onion prices went up at the local market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each kilogram of onion will be sold at Tk 40 through open market sale (OMS) of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh in Dhaka and Chattogram within one day, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 11:42:40', '2024-04-01 11:42:40'),
(11823, 11823, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The autobiography of the Father of the Nation, “Unfinished Memoirs”, has been translated into Bhutanese (Dzongkha) language.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia and granddaughter of the Father of the Nation, Saima Wazed, and Princess of Bhutan Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck launched the Dzongkha version of the book on March 31 in Thimphu.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat was present at the launching ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>The “Unfinished Memoirs” of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been translated into Dzongkha language by the most prominent writer and Commissioner of Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies (CBS) Dasho Karma Ura, with an initiative of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bhutan.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>At the launching ceremony, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk, Agricultural Minister Yonten Phuntsho, Home Minister Lyonpo Tshering, Industry, Commerce &amp; Employment Minister Namgyal Dorji represented the Royal Government of Bhutan.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A large number of dignitaries including Ambassador of Kuwait in Bhutan, Ambassador of Bhutan in Bangladesh, Head of Diplomatic Missions and UN offices in Thimphu, secretaries, academicians, intellectuals, researchers, expatriates Bangladeshi nationals were also present at the program held at Zhichenkhar in Thimphu.</div><div><br></div><div>At the launching program, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Saima Wazed said the Dzongkha translation of the autobiography will create new opportunities for cultural connection and the book will serve as a milestone for the researchers of Bhutan and Bangladesh to unearth new information.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She thanked the Royal Government of Bhutan and Centre for Bhutan Studies for publishing the Dzongkha version of the significant book.</div><div><br></div><div>In the welcome speech, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Bhutan Shib Nath Roy paid respect to the Father of the Nation and elaborated the connection of Wangchuck Dynasty and family of the Father of the Nation.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>At the launching ceremony, the essence of the book was presented by Counsellor Sujan Debnath with Bangladeshi and Bhutanese students.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The students read out some portion of the Dzongkha, English and Bangla versions of the book.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The book was published from PT printing in Thimphu. After the launching, copies of the book were given to all the attending guests.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Embassy informed that the book will be distributed to the libraries, universities, colleges, research centers and monk bodies of Bhutan. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 12:09:08', '2024-04-01 12:09:08'),
(11824, 11824, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Cabinet Division on Monday rejected the proposal of the cabinet committee on law and order for extending the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays by one day.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rejection came from the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office, said Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The cabinet rejected the proposal of the cabinet committee on law and order for extending Eid holidays as already the government officials will enjoy long holidays and if April 9 is declared holiday, it will be longer that may hinder flow of work,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Earlier, the cabinet committee on law and order recommended extension of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays by one day from April 9 to ensure hassle-free journey of holidaymakers, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Depending on the sighting of the Shawwal moon, the Eid-ul-Fitr is scheduled to be celebrated on April 10 or April 11 and the Eid holiday will be on April 10, 11 and 12.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">On April 7, the people of the country will enjoy a holiday for holy Shab-e-Qadr and offices will remain open on April 8 and 9.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 13:03:15', '2024-04-01 13:03:15'),
(11825, 11825, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>France: France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has slammed “unacceptable acts” against the Muslim community after a boar head was found near a mosque in the east of the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A prosecutor said a probe into “incitement to racial hatred” had been opened after worshippers at a mosque in the village of Contrexeville in the Vosges region discovered the animal’s head on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Darmanin late Saturday said that two other mosques in northern France had also been “degraded.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This weekend mosques in Valenciennes and Fresnes-sur-Escaut were degraded. A mosque in the Vosges was also targeted. I firmly condemn these unacceptable acts against out Muslim compatriots,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incidents come during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which believers fast from dawn till dusk and focus on prayers. - AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 13:46:47', '2024-04-01 13:46:47'),
(11826, 11826, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel\'s military has pulled out of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City after a two-week raid that has left most of the major medical complex in ruins.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gaza\'s Hamas-run health ministry said dozens of bodies have been found and locals said nearby areas were razed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed 200 \"terrorists\", detained hundreds more and found weapons and intelligence \"throughout the hospital\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IDF said it raided al-Shifa because Hamas had regrouped there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two-week operation saw intense fighting and Israeli air strikes in nearby buildings and the surrounding area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wards were attacked because Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives were using them as a base, the IDF said, accusing them of fighting inside medical departments, setting off explosives and burning hospital buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Images published following the Israeli withdrawal showed Palestinians walking near the charred main buildings with chunks of wall missing and carrying bodies wrapped in blankets. Graphic photos showed corpses partially exposed on the churned ground.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The health ministry said dozens of bodies, some decomposed, had been found in and around the medical complex which was now \"completely out of service\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A doctor told AFP news agency more than 20 bodies had been recovered, some crushed by withdrawing vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A spokesperson for Gaza\'s Hamas-run civil emergency service said Israeli forces had used bulldozers to dig up the grounds of the complex and exhume buried bodies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hamas government media office said Israeli forces had killed 400 Palestinians in al-Shifa and the surrounding area, including a female doctor and her son, who was also a doctor. Israel has not yet commented.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IDF said its troops killed 200 \"terrorists\" and detained more than 900 people, of whom more than 500 were subsequently found to be affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad - which Israel, the UK and other countries proscribe as terrorist organisations. The suspects had been transferred to the intelligence services for further interrogation, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IDF said \"forces found large quantities of weapons, intelligence documents throughout the hospital, encountered terrorists in close-quarters battles and engaged in combat while avoiding harm to the medical staff and patients\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An IDF spokesman said more than 6,000 people had been in the hospital complex, mostly civilians, at the start of the raid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday night that 21 patients had died, with patients moved multiple times and held without medical care.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Patient Barra al-Shawish told Reuters news agency that the Israeli troops had allowed in a \"very small amount of food\". \"No treatment, no medicine, nothing, and bombing for 24 hours that didn\'t stop and immense destruction in the hospital,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the patients were being moved to al-Ahli hospital, about 3km (1.8 miles) to the south-east, a medic at al-Shifa told Reuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gaza\'s hospitals have been a main focus of the current war, with thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter from Israeli bombardment in their grounds and Israeli forces storming the facilities because they say Hamas fighters are present there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has long accused Hamas of using civilian health infrastructure as a cover to launch its operations, which the group denies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two weeks ago, it took hundreds of Israeli forces just a few hours to approach and enter the Gaza Strip\'s largest hospital. That was in marked contrast to their first controversial raid there in November, when it took several weeks for large numbers of tanks and vehicles backed by heavy air strikes to close in on the site.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For supporters of the Israeli military this has been evidence of the gains it has made during the war and its tactical success, launching a surprise attack on the enemy to strike it hard. An IDF spokesman previously referred to the operation as \"one of the most successful of the war so far\" because of the intelligence gleaned as well as numbers killed and detained.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, some commentators suggest the second al-Shifa raid highlights flaws in Israel\'s military strategy for the war. They argue that it shows the ease with which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters were able to regroup after Israel pulled its forces out of northern Gaza and the urgent need to come up with a convincing post-war plan to govern the territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday the Gaza health ministry appealed for international help to restart medical care at Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The biggest hospital in southern Gaza has been out of action since the Israeli military stormed it in February.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. About 130 of the hostages remain in captivity, at least 34 of whom are presumed dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 32,800 Palestinians have been killed and 75,000 injured in Gaza since Israel launched its military campaign, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. It says 70% of those killed were women and children. Source: BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 14:04:50', '2024-04-01 14:04:50'),
(11827, 11827, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A court in Pakistan has suspended former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s jail sentence in a case related to illegal selling of state gifts.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were each handed a 14-year sentence in the case on January 31 – just a week ahead of the February 8 elections, which Khan’s party alleges were rigged.</div><div><br></div><div>The Islamabad High Court on Monday said the couple’s sentence will remain suspended until a decision is taken on the case after the Eid holidays, which begin in 10 days.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan, 71, is accused of not disclosing assets based on the sale of state gifts worth more than 140 million rupees ($504,000) he received when he was the prime minister from 2018 to April 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The case was brought by Pakistan’s anticorruption agency, which accused Khan and his wife of unlawfully buying and selling the gifts.</div><div><br></div><div>The sentencing had made the couple ineligible to contest for public office for 10 years while also slapping a fine of 787 million rupees ($2.8m) on each of them.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan, founder of the main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been in prison since August last year on several charges.</div><div><br></div><div>The conviction in the state gifts case came a day after the cricket star-turned-politician was handed a 10-year prison term for revealing state secrets.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan and his wife were also convicted for seven years when a court on February 3 ruled that their 2018 marriage violated Islamic law.</div><div><br></div><div>PTI politician Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a close aide of Khan, told Al Jazeera he was confident of a favourable outcome given the way the state gifts case was progressing in the court.</div><div><br></div><div>“I have said this since the conviction that the cases against Khan and his wife do not have the legs to stand on and it was only a matter of time before they would get thrown out,” he told Al Jazeera.</div><div><br></div><div>“We welcome this decision and hopefully this will be the outcome in all other cases against Khan and his wife as they are all frivolous in nature.” - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 14:15:05', '2024-04-01 14:15:05'),
(11828, 11828, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that they will not let Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) to become a “hub of militancy” in the name of depoliticisation.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League Joint General Secretary made the remarks while addressing, as the chief guest, a discussion marking the 56th anniversary of Bangladesh Film Journalists’ Association on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and actor Ferdous Ahmed MP spoke as special guests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasan said that there was always student politics in Buet and many seasoned politicians of the country have come from the institution, reports UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"A group boycotted the election and then looked to foreigners to see if anything happens in their favour. But as world leaders congratulated the Prime Minister, their hopes were not fulfilled. They are the ones who want to depoliticise the entire country starting with Buet,\" Hasan said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister said an untoward incident happened in Buet but they have to find out whether banned militant groups are active there amidst ban on progressive politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There has been an incident of expulsion of a Buet student from the campus for being involved in politics outside the campus — there is question about what kind of decision this is,\" said the Minister.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I respect the movement of ordinary students in Buet. But there is fear of Buet turning into a hub of militancy, taking the opportunity of ordinary students\' movement. This is not acceptable at all. It is also necessary to see whether militancy has entered Buet or not,\" Hasan said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister also laid importance on cultural practices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raju Alim, Minister (Press) of Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi; Shaban Mahmud, President of BFUJ; Omar Farooq, Convener of Editors\' Forum; Rafiqul Islam Ratan and Rimon Mahfuz, among others, were present.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-01 15:42:18', '2024-04-01 15:42:18'),
(11829, 11829, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A man was burnt to death and eight were injured as an oil tanker overturned and several vehicles caught fire on Dhaka-Aricha highway in Savar on Tuesday morning.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was identified as Nazrul Islam, 45. Details about him could not be known immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The injured were identified as Milon Molla, 22, Al-Amin, 35, Nironjan, 45, Helal, 30, Abdus Salam, 35, Sakib, 24, Md Al Amin, 22, and Mim, 10.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of them, Helal and Sakib sustained 100 percent burn injuries, Milon 45 percent, Mim 20 percent, Al Amin 10 percent, Nironjan 8 percent, Abdus Salam 5 percent and Md Al Amin 15 percent respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">They are undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said the institute’s resident surgeon Dr Md Tarikul lslam, adding that Nazrul succumbed to his injuries upon arrival there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Witnesses said the oil tanker overturned and caught fire when it hit a road island on the Aricha-bound lane in Jordpul area around 5:35 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire spread fast engulfing a private car, one cement-laden truck, one watermelon carrying truck and a lorry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, six firefighting units from Savar and Hemayetpur rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control, said Savar Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Master Nurul Islam, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka district’s Traffic Inspector (Admin) Shahidul Islam said vehicular movement resumed around 9 am, three hours after the damaged vehicles were removed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, vehicles were seen stuck on both sides of the highway due to the incident, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 07:43:56', '2024-04-02 07:43:56');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11830, 11830, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An apparent Israeli airstrike killed four international aid workers with the World Central Kitchen charity and their Palestinian driver late Monday, hours after the group brought in a new shipload of food by a maritime route the United States has hoped would be an alternative lifeline for northern Gaza, isolated and pushed to the brink of famine by Israel\'s offensive.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Footage showed the bodies of the five dead at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Several of them wore protective gear with the charity’s logo. Staff showed the passports of three of the dead – British, Australian and Polish. The nationality of the fourth aid worker was not immediately known.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military said it was conducting a review “to understand the circumstances of this tragic incident.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">World Central Kitchen, the charity founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, said it was aware of the reports and would “share more information when we have gathered all the facts.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This is a tragedy. Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should NEVER be a target. EVER,” WCK spokeswoman Linda Roth said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahmoud Thabet, a Palestinian Red Crescent paramedic who was on the team that brought the bodies to the hospital, told The Associated Press the workers were in a three-car convoy that was crossing out of northern Gaza when an Israeli missile hit. Thabet said he was told by WCK staff the team had been in the north coordinating distribution of the newly arrived aid and were heading back to Rafah in the south.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The source of fire could not be independently confirmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three aid ships from Cyprus arrived earlier Monday carrying some 400 tons of food and supplies organized by the charity and the United Arab Emirates — the group\'s second shipment after a pilot run last month. The Israeli military was involved in coordinating both deliveries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. has touted the sea route as a new way to deliver desperately needed aid to northern Gaza, where the U.N. has said much of the population is on the brink of starvation, largely cut off from the rest of the territory by Israeli forces. Israel has barred UNRWA, the main U.N. agency in Gaza, from making deliveries to the north, and other aid groups say sending truck convoys north has been too dangerous because of the military\'s failure to ensure safe passage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UNRWA said in its latest report that 173 of its “colleagues” have been killed in Gaza in the violence. The figure does not include workers for other aid organizations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">World Central Kitchen board member Robert Egger and the media reported that the Australian killed in Monday night\'s strike was 44-year-old Zomi Frankcom from Melbourne.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was urgently seeking to confirm reports of an Australian death. The department said in a statement: “We have been clear on the need for civilian lives to be protected in this conflict.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The strike came hours after Israeli troops ended a two-week raid on Shifa Hospital, Gaza\'s largest, leaving the facility largely gutted and a swath of destruction in the surrounding neighborhoods. Footage showed Shifa\'s main buildings had been reduced to burned-out husks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel said it launched the raid on Shifa because senior Hamas operatives had regrouped there and were planning attacks. The military said its troops killed 200 militants in the operation, though the claim that they were all militants could not be confirmed, and Palestinians coming to the site after the troops withdrew found bodies of civilians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">OTHER DEVELOPMENTS MONDAY:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syrian officials and state media said an Israeli airstrike destroyed the Iran’s consulate in Syria, killing two Iranian generals and five officers. The strike appears to signify an escalation of Israel’s targeting of</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iranian military officials and their allies in Syria. The targeting has intensified since Hamas militants — who are supported by Iran — attacked Israel on Oct. 7.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel, which rarely acknowledges such strikes, said it had no comment. Iran’s ambassador, Hossein Akbari, vowed revenge for the attack “at the same magnitude and harshness.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would shut down satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera immediately after parliament passed a law Monday clearing the way for the country to halt the Qatari-owned channel from broadcasting from Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Netanyahu called the network the “terror channel” and accused it of harming Israeli security, participating in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and inciting violence against Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al Jazeera condemned his remarks, calling them “a dangerous and ridiculous lie” and saying they were Netanyahu’s justification “for the ongoing assault” on the media network and press freedom. In a statement, the network vowed to persist in its reporting with “boldness and professionalism.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">RAID LEAVES SHIFA IN RUINS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Shifa raid gutted a facility that had once been the heart of Gaza’s health care system but which doctors and staff had struggled to get even partially operating again after a previous Israeli assault in November.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest assault triggered days of heavy fighting for blocks around Shifa, with witnesses reporting airstrikes, the shelling of homes and troops going house to house to force residents to leave. Israeli authorities identified six officials from Hamas’ military wing they said were killed inside the hospital during the raid. Israel also said it seized weapons and valuable intelligence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the troops withdrew, hundreds of Palestinians returned to search for lost loved ones or examine the damage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the dead were Ahmed Maqadma and his mother — both doctors at Shifa — and his cousin, said Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a Palestinian-British doctor who volunteered at Shifa and other hospitals during the first months of the war before returning to Britain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fate of the three had been unknown since their phone suddenly went dead as they tried to leave Shifa nearly a week ago. On Monday, relatives found their bodies with gunshot wounds about a block from the hospital, said Abu Sitta, who is in touch with the family.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammed Mahdi, who was among those who returned to the area, described a scene of “total destruction.” He said several buildings had been burned down and that he counted six bodies in the area, including two in the hospital courtyard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 21 patients died during the raid, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted late Sunday on X, formerly Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes and has raided many hospitals across the territory. Critics accuse the army of recklessly endangering civilians and of decimating a health sector already overwhelmed with wounded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top military spokesman, said Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group established their main northern headquarters inside the hospital. He described days of close-quarters fighting and blamed Hamas for the destruction, saying some fighters barricaded themselves inside hospital wards while others launched mortar rounds at the compound.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hagari said the troops arrested some 900 suspected militants during the raid, including more than 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, and seized over $3 million in different currencies, as well as weapons. He said the army evacuated more than 200 of the estimated 300 to 350 patients. Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the raid, the military said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel\'s offensive since has killed at least 32,845 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The Israeli military blames the civilian toll on Palestinian militants because they fight in dense residential areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war has displaced most of the territory’s population and driven a third of its residents to the brink of famine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the offensive until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. He says Israel will soon expand ground operations to the southern city of Rafah, where some 1.4 million people — more than half of Gaza’s population — have sought refuge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he faces mounting pressure from Israelis who blame him for the security failures of Oct. 7 and from some families of the hostages who blame him for the failure to reach a deal despite several weeks of talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. Tens of thousands protested Sunday, demanding Netanyahu do more to bring home the hostages in the largest anti-government demonstration since the start of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamas and other militants are still believed to be holding some 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others, after freeing most of the rest during a cease-fire last November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. According to AP reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 07:49:06', '2024-04-02 07:49:06'),
(11831, 11831, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In the wake of the High Court\'s decision to overturn the ban on student politics at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), students convened a press briefing at 6:02 pm on Monday, voicing their aspiration for a campus devoid of political activities.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the briefing, the students articulated their reverence and trust in the nation\'s judiciary, emphasizing their stance against the incursion of external political figures onto the campus, notably the incident on March 28 deemed a breach of university regulations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to align with the wishes of the Buet teachers and students in sustaining a politics-free educational environment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In contrast, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, addressing the media on Monday afternoon, welcomed the High Court\'s decision as a restoration of constitutional rights previously curtailed by the university\'s administrative policies. Hossain expressed optimism about the resumption of regular student political activities at Buet, pledging to pursue this objective in accordance with the High Court\'s directive and Buet\'s ordinances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Buet\'s administration has declared its intention to comply with the High Court\'s decision, signaling a potential shift in the campus\'s political landscape.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Subsequent to these developments, supporters of the Bangladesh Chhatra League at Buet organized a procession, culminating in a tribute at the Buet Shaheed Minar. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 07:58:14', '2024-04-02 07:58:14'),
(11832, 11832, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The two-month honey harvesting season in the Sundarbans, spanning from April 1 to May 31, kicked off on Monday with an official ceremony in the Satkhira range of the western Sundarbans.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event, which took place at the Burigoalini Government Primary School in Shyamnagar upazila, Satkhira, was inaugurated by local lawmaker SM Atual Haque Dolan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Highlighting a commitment to both livelihood and conservation, the ceremony witnessed the surrender of 24 deer hunters, led by Anarul Islam, who vowed to transition to a lawful lifestyle. Additionally, the event addressed the plight of five women widowed by tiger attacks in the Sundarbans, providing them with essential food supplies and financial support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apiarists seeking to harvest honey from the dense forests were granted permits following comprehensive training. These permits, issued adjacent to the Burigoalini Forest Office, empower trained harvesters to venture into the forest while adhering to safety and conservation guidelines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans West Division, Dr. Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, announced enhanced patrolling measures to ensure the safe and sustainable collection of honey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He emphasized the importance of adhering to nine specific directives aimed at preserving the ecosystem, including prohibitions on the use of fire, flammable substances, and chemicals for bee driving, with the caveat that permit violations would result in cancellation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year\'s harvesting target is set at 2,500 quintals of honey and 750 quintals of wax, predominantly from the Satkhira range, a noted hotspot for honey in the Sundarbans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reflecting on the significance of the honey harvesting season, data from the Forest Department reveals a consistent contribution to the economy, with notable revenues generated from honey and wax sales in recent years. The 2021 season saw 1,012 permits issued, resulting in the collection of 3,376.90 tonnes of honey and 113.09 tonnes of wax, generating substantial revenue. The success continued in 2022, with even higher revenue figures and the collection of 2,320 quintals of honey and 696 quintals of wax.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the season unfolds this year, the Sundarbans honey harvesting initiative represents a delicate balance between the economic needs of the local communities and the imperative to protect one of the world\'s most vital ecosystems. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 08:26:18', '2024-04-02 08:26:18'),
(11833, 11833, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh\'s economy made a strong turnaround from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the post-pandemic recovery continues to be disrupted by high inflation, a persistent balance of payments deficit, financial sector vulnerabilities, and global economic uncertainty, says the World Bank in its twice-yearly update.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Released today, the latest Bangladesh Development Update says that urgent monetary reform and a single exchange rate regime will be critical to improve foreign exchange reserves and ease inflation. Greater exchange rate flexibility would help restore balance between demand and supply in the foreign exchange market.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals have helped the country overcome many past challenges,” said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Faster and bolder fiscal, financial sector, and monetary reforms can help Bangladesh to maintain macroeconomic stability and reaccelerate growth,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Structural reforms will be key to diversify the economy and build resilience over the medium and long term, including measures to raise government revenues to support investments in infrastructure and human capital, said the global lending agency.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Persistent inflation eroded consumer purchasing power, while investment was dampened by tight liquidity conditions, rising interest rates, import restrictions, and increased input costs stemming from upward revisions in administered energy prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Private sector credit growth slowed further in FY24, reflecting a broader slowdown in investment.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio in the banking sector remains high and understates banking sector stress due to lax definitions and reporting standards, forbearance measures, and weak regulatory enforcement.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The balance of payments deficit moderated over the first half of FY24 driven by a surplus in the current account.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report’s companion piece, the latest South Asia Development Update — Jobs for Resilience, also released today, says that South Asia is expected to remain the fastest-growing region in the world for the next two years, with growth projected to be 6.0% in 2024 and 6.1% in 2025.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Growth in South Asia is expected to be driven mainly by robust growth in India and Bangladesh, and recoveries in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But this strong outlook is deceptive, says the report. For most countries, growth is still below pre-pandemic levels and is reliant on public spending.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Persistent structural challenges threaten to undermine sustained growth, hindering the region’s ability to create jobs and respond to climate shocks.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Private investment growth has slowed sharply in all South Asian countries and the region is not creating enough jobs to keep pace with its rapidly increasing working-age population.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“South Asia’s growth prospects remain bright in the short run, but fragile fiscal positions and increasing climate shocks are dark clouds on the horizon,” said Martin Raiser, World Bank Vice President for South Asia.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“To make growth more resilient, countries need to adopt policies to boost private investment and strengthen employment growth.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Asia’s working-age population growth has exceeded than that in other developing country regions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The share of the employed working-age population has been declining since 2000 and is low.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2023, the employment ratio for South Asia was 59%, compared to 70% in other emerging markets and developing economy regions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is the only region where the share of working-age men who are employed fell over the past two decades, and the region with the lowest share of working-age women who are employed, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“South Asia is failing right now to fully capitalize on its demographic dividend. This is a missed opportunity,” said Franziska Ohnsorge, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If the region employed as large a share of the working-age population as other emerging markets and developing economies, its output could be 16% higher.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><b>Urgent monetary reform,&nbsp;</b><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 08:40:38', '2024-04-02 08:40:38'),
(11834, 11834, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Last night, in a heart-wrenching incident in Chattogram\'s Phalmondi area, under Kotwali police jurisdiction, the body of a seven-year-old girl was found in a dumpster. The case is being treated as a suspected murder following a sexual assault.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local residents stumbled upon the body, which was concealed inside a sack, next to a police box on road No.1 around 9:45 pm last night. The discovery prompted immediate police action.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station, SM Obaidul Huq, reported that upon receiving information, law enforcement officials retrieved the body and transferred it to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue to undergo an autopsy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Assistant Police Commissioner of Kotwali Zone, Atanu Chakraborty, noted that the victim bore injury marks and signs suggesting she might have been strangled or poisoned. The presence of bleeding led to the preliminary conclusion that the girl was a victim of assault before her death.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identity of the young girl is currently under verification as the police continue their investigation into this tragic event. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 09:08:34', '2024-04-02 09:08:34'),
(11835, 11835, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Iran and one of its key proxies vowed Tuesday to respond to a strike widely attributed to Israel that demolished Iran\'s consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus and killed seven, including two Iranian generals.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran\'s state TV reported Tuesday that the country\'s Supreme National Security Council, a key decision-making body, met late Monday and decided on a “required” response to the strike. The report said the meeting was chaired by President Ebrahim Raisi, but provided no further details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has repeatedly targeted military officials from Iran, which supports militant groups fighting Israel in Gaza, and along its border with Lebanon. Monday’s strike in Damascus signaled an escalation because it struck an Iranian diplomatic mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was not clear if Iran would respond itself, risking a dangerous confrontation with Israel and its ally the United States, or if it would continue to rely on proxies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.\'</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The airstrike in Syria killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, who led the elite Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria until 2016, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. It also killed Zahedi’s deputy, Gen. Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi, and five other officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hezbollah said Tuesday that Zahedi played a crucial role in helping “develop and advance the work” of the group in Lebanon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This crime will certainly not pass without the enemy receiving punishment and revenge,” Hezbollah said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza nearly six months ago, those proxies have stepped up attacks, leading to near daily cross-border exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel, and frequent Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. Hamas, which rules Gaza and attacked Israel on Oct. 7, is also backed by Iran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel, which rarely acknowledges strikes against Iranian targets, said it had no comment on the latest attack in Syria, although a military spokesman blamed Iran for a drone attack early Monday against a naval base in southern Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has grown increasingly impatient with the daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah, which have escalated in recent days, and warned of the possibility of a full-fledged war. Houthi rebels have also been launching long-range missiles toward Israel, including on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran\'s official news agency IRNA said Tuesday that Iran relayed an important message to the United States late Monday and that it called for a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. The message to Washington was delivered through a Swiss envoy in Tehran; Switzerland looks after U.S. interests in Iran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IRNA said Iran holds the United States, Israel\'s closest ally, responsible for the strike. - AP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 09:21:29', '2024-04-02 09:21:29'),
(11836, 11836, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The latest Bollywood movie \"Crew\" was released at Star Cineplex on Monday for the Bangladeshi audience, marking the first Hindi film that Star Cineplex has imported through the SAFTA agreement.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since its release in India on March 29, the film has been garnering good responses in the country’s cinema halls. Discussions have been going on for quite some time about the movie \'Crew\' featuring three heroines from three generations of Bollywood, and audiences have been eagerly waiting for the film’s Bangladesh release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding the release, Star Cineplex\'s senior marketing officer, Mesbahuddin Ahmed, said, “The movie \'Crew\' is being released in Bangladesh through a SAFTA agreement. For the first time, we are importing and releasing Hindi movies.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We noticed that our audiences expressed their interest in watching \'Crew\' alongside its Indian release, and many anticipating moviegoers have already contacted us to know its schedule. As per rules, Hindi movies cannot be showcased during the upcoming Eid festival, so the shows of the films will be off during Eid,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The movie narrates the difficult lives of air hostesses or flight attendants in the airline business. However, the movie \'Crew\' is being the talk of the town for its ensemble cast featuring three heroines from three generations of Bollywood: Tabu, Kareena Kapoor, and Kriti Sanon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Produced by Rhea Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Ekta Kapoor, ‘Crew’ is directed by Rajesh Krishnan and highlights the current plight of the airline industry. Tabu and Kareena have worked together for the first time in this comedy-genre movie. - unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 09:32:00', '2024-04-02 09:32:00'),
(11837, 11837, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>PSG\'s 2-0 win over Olympique de Marseille at the Velodrome put Kylian Mbappe on course to equal Cristiano Ronaldo\'s record for the longest unbeaten run in his career against a given team.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On this occasion, the French international went 16 games without defeat against the Marseille side, equalling Cristiano\'s tally against Espanyol. With the particularity that both players won 14 games and drew two.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those numbers distance him, almost definitively, from the record held by Lionel Messi, who is unbeaten in just 13 games against Racing Santander, whom he beat 11 times and, like the Frenchman and the Portuguese, drew twice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">What Cristiano, Mbappe and Messi do have in common is that all three are unbeaten against four teams they have played more than 10 games against in their careers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While CR7 remains unbeaten against Espanyol (14 wins and two draws), Newcastle (11 and 3), Bolton and Deportivo La Coruna (9 and 1), Mbappe has never lost against OM, the team he has faced the most in his career (14 wins and two draws), Montpellier (14 and 1), St.-Ettiene (9 and 3) and Brest (9 and 1).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The striking statistic between the three is that while Mbappe and Messi have the balance of more wins than defeats against all their rivals, something that Cristiano\'s does not have, who against Messi\'s Barcelona has a balance of more defeats (15) than wins (10). - Marca</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 10:23:30', '2024-04-02 10:23:30'),
(11838, 11838, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Approximately 22.5 lakh individuals are projected to leave the greater Dhaka area using waterways for the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, according to the Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF). This figure represents only 15 percent of the total number of holidaymakers expected to depart from Dhaka and its surrounding areas, including Gazipur and Narayanganj.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The SCRF released these insights on Tuesday through a press release summarizing their pre-Eid observation report. It was noted that the majority of these passengers would be traveling to the greater Barishal region, with others heading towards Chandpur, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Munshiganj, and Hatia in Noakhali.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year\'s figures show a decrease from two years ago when 25 percent of travelers opted for waterways, a change attributed partly to the opening of the Padma Bridge in 2022, which led to a 40 percent reduction in waterway passengers to coastal districts, with the exception of Chandpur and Hatia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The SCRF report anticipates the travel rush to commence on April 4, with all waterway passengers expected to leave between April 4 and April 10, the day before Eid. Daily, Sadarghat terminal is set to see about 3.21 lakh people pass through.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, concerns have been raised regarding the navigability of waterways and the shortage of vessels. Currently, only 31 of the originally 41 waterways from Dhaka are operational due to these challenges. Despite this, the number of launches is expected to increase to about 175 before Eid, with 87 of these departing from Sadarghat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report highlights the pressure on launches, many of which are expected to carry double or triple their capacity, exacerbating the risk of accidents and public suffering. With many launches having a capacity of less than 1,000 people, the surge in passengers, especially in the three days leading up to Eid, poses significant safety concerns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In response, the SCRF has called for immediate action from relevant authorities, including enhanced surveillance and security measures at waterways and terminals, to mitigate the risks associated with overcapacity and ensure a safer travel experience for Eid holidaymakers.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 10:53:40', '2024-04-02 10:53:40'),
(11839, 11839, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday requested Russia\'s state-run atomic agency Rosatom to consider&nbsp; building&nbsp; a second nuclear power plant in Rooppur.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She made the request when Rosatom DG Alexey Likhachev called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the call on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina told Rosatam that her government seeks to build another nuclear power plant at Rooppur on completion of the on going project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She pointed out that technical survey needs to be conducted at the initial stage for setting up two new units.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister directed&nbsp; completion of all formalities of taking back Spent Nuclear Fuel of first and second units of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to Russia.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DG of Rosatom gave assurance on behalf of the Russian government on taking back the Spent Nuclear Fuel produced by the first and second units to the Russian Federation and promised to complete all the necessary&nbsp; formalities on time as per the instructions of the prime minister.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka and Moscow have already signed an inter-state agreement regarding the return of the Spent Nuclear Fuel of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina thanked Russia for helping Bangladesh in energy security, especially the construction of the Rooppur&nbsp; nuclear power plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that it was the dream of Bangabandhu to set up a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, and it is being implemented.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She recalled the assistance of Russia during the Liberation War of&nbsp; Bangladesh in 1971 and subsequent help in rebuilding the war-ravaged country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister also conveyed her greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his reelection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Rosatom DG apprised the prime minister of the progress in building the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the RNPP will go to production by 2025 and start to supplement electricity supply&nbsp; to the national grid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that 85 percent works of the RNPP has been completed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He proposed to the government to build two new nuclear power units (Unit-3 and Unit-4) in Rooppur nuclear power project area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DG noted that the construction of the new Unit-3 and Unit-4 should be started as soon as the construction of the first two units is completed.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this context, he also said that the expansion of existing nuclear power projects is more profitable and reasonable from the financial point of view and in the light of technical and nuclear safety which is considered internationally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that some 2500 staffs including Bangladeshi and Russians have been working in the project who gained their expertise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina asked the Rosatom DG to utilise Bangladeshi expertise in other nuclear power plant construction projects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Rosatom DG said that due to the pandemic and sanctions there were obstacles, but the work continued&nbsp; with its usual&nbsp; pace.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister said that the obstacles were avoided technically.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman was present among others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At present, the construction work of two units (1200 x 2 = 2400 MW) each having a capacity of 1200 MW in Rooppur project area is in final stage.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The physical start-up of the first unit will begin in December this year. Commercial power generation will start in 2025 and 2026 from Unit-1 and Unit-2. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 11:38:49', '2024-04-02 11:38:49'),
(11840, 11840, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 23-year-old worker was killed and two others injured when three girders of an under-construction bridge collapsed on them at Soydabad in Sirajganj Economic Zone on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was identified as Zubayer, son of Mahmud Ali of Sirajganj municipality area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said three girders of an under-construction bridge collapsed on three workers when they were working under the bridge around 10:30 am, leaving one dead on the spot and two others injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, police and a firefighting units rushed to the spot and sent the injured workers to Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College and hospital. - unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 12:56:38', '2024-04-02 12:56:38'),
(11841, 11841, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has pushed Bangladesh to cultural, political and economic subordination of a neighouring country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this while distributing Eid clothes among the poor on behalf of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman during an event organized by Zia Projanmo Dal (ZPD) at the party’s Nayapalton central office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They are trying to repress whatever is our own and derives from our soil,” the BNP leader said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi said those who can afford usually host Iftar parties to feed close relatives, poor and the needy people. This has been long-established culture and religious practice in the country, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He, however, alleged that this year some organisations are not being allowed to hold Iftar parties on the university campus or outside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They (govt) don’t like it. They are attacking the cultural values of the country’s majority people”, he said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader alleged that the prime minister is doing this to fulfill her masters will.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We could not realise it primarily. But if we think deeply, we understand how they are intervening into the cultural and religious beliefs of the country’s majority people”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard Rizvi defended his call to boycott Indian goods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Why shall we buy their share or toothpaste as they are not respecting our people and our values,” he said adding, “They kill our people along the border on regular basis.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are treaties and protocol on border killing, but BSF doesn’t bother it. They are frequently killing our people in the border,” he alleged, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to India the BNP leader said “they claim they are a democratic country. But they don’t recognise Bangladesh’s sovereignty, independence and democratic process. Nor do they respect Bangladeshi people. They stand only beside one political party helping it retain power permanently. They certified them, and lobbied worldwide for them (AL), Rizvi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He questioned why would people use their products since they don’t respect their will and ignore the other political parties for the sake of one party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-02 13:09:44', '2024-04-02 13:09:44');
