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(9827, 9827, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israel knocked out internet and communications in the Gaza Strip in stepped-up bombardment Friday night, largely cutting off its 2.3 million people from contact with each other and the outside world and creating a near-blackout of information, as the military said it was “expanding” ground operations in the territory.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The military’s announcement signaled it was moving closer to an all-out invasion of Gaza, where it has vowed to crush the ruling Hamas militant group after its bloody incursion in southern Israel three weeks ago.</div><div><br></div><div>Explosions from continuous airstrikes lit up the sky over Gaza City for hours after nightfall. The Palestinian telecom provider, Paltel, said the bombardment caused “complete disruption” of internet, cellular and landline services. The cutoff meant that casualties from strikes and details of ground incursions could not immediately be known. Some satellite phones continued to function.</div><div><br></div><div>Already plunged into darkness after most electricity was cut off weeks ago, Palestinians were thrown into isolation, huddling in homes and shelters with food and water supplies running out.</div><div><br></div><div>Relatives outside Gaza panicked after their messaging chats with families inside suddenly went dead and calls stopped going through.</div><div><br></div><div>“I was so scared this was going to happen,” said Wafaa Abdul Rahman, director of a feminist organization based in the West Bank city of Ramallah. She said she hadn\'t heard for hours from family in central Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve been seeing these horrible things and massacres when it’s live on TV, so now what will happen when there’s a total blackout?” she said, referring to scenes of families that have been crushed in homes by airstrikes over the past weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said ground forces were “expanding their activity” Friday evening in Gaza and “acting with great force ... to achieve the objectives of the war.” Israel says its strikes target Hamas fighters and infrastructure and that the militants operate from among civilians, putting them in danger.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hamas media center reported heavy nighttime clashes with Israeli forces at several places, including what it said was an Israeli incursion east of Bureij. Asked about the report, the Israeli military reiterated early Saturday that it had been carrying out targeted raids and expanding strikes with the aim of “preparing the ground for future stages of the operation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops along the border ahead of an expected ground offensive. Earlier Friday the military said ground forces conducted their second hourslong incursion inside Gaza in as many days, striking dozens of militant targets over the past 24 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has soared past 7,300, more than 60% of them minors and women, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. A blockade on Gaza has meant dwindling supplies, and the U.N. warned that its aid operation helping hundreds of thousands of people was “crumbling” amid near-depleted fuel.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 1,400 people were slain in Israel during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, according to the Israeli government, and at least 229 hostages were taken into Gaza. Palestinian militants have fired thousands of rockets into Israel, including one that hit a residential building in Tel Aviv on Friday, wounding four people.</div><div><br></div><div>The overall number of deaths far exceeds the combined toll of all four previous Israel-Hamas wars, estimated at around 4,000.</div><div><br></div><div>Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel expects a long and difficult ground offensive into Gaza soon. It “will take a long time” to dismantle Hamas\' vast network of tunnels, he said, adding that he expects a lengthy phase of lower-intensity fighting as Israel destroys “pockets of resistance.”</div><div><br></div><div>His comments pointed to a potentially grueling and open-ended new phase of the war after three weeks of relentless bombardment. Israel has said it aims to crush Hamas’ rule in Gaza and its ability to threaten Israel. But how Hamas’ defeat will be measured and an invasion’s endgame remain unclear. Israel says it does not intend to rule the tiny territory but not who it expects to govern — even as Gallant suggested a long-term insurgency could ensue.</div><div><br></div><div>In Washington, the Pentagon said U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Gallant on Friday and “underscored the importance of protecting civilians during the Israel Defense Forces’ operations and focusing on the urgency of humanitarian aid delivery for civilians in Gaza.” The readout from Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Austin also brought up “the need for Hamas to release all of the hostages.”</div><div><br></div><div>The conflict has threatened to ignite a wider war across the region. Arab nations — including U.S. allies and ones that have reached peace deals or normalized ties with Israel — have raised increasing alarm over a potential ground invasion, likely to bring even higher casualties amid urban fighting.</div><div><br></div><div>Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned on X that the “outcome will be a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions for years to come.”</div><div><br></div><div>With no electricity, no communications and no water, many of those trapped in Gaza had little choice but to wait in their homes or seek the relative safety of schools and hospitals as Israel expanded its bombing early Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Throughout the night, orange fireballs exploded on the horizon above the apartment buildings and refugee camps of Gaza City, briefly illuminating clouds of white smoke hanging in the air from previous strikes. Some of the bombs hit in tight groups, apparently slamming into the same location, as flames shot into the air followed seconds later by a burst of loud bangs.</div><div><br></div><div>Lynn Hastings, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the occupied territories, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that without phone lines and internet, hospitals and aid operations would be unable to operate. The Red Crescent said it could not contact medical teams and residents could no longer call ambulances, meaning rescuers would have to chase the sound of explosions to find the wounded. International aid groups said they were only able to reach a few staffers using satellite phones.</div><div><br></div><div>The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed alarm, saying the world “is losing a window into the reality” of the conflict. It warned that the information vacuum “can be filled with deadly propaganda, dis- and misinformation.”</div><div><br></div><div>The loss of internet and phones deals a further blow to a medical and aid system that relief workers say was already on the verge of collapse, overwhelmed by wounded and running out of supplies under Israel\'s weeks-long seal. More than 1.4 million people have fled their homes, nearly half crowding into U.N. schools and shelters. Aid workers say a trickle of aid Israel has allowed to enter from Egypt the past week is a tiny fraction of what is needed.</div><div><br></div><div>Gaza hospitals have been scrounging for fuel to run emergency generators that power incubators and other life-saving equipment.</div><div><br></div><div>Gallant said Israel believes that Hamas would confiscate any fuel that enters. He said Hamas uses generators to pump air into its hundreds of kilometers (miles) of tunnels, which originate in civilian areas. He showed reporters aerial footage of what he said was a tunnel shaft built right next to a hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>“For air, they need oil. For oil, they need us,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Late Friday the army released photos showing what it said were Hamas installations in and around Gaza City\'s Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest. Israel has made such claims before, but declined to say how they obtained the photos.</div><div><br></div><div>Little is known about Hamas’ tunnels and other infrastructure. Claims by the military and Gallant couldn’t be verified.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at Shifa Hospital, Hamas media chief Salama Maroof called Israel\'s claims “lies” and said they were “a precursor for striking this facility.”</div><div><br></div><div>“I ring the alarm bell. There is imminent danger hovering above the medical facility\" and those in it, Maroof said. The hospital has been overwhelmed by thousands of patients and wounded people, and around 40,000 displaced residents have crowded in and around its grounds for shelter, the U.N. says.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked if Israel plans to target Shifa, Hagari said, “We will not be able to allow terror activity against Israel from hospitals, and we will have to, together with the rest of the world, confront this red flag.”</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of thousands remain in northern Gaza, unable or unwilling to evacuate to the south as Israel has ordered. Israeli leaflets dropped in Gaza have said those who remain might be considered “accomplices” of Hamas. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 07:32:59', '2023-10-28 07:32:59'),
(9828, 9828, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh opened a new horizon in hassle-free road communication on Saturday when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first-ever underwater tunnel amid festivities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The 3.32km tunnel named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman runs under the Karnaphuli River making another dream project into a reality.</div><div><br></div><div>The tunnel, also the first of its kind in South Asia, promises to fast-track the country’s road connectivity, spur the economy and promote tourism. It has two tubes and four lanes.</div><div><br></div><div>The people of the port city and the southern region greeted the opening of the tunnel with cheers and hope it will add a new dimension in the economy like China’s Shanghai.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina drove through the tunnel in a motorcade to join a public rally at Anwara upazila after inaugurating it at Patenga point. The premier unveiled the plaque of the tunnel on the north bank of the Karnaphuli at Patenga at 11.40am. She paid toll for her motorcade at the south bank of the river at Anwara.</div><div><br></div><div>A mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was set up in front of the Shah Amanat International Airport and a shampan (boat) was placed there to mark the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>The two ends of the tunnel have been decorated with multi-coloured banners and flags.</div><div><br></div><div>Once the tunnel, built at a cost Tk 10.374crore, opens to traffic travellers will be able to cross the tunnel in five minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>The tunnel is fully prepared for vehicle movement. The construction work of fire service and police camp building on the two ends of the tunnel is going on.</div><div><br></div><div>Almost 99 percent work of the project has been completed and the rest will be done in December while over 100 CCTVs have been installed inside the tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>The speed of the vehicle was fixed at 60 kilometres per hour and no motorbike and three-wheelers will be allowed on the tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, weight scales have been set up on the entrances of the tunnel to check movement of heavy vehicles.</div><div><br></div><div>The tunnel will boost the connectivity with the district town to the Southern part of Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, project officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the project, two tubes with 16 feet high and 35 feet wide, were built so that the heavy vehicles can easily cross the tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>The total length of the tunnel is 3.32 km with a 5.35 km approach road and a 740 metre bridge.</div><div><br></div><div>The tunnel has been built with joint funding of the governments of Bangladesh and China (G2G). The Exim Bank of China is giving a loan of Tk 5,913 crore while the Bangladesh government is funding the rest.</div><div><br></div><div>The Karnaphuli river divides Chattogram into two parts. The tunnel being built – following the “One City, Two Towns” model like Shanghai in China – will connect the port city on the north with Anwara upazila on the south.</div><div><br></div><div>China has provided technical and financial assistance to the project.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official notification, a total of 12 types of vehicles will have to pay tolls at Bangabandhu Tunnel. The toll rate will come into effect from the day the tunnel is opened to vehicular movement.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the notification, the minimum toll in the tunnel is Tk 200. This toll has been fixed for private cars and pick-up trucks.</div><div><br></div><div>The toll for microbuses is Tk 250. The toll for buses less than 31 seats is Tk 300 while buses with more than 32 seats will have to pay Tk 400. The toll for big buses with 3XL has been fixed at Tk 500.</div><div><br></div><div>The toll for trucks capable of carrying goods up to five tonnes has been fixed at Tk 400. Eight-ton trucks will have to pay Tk 500 and Tk 600 toll has been fixed for 11-ton trucks.</div><div><br></div><div>The 3XL trailer will have to pay Tk 800 in toll to cross the tunnel. Meanwhile, a 4XL trailer will pay Tk 1,000. An additional Tk 200 toll will be added for more XL.</div><div><br></div><div>Based on the feasibility study conducted for the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, it is projected that once the tunnel becomes operational, an average of 28,305 vehicles will traverse through it on a daily basis by the year 2025.</div><div><br></div><div>Furthermore, the study estimates that by 2030, the number of vehicles is expected to increase to 37,946, and by 2067, the target has been set at an average of 162,000 vehicles per day. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 07:42:55', '2023-10-28 07:42:55'),
(9829, 9829, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid has said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges\' Residence Complex in Dhaka’s Kakrail earlier today.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail,” he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing.</div><div><br></div><div>He said police have video footage of the incidents.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP activists who were engaged in violence escaped the scene, and the situation is now under control, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them.</div><div><br></div><div>The grand rally of BNP has begun in front of its Nayapaltan central office with the participation of thousands of leaders and activists of the party and its associate bodies to press home their one-point demand for holding the upcoming national election under a non-party government. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 09:22:26', '2023-10-28 09:22:26'),
(9830, 9830, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Miscreants vandalised three vehicles in Dhaka’s Kakrail area today, as both Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are set to hold their respective rallies.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said miscreants from a procession vandalised two pick-up vans while passing through the Kakrail area, opposite to the residence of the chief justice around 11 am.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, they also vandalised a bus of ‘Boishakhi Paribahan’ in front of International Mother Language Institute in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>Police have arrested a person involved in the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The identity of the arrestee could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies have gathered in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office to attend the grand rally today (October 28, 2023) to mount pressure on the government to accept their one-point demand.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Awami League is scheduled to hold its peace rally at Baitul Mukarram Mosque’s South Gate in the afternoon. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 09:32:26', '2023-10-28 09:32:26'),
(9831, 9831, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The presence of public transport and other vehicles on Dhaka streets today (October 28) is relatively thin compared to other days, as tensions escalated surrounding the two big parties’ announced programs, causing immense commuting woes.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>People who depend on public transport for their daily commute have been hit hard due to few vehicles on the roads.</div><div><br></div><div>Panic has gripped people over the scheduled rallies of BNP and Awami League in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Most are preferring to stay home unless they have any urgent work.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the day is a government holiday, those who work in private organizations are facing severe commuting problems.</div><div><br></div><div>The number of private cars, rickshaws and other vehicles on the streets are also few.</div><div><br></div><div>Streets in Shanir Akhra, Kakrail, Shantinagar, Mouchak, Dholaipar, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Gulistan, Purana Paltan, and Jatiya Press Club areas have few public transport.</div><div><br></div><div>Many were seen waiting for buses to reach their respective destinations.</div><div><br></div><div>No long route buses left from Gulistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Contacted, Joint Commissioner (Traffic-North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Abu Saleh Md Raihan told UNB that the number of vehicles including public buses is low compared to other days.</div><div><br></div><div>Mariful Hasan, who had to commute to his office in Mouchak from Shewrapara, said, “I boarded a bus from Shewrapara which dropped me at Bijoy Sarani. Getting no public transport at that point, I decided to walk to Farmgate. Later, I managed to board a bus to Mouchak.”</div><div><br></div><div>Like Mariful, Rahul, who also worked for a private company, said he had to change transport twice to reach his office from Keraniganj.</div><div><br></div><div>Kaniz Fatema said she took a CNG-run three wheeler from Narayanganj to her office in Dhaka due to the lack of public transport.</div><div><br></div><div>Police and RAB personnel were seen patrolling the roads while a number of check-posts were set up to ensure security.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands of law enforcers – police, RAB and other agencies – have been deployed in the capital city to prevent possible violence during the rallies.</div><div><br></div><div>AL and the BNP got permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold their rallies at their respective venues. Jamaat, however, did not get any go-ahead from DMP for their program. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 09:39:15', '2023-10-28 09:39:15'),
(9832, 9832, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP has announced a dawn-to-dusk hartal across the country to protest “police attacks” on their leaders and activists and their grand rally at Nayapaltan today.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the hartal before leaving the rally stage amid clashes between law enforcers and BNP leaders, activists.</div><div><br></div><div>He said hartal will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, BNP’s grand rally was suspended halfway through the program following the clashes.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The rally began around 12:40 pm, and was stopped around 2:15 pm. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 10:08:27', '2023-10-28 10:08:27'),
(9833, 9833, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A policeman was killed and at least 41 cops were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The name of the deceased policeman could not be known immediately.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>DMCH Police Outpost in-charge, Inspector Bachchu Mia, said that a policeman injured in the clash died in Dhaka Medical College Hospital.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Police\'s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain said that 22 injured policemen are undergoing treatment at Rajarbagh Police Hospital and 19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>They were injured in Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas while on duty, Faruk Hossain added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch (DB) Harun-or-Rashid said that some BNP activists attacked police in front of the Judges\' Residence Complex in Dhaka’s Kakrail earlier today.</div><div><br></div><div>“Some policemen were injured. Furthermore, they carried out an attack, vandalised and set some vehicles on fire in front of IDB Bhaban at Kakrail,” he said while talking with reporters in front of Kakrail Church.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, BGB members are deployed at Kakrail Church crossing.</div><div><br></div><div>He said police have video footage of the incidents.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will identify those involved and take appropriate action,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP activists who were engaged in violence escaped the scene, and the situation is now under control, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, a chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 12:02:00', '2023-10-28 12:02:00'),
(9834, 9834, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League has announced peace rallies across the country on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Tomorrow, party leaders of the cities, districts, upazilas all over Bangladesh will organise peace rallies,\" Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said today.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader made the announcement while addressing a peace rally at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. He was attending the event as the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Criticizing the BNP, Quder said, \"Let\'s see who stands by you (BNP) from tomorrow. The leaders run away, the supporters also run away behind them.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Where is Fakhrul? Where is BNP? Where did they go? BNP’s great journey is now dead,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>“No one will accept their hartal for anarchy. That weapon has become blunt. We will hold peace rallies in the cities, districts, upazilas all over Bangladesh tomorrow,” said the AL leader.</div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in Chattogram during the clashes in the capital. She couldn’t even have lunch due to worries,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let\'s see what they do,” Quader quoted the PM as saying.</div><div><br></div><div>A policeman was killed and at least 41 cops were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>A chase and counter-chase between police and BNP leaders, activists occurred in Dhaka’s Kakrail area.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said leaders and activists of BNP brought out a procession in the Kakrail area and started going towards InterContinental hotel around 1 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage, police obstructed them, and BNP leaders, activists started throwing brick chips at the law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, police fired rubber bullets, used sound grenades and tear gas shells to disperse them. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 12:47:29', '2023-10-28 12:47:29'),
(9835, 9835, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 35 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a \"horrific collision\" on an Egyptian highway involving a bus and several cars, state media reported on Saturday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Traffic accidents are common in Egypt where roads are often in bad repair and the highway code is frequently disregarded.</div><div><br></div><div>\"A horrific collision on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road near Wadi al-Natrun led to the death of 35 people, at least 18 of whom burnt to death,\" said Al-Ahram news website, indicating \"at least 53 were injured\".</div><div><br></div><div>Images posted on social media showed an overturned lorry lying across the fast lane on charred tarmac.</div><div><br></div><div>Further on is at least one bus and a minibus, both largely gutted by fire, as well as many cars, some still in flames.</div><div><br></div><div>Crowds of people can be seen standing by the road, gazing at the crash site as alongside queues of cars as thick black smoke spirals into the air.</div><div><br></div><div>Official figures say 7,000 people were killed in road accidents in 2021 in the Arab world\'s most populous country. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 14:35:51', '2023-10-28 14:35:51'),
(9836, 9836, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ten more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Saturday morning, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 1,327 this year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During the period, 1,800 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 407 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital--indicating a worsening situation across the country, DGHS said.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 7,091 dengue patients, including 1,975 the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 265,862 dengue cases and 257,444 recoveries this year.</div><div><br></div><div>September has so far been the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak this year with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-28 14:52:17', '2023-10-28 14:52:17'),
(9837, 9837, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said that BNP leaders cannot deny their role in the daylong violence yesterday that left a policeman dead.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The minister said this while replying to a question from journalists at the minister\'s office in Dhaka’s Secretariat today.</div><div><br></div><div>Asaduzzaman Khan said cases will be filed in connection with all the attacks.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said cases will be filed against those who entered the chief justice\'s house, beat a policeman to death, attacked a hospital, and set vehicles on fire.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“As far as I know, about 100 police officers were injured. Awami League’s women leaders were also attacked,” he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said that if anyone wants to file cases in connection with the attacks on journalists, the cases will be accepted too.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>About the arrest of BNP leaders, the home minister said that senior leaders of the party were holding meetings when violence was underway, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“The DMP commissioner repeatedly asked them how far the boundaries of their rally would be, and they said it would be up to Nightingale crossing in Bijoynagar.</div><div><br></div><div>“Can the BNP leaders avoid responsibility for the violence that took place?” he told.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 09:15:34', '2023-10-29 09:15:34'),
(9838, 9838, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka University has conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as a token of respect, in a special convocation today.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Prime minister Sheikh Hasina joined the convocation as the convocation speaker and Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni joined as the special guest. DU VC Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman presided over the special convocation program.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The DU VC started the program at 11 am. The chancellor of the university, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, could not attend the program due to health issues.</div><div><br></div><div>The convocation started with the national anthem; recitation from the holy religious scriptures followed. A cultural programme and a documentary reflected Bangabandhu’s contributions in leading the nation to freedom and rebuilding a war-torn country.</div><div><br></div><div>At 11:57 am, DU Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman adorned Bangabandhu with the Doctor of Laws degree. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the degree and memorandum, and signed the acknowledgement paper on behalf of Bangabandhu. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 09:42:57', '2023-10-29 09:42:57'),
(9839, 9839, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Eminent climate change expert Professor Saleemul Huq, director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development, passed away last night.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Saleemul Huq was Professor at the Independent University Bangladesh (IUB). He was an associate of the International Institute on Environment and Development (IIED) of the United Kingdom.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, he was the Chair of the Expert Advisory Group for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and Senior Adviser on Locally Led Adaptation with Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), headquartered in the Netherlands.</div><div><br></div><div>He was an expert in adaptation to climate change in the most vulnerable developing countries and a lead author of the third, fourth and fifth assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He also advised the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Huq was affiliated with the UN Food System Summit for 2021 as co-chair of the Action Track 5 on Building Resilience to Vulnerabilities, Shocks &amp; Stress.</div><div><br></div><div>He published hundreds of scientific as well as popular articles and was recognized as one of the top twenty global influencers on climate change policy in 2019 and top scientist from Bangladesh on climate change science.</div><div><br></div><div>He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to combating international climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>His Namaaz-e-Janaza will be held at the Gulshan Society Jame Masjid, Road 63, Gulshan 2 (opposite Gulshan Lake Park), at 4:15pm on Sunday. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 09:51:38', '2023-10-29 09:51:38'),
(9840, 9840, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the young generation to take the country for a better future by acquiring knowledge and practicing science.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I am doing whatever is possible for me. The young people must make sure that the forward march of Bangladesh is not be stopped,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was addressing as special convocation of Dhaka University as the convocation speaker.</div><div><br></div><div>The DU organised the convocation to confer posthumous honorary ‘Doctor of Laws” degree on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a ceremony held at the central playground of the university. Bangabandhu studied law at the university.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme went ahead smoothly despite a dawn-to-dusk hartal called by BNP and Jamaat to protest Saturday’s violence centering the anti-government rallies they separately held in Nayapalton and Shapla Chottor respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina put emphasis on continued efforts in carrying out research works.</div><div><br></div><div>“More importance should be given to research works. We have achieved great success in agricultural research. Today we have ensured food security,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, she mentioned that the government has launched Bangabandhu-1 Satellite and is planning to launch the second one.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Then we have to go to the moon. In order to go to the moon, I have already established the Aviation and Aerospace University at Lalmonirhat,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that the only goal of her is to build a Bangladesh that the father of the nation had wanted.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Prime minister’s office is nothing to me. I could have become the prime minister long ago. But I didn\'t want it that way,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that she believes in using power for the welfare of the people.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“What I’m doing is to develop the country as the father of the nation had wanted to see. That\'s my only goal,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the educated people not to forget the people living in rural areas.</div><div><br></div><div>“The more the rural people develop the better for the country. The progress of a handful of people is not desired. It has to be universal. Our development will come from the grassroots, from the villages,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In her address the prime minister quoted frequently from the speeches of Bangabandhu on his dream about Bangladesh and his emphasis on agriculture, the country’s history, heritage, literature and culture.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that since 2009 the Awami League government has been in power and it has changed the face of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have been able to do that by keeping every word of the father of the nation in our heart and realising his dream. I did it that way,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that the government has been able to alleviate poverty in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have been able to make economic progress in Bangladesh. However, Corona and war have created a disruption not only for but also for the world,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that Bangladesh became independent in exchange of blood.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We will deliver the benefits of this freedom to everyone. Not a single person will be homeless or landless in this Bangladesh,” she vowed.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the government is doing everything it can to move this country forward.</div><div><br></div><div>She thanked Dhaka University authority for awarding the Doctor of Laws to Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>“Dhaka University is the university in my heart. If I could get admission again, I would be happy to finish my Master\'s degree from here,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>In this regard, she said that she has received many degrees from many countries of the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am not satisfied with it. I didn\'t get it from my university. Of course I was given an honorary degree here, but it would have been better if I could have studied here again,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Education Minister Dipu Moni, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Muhammad Samad, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal and Treasurer Professor Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed also spoke at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the prime minister received the honorary degree of \'Doctor of Laws\' (posthumously) of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM also enjoyed a brief cultural event performed by Dhaka University students.</div><div><br></div><div>At the outset of the programme, one minute silence was observed to show respect to Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>A video documentary on Bangabandhu and the history of Dhaka University was also shown in the programme. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 09:58:28', '2023-10-29 09:58:28'),
(9841, 9841, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A series of blasts during a Christian prayer meeting in India\'s southern state of Kerala killed one person and wounded 36 others, police said on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"We will find out who is behind this and take stringent action,\" Director General of Police of Kerala Darvesh Saheb told reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"Preliminary investigation shows it was an IED (improvised explosive device) blast.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The incident took place during a Jehovah\'s Witnesses convention at the centre in Kalamassery, about 10 kilometres from Kochi. The prayer meet was attended by nearly 2,000 people.</div><div><br></div><div>People who were present at the convention centre told the media that the first blast occurred in the middle of a prayer. Officials said, explosives had been placed inside a tiffin box, NDTV reports.</div><div><br></div><div>Kalamassery MP Hibi Eden said that the first explosion occurred in the centre of the hall. He added that the group had an evacuation plan which kicked into action immediately after the first blast. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 11:10:42', '2023-10-29 11:10:42'),
(9842, 9842, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Since Bangabandhu Tunnel opened to traffic on Sunday, authorities concerned have collected Tk 1.48 lakh as toll from 498 vehicles that went through the tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in seven hours.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Toll manager Belayet Hossain said that 498 vehicles went through since the tunnel opened. A total of Tk 1,48,200 was collected till 1 pm on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The tunnel opened for vehicular movement at 6 am on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first underwater tunnel on Saturday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Traffic movement remained low due to the ongoing countrywide hartal called by the opposition parties.</div><div><br></div><div>Munshiganj-based businessman Jewel Rana was the first passenger to pay the toll at the Anwara end of the tunnel at 6 am, and crossed it in just three minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>Dulal Sikder from Chattogram was the first to pay the toll at the Patenga end of the tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>“The tunnel was opened to traffic in the morning. Although traffic movement through the tunnel remains low, it may increase as the day progresses. But if there was no hartal, there would have been more vehicles,” said Belayet.</div><div><br></div><div>As many as 14 boxes have been set up at Anwara end to collect the toll.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Project Director of the Bangabandhu Tunnel, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, said that the tunnel will remain open for vehicular movement 24 hours a day.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Bridges Division, as many as 17,374 vehicles will cross the tunnel every day in the first year after the opening. Of these, 3,218 are heavy vehicles. In 2025, the number of vehicles passing per day will be 28,305.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 12 categories of vehicles will be able to go through the Bangabandhu Tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>The minimum toll for traffic movement in the tunnel has been set at Tk 200, and the maximum is Tk 1,000. Motorcycles or three-wheelers will not be allowed in the tunnel.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, the prime minister crossed the Bangabandhu Tunnel with a 21-vehicle motorcade and paid a toll of Tk 4,000. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 11:16:42', '2023-10-29 11:16:42'),
(9843, 9843, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has declared a three-day countrywide blockade from Tuesday, according to media reports.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, office secretary of the party, made the announcement at a press conference online this evening.</div><div><br></div><div>He alleged that police and the ruling partymen have attacked on the BNP leaders and activists across the country during the hartal today.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the police detained BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and raided the residences of top leaders of the party in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 13:09:49', '2023-10-29 13:09:49'),
(9844, 9844, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Police have detained Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who identified himself as an “advisor to US President Joe Biden,” from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Arefy was detained this noon when he went to the airport to fly out to the United States, Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, confirmed the development this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Arefy was taken to the DB headquarters on Minto Road for questioning, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, Arefi went to BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan and spoke to reporters, introducing himself as an “adviser to Biden.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sitting with BNP leader Ishraque Hossain, Arefy even went as far as to claim that the US president is “in full favor of restoration of the caretaker government.”</div><div><br></div><div>Arefy also bragged about his day-to-day contact with the US State Department and embassy officials in Bangladesh, and claimed that all key players within the US government back the opposition\'s movement.</div><div><br></div><div>Video of Arefy sitting at BNP office, surrounded by party leaders, was circulated on social media by pro BNP and Jamaat netizens claiming that Arefy, “on behalf of Biden,” came to BNP’s party office to support their cause to overthrow the government. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 14:03:36', '2023-10-29 14:03:36'),
(9845, 9845, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader has said that the attacks on Saturday and Sunday are pre-planned by BNP to execute their planned conspiracy for seizing power by any means.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;He said, \"The attacks on Saturday and Sunday are pre-planned by BNP. They had been preparing for the attack for a long time.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said these things at a press conference at the political office of the Awami League President office in Dhanmondi on Sunday (October 29) afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Obaidul Quader said, \"When talking about democratic movement, BNP was secretly preparing to implement the terrorist style of their politics. They were taking time to get back to their old ways, their terrible politics. In time they chose the way to execute their planned conspiracy.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said they had challenged the law enforcement agencies.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence is an insult to the country\'s judiciary,\" he opined.</div><div><br></div><div>\"What have they not done in the last two days? BNP is involved in the conspiracy to seize power by any means. The BNP-Jamaat alliance has once again indulged in brutal terrorist activities to disrupt the country\'s democratic process,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said BNP and their allies are destroying the fair and normal political environment as it does not believe in democratic ideals, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Yesterday\'s brutal attack and killing of a policeman in broad daylight, attack on the residence of the Chief Justice, fire in the hospital were part of Tariq Rahman\'s \'take back\' formula,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 15:00:06', '2023-10-29 15:00:06');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9846, 9846, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Afghanistan team arrived in India with an aim to qualify for the Cricket World Cup semifinals. And after the half-way stage of the tournament they have already put the defending champion England and 1992 winner Pakistan on the verge of elimination.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan shocked England by 69 runs at Delhi in one of the greatest World Cup upsets and then followed that with an authoritative eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Chennai.</div><div><br></div><div>With probably the best spin attack at the World Cup, Afghanistan will fancy their chances against Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in the upcoming games before facing high-flying South Africa and a rejuventaed Australia in their final two matches.</div><div><br></div><div>Whether Afghanistan could achieve their ultimate target of qulaifying for the semifinals or not, they have surely made their mark with their two stunning victories over England and Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Ex-Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, who coached Afghanistan 10 years ago, believes it will be big achievement for the Afghans if they finish with even six or eight points at the end of the league stage.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (Afghanistan) dictated from the first ball until the last ball when they played against England and Pakistan,” Latif told the Associated Press. “It was a terrific planning, whosoever planned it in their dressing room. The unity they have, makes them a very special team, and that’s reflected on the field.</div><div><br></div><div>“When I coached Afghanistan, I learnt only one thing and that was unity. They had been through some tough times.”</div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan looked under-prepared when they lost to Bangladesh by six wickets after getting bowled out for 156 and Rohit Sharma’s blazing century handed them another eight-wicket drubbing at Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>The two heavy losses didn’t shake the confidence of the Afghans as England collapsed for 215 against spinners Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.</div><div><br></div><div>Latif is more impressed with young opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, whose aggressive 80 off 57 balls propelled Afghanistan’s total to challenging 284.</div><div><br></div><div>“Gurbaz showed that one man can do everything, his batting conquered England,” Latif said. “They have beaten the 2019 champions which is not a small thing. It was not a small victory. It should be written in golden words because now they have beaten two world champion teams.”</div><div><br></div><div>Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott has perfectly assessed the weaknesses of the opposition and their planning came to the fore against Pakistan when they included wrist spinner Noor Ahmad as their fourth spinner in the playing XI.</div><div><br></div><div>And Ahmad didn’t disappoint in his debut World Cup game. The wily wrist spinner took out the heart of Pakistan\'s batting line-up with the key wickets of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and opening batter Abdullah Shafique.</div><div><br></div><div>The three big wickets didn’t allow Pakistan to come close to the 300-run mark as Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah all cracked half-centuries in one of the most authoritative run chases at the World Cup.</div><div><br></div><div>“So happy, big win. That was really special, waiting for a long time for this game. Wow!” Gurbaz said after Afghanistan players took the victory lap at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.</div><div><br></div><div>“We were waiting for this kind of game for 6-7 years. Whenever we faced them, they always beat us. That was the first time that we beat them.”</div><div><br></div><div>Trott was so impressed with the win that he said it could inspire the next generation in Afghanistan to take up the sport.</div><div><br></div><div>“It inspires another generation of players to pick up a cricket bat and a cricket ball, work on their fielding and their fitness,” Trott said. “We see that the guys are very fit today and fielding for 50 overs and then Ibrahim (Zadran) batting for 35, close to 40 overs is a great, great credit to him.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka had revived their hopes in the World Cup with two back to back wins over out-of-sorts England and the Netherlands. Sri Lanka lost high-scoring games against South Africa and Pakistan before their batters couldn’t convert a solid start against Australia and went down by five wickets.</div><div><br></div><div>But the pitch in Pune might test Sri Lanka batters once again as the slow surface could tempt Afghanistan to field the spin quartet once again. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk s', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 16:37:26', '2023-10-29 16:37:26'),
(9847, 9847, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nearly 10 hours after his detention, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was shown arrested in a case filed over vandalising Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan’s residence during his party’s grand rally on Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Faruk Hossain said the BNP Secretary General was shown arrested in a case filed with Ramna Police Station in connection with ransacking the Chiefs Justice’s house.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he said Fakhrul was produced before a Dhaka CMM court around 8:10pm.</div><div><br></div><div>Detective Branch (DB) of the DMP detained Fakhrul from his Gulshan residence on Sunday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid BNP’s hartal, a group DB raided Fakhrul’s Gulshan-2 house and detained him around 9:20 am said BNP media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was taken to the DB’s Mintoo Road office.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum said a team of DB police came to their house in the morning and talked to Fakhrul and others.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the law enforcers first took away all the CCTV camera devices and footage from the building of their house.</div><div><br></div><div>“Ten minutes later, they came back again and took him (Fakhrul) away,” Rahat Ara said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Fakhrul is very ill and he has been undergoing treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>“I can\'t accept that a 75-year-old man will be taken away in this way. I hope they will release him after questioning,” Rahat Ara said.</div><div><br></div><div>The detention came as BNP called for a dawn-to-dusk nationwide hartal for Sunday to protest violence centering the party\'s grand rally at Nayapaltan on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul announced the shutdown after suspending the rally abruptly following violent clashes between law enforcers and opposition activists that killed at least two people, including a police constable and injured several hundred others.</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour after the start of BNP\'s much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan, the party\'s leaders and workers locked into a clash with ruling party activists and law enforcers at Kakrail.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP activists also reportedly attacked the Chief Justice’s house during the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>With the passage of time, violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, forcing the BNP to abruptly call off the rally. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-29 16:40:09', '2023-10-29 16:40:09'),
(9848, 9848, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Huawei announced its business results for the first three quarters of 2023 today. During this period, Huawei generated CNY456.6 billion in revenue, with a year-on-year increase of 2.4% and a net profit margin of 16.0%.</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The company\'s performance is in line with forecast,\" said Ken Hu, Huawei\'s Rotating Chairman. \"I\'d like to thank our customers and partners for their ongoing trust and support. Moving forward, we will continue to increase our investment in R&amp;D to make the most of our business portfolio and take the competitiveness of our products and services to new heights. As always, our goal is to create greater value for our customers, partners, and society.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 07:05:20', '2023-10-30 07:05:20'),
(9849, 9849, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government of Bangladesh will brief diplomats stationed in Dhaka, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations on the current situation in Bangladesh this afternoon (October 30, 2023).</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will brief the diplomats at state guesthouse Jamuna at 4 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior Cabinet members and officials of the government will attend the briefing. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 07:07:13', '2023-10-30 07:07:13'),
(9850, 9850, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday inaugurated 50 more model mosques and Islamic cultural centres across the country as part of her government’s programme to spread true message of Islam.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She opened the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres in the sixth phase during the National Imam Conference and Prize Giving Ceremony-2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Imam of the Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman Al-Bua\'Yjan was with the prime minister during the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Religious Affairs Ministry organised the function at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at Rupganj of Narayanganj. Three pandals have been set up at the venue.</div><div><br></div><div>After reaching the venue, the prime minister first visited the pandels&nbsp; along with the&nbsp; Imam of the Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina.</div><div><br></div><div>Both the premier and the imam spoke briefly to the Imams gathered at the venue from different parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>She thanked the imams for coming to join National Imam Council and urged them to pray for wellbeing of the country and its people.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Pray to Allah that the development of the country being carried out by the government goes on,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina also thanked the custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.</div><div><br></div><div>Monday’s opening of the mosques raised the number of such model mosques to 300.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has taken up a programme of building 564 model mosques and Islamic centres across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM unveiled 50 mosques each in the first phase on 10 June, 2021, in the second phase on 16 January this year, in the third phase on 16 March,&nbsp; in the fourth phase on 17 April and in the fifth phase on July 30.</div><div><br></div><div>The construction of the remaining mosques and Islamic cultural centres is scheduled to be completed by June 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>The mosques and centres are being built under a programme to spread the true message of Islam following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>The model mosques and Islamic cultural centres include separate places for ablution and namaj along with air-conditioning system.</div><div><br></div><div>There will also be registration and training arrangements for Hajj pilgrims, Imam training centre, research centre and Islamic library, autism corner, ritual system before burial, car parking facility, hifzakhana, pre-primary education and Quran learning arrangement, conference room for Islamic cultural activities and Islamic dawat, Islamic books sale centre and boarding facility for local and foreign guests.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2017, the government has taken a project with Taka 9,435 crore for constructing Islamic Cultural Centres and Model Mosque in every district and upazila as well as municipality of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>An audio-visual documentary on the model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was screened at the function.</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for religious affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan chaired the event addressed&nbsp; among others by President of Tarikat Foundation Syed Najibul Bashar Maizbhandari, Maulana Dr. Mohammad Kafiluddin Sarkar Salehi and Maulana Ehsanul Haq Al Mojaddedi.</div><div><br></div><div>Secretary for religious affairs ministry Md A Hamid Zamadder delivered the address of welcome. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 09:04:44', '2023-10-30 09:04:44'),
(9851, 9851, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Considering the current market situation, the government has decided to import potatoes to increase the supply and to keep the prices stable.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Commerce issued a notification in this regard today.</div><div><br></div><div>Interested importers are requested to apply to the Ministry of Commerce for permission, reads the notice.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of potatoes has soared in recent times.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On September 14, the ministry set the maximum retail prices of potatoes at Tk 35-36 per kg.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>However, the government-fixed prices for potatoes have not been effective even after one and a half months. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 09:14:55', '2023-10-30 09:14:55'),
(9852, 9852, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Film Certification Bill, 2023 passed in the Jatiya Sangsad with an objective of development and protecting the creativity of the film industries on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud move the bill which was passed by voice votes in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.</div><div><br></div><div>Piloting the bill, the minister said the proposed law will replace the Censorship of Films Act, 1963 and it will play significant role in overall development, certification and displaying of film and protecting the local film industry as well.</div><div><br></div><div>The proposed law although a new one but it has nothing special, said opposition lawmaker Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary.</div><div><br></div><div>Opposition lawmakers Fakhrul Imam, Rawshan Ara Mannan and Pir Fazlur Rahman, among others, took part discussion on the bill.</div><div><br></div><div>Single screen cinema hall now rise to two hundred in the country while the number of cinema halls now reduce to sixty-three, said the minister while advocating the law.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to an allegation of not making film with the government grant, he said even there is no any single case of not making any film despite taking the grant money from the government. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 10:20:43', '2023-10-30 10:20:43'),
(9853, 9853, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Diplomatic missions in Dhaka on Monday called on all stakeholders to exercise “restraint, eschew violence and work together” to create the conditions for free, fair, participatory, and peaceful elections.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The missions in a joint statement also expressed deep concern over the recent violence during political gatherings in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>“The governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States are deeply concerned by the political violence during political gatherings in Dhaka on 28 October,” said the joint statement signed by the embassies and high commissions of the countries.</div><div><br></div><div>The countries extended their condolences for the loss of life and to those injured.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement came hours before the scheduled briefing of the government for the diplomats.</div><div><br></div><div>The government will brief diplomats stationed in Dhaka, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations on the current situation in Bangladesh this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will brief the diplomats at state guesthouse Jamuna at 4 pm. Senior Cabinet members and officials of the government will attend the briefing. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 10:39:23', '2023-10-30 10:39:23'),
(9854, 9854, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday once again condemned the Israeli attacks on Palestinian people and said Bangladesh is making efforts to stop all wars that are raging across the world.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Wars are continuing across the globe, Ukraine war and the attacks on Palestinian people by Israelis, the killing of infants, children and women are on. We never want these,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was addressing the National Imam Conference at Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre at Purbachal in Rupganj.</div><div><br></div><div>Upto one lack trained imams from across the country are taking part in the conference.</div><div><br></div><div>From the programme, Hasina inaugurated 50 more model mosques and Islamic cultural centres in different parts of the country in the sixth phases.</div><div><br></div><div>Saudi Imam of the Masjid Al-Nabawi in Madina Shaikh Dr. Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman Al-Bua`Yjan on Sunday was present at the programme as special guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that Bangladesh has sent medicines, foods and dry foods for the women, children and people of Palestine.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that the world’s Muslims including in Bangladesh, want to perform their religion properly.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We want that all will live peacefully,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that whenever she attended an international forum, including her recent visit to Belgium, she requested all heads of the government and state to take steps to stop the wars and arms race.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We want peace and we want the development of the people because I know how destructive the wars can be,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan, chairman of Bangladesh Tariqat Federation (BTF) Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizvandary and Ministry of Religious Affairs secretary Md A Zamaddar also spoke at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>A documentary on model mosques and Islamic cultural centres was also screened at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>The government is building 564 model mosques and Islamic cultural centres under a programme to spread the true message of Islam to people following the footsteps of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>The model mosques and Islamic cultural centres include separate places for ablution and namaz along with air-conditioned system.</div><div><br></div><div>There will also be registration and training arrangements for Hajj pilgrims, Imam training centre, research centre and Islamic library, autism corner, ritual system before burial, car parking facility, hifzakhana, pre-primary education and Quran learning arrangement, conference room for Islamic cultural activities and Islamic dawat, Islamic books sales centre and boarding facility for local and foreign guests.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2017, the government has taken a project with Tk 9,435 crore for constructing Islamic cultural centres and model mosques in every district, upazila and municipality of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister has so far inaugurated a total of 300 model mosques and Islamic cultural centres in six phases across the country. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 10:59:31', '2023-10-30 10:59:31'),
(9855, 9855, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court has commuted the death sentences of seven convicted individuals to life imprisonment unto death in connection with the Holey Artisan Bakery attack.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>High court bench of Justice Sahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman delivered the verdict.</div><div><br></div><div>Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ahmed represented the state. Lawyer Ariful Islam and Md. Amimul Ehsan Zubair were at the hearing on behalf of the defendants.</div><div><br></div><div>Lawyer Ariful Islam said that the death reference was brought to the High Court, and an appeal was made for acquittal. The High Court dismissed the death reference and, by partially accepting the appeal, reduced the death sentences of the seven convicted individuals to life imprisonment unto death.</div><div><br></div><div>The seven who had their death sentences reduced to life imprisonment are: Jahangir Hossain alias Rajib Gandhi, Aslam Hossain alias Rash, Abdus Sabur Khan, Rakibul Hasan Reagan, Hadisur Rahman, Shariful Islam alias Khaled, and Mamunur Rashid Ripon.</div><div><br></div><div>On November 27, 2020, the judge of the Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal sentenced the seven to death for their involvement in the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in 2016. One was acquitted.</div><div><br></div><div>On the night of July 1, 2016, during the 12-hour siege of the café, the militants held dozens of people hostage and killed 22 of them, including 17 foreigners and two policemen. At least 50 people were seriously injured in the deadliest ever militant attack in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Those killed included nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladesh-born American and two Bangladeshis.</div><div><br></div><div>Five armed men stormed the café, frequented mostly by foreigners, and took the diners as hostage. At one stage they started killing some of the hostages one by one.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh authorities responded with a brutal crackdown on the militants after the gruesome attack.&nbsp; - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 12:29:13', '2023-10-30 12:29:13'),
(9856, 9856, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 15 workers of several readymade garment factories were injured in a clash with police at Hemayetpur in Savar on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dipak Chandra Saha, officer-in-charge of Savar police Station, said workers attacked a number of garment factories at Padmar Intersection in Hemayetpur demanding a minimum basic salary of Tk 23,000.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police rushed to the spot and used tear gas shells to disperse them, triggering a clash that left 15 workers injured.</div><div><br></div><div>A chase and counter chase took place during the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>A tense situation was prevailing in the area over the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional police forces have been deployed in Savar and Ashulia garment factory areas to avert further violence. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 12:31:50', '2023-10-30 12:31:50'),
(9857, 9857, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Highlighting BNP-Jamaat’s “brutality and destruction” on October 28-29, the government on Monday conveyed to the international community its “strong and unwavering” stance to stick to the democratic process as mandated by the constitution, and hold “free, fair and credible” election in time.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“I would like to, however, emphasize that every human life matters – our BNP friends understand that or not! We will keep showing utmost patience and restraint,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said while briefing the diplomats at state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s Adviser Salman F Rahman, Law Minister Anisul Huq, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, were present at the briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>Representatives of UN agencies and international organizations were also present at the briefing on the current situation in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at the briefing, the foreign minister said, law enforcement agencies should also do everything within the legal parameters to provide safety and security to citizens, to maintain public order, and to foil any attempt to destroy private and public properties, to destabilize the country, or to damage the democratic and constitutional processes.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said, the motive behind terrorizing the nation and misleading the people is to impede democratic processes and promote unconstitutional forces. “BNP’s tactics of fear and forgery did not work out before and they will not now,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, the law minister said the next election will be held either at the end of 2023 or the first week of 2024, and it will be “free, fair, and peaceful.”</div><div><br></div><div>“It does not matter who comes or does not come. A participatory election means participation of people. If there is a participation of people, then that is participatory election,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The law minister said that the diplomats were given a chance to ask questions but they did not have any questions.</div><div><br></div><div>“We understand that the explanation we provided was clear. It is their responsibility to say whether they are convinced or not,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahriar Alam said, if anyone wants to take part in the election, they must follow the constitutional path.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that they gave a compilation of video footage and still photographs and also a written version of what happened on October 28 and 29 – killings, attacks on police and journalists, and on Chief Justice’s residence, among others.</div><div><br></div><div>Hours before the briefing, diplomatic missions in Dhaka called on all stakeholders to exercise “restraint, eschew violence and work together” to create the conditions for free, fair, participatory, and peaceful elections.</div><div><br></div><div>“The governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States are deeply concerned by the political violence during political gatherings in Dhaka on 28 October,” said a joint statement signed by the embassies and high commissions of the countries.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are shocked at what unfolded on October 28 and yesterday. We are not, however, surprised as we have experienced BNP-Jamaat’s dreadful violence in the past,” Momen told the diplomats, adding that BNP and its allies have a long history of violence and aggression.</div><div><br></div><div>In the early 2000s, BNP-Jamaat created an atmosphere of violence and intimidation, particularly during the 2001 general election, which was marred by widespread violence and allegations of vote rigging.</div><div><br></div><div>After the election, BNP-Jamaat activists committed looting, rape and murders, particularly targeting the minority community.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2013, before the general election, BNP and its allies vandalized several thousand vehicles and set many of those on fire using petrol bombs, at times burning alive the passengers stuck inside. Some of them are still living with horrific scars and trauma.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 400 people, including 20 law enforcement officers, were killed in the petrol bomb and hand grenade attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>“We dispatched on the evening of October 28 summarizing the rampant violence conducted by the BNP activists. You have watched the footage on TV and online of how the on-duty police officer was beaten to death or how the precious life of a public transport worker was taken by torching a public bus,” Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said, “You may have also observed that this time their target is more on the police and judiciary. Apart from brutally beating one policeman to death, they attacked the residences of Chief Justice and other judges, torched six police outposts. Sixty-five police officers were admitted at the Police Hospital and another at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.”</div><div><br></div><div>They even set fire at the Police Hospital premises and ambulance, causing disruption of emergency medical services, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said BNP did not spare on-duty journalists and camera personnel. According to Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFUJ), BNP activists attacked and critically injured at least 25 media professionals.</div><div><br></div><div>They were seen gathering sticks, iron rods etc. for the last few days and hiding them for use on the day of the demonstration, said the foreign minister.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP has called for a three-day nation-wide blockade starting from tomorrow. “We can only expect more and more assault on the lives and properties of innocent civilians,” Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>However, apart from the law-and-order aspect, there is an economic aspect of the strikes and blockades too.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, strikes and blockades by BNP cost the country a total of Tk 1,600 crore (or USD 192.3 million) or 0.2 percent of the GDP per day, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP often plays victim to misguide diplomatic missions and our foreign friends in order to gain sympathy,” Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>“This time, all of a sudden, we saw a so-called ‘adviser to US President Joe Biden’ speaking to the press at the BNP party office flanked by senior BNP leaders. Later, it was revealed that he is an imposter and he admitted that the BNP leaders instigated him to misguide people,” the foreign minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 13:26:16', '2023-10-30 13:26:16'),
(9858, 9858, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said that there will be no marks-based test in the new education curriculum; rather the students will be evaluated on the basis of their skills.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“The education system of the country has gone through radical changes. The new curriculum will be fully operational from the 2024 academic year. There will be no marks-based test in this system,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said this while speaking at a press conference at the International Mother Language Institute in the city today.</div><div><br></div><div>Dipu Moni said, “The guardians have become anxious after the introduction of the new curriculum. They are worried about how their children will get a job.”</div><div><br></div><div>Many people are also saying that the academic results won’t be useful in getting jobs for their children, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have made this clear. That is, in the field of getting a job, one’s skills will be assessed. The recruitment will be made on the basis of evaluation of skills,” Dipu Moni added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Education Minister said that we have already started working on the process of the new recruitment system on the basis of skills.</div><div><br></div><div>“When the students who are studying in the new curriculum, will start entering in the job market, the recruitment system will also be in the new process. So there is nothing to worry about,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dipu Moni said that another rumor and misinformation about the new curriculum is that students will not be able to take the admission test. “When the students of this curriculum pass the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam, then the admission process in the universities will also be changed.”</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning there will be no sufferings at the time of admission tests in the new curriculum, the minister said, “We have formed National Testing Authority (NTA). The admission tests of all the country\'s universities will be conducted through the institution,” reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Students will be able to pursue higher education in the subject of their choice without any difficulties, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 16:09:14', '2023-10-30 16:09:14'),
(9859, 9859, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reiterated that her government&nbsp; is determined to make the upcoming national election free and fair.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister made the statement while a group of incumbent and former election commissioners from India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.</div><div><br></div><div>They are: Former Chief Election Commissioner of India&nbsp; Dr. SY Quraishi, Chairman of Election Commission of Maldives&nbsp; Fuwad Thowfeek, Chairman of Election Commission of Sri Lanka RMAL Rathnayake, Election Commissioner of Nepal Sagun Shumsher JB Rana and Former Election Commissioner of Nepal Ila Sharma.</div><div><br></div><div>They are visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the Election Monitoring Forum (EMF), a polls watchdog consisting of incumbent and former election commissioners from the neighbouring countries.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister mentioned that the election commission of Bangladesh has been constituted under a law passed by parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Under the act of 2022 the chief election commissioner and other commissioners have been appointed. Besides, the government has given absolute budgetary independence to the election commission,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the president of the ruling Awami League, said that the EC has already set several examples of smoothly conducting elections including parliamentary by-elections and local government elections.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that female candidates alongside males can contest in three hundred seats of Jatiya Sangsad, while there are also 50 seats reserved for women proportionally from the political parties representing in the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the 2018 general election, Hasina said that BNP took part in that by nominating 700 candidates in 300 seats while changing their candidates time and again.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Even, the BNP withdrew their candidates from the polls on the day of voting to make the election controversial,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister told the visiting ECs how votes were rigged in the past by the military dictators and BNP. She said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman seized power illegally violating the constitution and declared himself as president although he was thr Chief of Army Staff.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The military dictators ascended to the state power unconstitutionally and later formed political parties,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>About politics of the BNP, She said the party has now no leadership and its top two leaders are convicted for their misdeeds and crimes.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, the delegation members said, they discussed the issue of next general election in Bangladesh with the Election Commission, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The EC of Bangladesh is very confident in holding it in a free and fair manner,\" former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr SY Quraishi said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that the Indian Election Commission takes over the administrative power of the government during the election time.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-30 16:22:31', '2023-10-30 16:22:31'),
(9860, 9860, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission has no option except holding election on time as per the constitution, Chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said today (October 31, 2023).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation is,” the CEC told journalists after his meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas earlier today.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC said the issue of favorable election environment and preparations for the upcoming national election were discussed during the meeting with the US ambassador.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want all political parties to participate in the election. This, however, does not mean that the election will not be held if the environment is not favorable,” the CEC said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Political parties have many options. They can either participate in or boycott the election, but the Election Commission does not have any such option,” he added, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC said, the US ambassador hoped for dialogue among the political parties. “We expressed the the same,” the CEC said.</div><div><br></div><div>Problems will not be solved by demonstration of force on the streets. “He (US Ambassador Peter Haas) also believes that the problems should be solved through dialogue,” the Chief Election Commissioner added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 08:51:35', '2023-10-31 08:51:35'),
(9861, 9861, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Authorities overnight called out paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to intensify security particularly of highways as a 72-hour nationwide blockade called by BNP and its far-right allies began.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"BGB has been deployed all over the country to ensure security vigil and particularly to secure highways and railways for undisrupted transport movements,\" a BGB spokesman told newsmen.</div><div><br></div><div>BGB Public Relations Officer M Shariful Islam said the paramilitary forces were asked to keep an extra vigil so the goods carrying transports were not exposed to any hindrance.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGB personnel along with other law enforcing agencies like RAB, Police, Ansar and intelligence forces were seen patrolling the different roads of capital including Dhanmondi, Paltan, Gulistan and Motijheel, Dhaka Secretariat and surrounding areas since Monday night.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGB deployment came as Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday reviewed the security situation with senior officials of police and other law enforcement and security agencies ahead of the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They (law enforcement agencies) were asked to be on high alert against any attempted sabotage or violence,\" an official familiar with the \"core committee\" meeting of law and order affairs. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 08:56:35', '2023-10-31 08:56:35'),
(9862, 9862, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today (October 31, 2023) hoped that all sides going forward will engage in a “dialogue” without preconditions to de-escalate tensions and find a path forward to free, fair and peaceful elections.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Political violence by any side has no place in democratic elections,” he said after his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal at the EC office.</div><div><br></div><div>US Ambassador Haas also urged to avoid any action that undermines the democratic election process, including the use of violence, preventing people from exercising their rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and internet access – calling to question the ability to conduct free and fair elections.</div><div><br></div><div>Read more: US says killing of a police officer and a political activist, burning a hospital and buses are unacceptable</div><div><br></div><div>Thanking the CEC for his time, the US ambassador said during their meeting, he urged for transparency and accountability in the Election Commission’s unique constitutional role in essential work towards organizing elections.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that free and fair elections, as they all know, happen over weeks and months before the actual day votes are cast.</div><div><br></div><div>US Ambassador Haas said voters, political parties, government, security forces, civil society, media and the Election Commission all are responsible regarding that. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 09:28:59', '2023-10-31 09:28:59'),
(9863, 9863, '<div><br></div><div>A Dhaka court on Monday placed two people including Gaibandha’s Palashbari upazila unit convenor of BNP’s voluntary wing Swechchhasebak Dal on seven-day remand in a case over the killing of a police cop in clashes with law enforcers during the BNP’s grand rally last Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Ali Haider granted the remand after rejecting their bail plea placed by the defendants’ counsel.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the accused were produced before the court with 10-day remand prayer each by the investigation officer of the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Police constable Amirul Islam was killed in a brutal attack allegedly by BNP activists while on duty during the deadly violence at Nayapaltan and nearby areas on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, a murder case was filed accusing 164 BNP men including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir with the Paltan Police Station.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Swechchhasebak Dal Convenor Shamim Reza was arrested from Gaibandha, and another Md. Sultan was arrested from Demra in the capital early Sunday. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 09:46:26', '2023-10-31 09:46:26'),
(9864, 9864, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin will return home on November 1.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A regular flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the president will land at Hazrat Shahjala International Airport at around 6 pm (local time).</div><div><br></div><div>President\'s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the president\'s physical condition is well enough for travel.</div><div><br></div><div>The president had a medical examination at the National University Hospital in Singapore yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>After reviewing the report, the doctors expressed satisfaction with the progress of the president\'s physical condition, the press secretary also said.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, a board meeting of doctors was formed to review the president\'s medical and physical condition after the surgery. Considering various reports and physical condition, the opinion was expressed that the president can travel by plane within November 1.</div><div><br></div><div>The president\'s bypass surgery was successfully completed at the National University Hospital of Singapore on October 18. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 10:12:50', '2023-10-31 10:12:50'),
(9865, 9865, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A three-day blockade of road, rail and waterways, enforced by BNP and like-minded opposition parties, across the country began this morning to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party, neutral administration.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami also enforced the blockade simultaneously from this morning to Thursday evening with the same demands.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from BNP and Jamaat, the 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Labour Party and NDM are also observing the programme separately.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, AL has vowed to resist any violence during the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>Police and other law enforcement agencies have already alerted their units to increase vigilance and beef up security across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Police have also taken up positions and set up checkpoints at the entry points and all major points of Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>After observing a day-long hartal, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday evening announced the countrywide blockade for three consecutive days.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said vehicles of newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the three-day blockade. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 11:14:16', '2023-10-31 11:14:27'),
(9866, 9866, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said she will have dialogue with the opposition if the US President Joe Biden does the same with former president and 2024 US presidential candidate Donald Trump.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Is (US President) Biden holding dialogue with Mr Trump? If Biden sits with Trump for dialogue, then I will hold the dialogue (with opposition),” she said at a press conference referring to the US ambassador\'s call for dialogue with the opposition earlier today.</div><div><br></div><div>Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas expressed hope that all sides going forward will engage in a “dialogue” without preconditions to de-escalate tensions and find a path forward to free, fair and peaceful elections.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister also said that the people of Bangladesh “do not want any dialogue with killers.”</div><div><br></div><div>“No dialogue with the killers. This is Bangladesh. People of the country also do not want any dialogue with killers,” she told the press conference.</div><div><br></div><div>Election will be held and it will be in due time, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister accused the BNP of wanting to create an unusual situation ahead of the national election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP does not want an election; they want to create an unusual situation,” she said.&nbsp; “BNP is a party of terrorists.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 11:17:49', '2023-10-31 11:17:49');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9867, 9867, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League is holding a march and sit-in programme on the streets to protest the 72-hour blockade called by BNP, Jamaat and associate parties.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Leaders and activists of Dhaka Metropolitan North unit of Awami League held a demonstration at Mirpur-1 in the capital on Tuesday at 8 am while leaders and activists of Dhaka Metropolitan South unit of the party have taken a position on the road in front of the party\'s central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, Jubo League is holding anti-blockade protest meetings and marches the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League leaders and activists were seen shouting the slogan “Sheikh Hasina’s government is needed again and again” while protesting the opposition’s blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>Kamrul Hasan Ripon, president of Swechasebak League Dhaka Metropolitan South unit, organized a rally with leaders and activists in various areas of Dhaka-5 constituency to resist BNP-Jamaat’s blockade and “violence, destruction.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ripon told UNB that he gathered with thousands of leaders and activists to prevent subversive activities of BNP-Jamaat and protect the lives and properties of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“We held peaceful marches and rallies in different areas of Dhaka-5. Any anarchy in the name of movement will be met with strong response,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Demra Thana Awami League brought out a protest march at Demra intersection. Moshiur Rahman Molla Sajal, son of the late MP Habibur Rahman Molla of Dhaka-5 and former general secretary of Demra Thana Awami League, was leading it.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Jatrabari Thana Awami League has also taken a stand to protest the blockade of BNP and Jamaat. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 11:36:15', '2023-10-31 11:36:15'),
(9868, 9868, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In yet another disappointing batting performance, Bangladesh could only manage to score 204 all out in 45.1 overs in their ICC World Cup 2023 showdown against Pakistan on Tuesday in Kolkata.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh encountered early setbacks, losing three wickets with a mere 23 runs on the board.</div><div><br></div><div>Tanzid Hasan failed to make an impact, while Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim also fell short of expectations.</div><div><br></div><div>However, in the fourth-wicket partnership, Litton Das and Mahmudullah Riyad combined for 79 runs, providing some stability to the innings.</div><div><br></div><div>Litton was dismissed after contributing 45, while Mahmudullah reached an impressive 56. This half-century places Mahmudullah at the forefront of Bangladesh\'s leading run-scorers.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the dismissals of Litton and Mahmudullah, Bangladesh lost Towhid Hridoy after scoring just seven runs.</div><div><br></div><div>Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the last hope in the late order to post a challenging total. He contributed 25 off 30 balls, showing good negotiation with the Pakistan attack, but ultimately couldn\'t carry on.</div><div><br></div><div>Before him, Shakib Al Hasan scored 43, his best performance in this World Cup, but he too could not capitalise on a promising start.</div><div><br></div><div>For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim each took three wickets, while Haris Rauf claimed two. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 13:11:08', '2023-10-31 13:11:08'),
(9869, 9869, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of spreading an unstoppable stream of lies at her press conference to hush up what actually happened on October 28 centring BNP’s Nayapaltan grand rally.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“What the prime minister said (on October 28 violence) was an unstoppable stream of lies. I would like to tell the prime minister that videos on all things that happened on October 28 were captured as cameras are now in people’s hands,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing, he also said no incident now remains unrecorded, undocumented, or out of sight of people in this age of technology. “You (PM) can tell various lies in police protection, but you won’t be able to cover up the truth.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the government will not be able to hush up the truth by resorting to lies, staging dramas and making videos as the true videos are now available in people’s hands: “I would like to also tell the government that all information is now available.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said BNP’s massive rally on Saturday reached near Notre Dame College on the east side while it reached near Shahbagh with a packed crowd up to Kakrail Mosque on the west side.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, how did the buses and trucks carrying Awami League activists go there (Kakrail)? The government and its law enforcement agencies did it to create tension and to foil the BNP’s rally by carrying out untoward incidents as per their premeditated plans,” Rizvi said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said available videos suggest that some people were vandalising the main gate of the residence of the chief justice and other establishments with police protection. “Didn’t the prime minister know it? There are videos and other evidence of it. You can tell irresistible lies by force, but you won’t be able to hide the truth. All the facts are recorded and the truth is being exposed. So, you have no scope to deny the facts.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government may try to intimidate people by issuing threats and letting loose the law enforcers but it will not be able to scare and silence everyone.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said a video was also found on how the ruling party men used a bus driver to torch a bus in front of the national Eidgah ground in the capital today (Tuesday).</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said BNP has again proved that it is a terrorist party by resorting to violence on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP-Jamaat clique is terrorists. BNP is a terrorist party, which they proved again,” she said while addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban to speak about the outcomes of her recent visit to Belgium, According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 13:46:52', '2023-10-31 13:46:52'),
(9870, 9870, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President of The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Faruque Hassan on Tuesday warned that a group of outsiders is instigating the innocent garments workers to create unrest in the industry before announcement of a new pay structure for the sector.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said the government may announce the new minimum wage for garment workers by November and the BGMEA member factories would implement it by December. So there is no logic to workers\' unrest and movement before announcement of the wage.</div><div><br></div><div>Faruque said this at a press conference on the recent worker unrest centering and minimum wage in the garment sector held at the BGMEA Building at Uttara in Dhaka on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hope that the Minimum Wage Board will announce the new pay structure by November and whatever the government announces as the new salary structure, all the entrepreneurs in the garment industry will accept it, no matter how many challenges there are in the industry. The new wage structure will be effective from next December,” said BGMEA president.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “We are fully aware, of how much our workers brothers, and sisters are suffering due to the increase in the cost of goods as well as living costs at the local for recent international. We sympathize with every entrepreneur in their suffering.”</div><div><br></div><div>“One of the main responsibilities of our entrepreneurs is to keep every worker brothers and sisters as well as possible. Workers are the lifeblood of our garment industry. If they are good, the industry will be good,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Farooq said, \"We are deeply concerned, for the past few days, due to the instigation of outsiders, workers in some garment factories are leaving the factory without working, vandalizing the factory, as a result, many entrepreneurs are forced to close the factory,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>More worrying is that due to the incitement of outsiders, various institutions including garment factories, leather factories, chemical go-downs, fabric go-downs, and shops have also been damaged, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 14:24:59', '2023-10-31 14:24:59'),
(9871, 9871, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in a graft case filed against him in 2007.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Judge Monjurul Imam of Dhaka\'s Special Judge Court-6 issued the arrest warrant against him after canceling his bail in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The prosecution\'s arguments have been set for November 2, said ACC\'s Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.</div><div><br></div><div>On August 16, 2007, the ACC filed the case with Ramna Police Station against Mirza Abbas and his wife Afroza Abbas for amassing wealth worth over Tk 5.67 crore beyond known sources of income and concealing wealth statement of Tk 23 lakh to the commission.</div><div><br></div><div>The court framed charges against Mirza Abbas, also a former BNP minister, and his wife on June 16, 2008.</div><div><br></div><div>The ACC on May 14, 2008 pressed charges against Mirza Abbas and his wife Afroza Abbas in the case. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 14:33:41', '2023-10-31 14:33:41'),
(9872, 9872, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>No long route buses left Chattogram district on Tuesday during the first day of a three-day blockade imposed by the opposition.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>No vehicles were seen plying on Dhaka-Chattogram highway but movement of vehicles inside the cities was normal.</div><div><br></div><div>No long route buses left Chattogram for Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and Khagrachari districts.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, three buses were torched on the first day of the nationwide three-day blockade, enforced by BNP and like-minded opposition parties on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Miscreants set fire to a bus at Saltgola area in the Port City around 6am and two others at Dampara Bus counter and Oxygen-Hathazari road around 10:30 am on Monday and 3:30 am early today, respectively, said Rubel Hawladar, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, firefighting units extinguished the blaze.</div><div><br></div><div>However, no one was injured during the arson attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrested fourteen picketers from the Akbar Shah City Gate area in the afternoon, said Waliullah Akbar, officer-in-charge of Akbar Shah Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>They also vandalised 10-12 vehicles from City Gate to Pakkar Matha.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, security has been beefed up on highways as BGB personnel were seen patrolling on Dhaka-Chattogram highway and Mirsarai upazilas since Monday night, said Manirul Islam, assistant superintendent of (Mirsarai circle) police.</div><div><br></div><div>Two platoons of BGB have been deployed in Mirsarai and Jorarganj areas to avoid untoward incidents, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahed Minhaz Siddique, Commanding officer of BGB-8 Battalion, said four platoons BGB have been deployed in Sitakunda and Mirsarai upazilas to ensure safety on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.</div><div><br></div><div>No picketing was seen but the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists brought out processions in support of the blockade. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 14:40:15', '2023-10-31 14:40:15'),
(9873, 9873, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An activist of Jubo Dal was reportedly killed as his motorbike overturned after being chased by police during a blockade in Dakkhin Surma upazila of Sylhet district on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Zillur Rahman, 40, son of Elias Mia of Golapganj upazila. He was a member of Golapganj Jubo Dal Convening Committee.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Sylhet District and Metropolitan Unit Jubo Dal called a daylong hartal for Wednesday protesting the death of Dilu, said Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury, president of Sylhet district unit BNP.</div><div><br></div><div>A motorbike carrying Zillur overturned after being chased by police at 9 am while crossing Lalabazar area.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was taken to Osmani Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead around 1 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Zillur was arrested after being injured and died under police custody, said Emran Ahmed, general secretary of Sylhet district unit BNP.</div><div><br></div><div>Azbahar Ali Sheikh, deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said Zillu along with others were picketing in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>Being chased by police, his motorbike hit a tree, leaving two injured, he said, adding that he was taken to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 15:03:15', '2023-10-31 15:03:15'),
(9874, 9874, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas and its joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal were arrested from the capital\'s Shajahanpur area on Tuesday night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A team of DB police raided a house in Shajahanpur’s&nbsp; Shahidbagh Mosque lane and arrested them around 8:15pm, said BNP Chairperson media wing member Shamsuddin Didar.</div><div><br></div><div>Law enforcers earlier on Sunday raided the houses of both leaders following serious violence in the city’s Nayapaltan and Kakrail areas on Saturday centring BNP’s grand rally, but they did not find them there.</div><div><br></div><div>Abbas and Allal were made accused in a case filed in connection with the killing of a police constable Amirul Islam Parvez.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Tuesday, a Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Mirza Abbas in a graft case filed against him in 2007.</div><div><br></div><div>Judge Monjurul Imam of Dhaka\'s Special Judge Court-6 issued the arrest warrant against him after cancelling his bail in the case. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 16:07:02', '2023-10-31 16:07:02'),
(9875, 9875, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said BNP won’t be able to stop the next general election by resorting to violence as they had failed to foil the 2014 and 2018 polls.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“They won’t be able to stop the election in such a way (through unleashing violence). They couldn’t stop the elections in 2013 and 2018. This time too they won’t be able to do so. Inshallah, the election will be held in time,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said this while addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban to speak about the outcomes of her recent visit to Belgium.</div><div><br></div><div>She said those who burn buses will be identified, arrested and punished. “I think the hands they use to set a bus on fire should be burned immediately. If so, they will get a lesson or else not,” she said replying to a question from a journalist.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM hoped that the BNP would stop the violence. “If they don’t stop, they will face the consequences for it,” she said, adding that these things won’t be allowed to go without punishment.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to another question, Sheikh Hasina said BNP has again proved that it is a terrorist party by resorting to violence on October 28 last.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP-Jamaat jote is terrorists. BNP is a terrorist party, which they proved again,” she said, adding that a Canadian court earlier called them so several times.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP started regaining public trust and confidence gradually as they were carrying out political programmes in healthy manners (in the recent days), she said, adding that the government didn’t hinder their programmes.</div><div><br></div><div>“But they would get nothing other than public indignation after the October 28 incident,” she said strongly condemning the attacks on police and journalists by BNP men on that day.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said their (BNP) habit wouldn’t change no matter how much good behavior the government does with them.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think they don’t want an election rather they want to create an abnormal situation,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the Awami League president, said their character is to create sufferings of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP is a terrorist organisation. I think now we should give the terrorists a lesson which they deserve . So, we’ll do it,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM returned home on October 27 last, wrapping up her three-day official visit to Belgium where she attended the \"Global Gateway Forum 2023\" held on October 25-26 in Brussels at the invitation of the European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen.</div><div><br></div><div>No dialogue with BNP: PM</div><div>In reply to a question, the prime minister ruled out dialogue with the BNP ahead of the next general election saying the people of Bangladesh don’t want it as well.</div><div><br></div><div>“What meeting or talks can be held with the killers who can kill the people in such a way (brutally) and destroy our all development activities,” she said when her attention was drawn that US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas urged all to sit for talks without preconditions.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let him (Peter Haas) have dinners and talks,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the people of Bangladesh won’t want dialogue with these killers as well. “Rather the people of Bangladesh now hate them, BNP and Jamaat, for their terrorist activities. They’ve lost what they earned (through peaceful programmes),” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said she will go for dialogue with the opposition if the US President Joe Biden does the same with former president and 2024 US presidential candidate Donald Trump.</div><div><br></div><div>“Is (US President) Biden holding dialogue with Mr Trump? If Biden sits with Trump for dialogue, then I will hold the dialogue (with opposition),” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister criticized the international organization of journalists for remaining silent over the attack on 40-45 journalists by BNP men on October 28 last.</div><div><br></div><div>No change in cabinet during election: PM</div><div>About the election-time government, the prime minister said the full cabinet will do only routine works during the next election.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ll follow the system that was followed in 2018,” she said, adding that the ministers will do only the routine work after the announcement of the election schedule as per the RPO.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the ministers can’t enjoy the government’s facilities after the announcement of the election schedule and the submission of nomination papers as per the RPO. “They will have to seek votes just as a candidate,” she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh will follow the election-time system that is followed by Australia, Canada, India and England.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister asked the garment workers to refrain from violence while negotiation continues over re-fixing their minimum wages.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government on three occasions raised the minimum wages to Tk 8,300 from only Tk 1,600 in just 14 years.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Hasina expressed dissatisfaction as the workers suddenly took to the streets and engaged in violence and arson attacks on factories when discussion continued over raising the minimum wages from the December next.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that it’s very unfortunate that two lives were already lost there, she asked them to refrain from such activities as they will finally suffer due to the destruction in their workplaces.</div><div><br></div><div>About the price-hike of essentials,&nbsp; Hasina said she has already directed to take action against the commodity hoarders, not the retailers.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said the commodity prices are raised artificially. The hoarders don’t want to reduce the prices, though the commodities start getting rotten, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, I asked for action against the hoarders, not for going to (retail) shops. I’ve already issued this directive which is being done so that the commodities can’t be hoarded,”&nbsp; she added.</div><div><br></div><div>At the event, a video was screened on the mayhem unleashed by BNP-Jamaat on October 28 and 29 last throughout the country. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-10-31 16:10:44', '2023-10-31 16:10:44'),
(9876, 9876, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly opened the newly constructed Akhaura-Agartala Dual Gauge Railway Link Project, setting a significant milestone in the cross-border connectivity.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The important rail connection would contribute to boosting trade, business and tourism between the two neighbouring countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 12.24-km rail connection has linked Gangasagar Railway Station at Akhaura in Brahmanbaria to Nischintapur Railway Station at Agartala in India, connecting the northeastern region of India and Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The railway link, with 6.78 km in Bangladesh’s part, was constructed under a joint venture of Bangladesh and India. The Akhaura (Bangladesh)-Agartala (India) railway line construction started in July 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two prime ministers unveiled the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, joining an event from Ganabhaban in Dhaka and New Delhi through a virtual platform.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two PMs also inaugurated two other Indian-aided projects --Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Construction Project and Unit-2 of Rampal Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 65-km railway from Khulna to Mongla port in Bagerhat would streamline goods transportation to the port. This railway will help transport Mongla port goods affordably within the country and support trade with India, Nepal, and Bhutan, contributing to regional economic growth. The Khulna-Mongla railway project began in September 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The second unit of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant Rampal would add 660 megawatt electricity to the national grid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant-2 and the 65-kilometre Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Link have been implemented under the Indian LoC (Line of Credit) while the Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala (India) Railway Link with Indian grants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant, known as Rampal thermal power plant, with a total capacity of 1,320 MW in two units was implemented under a joint venture of the two neighbouring countries. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 07:18:29', '2023-11-01 07:18:29'),
(9877, 9877, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has said it is \"closely monitoring\" the electoral environment in Bangladesh leading up to January’s national election, and they take incidents of violence \"very seriously\".</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At a regular briefing at the US Department of State on Tuesday, Spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are engaging and will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people, and to ensure free and fair elections that are conducted in a peaceful manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We do believe that dialogue is important to achieving those goals,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miller said holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone - all political parties, voters, government, civil society, and the media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And what we want in Bangladesh is the same thing the Bangladeshi people want, which are free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner,\" the US State Department spokesperson said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said the Election Commission has no option except to hold election on time as per the constitution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation is,” the CEC told journalists after his meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question, US State Department Spokesperson Miller said, “Let me just say that we have made clear that we expect the Government of Bangladesh, as we expect every government, to comply with their obligations under the Vienna Conventions for the safe protection of diplomats.” UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 07:23:22', '2023-11-01 07:23:22'),
(9878, 9878, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Huawei and Smart Technologies (BD) Ltd. have recently organized an IP Network Education Summit at the Huawei Bangladesh Academy in Gulshan, Dhaka titled “Towards Smart Bangladesh Through Digital Education.” High officials from Huawei, university faculty members, researchers, young professionals, administrators, Head of IT, educators, customers, system integrator, IEEE Bangladesh Community and students participated in the Summit. All the speakers highlighted the importance of digital education system to achieve smart Bangladesh goal.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The summit emphasized on importance of transforming the education sector into a smart and intelligent ecosystem to achieve the shared vision of Smart Bangladesh. The speakers opined, smart transformation of the education sector will play a vital role to create smart citizen for smart Bangladesh. But new smart tools of education require policies as well as IT infrastructure, partnership, education ecosystem automation and customer experiences.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, Vice-chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, was present as chief guest, Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Awal, Director of ICT Cell and Professor of Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery Bangladesh Agricultural University as Special Guest and Md. Jahidul Islam (Shamim), National Consultant - ICT Specialist, College Education Development Project (CEDP), Ministry of Education as education industry representative attended the event while Md. Zahirul Islam, Managing Director, Smart Technologies (BD) Ltd, Shaikh Abdus Salam, Vice Chancellor, Islamic University, Brig. Gen. Md. Mustafa Kamal, SGP, Dean, Faculty of Science &amp; Technology, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shamsul Arefin, Chairman, IEEE,&nbsp; Md. Saifuddin Khaled, CFO, BRACNet Limited and other officials from different companies were also present at the event.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event started with a keynote from Mirza Md Anjamul Bashed (Maruf), Head of South Asia Network BU, Enterprise Business Group (EBG) of Huawei South Asia, focusing on Industrial revolution in education digital transformation through Fully Connected, Fully Intelligent O&amp;M and Multi-Purpose Smart Campus Network. Whereas other speakers at the seminar presented smart ecosystem solutions, including smart classroom tools like Huawei IdeaHub Board 2, AirEngine Wifi 6, and other IoT based innovations that are globally changing the way of education works.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Peng Xiaolei (Andy), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Enterprise Business Group (EBG) of Huawei South Asia, said, “ICT is gradually turning education institutions into smart and more impactful learning hubs and thus it is possible to serve more people with new aspects of education. It is important for Bangladesh to focus more on the ICT infrastructure development of the education sector as we are moving towards Smart Bangladesh. The infrastructural development of the education sector in Bangladesh will further enrich this sector.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, Vice-chancellor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, thanked the distinguished guests for their valuable insights, saying, “Globally, the education system has been experiencing massive change in how knowledge and learning is shared. The classroom dynamics involving teacher, student and the administration have rapidly transformed through the grace of technological advancements. Together, by integrating smart, intelligent solutions in the education sector, Bangladesh can reap the benefits of growing need of transforming our education sector.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof. Dr. Md. Abdul Awal, Director of ICT Cell and Professor of Dept. of Farm Power and Machinery Bangladesh Agricultural University shared the experience of Digital Transformation Journey with Huawei Campus Network Solution at Bangladesh Agricultural University, he added “Huawei CloudCampus Solution Helps Bangladesh Agricultural University to establish IP + POL Solution, for Building a Green Campus Network with All-Scenario Convergence. Networks are centrally controlled &amp; managed with unified management ensured low operational cost, high performance LAN and with successful integration ensured Single Sign-on which is unique in the industry”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Up to now, Huawei has served 2,800+ education departments and institutions in 120+ countries and regions, helping them realize intelligence in education. In the future, Huawei will keep using technologies to promote innovation and investment in education, facilitate intelligent education development, and cultivate practical forward-thinking talent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 08:06:42', '2023-11-01 08:06:42'),
(9879, 9879, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the newly opened three Indian-assisted development projects will ensure prosperity of the peoples of both Bangladesh and India.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“I think the three projects we opened today will ensure prosperity for the peoples of both countries. I believe these projects will play a significant role in strengthening regional connectivity,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made the remarks after she and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly opened three Indian-aided schemes, joining an event from Ganabhaban here in Dhaka and New Delhi through a virtual platform.</div><div><br></div><div>The projects are Akhaura (Bangladesh)-Agartala (India) Dual Gauge Railway Link, Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Construction Project and Unit-2 of Rampal Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat.</div><div><br></div><div>The Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant-2 and the 65-kilometre Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Link have been implemented under the Indian LoC (Line of Credit) while the Akhaura- Agartala (India) Railway Link with Indian grants.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the function, Hasina said the joint inauguration of these important projects is the reflection of outstanding friendship and mutual cooperation of the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve proved that the friendly relation with the neighbours invites the development of the countries. I think it is an example for the world,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said both the countries have witnessed a lot of successes from joint endeavors in recent days. The successes include ensuring peace and stability in the Northeastern region of India and easing connectivity between the Northeastern region of India with other states of India through Chattogram Port and Mongla Port.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said Bangladesh and India share the same values over secularism, democracy and other countless issues.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh attaches the highest importance in boosting the relations with India. We’ve achieved success in bilateral cooperation in various areas in recent years,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The successes include strengthening connectivity and cultural bond, enhancement of trade and business and development assistance, and easing the people-to-people contact, she noted.</div><div><br></div><div>“The cooperation in power generation and connectivity has become a bright example for bilateral cooperation,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh PM expressed her optimism that many more success stories of this bilateral cooperation will be seen in the coming days.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am optimistic that many more such examples of success will be set as the reflection of our bilateral cooperation in the coming days, which would strengthen the relations between the two countries further,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the newly opened schemes, Sheikh Hasina said the Akhaura-Agartala Railway Link will strengthen the connectivity and trade between the peoples of two countries specially the Northeastern region of India and Bangladesh and ensure economic growth.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Link Project has connected the Mongla port with the railway network, which would help transport Mongla port goods affordably within the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant will have a special contribution to ensuring the energy security of Bangladesh through reliable and uninterrupted power generation at more affordable cost by reducing our dependency on expensive power generation sources, she cited.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said Chattogram and Mongla ports and Chattogram airport were opened for Indians so that they can use the ports. “We’ve opened up the areas of regional cooperation in Chattogram and Mongla ports,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on her government’s vision and success, Hasina said the government wants to establish Bangladesh as a developed, prosperous and smart country by 2041.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our government has put the highest emphasis on infrastructural development,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said Bangladesh opened the Padma Multipurpose Bridge, which was constructed with own finance, last year and commissioned the first-ever metro-rail service here in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Padma Multipurpose Bridge will keep a special contribution to the connectivity of both countries and also the regional connectivity,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Bangladesh opened the first-ever elevated expressway in Dhaka in September last and the rail service through the Padma Bridge in October last, she mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh, as the first country in South Asia, also opened Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel constructed under Karnaphuli River in Chattogram few days ago, she cited.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina extended her sincere thanks to the Indian government particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India-Bangladesh co-produced biographical film ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation.’ According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 09:23:11', '2023-11-01 09:23:11'),
(9880, 9880, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka Metro Rail\'s Agargaon to Motijheel part will be opened to public on November 5, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate it on November 4, metro rail authorities said today.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Initially, metro rail on Agargaon-Motijheel section will operate for four hours with three stations: Farmegate, Bangladesh Secretariat and Motijheel. Rest of the stations will be opened in phases, said M.A.N. Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, while talking to reporters today at Probashi Kallyan Bhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister is likely to inaugurate the movement of the train and will travel to Motijheel by metro rail on the inauguration day.</div><div><br></div><div>She is expected to inaugurate the construction work of the MRT Northern route too, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka commuters can travel from Agargaon to Motijheel between 7:30 am and 11:30 am from November 5. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 09:58:27', '2023-11-01 09:58:27'),
(9881, 9881, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Those who were involved in violence and arson attacks across the country prior to and during the hartal and blockade enforced by BNP-Jamaat will be arrested after investigating each incident, and legal action will be taken, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Claiming that a quarter with vested interests is involved in attempts to destabilise the country, the police chief said, “If anyone enforces any programme, people have the right to observe it. But people should also be able to commute on the road freely; it’s their right. So, we are going to take measures to ensure that people can move about freely,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting policemen injured during the BNP-police clashes on October 28, at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that there was no lack of security measures during BNP\'s October 28 rally.</div><div><br></div><div>“We were able to bring the situation under control. Without any provocation, picketers set a bus on fire and carried out attack on another bus. They intentionally attacked people,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Police Constable Amirul Islam was killed in a brutal attack, allegedly by BNP activists, while on duty during the deadly violence at Naya Paltan and nearby areas on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, 41 policemen were injured in clashes between law enforcers and BNP-Jamaat men in Dhaka’s Motijheel, Kakrail and Naya Paltan areas on that day.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Police\'s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Faruk Hossain said that 22 injured policemen are undergoing treatment at Rajarbagh Police Hospital and 19 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked about the arrest of Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who identified himself as an “advisor to US President Joe Biden” and spoke to media at the BNP central office and Lt Gen (Retd) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy who brought Arefy to the BNP office, the police chief said, “We don\'t want to disclose anything yet for the sake of investigation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Detectives arrested Sarwardy from Savar on Tuesday. Arefy was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>On&nbsp; Monday, Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who claimed to be an “adviser to US President Joe Biden,” at the DB office said that “Lt General (retired) Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi brought me to the BNP party office at 3 pm to discuss their programme. They requested me to deliver a speech.” According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 10:32:20', '2023-11-01 10:32:20'),
(9882, 9882, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday thanked the countries, especially neighbouring India, noting that they actively supported Bangladesh’s campaign for Saima Wazed’s win in the WHO South East Asia Regional Director election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“I must thank all the countries, especially India. They helped in our campaign. They actively supported our candidature,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>Saima Wazed has been nominated, through an election, as the Regional Director (RD) of the South East Asia Regional Organization (SEARO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the term 2024-2028.</div><div><br></div><div>The election took place during the 76th session of the Regional Committee for SEARO, the annual governing body meeting of WHO at the regional level, in New Delhi today.</div><div><br></div><div>The election was held by secret ballot with the participation of the 10 member states of the SEARO which were eligible for voting.</div><div><br></div><div>Saima Wazed bagged eight votes in the bid while the other candidate Dr Shambhu Prasad Acharya, nominated by the Government of Nepal, secured two votes.</div><div><br></div><div>“I expected 9 votes. Thank God. It was a big challenge. All of us worked very hard. We maintained a very decent campaign,” the foreign minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen, however, expressed displeasure over mudslinging by a certain group against the Bangladesh candidate.</div><div><br></div><div>“I found her excellent in technical knowledge and she is also a good organiser,” said the foreign minister.</div><div><br></div><div>This election with overwhelming support reflects the recognition of Saima’s passion and relentless work in public health and demonstrates the confidence and trust of the region in her leadership skills, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Thank you to WHO SEARO Member States for choosing me to be their next Regional Director,” Saima Wazed said in reaction.</div><div><br></div><div>She paid tribute to the outgoing Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, for her decade of service to the public health of the region.</div><div><br></div><div>“A special tribute as well for my fellow nominee in this race, Dr. Acharya. In his long and distinguished career, he has been an invaluable asset to WHO - and I hope our region will continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).</div><div><br></div><div>“I look forward to building a healthier South-East Asia,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The nomination will be submitted for appointment by the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board, which takes place from January 22 to 27, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.</div><div><br></div><div>The newly appointed regional director will take office on February 1, 2024 for a five-year term and be eligible for reappointment once.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, conducted an effective campaign in favour of the Bangladesh candidature since the very beginning of the election process.</div><div><br></div><div>The SEARO is one of the six regions of WHO with its headquarters in New Delhi, India.</div><div><br></div><div>It comprises 11 countries, namely, Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste.</div><div><br></div><div>The SEARO is headed by the RD who is nominated by the members of the SEARO countries. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 10:58:23', '2023-11-01 10:58:23'),
(9883, 9883, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A fire broke out in the basement of Biddyut Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Two fire service units were working to douse the fire at the time of filing this report.</div><div><br></div><div>The fire broke out around 3:42 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>The reason behind the fire is yet to be known, said, Ershad Hossain, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 12:25:32', '2023-11-01 12:25:32'),
(9884, 9884, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) was found dead at Salutikor in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet district early Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Rakibul Hasan Sifat, a student of the Chemistry Department of the university.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Khalique, sub-inspector of Gowainghat Police Station, said being informed by local people police recovered the body of Sifat from the area around 4 am.</div><div><br></div><div>The body bore injury marks on his head.</div><div><br></div><div>Police suspected that Sifat might have been killed in an accident while going to his destination by a motorbike.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof. Dr Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, said police sent the body of Sifat to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 12:35:07', '2023-11-01 12:35:07');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9885, 9885, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the UN rights body is not \"correctly\" informed on the recent incidents of violence in Dhaka, which is \"very unfortunate.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Many narratives are faulty and deviated from reality. They have information gap. We will draw their attention,\" he told reporters, noting that the government will give a fact-based reply to the leading UN body on human rights.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said it is unfortunate to see such information gap.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 28, opposition protesters attacked the residences of the Chief Justice and other judges, and approximately 30 journalists were assaulted by protesters and masked individuals riding on motorcycles, who are \"thought to have been\" ruling party supporters, said the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, noting that they are deeply concerned by a series of violent incidents during the ongoing protests in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The government is likely to highlight inaccuracy in terms of death toll and describe how BNP men attacked on police, journalists and chief justice\'s residence, a diplomatic source said.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN rights body claimed at least 11 people have died in connection with the protests in many parts of the country as of 31 October morning.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The UN human rights body also urged all political actors in Bangladesh to make it clear that such violence is unacceptable and to avoid any statements or actions that could constitute incitement to violence.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As the country heads towards elections, we call on all political actors to make clear that such violence is unacceptable and to avoid any statements or actions that could constitute incitement to violence,\" it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question on the so-called \"adviser to US President Biden\", Momen said BNP remains busy with \"false and fake things,\" reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that BNP also gave false and distorted information about the violence in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said action should be taken against those who come up with a \"fake adviser\". \"The US also should take action,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 12:51:22', '2023-11-01 12:51:22'),
(9886, 9886, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed BNP’s Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas on a five-day remand in a case involving sabotage and attempts to snatch away pistols from the law enforcers during clashes on October 28 in Dhaka.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shafi Uddin granted the remand after rejecting his bail petition.</div><div><br></div><div>The court granted the remand after hearing both sides, said Shah Alam, sub-inspector of Shahjahanpur police station’s general registration section in the court.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the investigation officer of the court produced him before the court with a prayer for a five-day remand.</div><div><br></div><div>Lawyers Mohsin Miah, Mosleh Uddin, Jasim, Omar Faruk Faruki, Golam Mostafa stood for the BNP leader in the court while Abdullah Abu represented the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Mustafizur Rahman, sub-inspector of Shahjahanpur police station, filed the case making Mirza Abbas as the prime suspect on October 29.</div><div><br></div><div>Forty-nine BNP men were identified as suspects while involvement of 700-800 unidentified individuals have been mentioned in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Police and the BNP supporters clashed in some parts of Dhaka involving the party’s scheduled grand rally on October 28. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 13:15:24', '2023-11-01 13:15:24'),
(9887, 9887, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that he favours peaceful dialogue, not violence.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The minister met with British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke in his office, where he emphasised on the importance of maintaining open channels for communication and finding political solutions through discussion.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked about the current political situation and whether any talks had taken place with the British High Commission, Asaduzzaman said that there have been no significant discussions.</div><div><br></div><div>He highlighted the significance of dialogue as the primary means of addressing political issues, in line with the country\'s constitution. Sarah Cooke agreed with this perspective, acknowledging that dialogue is essential for resolving political problems, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister stressed that there is no alternative to dialogue, and he along with Cooke, emphasised on the importance of using discussions as a platform to find solutions to problems. They both reiterated their commitment to adhering to the constitution\'s framework for dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to a question about the ongoing blockade, the minister asserted that this has been a longstanding position, saying that the parties in question have consistently rejected dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>He stressed that the BNP is resorting to violence and creating a hostile environment rather than peaceful discussions, which goes against the wishes of the Bangladeshi people, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that the United Nations should encourage parties to adhere to the principles of non-violence and dialogue. The minister said that the government is committed to upholding the rule of law and will not tolerate acts of violence.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 13:18:35', '2023-11-01 13:18:35'),
(9888, 9888, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The New Development Bank Bill, 2023 was passed in Parliament on Wednesday to welcome funds from the lending arm of&nbsp; BRICS.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Law Minister Anisul Huq, in absence of Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, moved the Bill in Parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, it was passed by voice vote.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the objective of the Bill, the BRICS alliance consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa established a multinational bank called the New Development Bank (NDB) in 2014 by signing the Agreement on the New Development Bank.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, there are five founding members and a total of eight countries including Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are its members.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to the bank\'s Articles of Agreement, the Agreement on the New Development Bank needs to be ratified.</div><div><br></div><div>The main objective of establishing the New Development Bank is to provide financial support to developing countries for implementation of infrastructure and sustainable development projects.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The authorised capital of the bank is $50 billion, of which paid-in-shares are $10 billion and callable shares are $40 billion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The total share of Bangladesh is 9420, and the amount of subscription is $942.00 million as paid-in capital.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The amount payable by Bangladesh is $188.40 million (approximately Tk. 2081 crore 82 lakhs), which is payable in seven instalments.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh became a member of the bank on September 16, 2021 by signing the \'Instrument of Accession\'. According to Article 48 of the NDB\'s Articles of Agreement (AoA), the Agreement on the New Development Bank needs to be ratified.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the said ratification and like other multinational banks, the NDB will have to enact new laws to provide status, immunities, privileges and exemptions from taxes/VAT in order to achieve its objectives and activities.</div><div><br></div><div>The International Financial Organisation Order, 1972 for the IBRD and the IMF, the Asian Development Bank Order, 1973 for ADB, the Islamic Development Bank Act, 1975 for the IDB and the International Finance Corporation for International Finance Corporation Act, 2015 and recently the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Act 2016 were enacted for the AIIB.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In this context, it is proposed to enact the New Development Bank Act, 2023. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 14:14:23', '2023-11-01 14:14:23'),
(9889, 9889, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Seven more deaths were reported from dengue in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising the fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 1,355 this year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During the period, 1,903 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the DGHS.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the new patients, 384 were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside the capital--indicating a worsening situation across the country, DGHS said.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 6,346 dengue patients, including 1,708 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the DGHS has recorded 273,078 dengue cases and 265,377 recoveries this year.</div><div><br></div><div>September has so far been the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak this year with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 15:41:14', '2023-11-01 15:41:14'),
(9890, 9890, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The second day of the countrywide three-day blockade, enforced by the BNP and theJamaat and like-minded opposition parties, was marked by clashes, vandalism and torching of vehicles in Dhaka and elsewhere on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Law enforcers detained more than 100 leaders and activists of the BNP and other opposition parties across the country on the second day of the road, rail and waterways blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>The blockade that started at 6am on Tuesday will end at 6 pm on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 21 incidents of arson were reported across Bangladesh in 24 hours till Wednesday evening during the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources at the media cell of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters said that they got information about 21 arson attacks across the country on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the arson attacks, five occurred in Dhaka city, seven in Dhaka division (Savar, Gazipur, Narayanganj), four each in Chattogram (Karnaphuli, Rangunia, Sitakunda) and Rajshahi (Bogura, Sirajganj) and Rangpur divisions.</div><div><br></div><div>Ten buses, three covered vans, three trucks, one pickup, one motorcycle, two commercial goods showrooms and one police box were burnt across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Movement of intra-district and long-route buses was very low but the presence of local vehicles like three-wheelers was noticeable in the capital and other cities and towns.</div><div><br></div><div>The gathering of people on the streets was also thin compared to the normal days.</div><div><br></div><div>The opposition leaders and activists were seen picketing on different roads across the country, including in the capital, to enforce the blockade. They also engaged in clashes with the law enforcers in different districts, including Dhaka, Bogura, Feni and Sylhet.</div><div><br></div><div>In Dhaka, miscreants tried to set a vehicle on fire around 8 am in Malibagh Chowdhurypara but police chased them away.</div><div><br></div><div>Miscreants set a passenger bus of \"Itihash Paribahan\" on fire beside the Kafrul Police Station on Wednesday afternoon, said Kafrul Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Farukul Alam.</div><div><br></div><div>Miscreants set a bus on fire in front of Ideal School in Dhaka’s Mugda area today (November 01, 2023) during the blockade, said fire service sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Picketers from a procession in support of the blockade set the bus on fire around 10:55 am, creating panic in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>Lima Khanam, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze.</div><div><br></div><div>Miscreants set a bus and truck on fire in separate incidents in Chattogram district.</div><div><br></div><div>Zahedur Rahman, duty officer of Rangunia Fire Service and Civil Defence, said miscreants set a truck on fire on Chattogram-Kaptai Road in Rangunia upazila in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Police detained a man with a crude bomb from the Kadamtali area under Kotwali police station in the port city of Chattogram in the afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>In Sylhet, supporters of BNP’s youth and student wings Jubo and Chhatra Dal and Jamaat-Shibir men clashed with Awami League’s voluntary and student bodies Swechasebak League and Chhatra League in Bandarbazar area at 11:00am. Six Chhatra Dal men were detained from the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, supporters of BNP and Chhatra Dal took a position on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, disrupting traffic movement for a while.</div><div><br></div><div>In Barishal, police detained 11 BNP men including two former lawmakers centering the blockade on Tuesday night and Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Chhatra Dal brought out a procession in favour of the blockade on Banda Road in Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and burnt tyres in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Though some long-route buses left the city, authorities concerned cancelled their trips due to the shortage of passengers later.</div><div><br></div><div>At vulnerable spots, law enforcers were seen patrolling in the city since the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>In Khulna, the second day of the blockade was observed peacefully. No incidents of vandalism, arson and chase and counter-chase were reported.</div><div><br></div><div>The presence of people on the city streets was lower than any other day.</div><div><br></div><div>In Rangpur, a peaceful blockade was marked as no reports of unexpected incidents were found.</div><div><br></div><div>In Bogura, supporters of the blockade clashed with the law enforcers, vandalised and torched vehicles in the district.</div><div><br></div><div>The law enforcers used tear shells to disperse the picketers whenever the supporters tried to put barricades on the roads.</div><div><br></div><div>At least six BNP men sustained injuries when police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel opened rubber bullets and used tear shells in the Tinmatha Railgate area in the district town around 10am.</div><div><br></div><div>District chapter Chhatra Dal President Saidul Islam alleged that police suddenly fired on them when they were peacefully staying in the railgate area.</div><div><br></div><div>Three covered vans and a microbus were torched in the district during the enforcement of the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>In Mymensingh, 46 BNP men were detained from several upazilas of the district centering the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>With this, police detained 153 BNP-Jamaat men over the past three days in the district.</div><div><br></div><div>A case under the subversive act was filed against 145 BNP men including its central organizing secretary Syed Emran Saleh Prince with Kotwali police station.</div><div><br></div><div>In Feni, two intra-district buses were torched in the Rampur area on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway. Patrolling by the law enforcers was noticeable. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 16:03:10', '2023-11-01 16:03:10'),
(9891, 9891, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh’s inward remittances increased through legal channels as the banks are providing additional incentives to attract remittances.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>However, the expatriates sent inward remittances of $1.97 billion in October through banking channels. The amount is the highest in the last three months.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the data of the Bangladesh Bank (BB), the banking channel received $1.97 billion in inward remittances in October.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Mezbaul Haque BB spokesperson said that inward remittances flow increased for time befitting initiative of the central bank.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the central bank instructed banks to provide additional incentives from their financial sources, which plays a role in increasing the flow of inward remittances in the legal channel.</div><div><br></div><div>With the government\'s 2.5 percent incentive on expatriate income, banks can buy dollars at an additional 2.5 percent higher price. A total of 5 percent is getting incentives. As a result, remittances are coming to the country through legal channels.</div><div><br></div><div>Executive director of the private research institute South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) Prof Dr. Salim Raihan said that the long-term benefits of remittance incentives will not come.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the government would give an additional two and a half percent to the dollar rate. A total of 5 percent incentive on remittances such a move will boost remittances temporarily. But there will be no long-term solution.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Raihan said,” To increase remittances, hundi should be stopped. If you want to stop hundi, you have to stop money laundering. Now a lot of money is being smuggled abroad. It has to be controlled by any means,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that more incentives the banks give, the people invlvoing hundi business will give more incentives.</div><div><br></div><div>\"So as long as the hundi remains rampant, the expected remittances will not come through legal channels,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 16:19:36', '2023-11-01 16:19:36'),
(9892, 9892, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Wednesday claimed that BNP\'s acting chief Tarique Rahman ordered terrorist attacks in Bangladesh from London.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She said this while inaugurating various implemented and ongoing development works and projects in the last three years in Chandpur-3 parliamentary constituency at Chandpur Stadium ground.</div><div><br></div><div>Dipu Moni said he is in London and does nominations trade. “He nominates multiple people in the same constituency for money.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Municipal Awami League, Chandpur Municipality, Sadar Upazila Parishad and Haimchar Upazila Awami League jointly organised the public rally.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today we will choose the right path. Let our children not go astray. They should not be terrorists and militants. The person who works and conspires from London is the mastermind of terrorists,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dipu Moni said, “We don\'t want our children to be terrorists. We want them to be good people and skilled in knowledge, science and technology.”</div><div><br></div><div>Chandpur District Awami League Vice-President Md Yusuf Gazi, Chandpur District Muktijoddha Sangsad Commander MA Wadud, Chattogram University teacher Nasrin Begum, Chandpur District Mahila Awami League President and Panel Mayor Farida Elias, among others, spoke on the occasion. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 16:23:26', '2023-11-01 16:23:26'),
(9893, 9893, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Quinton de Kock hit his fourth century of the World Cup while Rassie van der Dussen cracked his second as South Africa piled up 357-4 against fellow title hopefuls New Zealand on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Left-handed opener De Kock reached his 21st one-day international ton off 103 balls with eight fours and three sixes.</div><div><br></div><div>He brought up his century with a huge six off Jimmy Neesham.</div><div><br></div><div>De Kock also made 100 against Sri Lanka, 109 in the game with Australia and 174 in the victory over Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He started the day needing just 69 more runs to pass 500 for the tournament when the Proteas were sent in to bat in Pune.</div><div><br></div><div>Having completed a 62-ball fifty, including three fours and two sixes, De Kock broke through the 500-run barrier with a legside boundary off recalled paceman Tim Southee.</div><div><br></div><div>He was eventually out for 114 caught by Glenn Phillips off Southee, ending a 200-run partnership for the second wicket.</div><div><br></div><div>Van der Dussen kept up the assault as he made 133 off 118 balls with nine fours and five sixes.</div><div><br></div><div>It was his second hundred of the tournament after his 108 against Sri Lanka and sixth of his ODI career.</div><div><br></div><div>Southee again made the breakthrough, clean bowling Van der Dussen in the 48th over as he tried to launch the ball across the line.</div><div><br></div><div>David Miller added a blistering 53 off just 30 balls with four sixes as South Africa ended their innings with Aiden Markram arriving at the wicket for the last ball which he dispatched for six.</div><div><br></div><div>New Zealand used seven bowlers after seamer Matt Henry suffered a hamstring injury and was forced off the field midway through his sixth over.</div><div><br></div><div>South Africa went into the game on 10 points from six games and on the brink of making the semi-finals while New Zealand were on eight points. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-01 16:27:27', '2023-11-01 16:27:27'),
(9894, 9894, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Amid the ongoing workers\' unrest in the garments sector, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed in Dhaka and adjacent areas to ensure security.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Troops have been deployed in Ashulia, Savar, Mirpur, Rampura, Abdullahpur, Tongi, Gazipur, Konabari, Sharuiful Islam, public relations officer at BGB headquarters, said.</div><div><br></div><div>Workers of garment factories have been demonstrating for the past few days, demanding a minimum basic salary of Tk 23,000, in Dhaka and elsewhere.</div><div><br></div><div>Russel Hawladar, 22, an electrician of Design Express Limited Company in Gazipur\'s Maleker Bari, died on Monday during the ongoing protest on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway.</div><div><br></div><div>Protesting RMG workers said that Russel died in “police firing.” Police rejected the claim.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile clashes took place between police and RMG workers in several places.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the unrest, most of the garment factories were declared closed. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 08:59:31', '2023-11-02 08:59:31'),
(9895, 9895, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the country’s journalists to expose the real face of the BNP before the international community as the opposition party’s activists swooped on the media persons who were covering their October 28 rally.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“You, journalists, should expose internationally the real character of those who attacked you while performing duty,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was addressing the Delegates Conference-2023 of BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists at the National Press Club in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that the anti-liberation forces have no right here in Bangladesh, she said, “Those who believe in terrorism and militancy have no right here. They don’t want the welfare of the people of this country and they are foes of the people.”</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said the attackers of journalists and police must pay as some 30 journalists were injured in the attacks carried out by BNP men on October 28 last.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the BNP men carried out attacks even in disguise on that day, believing that they could remain unidentified and escape punishment. But they’ve finally been caught, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“They carried such misdeeds. Those who kill and attack journalists and police must face punishment,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud spoke as the special guest at the function chaired by BFUJ President Omar Faruque.</div><div><br></div><div>BFUJ Secretary General Dip Azad conducted the event, while President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Sohel Haider Chowdhury and leaders of different units of BFUJ spoke on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>In the function, former BFUJ leaders were honoured with crests. Accoridng to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 09:16:11', '2023-11-02 09:16:11'),
(9896, 9896, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On the last day of the three-day blockade called by BNP, Jamaat and likeminded parties, a bus was set on fire, and two more were vandalised in Rangunia upazila of the district.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The incident happened at Chandraghona Lichu Bagan area on Chattogram-Kaptai road around 4 am today.</div><div><br></div><div>Fire service personnel brought the fire under control.</div><div><br></div><div>Rangunia Fire Service Station Leader Jahidur Rahman said some buses of AB Travels, running from Lichu Bagan to Chattogram city, were parked in the area. “An unruly mob supporting the blockade arrived early in the morning and set a bus on fire. They also damaged two other buses. On receiving the information, one of our units reached the spot and doused the fire in half an hour.”</div><div><br></div><div>Rangunia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) said the miscreants fled before police could reach the spot, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are investigating who committed the crime. A case will be registered in this regard,” he told.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 10:38:17', '2023-11-02 10:38:17'),
(9897, 9897, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Indian cruise ship, RV Kindat Pandaw, arrived in Barishal on a two-day visit with 31 tourists from Australia, US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, and Ireland.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The ship anchored at the Steamer Ghat adjacent to Barishal Naval Port at 1 pm on Wednesday afternoon, said BIWTA Barishal Joint Director Md Selim.</div><div><br></div><div>The ship is carrying twelve tourists from Australia, four from the US, eight from the UK, four from Canada, two from Switzerland, and one from Ireland, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>There are also 21 crew members onboard the ship. The tourists were set to leave the Steamer Ghat after visiting the floating market and guava garden at Swarupkathi in Pirojpur this morning, he also said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, the tourists visited the 100-year-old Oxford Mission Church in Barishal city, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Father John SPD of Oxford Mission Church, the 31 elderly tourists were excited to visit the church. Their next destination is Chandpur, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Indian cruise shi<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 11:08:24', '2023-11-02 11:08:24'),
(9898, 9898, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Armed Forces have earned a total Tk 27,941 crore by participating in different UN peacekeeping missions abroad in the 23 fiscal years since 2000-01.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Law Minister Anisul Huq, who is in charge of defense ministry in parliament, gave the figures in the House while replying to a tabled question of ruling Awami League MP Habibur Rahman from Bogura-5.</div><div><br></div><div>Habibur Rahman wanted to know about the amount of foreign currencies the Armed Forces of Bangladesh have earned so far through participating in the peacekeeping missions and how much foreign remittances the government has received.</div><div><br></div><div>In the scripted answer, Anisul informed the House that the average income through participating in the peacekeeping mission has been Tk 1214 crore. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 11:15:16', '2023-11-02 11:15:16'),
(9899, 9899, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government today announced the Hajj packages for 2024, reducing the cost by Tk 92,450.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Religious Affairs, Md Faridul Haque Khan, announced the Hajj packages at a press briefing held at the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>Pilgrims have to pay Tk 5,78,840 under general package, and Tk 9,36,320 under special package.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 1,27,198 pilgrims can perform Hajj in 2024 like the previous year, the state minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2023, government set Tk 6,71,290 as minimum cost for Hajj pilgrims under government management and Tk 6,60,890 minimum under private management. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"21\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 11:21:27', '2023-11-02 11:21:27'),
(9900, 9900, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Pausing its protest for two days, the BNP will again enforce a 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Sunday to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The fresh blockade programme after a break on Friday and Saturday is also meant to protest the recent killing of opposition workers, attacks on BNP’s Nayapaltan grand rally and the arrest of party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and many other party leaders and activists.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Thursday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the blockades will be observed on November 5 and 6 across the country to register BNP’s protest against the attack on its Nayapaltan grand rally, killings of its leaders and workers, arrest of over 1,000 opposition leaders and activists of different parties, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, raids on their houses and repression on them.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The all-out blockade will be observed on roads, railways and waterways,\" Rizvi added.</div><div><br></div><div>The fresh agitation was announced at the end of a three-day nationwide blockade on Thursday that has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including clashes with police and torching and vandalising vehicles.</div><div><br></div><div>The party also enforced a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Sunday in protest against the attacks on its grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour into the start of BNP\'s much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on Saturday noon, the party\'s leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 11:42:45', '2023-11-02 11:42:45'),
(9901, 9901, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate Dhaka Metro Rail\'s Agargaon to Motijheel part on November 4, and it will be open to general commuters from the next day.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, the PM will inaugurate construction work of MRT-5 -- from Hemayetpur to Bhatara -- in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader shared the information with reporters at the Secretariat today.</div><div><br></div><div>Initially, metro rail on the Agargaon-Motijheel part will remain functional for four hours with three stations: Farmegate, Bangladesh Secretariat, and Motijheel. Rest of the stations will be opened in phases, said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that, initially, metro rail will operate from Uttara North to Motijheel between 7:30 am and 11:30 am from November 5, on both directions. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 12:00:04', '2023-11-02 12:00:04'),
(9902, 9902, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An official of the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday failed to deliver an invitation letter addressed to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam as the party’s central office at Nayapaltan was found locked following October 28 foiled rally.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul himself is in jail as he was arrested on Sunday and no other BNP leader and activist were found to hand over the letter inviting BNP to join a dialogue on Saturday to discuss the preparations of the upcoming national polls.</div><div><br></div><div>M Mohsin, the official of the EC, went to Nayapaltan around 10am with a letter of the commission to the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, now in Dhaka Central Jail, according to sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Finding the BNP office locked from the outside, he talked to the members of the police who remained deployed there.</div><div><br></div><div>The police members told the EC official that BNP leaders and workers were not seen coming to the office since Sunday as it remained closed following violence centering the party’s grand rally.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC official waited there for a while and left the place without delivering the letter.</div><div><br></div><div>There was no comment immediately from the Election Commission.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC is scheduled to hold a dialogue with the representatives from the registered political parties at 3pm on Saturday to inform them about the commission\'s preparations for the next parliamentary polls.</div><div><br></div><div>In the letter to the BNP secretary general, the EC requested the party to send two of its representatives to the dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>After the party’s grad rally was foiled halfway through on Saturday last at Nayapaltan amid clashes with police, the collapsible gate of the BNP\'s central office remained closed with the deployment of a huge number of law enforcers in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday last, the members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) marked the areas in front of the main gate of the BNP office with the crime scene tape inscribed with \"Do not cross\' to collect evidence from there for investigation into Saturday’s severe political violence.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the CID\'s Crime Scene Unit collected different evidence from there which are now in their chemical laboratory.</div><div><br></div><div>The CID also removed the crime scene yellow tape from in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office early Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP leaders and workers have not been seen going to their office since Sunday out of fear of getting arrested as many cases were filed in connection with Saturday’s violence that killed two people, including a police constable.</div><div><br></div><div>As in the last four days, a huge number of law enforcemers remained deployed in front of the BNP office and its adjoining areas, roads, and alleys on Thursday. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 12:04:00', '2023-11-02 12:04:00'),
(9903, 9903, '<div><font color=\"#a54a7b\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Jail Killing Day will be observed tomorrow as it is the second disgraceful incident in the country after the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15 in 1975.</b></span><br></font></div><div><br></div><div>On November 3 in 1975, four national leaders and heroes of the country\'s Liberation War -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman -- were assassinated inside the Dhaka Central Jail.</div><div><br></div><div>The four leaders played a key role in forming the Mujibnagar government in exile, that led the Liberation War in 1971, with Syed Nazrul Islam as the acting president, Tajuddin Ahmad as the prime minister, Mansur Ali as the finance minister and AHM Qamruzzaman as the home, relief and rehabilitation minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The nation will remember the four national leaders, who were also the great heroes of the Liberation War in 1971, tomorrow with due respect.</div><div>Awami League (AL) and different political parties will observe the mournful day across the country with maintaining health guidelines.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL has chalked out elaborate programme including keeping the national and party flags at half-mast at party\'s Bangabandhu Avenue Central Office and Bangabandhu Bhaban as well as unit offices across the country at the dawn tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>Wearing of black badges and hoisting of black flag are also included in the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>AL leaders will place wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi at 7am. Wreaths will be placed at the graves of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad,Mansur Ali at Banani graveyard around 7.30am while fateha, milad-mahfil and munajat will also be offered there.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Floral wreaths, offering fateha, milad-mahfil and munajat will be arranged at the grave of national leader Shaheed AHM Qamruzzaman in Rajshahi.</div><div><br></div><div>AL will arrange a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city at 3pm. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will preside over the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League general secretary and road and transport minister Obaidul Quader in a statement urged the leaders-activists of all organizational units from upazila to district and associate bodies to observe the jail killing day with due respect.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Khondoker Mustaque Ahmad and other two killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman -- Colonel (retd) Syed Faruque Rahman and Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Khondoker Abdur Rashid-- had designed the heinous killing spree of the four national leaders inside the jail.</div><div><br></div><div>A five-member killing squad was also formed led by Resalder Musleh Uddin who was very much close to Colonel (retd) Faruque Rahman.</div><div>\"Khondoker Mustaque Ahmad had designed the heinous killing plot exclusively with Farque Rahman and Abdur Rashid,\" said Golam Murshid in his book \'Muktijuddo o Tarpar\'.</div><div><br></div><div>A probe commission was formed on September 18 in 1980 in London over the killings of August 15 in 1975 and subsequently the jail killing on November 3 in the same year.</div><div><br></div><div>The probe commission was formed following an appeal lodged by Bangabandhu\'s two daughters - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, Mohammad Selim, son of slain leader Monsur Ali and Syed Ashraful Islam, son of slain leader Syed Nazrul Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time, the probe commission became ineffective due to non-cooperation by the then Bangladesh government led by Ziaur Rahman and refused to provide visa to a probe commission member. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 13:26:56', '2023-11-02 13:26:56'),
(9904, 9904, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Customers, already struggling with rising cost of living, will have to pay an additional Tk1.48 per kg to buy Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from 6 pm on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) announced the new price, saying that the retail consumers will now get a 12kg LPG cylinder at Tk1,381 including VAT instead of the previous price of Tk1363.</div><div><br></div><div>Price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has increased further to Tk115.09 per kg for the month of November from Tk113.61 in October, said BERC.</div><div><br></div><div>It means that the customers of 12kg LPG will have to spend additional Tk18 for cooking purposes.</div><div><br></div><div>Prices of other sizes of LPG cylinders – from 5.5kg to 45kg – will go up rationally, Md Nurul Amin, the chairman of BERC, said earlier on Monday at a press briefing at the BERC office in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG used for motor vehicles) also increased to Tk63.36 per litre (including VAT) from Tk62.54 per litre. The increase is Tk0.82 per litre.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of LPG, marketed by state-owned LP Gas Company, will remain the same as it is locally produced with a market share of less than 5%.</div><div><br></div><div>BERC officials said the LPG price will witness an increase in the local market due to the increase in the prices of Saudi CP (contract price).</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi LPG operators normally import their products from the Middle-East market on the basis of Saudi CP.</div><div><br></div><div>LPG witnessed the highest price at Tk1,498 (per 12kg cylinder) in the local market in February this year following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February last year. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', '<p>Retail consumers will now get a 12kg LPG cylinder at Tk1,381<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 13:43:42', '2023-11-02 13:43:42'),
(9905, 9905, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday that the United Nations has no effectiveness in dealing with real issues like conflicts in Sudan or in Gaza.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while talking to reporters at the Road Transport and Highways Division in the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the UN\'s statement on the political violence on Oct 28, Quader said they have been misled in the statement. “We want to say that this is not the right time for the United Nations to pay heed to Bangladesh.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Sudan is being divided into two. What is happening in Palestine today? Is anyone listening to what the United Nations says about Gaza?”</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations is only in the name, it has no function in reality, said Quader, also the road, transport and bridges minister.</div><div><br></div><div>“An incident has happened here regarding the election of Bangladesh. Different kinds of information can be passed on. But it does not harm them (the UN). In reality, the world forum cannot play an effective role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Sudan which are their major responsibilities,” Quader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader pointed out that the United Nations has no other role in the world except to say some good words.</div><div><br></div><div>“The situation of climate is worsening. The Secretary General of the United Nations sometimes speaks sweetly in beautiful language. We don\'t know that they have any role other than to say good words. They are worried about Bangladesh, but we are doing very well,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked whether the country is moving towards another election without the BNP, the minister said, “I don\'t know.” “The BNP has the right to join the elections. If they don\'t participate in the election, it’s up to them,” he added, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“My point is that the constitution of Bangladesh is not changing. Our election, our democracy will continue as per the constitution. It doesn\'t matter who comes or who doesn\'t come,” the AL leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 14:57:38', '2023-11-02 14:57:38'),
(9906, 9906, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh on Thursday announced a grant of another Tk 10 crore to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust (BJWT).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She made the announcement at the Delegates Conference-2023 of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists at the National Press Club.</div><div><br></div><div>“As I’ve established it (BJWT) and come here this time again, I will give a grant of another Tk 10 crore to the BJWT,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that she gave a seed money when she constituted the BJWT for the welfare of the country’s journalists.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina initiated the trust fund in 2014 by giving seed money of Tk 5 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, she also gave more grants in different times.</div><div><br></div><div>During her speech at BFUJ representative conference, she also said that Awami League government has prioritised the welfare of journalists.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve formulated the \'Journalist Support Allowance and Grant Policy-2012\' and the \'Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Act-2014\' to institutionalise the journalist support programe.”</div><div><br></div><div>She said, a board of trustees has been formed under this act.</div><div><br></div><div>In October 2018, the premier donated Tk 20 crore to Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that since the fiscal year (FY) 2015-2016 to June 2023 a total of Taka 29,81,50,000 has been distributed as welfare grant to 3,433 journalists and journalist families.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, she said, in the first phase of the Covid-19 period, BJWT distributed Taka 3.35 crore among the affected 3,350 journalists across the country in the FY 2019-2020.</div><div><br></div><div>In the second phase, in the FYs 2020-2021, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, the government allocated another Tk 10 crore from BJWT to the journalists affected by Corona.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, a total of Tk 6,72,70,000 has been given to a total number of 6,727 journalist affected by Coronavirus where each received Tk 10,000 under the Prime Minister’s special financial support. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 14:59:50', '2023-11-02 14:59:50'),
(9907, 9907, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh on Thursday provided medical assistance worth Tk 10 crore to Sri Lanka for the friendly people of this South Asian country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It is the expression of solidarity and friendship between our two nations,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said while speaking at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh Ruwanthi Delpitiya, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Essential Drugs Company Limited, and officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were present.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said every country is facing challenges of its own in varying degrees due to the prolonged impact of COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war and recent conflict between Israel and Palestine.</div><div><br></div><div>“Sri Lanka or Bangladesh is not an exception. In this trying time, mutual collaboration is much more needed than ever before,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the foreign minister said, Bangladesh never hesitates to extend assistance in its modest ability to any nation in difficulties, in particular its neighbours. “The cornerstone of our gesture is pure goodwill and friendship without any string attached.” According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 15:43:39', '2023-11-02 15:43:39');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9908, 9908, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The exchange rate of US dollars has risen again against the local currency Taka amid a dearth of foreign exchange in the domestic market.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the customer has to pay Tk111 to buy a US dollar from banks, which was Tk110.5 a day ago on Wednesday. It means that in a day, the taka depreciated by Tk0.5, while the domestic currency depreciated by Tk2.30 in the last four months, according to the Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.</div><div><br></div><div>With this, in the current fiscal year 2023-24, the taka has depreciated against the dollar for the sixth time . At the beginning of the fiscal year in July, the price of a dollar was Tk108.70, and a year ago last November it was Tk101.38.</div><div><br></div><div>From now on banks will sell dollars to the importers at Tk111. The highest inter-bank dollar rate will be Tk114. Last month, it was decided to buy the dollar at Tk110 taka and sell it at a maximum of Tk110.50.</div><div><br></div><div>But banks are selling cash dollars at more than that of Tk3 or Tk5. Dollars are being bought and sold at Tk118 to Tk 119 in the open (kerb) market, outside the bank.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, students, patients, and tourists going abroad would have to pay up to Tk 120 for every dollar when they want to buy cash dollars.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to UNB, Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank said banks are buying dollars at a higher rate, so they have to sell it at a higher price, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>If the BB supplied dollars to banks at a fixed rate then it may be possible to supply at a unified rate, while banks have to buy it at a higher rate, the selling rate would be higher logically, he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 16:20:58', '2023-11-02 16:20:58'),
(9909, 9909, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem; background-color: rgb(165, 74, 123);\"><font color=\"#311873\">The BNP on Thursday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is going to stage a mockery at the behest of the government in the name of dialogue with the registered political parties involving the next national election.</font></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“A staff of the Election Commission came with a letter (to the BNP office) for a dialogue today (Thursday). What dialogue is it and for whom? What dialogue do they want by jailing our top leaders and forcing others to leave their houses,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing, he also questioned the justification of sending a letter to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir after sending him to jail and keeping the party office cordoned off by law enforcers amid the raids of party leaders’ houses.</div><div><br></div><div>“Are you (EC) joking with people in the name of dialogue as eyewash? They (EC) are going to stage this mockery and farce in the name of dialogue as per the directive of the government,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also said the EC sent a letter to the BNP office for the dialogue to just make a joke.</div><div><br></div><div>“We know what you (EC) will do. There will be no vote. You’ll just announce winners of those whose names’ list will be given from the Prime Minister’s office in the parliamentary election. He (CEC) can’t do anything without this,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their Nayapaltan central office remained deserted for 4/5 days as no one, including its staff members, were allowed to enter there.</div><div><br></div><div>“All BNP leaders and workers are living in fear and a vehicle of the crime scene unit has been placed in front of the party office,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the government tried to brand the BNP as a terrorist organisation by shifting the blame for the violence onto the party, but it has failed to do so.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the law enforcers are raiding the houses of BNP leaders and activists both day and night and arresting the family members if they do not find the BNP leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>“A dangerous spree of arrest of BNP leaders and activists is going on across the country. Those arrested are being treated inhumanely. National leaders are being placed on remand, which did not happen even during the colonial period.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader claimed that at least 4,555 BNP leaders and activists were arrested all over the country in 96 cases over the last one week centring the party’s grand rally at Nayapaltan and Sunday\'s hartal and the three-day blockade programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, he said that 3,476 opposition leaders and activists were injured and eight others and a journalist were killed in police actions during the period.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Thursday, a staff of the Election Commission (EC) left an invitation letter addressed to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on a chair at the gate of the party’s central office at Nayapaltan which remains locked following the October 28 foiled rally.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul himself is in jail as he was arrested on Sunday and no other BNP leader and activist was found to hand over the letter inviting the BNP to join a dialogue on Saturday to discuss the preparations for the upcoming national polls.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC is scheduled to hold a dialogue with the representatives from the registered political parties at 3pm on Saturday to inform them about the commission\'s preparations for the next parliamentary polls.</div><div><br></div><div>In the letter to the BNP secretary general, the EC requested the party to send two of its representatives to the dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>After the party’s grand rally was foiled halfway through on Saturday last at Nayapaltan amid clashes with police, the collapsible gate of the BNP\'s central office remained closed with the deployment of a huge number of law enforcers in the area. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-02 16:34:25', '2023-11-02 16:34:25'),
(9910, 9910, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the second phase of the much-desired metro rail service from Agargaon to Motijheel tomorrow.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Agargaon-Motijheel section at 2.30pm tomorrow from the Agargaon station. Then, she will take the metro to Motijheel for another inaugural programme at the Motijheel station,\" said Managing Director of DMTCL MAN Siddique.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier will also inaugurate the construction work of MRT Line-5 (Northern route), which will be a 20-km line from Hemayetpur to Bhatara via Gabtoli, Mirpur-10, Gulshan. The deadline for the Taka 41,239 crore project is 2028.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commuters will be able to take the train from Uttara to Motijheel starting November 5, said Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that regular metro service from Uttara to Agargaon will be suspended on Saturday (November 4) due to the inaugural ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on December 28, the Prime Minister inaugurated the first phase of the first ever metro rail from Uttara to Agargaon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the metro rail will stop at three stations on Agargaon-Motijheel section.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The length of the Agargaon to Motijheel section is 8.72km. The metro rail will stop at Farmgate, Secretariat and Motijheel stations,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the Uttara-Motijheel route, the metro will run daily from 7:30am to 11:30am from 5 November, the minister said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also added that after 11:30am, metro rail movement will be stopped on the Motijheel-Agargaon route, while it will operate up to 8:30pm in the Uttara-Agargaon section.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Considering convenience, the route has been extended by 1.16 km from Motijheel to Kamalapur, Quader said the extended portion will be completed by June 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each train can run at a speed of 100 to 110 km with 2,300 passengers. However, the speed will be lower in areas with bends.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After assuming power in 2009, the Awami League government took various initiatives to reduce the pressure on the capital. Initiatives were taken to build metro rail across the capital to ease traffic congestion, according to the project details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The metro rail will be able to carry 60 thousand passengers per hour and half a million passengers per day and one train will arrive at each station every four minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been constructing the metro rail and providing soft loan to the project. The JICA gave Taka 19,500 crore for the project. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-03 08:12:32', '2023-11-03 08:12:32'),
(9911, 9911, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The sixth consignment of uranium for the first unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Project has arrived in Pabna’s Rooppur under special security arrangement.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pabna Superintendent of Police Akbar Ali Munshi confirmed that the convoy carrying uranium entered the project area at 8:30 am on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">SP Akbar said the convoy carrying uranium left the capital in the morning and crossed Bangabandhu Bridge and reached Rooppur project area via Banpara in Natore and Dashuria in Pabna\'s Ishwardi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that law enforcement agencies were working to ensure tight security in view of the arrival of uranium. Besides, vehicular movement on the highway from Dhaka to Rooppur in the project area was suspended from 5am to 10am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, traffic movement was restored when the uranium consignment entered the Rooppur project area, said the SP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on September 28, the first consignment of fuel for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Project arrived in Bangladesh. The next day, on September 29, fuel was taken to the project area under special security measures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The consignment was formally handed over in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin through a video conference on October 5, marking Bangladesh’s entry to the world’s elite club of nuclear power producers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 15, 2013, an agreement regarding State Export Credit of US$ 500 million was signed for carrying out preparatory phase construction works of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government signed a US$12.65 billion general contract (GC) in 2015 with Moscow for building the nuclear power plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh signed a credit agreement with Russia to obtain $11.385 billion credit for RNPP in July 2016. The credit covers 90 percent of the project cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ministry of Science and Technology recently said that the first unit of the plant may come into operation in July 2024 and the second unit in July 2025.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once the two units become operational, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will be capable of generating 2,400 MW of power. The first unit has reached over 90 percent completion in terms of physical and structural work, while the second unit has progressed to about 70 percent completion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the World Nuclear Association website, the countries using nuclear energy include the US, China, France, Russia, South Korea, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, Japan, Spain Sweden, Belgium, UK, India, Czech Republic, Finland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Hungary, Slovakia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Romania, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Iran and Armenia. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-03 08:15:42', '2023-11-03 08:15:42'),
(9912, 9912, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said the BNP-led \"communal forces\" will have to be resisted and defeated to protect Bangladesh\'s democracy, the spirit of Liberation War and the country’s independence.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Describing BNP as the main enemy of the nation, Quader said, \"Once again the party (BNP) has announced a blockade to commit vandalism and arson violence.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader, also the road, transport and bridges minister, made the remarks after paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi 32 this morning on the occasion of jail killing day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League’s general secretary said, “24 journalists were brutally attacked on October 28. A policeman was killed, a hospital was attacked, and the chief justice\'s residence was attacked. They torched a parked bus, killing the sleeping helper inside.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“How is it repressive to arrest those who led these misdeeds?” Quader asked.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“How can they escape responsibility after committing such violence? Won\'t there be justice?” Quader said while talking to reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question from journalists about BNP\'s announcement of a 48-hour countrywide blockade from Sunday, the AL leader said, \"They can announce as many blockades as they want. They (BNP) have already become tired.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About BNP Quader said, “Either they’ll be in jail or be on the run. They will probably watch Hindi(Indian) serials.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader also accused BNP of hiring people to commit arson violence and vandalise vehicles on the road on behalf of them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the jail killing day, Quader said, \"The November 3, 1975 killing of 4 national leaders were the continuation of the August 15 conspiracy (that killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family). Later, Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Hasina was the main target of the grenade attack on August 21, 2004.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ALo general secretary said the conspiracy of 1975 and post-1975 killings were perpetrated to avenge the defeat of 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That defeated force is repeatedly attacking the soul and spirit of the nation. They are spreading communal tension,” said Quader</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He accused BNP of harbouring this communal evil force.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“BNP is the trusted allies of those who committed the brutal killings in 1975. On October 28, it was proven again. And that’s why they are the main enemies of the nation,” he said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bndb24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-03 08:18:20', '2023-11-03 08:18:20'),
(9913, 9913, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A massive fire that broke out Friday at adrug rehabilitation centre in northern Iran killed at least 27 people, the judiciary said.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Twenty-seven have died and 12 others taken to hospital after a fire erupted at a drug rehabilitation camp in Langarud\", a city in Gilan province north of Tehran, said the judiciary\'s Mizan Online news website quoting provincial chief justice Esmail Sadeghi. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-03 08:25:25', '2023-11-03 08:25:25'),
(9914, 9914, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated the much-anticipated metro rail service from Agargaon to Motijheel, the city\'s commercial district.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The PM traveled to Motijheel from metro rail\'s Agargaon station to mark the operation of this section.</div><div><br></div><div>This extends the country\'s first-ever metro rail\'s service from its starting point at Uttara to Motijheel.</div><div><br></div><div>The Uttara to Agargaon section of the metro was opened by the premier on December 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Initially, metro rail on Agargaon-Motijheel section will be operated for four hours with three stations at Farmegate, Secretariat and Motijheel.</div><div><br></div><div>Rest of the stations will be opened in phases, according to the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) officials.</div><div><br></div><div>Also on Saturday Hasina inaugurated the construction work of the MRT Northern route.</div><div><br></div><div>Commuters can travel from Agargaon to Motijheel between 7:30 am and 11:30 am from November 5.</div><div><br></div><div>There are seven stations on the Agargaon to Motijheel part of Dhaka Metro Rail. These are: Bijoy Sarani, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, TSC, Secretariat/Press Club and Motijheel.</div><div><br></div><div>Once the Agargaon-Motijheel part of Metro Rail opens, commuters will be able to travel from Uttara to Motijheel in just 38 minutes — a wonder by Dhaka standards.</div><div><br></div><div>Initially, five trains will run from Agargaon to Motijheel every 15 minutes and the number of trains will be increased gradually by reducing the time interval.</div><div><br></div><div>The cost of the country’s first ever metro rail project stands at Tk 33,472 crore. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) provided Tk 19,719 crore in the form of a loan to support the project, while the Government of Bangladesh funded the remaining amount.</div><div><br></div><div>In the beginning, the estimated cost of this project was about Tk 21,000 crore. The cost has increased due to the construction of an additional 1.6 km section from Motijheel to Kamalapur, acquisition of new land for each station, and the addition of various new facilities.</div><div><br></div><div>The main construction work of the project started in 2017. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 09:20:06', '2023-11-04 16:12:08'),
(9915, 9915, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Election Commission (EC) today (November 04, 2023) started discussion with all registered political parties to inform them about preparations for the 12th parliamentary election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal is presiding over the discussion at the Election Commission building in Dhaka’s Agargaon.</div><div><br></div><div>Thirteen registered parties have joined the discussion while three are not joining. Meanwhile, three parties did not inform the commission whether they will join or not. Ganatantri Party was not invited to the discussion.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC has scheduled two dialogue sessions daily. The first one began at 10:30 am today which will end at 1 pm, and another will be held from 3 pm to 4:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>The day-long discussion with the political parties is being held in two phases.The Election Commission invited the presidents and general secretaries of the parties or two representatives appointed by them for the dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP and several of its allies, including the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Biplobi Workers Party, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), have decided not to participate in the Election Commission dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), which is not in any alliance, is also boycotting the EC dialogue. Islamic Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis are among the Islamic parties that are boycotting the dialogue.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League Presidium Member Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan and Information and Research Secretary Salim Mahmud are representing the party in the dialogue, said the party\'s Office Secretary Biplab Barua.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the constitution, parliamentary election must be held within 90 days before the end of the five-year term of parliament. The term of the current parliament ends on January 29, 2024 while the 90-day count starts from November 1, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission said that it is preparing to announce the schedule of the national election in mid-November and hold the election in January.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in July 2022, the EC held a dialogue with the political parties to prepare the action plan for the 12th national election while few political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not attend the dialogue. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 09:38:41', '2023-11-04 09:38:41'),
(9916, 9916, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Helicopters and ground troops rushed to help people hurt in a strong earthquake that shook northwestern Nepal districts just before midnight Friday, killing at least 128 people and injuring dozens dozens more, officials said Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Authorities said the death toll was expected to rise, noting that communications were cut off with many places.</div><div><br></div><div>As day broke, rescue helicopters flew into the region to help out and security forces on the ground were digging out the injured and dead from the rubble, Nepal police spokesman Kuber Kadayat said.</div><div><br></div><div>Troops were also clearing roads and mountain trails that were blocked by landslides triggered by the earthquake. Helicopters flew in medical workers and medicines to the hospitals there.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also flew in on a helicopter with a team of doctors. Dahal led an armed communist revolt in 1996-2006 that began from the districts that were hit by the quake.</div><div><br></div><div>In Jajarkot district, where the quake’s epicenter was, 92 people were confirmed dead and another 55 injured. Kadayat said.</div><div><br></div><div>The quake killed at least 36 people in neighboring Rukum district, where numerous houses collapsed, and at least 85 injured people already had been taken to the local hospital, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Security officials worked with villagers all throughout the night in the darkness to pull the dead and injured from fallen houses.</div><div><br></div><div>The quake, which hit when many people already were asleep in their homes, was felt in India’s capital, New Delhi, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) away.</div><div><br></div><div>The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and occurred at a depth of 11 miles. Nepal’s National Earthquake Monitoring &amp; Research Center said its epicenter was at Jajarkot, which is about 250 miles northeast of the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu.</div><div><br></div><div>Earthquakes are common in mountainous Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 killed some 9,000 people and damaged about 1 million structures. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 10:32:38', '2023-11-04 10:32:38'),
(9917, 9917, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Rachin Ravindra showcased his form with another century in the ongoing ICC World Cup, while Kane Williamson narrowly missed a century by five runs, steering New Zealand to an imposing total of 401 in their crucial face-off against Pakistan on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Despite winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Pakistan struggled to contain New Zealand\'s onslaught, allowing them to amass a formidable score.</div><div><br></div><div>During the first 20 overs, Pakistan conceded 125 runs, managing to secure only one wicket.</div><div><br></div><div>In the second-wicket partnership, Rachin and Williamson combined for an impressive 180 runs, with the latter scoring 95 off 79 balls.</div><div><br></div><div>Both teams entered this match with their sights set on the semifinals. A victory would greatly enhance New Zealand\'s chances, while a defeat would effectively close the door for Pakistan. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 11:34:50', '2023-11-04 11:34:50'),
(9918, 9918, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Saturday urged BNP to publicly apologize to the people and expel the persons involved in recent attacks, destruction of assets and burning of properties and buses.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Join the elections, stop arson attacks and destruction of properties,” he urged the BNP leadership.</div><div><br></div><div>While talking to reporters after attending a programme, Momen said BNP should expel those people who are involved in recent attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from brutally beating one policeman to death, the BNP supporters attacked the residences of Chief Justice and other judges, torched police outposts, set fire to dozens of buses, Police Hospital premises and to ambulances causing disruption of emergency medical services, Momen earlier said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said BNP did not spare on-duty journalists and camera personnel. The BNP activists attacked and critically injured at least 25 media professionals. Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union (BFUJ) issued a note condemning such activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the Foreign Minister joined the launching ceremony of Unimart, the premium superstore in Bangladesh and a subsidiary of the United Group. It is the first flagship outlet outside Dhaka at Ambarkhana Point in Sylhet.</div><div><br></div><div>This purpose-built shopping destination offers all its popular brands under one roof – Unimart, Chef\'s Table, Crisp, Indulge, and the pharmacy chain Well Being.</div><div><br></div><div>United Group Chairman and Managing Director Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, and CEO of Unimart Murtoza Zaman, among others, attended the inaugural ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>This one-stop destination covering about 100,000 square feet and located in the heart of the Sylhet city will offer the signature quality assurance of Unimart with a wide range of local and imported products. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 12:26:58', '2023-11-04 15:41:15'),
(9919, 9919, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An Israeli air strike on UN-run school sheltering displaced people in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza killed 15 people and injured dozens more, said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, the head of Al-Shifa Hospital.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“There are 15 martyrs and the number is expected to increase,” said Abu Selmeyah, who is also an official in the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Friday, Israel targeted an ambulance being used to evacuate the wounded from besieged northern Gaza killed 15 people and injured 60 others, the Hamas-controlled enclave’s health ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel’s military said it had identified and hit an ambulance “being used by a Hamas terrorist cell.” It said Hamas fighters were killed in the strike, and accused the group of transferring militants and weapons in ambulances.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas official Izzat El Reshiq said allegations its fighters were present were “baseless.” Ashraf Al-Qidra, spokesperson for Gaza’s health ministry, said the ambulance was part of a convoy that Israel targeted near Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Qidra said Israel had targeted the convoy of ambulances in more than one location, including at Al-Shifa Hospital gate and at Ansar Square a kilometer (0.6 miles) away.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement on the incident, Israel’s military gave no evidence to support its assertion that the ambulance was linked to Hamas but said it intended to release additional information.</div><div><br></div><div>“We emphasize that this area is a battle zone. Civilians in the area are repeatedly called upon to evacuate southwards for their own safety,” the military said.</div><div><br></div><div>Reuters was unable to independently verify either side’s account.</div><div>Video shared on social media, which Reuters has verified, showed people lying in blood next to an ambulance with flashing lights on a city street as people rushed to help.</div><div><br></div><div>Another video showed three ambulances standing in a line, with about a dozen people lying either motionless or barely moving next to them. Blood was pooled nearby.</div><div><br></div><div>World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a social media post he was “utterly shocked by reports of attacks on ambulances evacuating patients,” adding that patients, health workers and medical facilities must be protected.</div><div><br></div><div>The head of the United Nations was “horrified” by a strike by Israeli forces on a convoy of ambulances in Gaza on Friday, Antonio Guterres said in a statement.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shifa hospital. The images of bodies strewn on the street outside the hospital are harrowing,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Friday, Qidra said ambulances would send critically injured Palestinians who urgently need to be taken to Egypt to be treated from besieged Gaza City to the south of the enclave.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel, which has accused Hamas of concealing command centers and tunnel entrances in Al-Shifa hospital, ordered all civilians to leave the north of Gaza last month and its military encircled the area on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite its order for civilians to leave northern areas of Gaza, Israel’s military has continued to bombard the south of the strip as well.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas and Al-Shifa hospital authorities have denied the facility is used as a base by militant fighters. According to Reuters reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 14:37:39', '2023-11-04 14:37:39'),
(9920, 9920, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The BNP and like-minded opposition parties are set to enforce another nationwide blockade of road, rail and waterways for 48 hours from Sunday morning to mount pressure on the Awami League regime to quit and pave the way for the next election under a non-party neutral administration.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The blockade will begin at 6am Sunday and end at 6am Tuesday across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will also enforce a 48-hour blockade simultaneously, demanding the current government\'s resignation and installation of a non-party neutral administration to oversee the 12th parliamentary election.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called upon the country’s people along with BNP supporters to observe the programme spontaneously to make it successful.</div><div><br></div><div>Vehicles of the newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the three-day blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from BNP and Jamaat, the 12-party alliance, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Ganatantra Mancha, LDP, Gonoforum and People’s Party, Gonotantrik Bam Oikya, Gono Odhikar Parishad Labour Party and NDM will also observe the blockade programme separately.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, a dawn-to-dusk hartal will be enforced by BNP in Chattogram on Sunday in protest against the arrest of the party’s standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Idris Ali, office coordinator of the city unit BNP, said Chattogram metropolitan, north and south district units of BNP called for the daylong hartal protesting the arrest of Amir Khosru, also a former minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Ambulances, vehicles carrying newspapers, journalists and fire service will remain out of the purview of the hartal which will begin at 6:00 am.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier the opposition parties observed a day-long hartal on October 29 and a three-day blockade from Oct 31 to November 2 demanding their one-point demand and protesting the attacks on its October 28 rally by police.</div><div><br></div><div>At least three people died amid sporadic incidents of clashes, arson attacks and arrests during the hartal.</div><div><br></div><div>The three-day countrywide blockade was also marked by clashes and widespread incidents of torching and vandalising vehicles that left four people killed.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, police arrested many BNP leaders and activists, including its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, following the violence centring the party’s grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, that left two people, including a police constable, dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour after the start of BNP\'s much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan, the party\'s leaders and workers locked into a clash with the police at Kakrail. With the passage of time, violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally halfway through.</div><div><br></div><div>In the wake of that political violence, the Nayapaltan central office of the BNP remained locked with the deployment of a huge number of police in the area. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 14:46:56', '2023-11-04 14:46:56'),
(9921, 9921, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israel is attempting to control the Indian media narrative on Palestine, journalists have warned, as they denounced a public attack by Tel Aviv’s envoy on one of India’s most prominent magazines.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Concerns over efforts to influence Indian journalists and their coverage of Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza began to emerge last month, when groups of reporters from India suddenly started to fly to Tel Aviv, sharing footage showing them embedded with Israeli troops.</div><div><br></div><div>Those that Arab News spoke to have declined to comment on whether they were sponsored by the Israeli government but admitted they were facilitated by its security forces and obtained free visas.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the beginning of Israel’s daily bombardment of the Palestinian enclave in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack by the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, the Israeli ambassador in New Delhi has hosted regular briefings for Indian journalists and this week made a public statement widely seen as an attempt to interfere in their reporting.</div><div><br></div><div>In a letter dated Oct. 31, which he shared on social media on the same day, the envoy, Naor Gilon, accused Frontline, an English-language fortnightly published by The Hindu Group, of “importing fake news into the mainstream media.”</div><div><br></div><div>The ambassador’s comments came after the magazine, which is famous for in-depth reporting, published a story on the situation in Gaza that featured comments from both Israeli sources and a Hamas spokesperson.</div><div><br></div><div>Gilon wrote that interviewing Hamas was “shameful” and raised “serious doubt about journalistic standards and ethical considerations” and that he hoped that The Hindu “reflects on this incident and takes measures to ensure that future interviews are conducted with the rigor and integrity that your readers deserve.”</div><div><br></div><div>The authenticity of the letter was confirmed by Frontline editor Vaishna Roy, to whose email address it was sent.</div><div><br></div><div>Roy said she was very surprised by “the tone and the tenor” of the letter.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is a certain anger, which one doesn’t expect from a diplomatic position, an important position, as the ambassador to a country. There’s lack of restraint and (there is) a personal attack, which surprised me,” she told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“We interviewed two Israeli voices and one former PLO spokesperson, and we interviewed the Hamas head of international relations ... As an editor I thought it is important to give both sides a hear.”</div><div><br></div><div>Although sent to Roy, the letter was addressed to Suresh Nambath, editor of The Hindu daily, which is owned by the same media group.</div><div><br></div><div>“Typically, one writes a letter to the editor, and we would publish it with our response. The ambassador sent it to my email ID but did not address me. When I pointed it out, he did not respond. Instead, the ambassador published the same letter online,” Roy said.</div><div><br></div><div>Multiple responses to the ambassador’s post, which Arab News reviewed, contained harassment and threats against the Frontline editor.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is unprecedented and it’s not a good omen. We’re seeing a sudden rise in a certain kind of propaganda, which refuses to admit a single voice of dissent,” Roy said.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are trying to control the narrative ... The reason why he went to social media is because he knew it would immediately set the troll army on me. And that is exactly what happened.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sanjay Kapoor, editor of the English-language political magazine Hardnews, said he saw the same trend, which has also been facilitated by uncritical consumption of Western narratives in India.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our media follows the Western media. Many a time, they even carry reports that are contrary to our foreign policy. Many would believe that is a sign or a symbol of independent journalism, but that’s not true,” he told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Western powers and Israel are trying to control the narrative and ensure that the Palestinian point of view never comes out.”</div><div><br></div><div>But despite this, a foreign official’s direct intervention in editorial matters has been seen as taking these efforts to yet another level — bordering encroachment.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is unwarranted and unacceptable to the Indian media,” said Umakant Lakhera, former president of the Press Club of India.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Israeli ambassador in India has no business, no right, to dictate terms and conditions to Indian media, and to preach the protocol of the ethics of journalism.”</div><div><br></div><div>He found the ambassador’s comments also “unethical” as they came from a representative of a state whose security forces have killed at least 31 Palestinian journalists in the past three weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>“Why have they been killed? Because they are giving the ground reality, they are reporting the ground situation,” Lakhera said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli ambassador’s letter against Frontline’s editor and further activity on social media were not, however, the only recent incidents that made journalists raise their eyebrows.</div><div><br></div><div>“The same gentleman recently made an extraordinary claim that there was such enormous normal support for Israel in India after Oct. 7 that he could muster the whole contingent of Indians for the IDF,” said Anand K. Sahay, columnist and former editor of the Deccan Herald daily.</div><div><br></div><div>“Nevertheless, it is not a question of this ambassador alone. Israel’s ambassador to the UN has gone so far as to accuse the secretary-general of supporting terrorism,” Sahay told Arab News, referring to the Israeli UN representative’s call for the resignation of the organization’s chief, Antonio Guterres, who said that the Hamas attack “did not happen in vacuum.</div><div><br></div><div>“With America’s help, Israel has pretty much behaved like a terrorist state itself.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sahay hopes that as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “losing popularity day by day in his own country,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distance himself from him and his “outright militarist” government, reports Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“If he does so, no ambassador of Israel in New Delhi will in the future be so impertinent as to go around lecturing the media in this obnoxious way,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 15:04:30', '2023-11-04 15:04:30'),
(9922, 9922, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Miscreants set three buses on fire in Dhaka’s New Market and Elephant Road and Sayedabad areas on Saturday evening ahead of the countrywide 48-hour blockade enforced by BNP-led oppositions.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sources at the fire service headquarters\' control room said a bus from Mirpur Link Paribahan was set on fire opposite of Gausia Market gate- 4 around 7:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>Being informed, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the flame, said Duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room, Rozina Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, a staff bus of the Green University was torched around 7:35 pm near the Multiplan City Centre at Elephant Road. Getting information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control, added Rozina.</div><div><br></div><div>No causalities were reported immediately following the two incidents, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Another bus was set on fire under the Hanif flyover at the Janapad Road in the Sayedadab area at 7:35 pm on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Being informed, two firefighting units went to the spot and brought the fire under control, Rozina also said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP and like-minded opposition parties are set to enforce another nationwide blockade of roads, rail, and waterways for 48 hours starting Sunday morning to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit and pave the way for the next election under a non-party neutral administration. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 15:08:58', '2023-11-04 15:08:58'),
(9923, 9923, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>More than 20 people have died and over 12,000 others have been forced out of their homes in Ethiopia’s Somali region due to flash flooding triggered by torrential rains, the regional government said today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bridges and roads have been destroyed by the downpour, making it difficult to reach affected households, the Somali regional state communication bureau said in a statement, with damage to livestock, crops and property also reported.</div><div><br></div><div>“More than 20 people have died in the flood so far … more than 12,000 families have been displaced,” the statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Rising rainfall and forecasts show that the risk of flooding remains high.”</div><div><br></div><div>The UN’s humanitarian agency, Ocha, said last month that eastern Africa would likely encounter heavier than normal rains over the October-December period because of the El Nino phenomenon.</div><div><br></div><div>El Nino is a naturally occurring pattern associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.</div><div><br></div><div>The Horn of Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and extreme weather events are occurring with increased frequency and intensity.</div><div><br></div><div>Since late 2020, Somalia as well as parts of Ethiopia and Kenya have been suffering the region’s worst drought in 40 years.</div><div><br></div><div>At the end of 2019, at least 265 people died and tens of thousands were displaced during two months of relentless rainfall in several countries in East Africa.</div><div><br></div><div>The extreme downpours affected close to two million people and washed away tens of thousands of livestock in Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-04 15:35:04', '2023-11-04 15:35:04');

INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9938, 9938, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 15-year-old Bangladeshi-Italian girl who jumped out of her family flat\'s third floor window and died after three days in hospital may have done so because she feared being pushed into \"an arranged marriage with an older man in Bangladesh,\" police said on Friday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Her father, who was planning to take her on holiday to his home country, has been placed under investigation for instigation to suicide in Ancona, the capital of the north-central-eastern Marche region.</div><div><br></div><div>The girl, who has not been named, died in an Ancona hospital Thursday. - ANSA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 12:29:34', '2023-11-05 12:29:34'),
(9939, 9939, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday arrived here on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the international conference on ‘Women in Islam: Status and Empowerment’ to be held in Jeddah.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the PM and her entourage landed at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina at 1:10 pm local time (Bangladesh time 4:10 pm).</div><div><br></div><div>During the flight, the Prime Minister went around the flight and talked to the general passengers.</div><div><br></div><div>People were seen talking to her and taking photos with their Prime Minister.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina inquired about their wellbeing and chit-chat with the children.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Javed Patwary welcomed her at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>Saudi Arabia&nbsp; in coordination with the general secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is hosting the conference from November 6 to 8.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, the prime minister will offer Fateha at the Rawza Mubarak of the Prophet (PBUH) after Asr prayer. Then Sheikh Hasina will leave Madina for Jeddah and then perform Umrah in Makkah.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, she will join the opening event of the International Conference on Women in Islam and deliver her speech as the guest of honour there.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the PM will have separate meetings with Iranian vice president for Women and Family Affairs Department Enseieh Khazali, Executive Director of OIC Women Development Organisation Dr Afnan Alshuaiby and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan.</div><div><br></div><div>She also will attend the inauguration of the Women in Islam Exhibition to be arranged by Princess Noura University on the same day (November 06).</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the Bangladesh premier will offer prayers in the Masjid al-Haram.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina will leave Makkah for home by a commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines from King Abdulaziz International Airport at about 10:45 pm local time (Tuesday). The flight is scheduled to land at Dhaka at 8:00am on Wednesday (November 08).</div><div><br></div><div>The international conference on women in Islam is being held aiming to clarify women’s rights and responsibilities in Islam, especially women’s rights to education and work as per the teachings of Islam, with broad participation from scholars of the Muslim Ummah. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 13:14:01', '2023-11-05 13:14:01'),
(9940, 9940, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of BNP, put locks on nine gates of different institutes and faculties of Dhaka University, to support the 48-hour blockade called by its mother organisation and like-minded parties.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The locks were put on the entrance of the university\'s gymnasium, at the gate of Science library, at the gate of Food and Nutrition Science Institute, Education and Research Institute, Social Welfare Institute, Fine Arts faculty, back gate of Curzon Hall and some other academic buildings.</div><div><br></div><div>It may be mentioned, the locks were put on the gates which often remain closed anyway.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides setting up the locks, banners and posters have also been placed around these gates to express solidarity with the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the banners said: \"The work of reforming the state is in progress, sorry for the temporary inconvenience!\"</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about this, DU Chhatra Dal President Khorshed Alam Sohail told UNB: \"BNP has called a peaceful blockade program with the mass people demanding the resignation of fascist Hasina and national elections under a non-partisan caretaker government to save the country and restore people\'s right to vote.  As a part of that, the leaders and activists of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal conducted this program,\" reports uNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"Ordinary students have already started boycotting classes and exams in solidarity with the movement to protect the country.  But the university administration and some pro-Awami teachers are forcing students to take classes and exams. We will observe more programs in the campus soon with different variations,\"  he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 13:16:27', '2023-11-05 13:34:06'),
(9941, 9941, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Virat Kohli equalled the record of fellow India great Sachin Tendulkar after hitting his 49th one-day international century in a World Cup match against South Africa in Kolkata.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Kohli, on his 35th birthday, hit 101 from 121 balls to send the crowd at a packed Eden Gardens into a frenzy.</div><div><br></div><div>Tendulkar reached the milestone in 451 innings and 462 matches, while it has taken Kohli 277 innings and 289 ODIs.</div><div><br></div><div>Kohli\'s superb knock helped India post 326-5 from their 50 overs.</div><div><br></div><div>He is also now the second-highest run-scorer at the tournament with 543 and may also have one eye on breaking Tendulkar\'s record for most runs at a single World Cup, which stands at 673.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Every opportunity to play for India is a big one and to do this on my birthday in front of a huge crowd is the stuff of dreams. It is something you dream about as a child,\" said Kohli, whose innings included 10 fours. \"I am just happy to help the team as much as possible.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Tendulkar said: \"Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations!\".</div><div><br></div><div>Eden Gardens became a sea of light as the crowd lit up their mobile phones in anticipation when Ravindra Jadeja nudged a single off Kagiso Rabada to bring Kohli on strike on 99 in the 49th over.</div><div><br></div><div>Kohli pushed the next ball to cover for a single to spark huge celebrations in the stands, with Kohli calmly raising his bat before taking off his helmet and looking to the sky.</div><div><br></div><div>Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2008, and played alongside Tendulkar in the early stages of his career, including a World Cup victory against the same opponents in 2011.</div><div><br></div><div>He averages 58.48 in ODI cricket - the best of any player to have played 50 matches or more.</div><div><br></div><div>Kohli also has an astonishing record when chasing targets in ODIs, averaging 65.24 in chases, while 27 of Kohli\'s 49 hundreds have come while batting second.</div><div><br></div><div>Tendulkar still holds the record for the most ODI career runs, with 18,426, and has the most Test centuries, with 51. Kohli is joint 16th on the list of Test centuries, with 29. According to BBC reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 13:43:45', '2023-11-05 13:43:45'),
(9942, 9942, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Clarifying a media report, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan on Sunday said any attempt to generalize incident on the industry and the country at large is unacceptable.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The news mentions about technical glitches such as choking and ingestion hazard found it specific product item for babies sourced and retailed by specific brand in specific country, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As the news report mentions about 12 countries withdrawing or recalling apparel made in Bangladesh, there is no reference to such claim, and we could not trace any evidence in support of this claim,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 14:24:10', '2023-11-05 14:24:10'),
(9943, 9943, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh today exceeded 1,400 dengue deaths as 15 new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours until 8 am today, while 2,103 patients were admitted to different hospitals during the same period.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On September 20, Bangladesh witnessed 21 dengue deaths, the highest in a single day this year, and it also saw the same highest figure on September 2.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"The death toll from dengue infection crossed the 1400-mark as the authorities recorded 1,408 dengue deaths between January 1 this year and November 5,\" said a press release from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"During the period, 433 dengue patients were hospitalised in Dhaka city while 2,170 were admitted to different hospitals outside it,\" the DGHS daily statement added.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"This year, there were 1,408 deaths, the highest in a year since dengue was detected in 2000, were reported from dengue disease, while 281 died last year,\" the statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;With the new cases, the total number of patients rose to 2,79,904, the press release said, adding, \"This year, some 2,71,792 patients were released from different hospitals out of the total patients,\" reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"A total of 6,704 dengue patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Of them, 2,020 are in Dhaka, while 4,889 are outside of the capital,\" it added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 14:42:44', '2023-11-05 14:42:44'),
(9944, 9944, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nablus, occupied West Bank, “I want the war to end and to go back to Gaza,” said Mohammed Abu Seef, a wide-eyed, 11-year-old boy, holding back his tears.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Please stop this. We are losing our loved ones.”</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammed has spent his whole life in the besieged Gaza Strip, barring a trip to the Israeli city of Herzliya to receive medical treatment that has since morphed into a nightmare.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 7, an unprecedented attack by Hamas launched on Israeli army outposts and surrounding villages in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people. More than 200 Israelis — including dual nationals — were taken captive and brought to Gaza. Hamas said its actions were in response to what it described as decades of atrocities committed against Palestinians and their holy sites.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then, more than 9,200 people in Gaza, including at least 3,800 children, have been killed by Israeli air strikes and, now, a ground invasion.</div><div><br></div><div>But the war has also separated thousands of Palestinian family members from each other, including children like Mohammed, who was forced by Israeli soldiers to cross into the occupied West Bank from Israel, while his family is in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations has estimated that more than 45 percent of homes and a significant proportion of civilian infrastructure in Gaza have been flattened by Israel’s indiscriminate bombing.</div><div><br></div><div>Two hours after Al Jazeera spoke with him at a temporary camp in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, we were informed that Mohammed’s younger brother and sister had been killed in an Israeli air strike on his home in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, volunteers running the site housing stranded workers from Gaza have been unable to summon the courage to break the news to him. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 15:25:00', '2023-11-05 15:25:00'),
(9945, 9945, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>People in the audience at Katy Perry\'s final performance in Las Vegas were wowed as they realised that they had been joined by Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Video footage from the concert shows the couple arriving at the Resorts World Theatre, where American pop star Katy Perry has been performing her PLAY shows since October.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the audience can be heard screaming ecstatically as they notice the royal duo being escorted to their seats before the beginning of the show. They were later joined by their friend, US-based British-Bahraini fashion designer Misha Nonoo, and her husband Michael Hess.</div><div><br></div><div>The couple has a knack for music and has previously attended a variety of musical concerts. Recently, Meghan was spotted attending one of Taylor\'s Eras Tour concerts alone, while Harry was seen in attendance at the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) event in Tokyo, Japan.</div><div><br></div><div>Well, Katy is no new to performing in front of the royals. She was one of the many who joined the lineup for King Charles\'s coronation concert in May this year, where she performed renditions of her hit songs ‘Roar’ and ‘Firework.</div><div><br></div><div>She was one of the handful of celebrities invited to Westminister Abbey on May 6, when Charles and his wife Camilla were crowned King and Queen.</div><div><br></div><div>Towards the end of her Las Vegas show, the singer gave an emotional speech thanking her team behind the concert and her fans.</div><div><br></div><div>“What a wonderful celebration this has been. I have loved the energy and the creativity you bring to every era… without you, there would be no PLAY. Thank you for taking me on this journey,” began the 39-year-old musician.</div><div><br></div><div>Sharing the reason behind the theme of her concerts PLAY, she added: “I created this show after the birth of my daughter Daisy Dove.”</div><div><br></div><div>“When I met her, it was like all the love I was ever searching for finally showed up. She made me whole, she healed me, and she showed me how to play again. So this show is for everyone\'s inner child and the hope that if maybe we could see the world through the eyes of a child, we will be free. Because never forget, that love will always be the key.” According to Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-05 16:20:47', '2023-11-05 16:20:47'),
(9946, 9946, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday alleged that the ruling party leaders are making unguarded remarks as they have become scared by the huge presence of opposition followers on the streets amid widespread arrests and crackdowns.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a demonstration in the city’s Khilgaon area, he also said the success of their ongoing one-point movement is certain with the support of people.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our leaders and activists are peacefully observing the blockade programme. The government has become puzzled seeing the presence of people in BNP’s blockade programme even after intense suppression. So, the prime minister, ministers and (AL) leaders making reckless remarks,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the blockade programme, Rizvi along with some BNP leaders and activists brought out a sudden procession around 7:30am near Pallima Sangsad in the capital\'s Khilgoan area.</div><div><br></div><div>They staged a demonstration there for a while in support of the blockade programme and then hurriedly left the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi warned that the government will not be able to stop the opposition’s democratic movement by resorting to repression and wholesale arrest of BNP leaders and workers.</div><div><br></div><div>“It won’t be possible to weaken the morale of our leaders and workers by arresting and torturing them and taking them on remand. The more the level of torture is increasing, the more our leaders and activists are taking to the streets strongly,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He condemned the arrest of BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu from the capital’s Cantonment area in the early hours of Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (govt) are arresting our senior leaders, including Shamsuzzaman Dudu, getting sacred by our announced programmes of the movement. They have initiated a storm of arrests across the country,\" the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said BNP leaders and activists are united under the leadership of party senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman. “The victory of our movement is for sure. The movement for restoring our rights will be successful as the fall of the government is imminent.”</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP’s Nayapaltan central office remained locked as before with the deployment of a huge number of law enforcers in the area. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 09:20:02', '2023-11-06 09:20:02'),
(9947, 9947, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) today announced a Tk 20,000 reward for those who will help them nab arsonists with information amid nationwide arson attacks.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman said this during a meeting with Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners’ Association at the DMP headquarters.</div><div><br></div><div>While talking about the recent arson attacks, he said, “If anyone can help police catch the miscreants with evidence, they will be given Tk 20,000 reward.”</div><div><br></div><div>The move was taken amid the ongoing subversive acts of arson in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 09:36:55', '2023-11-06 09:36:55'),
(9948, 9948, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A total of 18 arson incidents were reported across Bangladesh from 4 am on Sunday (November 05, 2023) to 10 am on Monday (November 06, 2023), Fire Service has said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Of these, 10 arson attacks were reported in Dhaka City Corporations, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense media cell on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The fire official said that a total of 14 incidents of arson were reported in Dhaka division, and 4 in Chattogram division.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 13 buses, two trucks,&nbsp; one private car, one CNG auto-rickshaw, and one human hauler were torched during this period.</div><div><br></div><div>Thirty-six units of fire service and civil defense and 216 firefighters were engaged to extinguish the blazes, added the fire officer. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 09:46:48', '2023-11-06 09:46:48'),
(9949, 9949, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With the Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka ICC World Cup 2023 match just hours away, the air quality in Delhi is perilous. According to the ICC’s guidelines, an AQI (air quality index) score under 200 is considered safe for cricket. Delhi’s AQI is well above 400 as the match approaches.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In light of this situation, can the ICC ethically mandate players to participate in a World Cup match amidst such hazardous conditions? This question looms large, given the severe air pollution in Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>Players from both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were compelled to cancel their practice sessions due to the air quality issue. Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha mentioned that some of the players have asthma and are not willing to take unnecessary risks by practicing.</div><div><br></div><div>As players express their reluctance to practice, it raises critical questions about the ICC\'s stance on player participation in such conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>The ICC and BCCI staff on the ground are set to closely monitor the air quality leading up to the match. Following their assessment, they will consult with the medical teams of both teams. If they determine that the match can proceed safely, the toss will take place on time. However, if the air quality poses a significant health risk, they will adopt a wait-and-see approach, similar to protocols followed in cases of rain or a wet outfield.</div><div><br></div><div>ESPNcricinfo reported that the ICC is seeking advice from a lung specialist to define safe air quality levels for cricket matches. However, establishing specific benchmarks for safe air quality proves challenging due to the varying cardiovascular demands of different cricketing positions on the field.</div><div><br></div><div>For instance, a fast bowler experiences higher cardiovascular stress compared to a spinner. This indicates that identical air quality conditions may not be equally safe for both fast bowlers and spinners. The assessment becomes considerably more intricate in this regard. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 10:04:25', '2023-11-06 10:04:25'),
(9950, 9950, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A bus of ‘Bikalpa Auto Service’ was set on fire by miscreants in Dhaka’s Gulistan area today, during the second day of the ongoing 48-hour countrywide blockade called by the BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Fire Service sources said that miscreants set the bus on fire at 2:05 pm in front of Bangabandhu Square Hall Market, and immediately fled the scene.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze with the help of bystanders and locals.</div><div><br></div><div>According to sources at Fire Service headquarters, a total of 18 arson incidents were reported across the country from 4 am on Sunday to 10 am today.</div><div><br></div><div>Of these, 10 arson attacks were reported in Dhaka city, said Talha Bin Jasim, station officer of Fire Service and Civil Defense media cell. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 10:48:52', '2023-11-06 10:48:52'),
(9951, 9951, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The BNP and like-minded parties will now enforce another round of 48-hour road-rail-waterway blockade across the country beginning from Wednesday to mount pressure on the government to step down and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The opposition parties gave a break from its action programme on Tuesday as the BNP considers November 7 as the ‘National Revolution and Solidarity Day’, marking the ‘civil-military uprising\' of November 7, 1975.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Monday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the blockade programme will be observed from 6am Wednesday to 6am Friday across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, also announced a similar programme by issuing press releases.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi claimed that their ongoing blockade was being observed successfully with the full support of the country’s people.</div><div><br></div><div>He thanked leaders and activists of BNP and like-minded parties to make the blockade programme a success.</div><div><br></div><div>The fresh agitation was announced on the last day of the opposition’s 48-hour nationwide blockade which has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including clashes with police and torching and vandalising vehicles.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the last week, the opposition’s three-day countrywide blockade passed off amid clashes and widespread incidents of torching and vandalising vehicles, leaving four people--three in Kishoreganj and one in Sylhet—killed and over three dozen of vehicles either torched or vandalized.</div><div><br></div><div>They also observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Sunday in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour into the start of BNP\'s much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 11:47:55', '2023-11-06 11:47:55'),
(9952, 9952, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The persistent anti-government political programmes enforced by BNP and like-minded political parties have cast a shadow over academic activities in the capital city and parts of the country.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Many schools and colleges in the capital have remained open despite the blockades but students’ attendance has dropped remarkably. Many guardians are reluctant to send their children to schools and colleges, especially those who live far from the educational institutions.</div><div><br></div><div>Additionally, educational institutions have been forced to postpone scheduled exams, compounding the stress and uncertainty over students\' studies.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest bout of the political turmoil saw a nationwide hartal on October 29. After the end of a three-day blockade on October 31, a two-day blockade is currently underway on November 5 and 6. This ongoing situation has left students and parents in a state of panic, with fears of a more challenging political situation throughout November and December.</div><div><br></div><div>The implications of this political unrest are most profound in divisional cities and district headquarters, including the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to the UNB reporter, many parents said they are particularly concerned about the safety of their children during their commute to and from school in these challenging times.</div><div><br></div><div>Almost all educational institutions in the capital, including Motijheel Ideal School and College, Banasree Ideal School and College, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Main Branch and Bashundhara Branch, Government Laboratory High School, Motijheel Government Girls High School, Rampura Ekramunnesa Girls\' School, Rajuk Uttara Model School and College, and Banani Bidyaniketan, have reported a significant decrease in attendance.</div><div><br></div><div>Some English medium schools have been forced to close indefinitely, while others have resorted to holding classes online.</div><div><br></div><div>Parents are increasingly concerned about the disparities between physical and online classes and are uncertain about the upcoming half-yearly exams.</div><div><br></div><div>Sarwar Alam, a parent of a child studying at English medium school \'Play-Pen\' located in Bashundhara, said, “We\'ve shifted to online classes. However, there are noticeable disparities between physical classroom instruction and online learning. With the upcoming half-yearly exam scheduled for November 10, I am uncertain about how this examination will be carried out.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Amin, a parent of a student at Ideal School and College, expressed the dilemma many parents are facing.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“My two children study at Ideal School’s Banasree branch. I didn\'t allow my children to come to school during the previous phase of the hartal and blockade. They missed a week of school. Now it is happening again. Who knows how long this will last? That\'s why I brought my child to school again. But there is a sense of fear within us, wondering what will happen and when,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The anxiety and concerns of parents are echoed by Abdul Majid Sujan,&nbsp; general secretary of the guardians’ forum at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. “The children\'s annual examination is scheduled to be held this month.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the continuous strike and blockade are creating panic among parents. We are afraid and worried about sending the children to school, especially when it comes to traveling on the road,”</div><div><br></div><div>Director of the&nbsp; Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Professor Mohammad Belal Hossain, said that the annual evaluation of schools will start on November 9, with the goal of completing the examination by November 30.</div><div><br></div><div>However, if the situation deteriorates, decisions will be made in consultation with higher authorities, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the previous schedule, the annual evaluation for class VI and VII students under the new curriculum was scheduled to begin on November 5 but has now been rescheduled to start on November 9.</div><div><br></div><div>The impact of these disruptions extends beyond the capital, with divisional and district towns also experiencing low student turnout.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the evolving situation, schools have received revised schedules for examinations. Parents are left with no choice but to take risks and send their children to schools despite the uncertain circumstances. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 13:25:03', '2023-11-06 13:25:03'),
(9953, 9953, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The first shipment of eggs from India has arrived in the country.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The price of an egg including duty is to Tk7.23. This egg imported from India entered Bangladesh through Benapole land port, Jessore in a truck on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The government issued import permits for 1.0 crore pieces. In the first shipment, one private trader imported 61,950. After being processed at the land port, the truck left the Benapole land port around 10 pm last night (Sunday).</div><div><br></div><div>According to Benapole Land Port Authority and Clearing and Forwarding (C&amp;F) agent sources, Dhaka\'s BDS Corporation imported 61950 eggs in an Indian cargo truck as its first shipment after the Ministry of Commerce gave permission to import eggs.</div><div><br></div><div>The import price of an egg is estimated at Tk 5.43, on which duty is charged at Tk1.8 per egg.</div><div><br></div><div>Director (Traffic) of Benapole land port Rezaul Karim said that the first consignment of eggs arrived from India in a truck yesterday (Sunday) evening. The eggs left the port around 10 pm when they were transferred from the Indian truck to the Bangladeshi truck, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Syed Mahidul Haque, representative of C&amp;F agent ME Enterprises of the egg importer, said transport costs will be added to this, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 13:59:01', '2023-11-06 13:59:01'),
(9954, 9954, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to backtarck on a comment he was reported to have made earlier about the need to check if a pre-war protest among army reservists pushed Hamas to carry out its attack last month.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s Channel 12 and other news outlets reported that Netanyahu said there may be a need to examine whether months of protests against his government, including by reservists who said they would no longer report for regular duty, added to Hamas\' motivation to carry out the Oct. 7 rampage through southern Israel that triggered the current war.</div><div><br></div><div>But after public backlash, Netanyahu posted on X that Hamas started a war \"because it wants to kill us all and not because of any argument within us.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"Hamas was wrong - and therefore will be eliminated. Only together will we win,\" Netanyahu said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Benny Gantz, who joined Netanyahu\'s war cabinet from the opposition as part of an emergency government, said Netanyahu must retract his comment.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Avoiding responsibility and slinging mud at the time of war is a blow to the country,\" Gantz wrote on social media platform X.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, protesters gathered outside Netanyahu\'s residence, chanting \"Jail Now!\" in a public display of anger at the failures that led to last month\'s deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>The protest, which coincided with a poll showing more than three quarters of Israelis believe Netanyahu should resign, underlined the growing public fury at their political and security leaders. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 14:08:30', '2023-11-06 14:08:30'),
(9955, 9955, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Daffodil International University has announced the suspension of academic activities for 11 days following rounds of clashes between students and locals in Savar.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The university authority announced the suspension till November 16 in a statement on Monday morning,</div><div><br></div><div>In the previous statement, it was stated that classes would be conducted online. However, this time, the university administration has suspended academic activities for 11 days.</div><div><br></div><div>The notification further mentions that the resumption of academic activities will be announced later through another statement.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 20 people were injured after clashes erupted between Daffodil International University students and locals in Savar’s Ashulia Union on Sunday. A tense situation is prevailing in the area following the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals claimed that Hasibul Hasan Antar, a student of Daffodil International University, was killed by another student Rahat and his men a few days ago.</div><div><br></div><div>But students of Daffodil International University vandalised and looted more than 150 shops in Akran Bazar area of Birulia in Savar on Friday night demanding arrest of the killers.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, local people of Changaon area of Ashulia held a discussion for the safety of life and property Sunday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>But in the night, the students vandalised more than 200 shops and houses in Changao area with sticks and sharp weapons hearing the news of the meeting, leaving at least 20 people injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Deepak Chandra Saha, officer-in-charge of Savar Model Police Station, said the situation is calm at present. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 14:33:11', '2023-11-06 14:33:11'),
(9956, 9956, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israeli forces severed northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged territory and pounded it with intense airstrikes overnight into Monday, setting the stage for an expected push into the dense confines of Gaza City and an even bloodier phase of the month-old war.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Already, the Palestinian death toll passed 10,000, the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Monday. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Some 1,400 Israelis have died, mostly civilians killed in the Oct. 7 incursion by Hamas that started the war.</div><div><br></div><div>The figures mark a grim milestone in what has quickly become the deadliest round of Israeli-Palestinian violence since Israel\'s establishment 75 years ago, with no end in sight as Israel vows to remove Hamas from power and crush its military capabilities.</div><div><br></div><div>Casualties are only likely to rise as the war turns to close urban combat. Troops are expected to enter Gaza City soon, Israeli media reported, and Palestinian militants who have had years to prepare are likely to fight street by street, launching ambushes from a vast network of tunnels.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We\'re closing in on them,\" said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman. \"We\'ve completed our encirclement, separating Hamas strongholds in the north from the south.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The military said it struck 450 targets overnight and ground troops took over a Hamas compound. A one-way corridor for residents to flee south remains available for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who remain in Gaza City and other parts of the north, according to the military.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 1.5 million Palestinians, or around 70% of Gaza\'s population, have fled their homes since the war began. Food, medicine, fuel and water are running low, and U.N.-run schools-turned-shelters are beyond capacity. Many people are sleeping on the streets outside.</div><div><br></div><div>Mobile phone and internet service went down overnight, the third territory-wide outage since the start of the war, but was gradually restored on Monday. Aid workers say the outages make it even harder for civilians to seek safety or call ambulances.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has so far rejected U.S. suggestions for a pause in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and the release of some of the estimated 240 hostages seized by Hamas in its raid. Israel has also dismissed calls for a broader cease-fire from increasingly alarmed Arab countries — including Jordan and Egypt, which made peace with it decades ago.</div><div><br></div><div>After days of intense diplomacy around the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up his tour of the region on Monday, saying efforts to secure a humanitarian pause, negotiate the release of hostages and plan for a post-Hamas Gaza were still \"a work in progress\" without pointing to any concrete achievements.</div><div><br></div><div>The war has also stoked wider tensions, with Israel and Lebanon\'s Hezbollah militant group trading fire along the border. In another sign of growing unrest, a Palestinian man stabbed and wounded two members of Israel\'s paramilitary Border Police in east Jerusalem before being shot dead, according to police and an Associated Press reporter at the scene.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with Gaza and the West Bank, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three territories for a future state. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized by most of the international community and considers the entire city its capital.</div><div><br></div><div>In northern Gaza, a Jordanian military cargo plane air-dropped medical aid to a field hospital, King Abdullah II said early Monday. It appeared to be the first such airdrop of the war, raising the possibility of another avenue for aid delivery besides Egypt\'s Rafah crossing, which has so far been the only entry point.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 450 trucks carrying aid have been allowed to enter Gaza from Egypt since Oct. 21. But humanitarian workers say the aid that has come through the Rafah crossing is insufficient to meet mounting needs in the territory, which is home to some 2.3 million Palestinians.</div><div><br></div><div>The crossing was closed on Saturday and Sunday because of a dispute among Israel, Egypt and Hamas. But it reopened Monday for the evacuation of patients and foreign passport holders, according to Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority.</div><div><br></div><div>Northern Gaza is facing a severe water shortage, as there is no fuel to pump from municipal wells and Israel shut off the region\'s main line. The U.N. office for humanitarian affairs said seven water facilities across Gaza were struck over the last two days and sustained \"major damage,\" raising the risk of sewage flooding. Israel has restored two water pipelines in central and southern Gaza, the U.N. said.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 800,000 people have heeded Israeli military orders to flee to southern Gaza. Some 2,000 people, many carrying only what they could hold in their arms, walked down Gaza\'s main north-south highway on Sunday. \"The children saw tanks for the first time. Oh world, have mercy on us,\" said one Palestinian man, who declined to give his name.</div><div><br></div><div>But Israeli bombardments have continued across the territory, and strikes in central and southern Gaza — the purported safe zone — killed dozens of people on Sunday. Israel blames civilian casualties on Hamas, accusing the militants of operating in residential neighborhoods.</div><div><br></div><div>After another strike Monday, in the southern town of Khan Younis, men dug through the rubble with sledgehammers and their bare hands. A young boy caked in dust screamed as he was rolled onto a stretcher and carried away. At least two people were killed, according to an AP reporter at the scene.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier Monday, Palestinians held a mass funeral for 66 people outside a hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah. The bodies were wrapped in white sheets on the ground outside the hospital morgue. A man with bandages wrapped around his head placed his hand on a child\'s body and wept.</div><div><br></div><div>The Health Ministry said that 10,022 people have been killed in Gaza, including over 4,100 children and 2,600 women.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, four civilians were killed by an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in south Lebanon late Sunday, including three children, a local civil defense official and state-run media reported. The Israeli military said it was reviewing the strike, after initially saying it had struck Hezbollah targets following anti-tank fire that killed an Israeli civilian. Hezbollah said it fired Grad rockets into Israel in response.</div><div><br></div><div>In the overnight strikes in Gaza, the Israeli military said it had killed a senior Hamas militant, identified as Jamal Mussa, who had allegedly carried out a shooting attack against Israeli soldiers in Gaza in 1993.</div><div><br></div><div>It said 30 Israeli troops have been killed since the ground offensive began over a week ago. Hamas and other militants have continued firing rockets into Israel, disrupting daily life even as most are intercepted or fall in open areas. Tens of thousands of Israelis have evacuated from communities near the volatile borders with Gaza and Lebanon. According to AP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 15:11:55', '2023-11-06 15:11:55'),
(9957, 9957, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Gunmen opened fire on people as they slept in a town in western Cameroon early today, leaving at least 20 dead, a local government official said.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The attackers struck before dawn and set houses on fire in Mamfe, the administrative head of the surrounding Manyu division said.</div><div><br></div><div>The town in Cameroon’s South West region is less than 50km from the border with Nigeria.</div><div><br></div><div>Seven people were in hospital and security forces were searching the area, the official Viang Mekala told Reuters.</div><div><br></div><div>“The situation is under control and the population should not panic,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Separatists in minority English-speaking parts of Cameroon have been fighting to carve out an independent state called Ambazonia since 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>Armed groups have carried out attacks, kidnappings and killings in the North West and South West regions of the predominantly French-speaking African country.</div><div><br></div><div>No group immediately claimed responsibility for today’s attack. According to Reuters reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 15:41:45', '2023-11-06 15:41:45'),
(9958, 9958, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Afghans fleeing Pakistan to avoid arrest and deportation are sleeping in the open, without proper shelter, food, drinking water and toilets once they cross the border to their homeland, aid agencies said Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have left Pakistan in recent weeks as authorities pursue foreigners they say are in the country illegally, going door-to-door to check migrants’ documentation. Pakistan set Oct.31 as a deadline to leave the country or else they’d be arrested as part of a new anti-migrant crackdown.</div><div><br></div><div>Afghans leave Pakistan from two main border crossings, Torkham and Chaman. The Taliban have set up camps on the other side for people to stay in while they wait to be moved to their place of origin in Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Aid agencies said Torkham has no proper shelter. There is limited access to drinking water, no heating source other than open fires, no lighting, and no toilets. There is open defecation and poor hygiene. UN agencies and aid groups are setting up facilities with thousands of people entering Afghanistan every day.</div><div><br></div><div>Kayal Mohammad lived in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar for 17 years. He has five children and was deported to the Afghan border almost a week ago. He told The Associated Press he wasn’t allowed to take any household belongings with him. Everything he and his family own remains in Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>His seven-year-old daughter Hawa weeps because she is cold. She drinks tea for breakfast from a cut-up plastic bottle and sleeps without a blanket.</div><div><br></div><div>Her father urged the international community for help. “We cannot ask the Taliban government,” he said. “They have nothing because they are yet to be recognized as a government. There are families who have nothing here, no land, no home. They are just living under the open sky. No one is helping.”</div><div><br></div><div>Thamindri Da Silva, from the relief and development organization World Vision International, said most people are moved to a dry riverbed once they have gone through their initial registration and processing at a transit center.</div><div><br></div><div>People enter Afghanistan with just the clothes on their back because their watches, jewelery and cash were taken at the Pakistani border, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Arshad Malik, country director for Save the Children, said many of those returning are coming back without education documents, making it difficult for them to continue their learning, as well as lacking the local Afghan languages of Dari and Pashto because they studied Urdu and English in Pakistan. According to AP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 15:57:34', '2023-11-06 15:57:34');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9959, 9959, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The general rate of&nbsp; inflation ticked up again in October, rising 30 basis points to 9.93 percent, from the 9.63 percent recorded in September. Although the rise wasn\'t astronomical, it showed the continued futility of the government\'s efforts to rein in prices, with food inflation, relating to the prices of just food items, far outpacing the general rate to hit a 10-year high of 12.56 percent in October.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) released the updated Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for October on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The food inflation rate has risen above the 12.37 percent in September. It crossed the 12 percent mark in August as well. For more than a decade, food inflation had remained in single digits. We need to look back to January 2012, for the last time food inflation was recorded at a comparable level of 12.73 percent.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The prices of daily commodities are increasing in the market. Although various initiatives have been taken to reduce inflation, it\'s not reflected in the market. Many common people are now under pressure to afford food. Wage earners\' incomes are not increasing in line with inflation.</div><div><br></div><div>In October, the price of potato, fish, rice, pulses, oil, salt, fish, meat, vegetables, spices, and tobacco products increased and the rate of food inflation increased, BBS said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to BBS data, food inflation stood at 8.50 percent in October last year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the current fiscal year 2023-24, the government has set a target of keeping inflation within 6 percent. But the first four months have not seen any progress towards that.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The average inflation in the first three months of the current fiscal was 9.74 percent, but instead of being clawed back in October, it actually rose again, towards the psychological double-digit barrier. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 16:46:18', '2023-11-06 16:46:18'),
(9960, 9960, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh chased down a target of 279 and stayed in the hunt for a place in the 2025 Champions Trophy.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, World Cup Highlights: On the brink of elimination, Sri Lanka are battling already-eliminated Bangladesh in ODI 38 of the ongoing 2023 World Cup, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday. Bangladesh are on top in their chase of a target of 280 with Shakib Al Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto putting up a century stand for the third wicket. The stand was finally broken quite dramatically by Angelo Mathews when Shakib was on Dilshan Madushanka struck early for Sri Lanka, removing opener Tanzid Hasan for nine off five balls. Then, Madushanka struck again in the seventh over, removing Litton Das (23). Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan is currently batting with Najmul Hossain Shanto and the pair will look to steady the ship. Earlier, Charith Asalanka\'s gutsy ton took Sri Lanka to 279 in 49.3 overs. Bangladesh captain Shakib won the toss and opted to bowl.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Aiming to put in a good start, Sri Lanka were rocked early by Shoriful Islam in the opening over, as the pacer removed opener Kusal Perera, courtesy of a fantastic diving catch from Mushfiqur Rahim. Perera nicked behind a good length delivery, and the wicketkeeper put in a stunning diving catch to his left, and completed a one-handed effort. With Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis rebuilding for Sri Lanka after their opening stutter, Shakib Al Hasan removed the latter in the 12th over for 19 off 30 balls. Meanwhile, Nissanka (41) departed in the 13th over, missing out on a half-century.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Live Score, Cricket World Cup 2023: BAN vs SL Latest Updates</div><div>Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Live Score, Cricket World Cup 2023: BAN vs SL Latest Updates(PTI)</div><div>Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka once again began the rebuilding process for Sri Lanka, and steadied the ship. But Samarawickrama (41) lost his wicket to Shakib in the 25th over, and then controversy struck before the next ball. Angelo Mathews arrived late to bat and Shakib appealed, to which it was was adjudged that the Sri Lankan was timed out. Mathews had to depart without facing a ball. Dhananjaya then lost his wicket in the 38th over, leaving for 34 off 36 balls. Then Asalanka formed another partnership with Theekshana (22), and after the arrival of Dushmantha Chameera, he also got his ton. Asalanka lost his wicket in the 49th over, smacking 108 off 105 balls, packed with six fours and five sixes. Meanwhile, Tanzim Hasan Sakib took a three-wicket haul for Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam and Shakib scalped two dismissals each.</div><div><br></div><div>For Bangladesh, Mustafizur is unfit and has been replaced by Tanzim Hasan. For Sri Lanka, Perera and De Silva have replaced Dimuth Karunaratne and Hemantha. Bangladesh are already knocked out from semifinal contention and will be playing for pride. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are seventh with two wins and five defeats, sitting at four points. Although almost out of contention, they need to win their remaining two matches and also hope for other results to go their way.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka have the chance to reach eight points, but the thrashing they received by India in their previous game, where they were bowled out for 55 after they restricted them for 302, has probably taken away their confidence. Meanwhile, Bangladesh were the first team to get eliminated from the semifinal race. The match will also be a contest between both teams to avoid the bottom two positions in the standings. - Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-06 16:56:39', '2023-11-06 16:56:39'),
(9961, 9961, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, is out of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India after sustaining an injury in his left index finger during yesterday\'s match against Sri Lanka.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A subsequent X-ray revealed a fracture, leaving the celebrated all-rounder sidelined for Bangladesh’s final match of the tournament against Australia, set to be held in Pune on November 11.</div><div><br></div><div>National Team Physio Bayjedul Islam Khan provided insight into the ordeal, stating, “Shakib was struck on his left index finger early in his innings but continued to bat with supportive taping and painkillers.”</div><div><br></div><div>“He underwent an emergency X-ray in Delhi after the game which confirmed the fracture on the left PIP joint. Recovery is estimated at three to four weeks. He will leave for Bangladesh today to begin his rehab,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the adversity, Shakib shone, scoring 82 off 65 balls and steering his team to a hard-fought three-wicket triumph against Sri Lanka in yesterday\'s World Cup match. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 09:16:49', '2023-11-07 09:16:49'),
(9962, 9962, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ten people were dead and 27 were injured in 1,475 fire incidents that occurred across the country last month, Fire Service and Civil Defence has said.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Of them, 163 fire incidents occurred in Dhaka city where three persons died and 15 suffered injuries, according to a press release issued by the Fire Service today.</div><div><br></div><div>The number of fire incidents in Dhaka increased by 8 in October, from 155 in September, reads the press release.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the statistics, on average more than 5 fire incidents occurred per day in Dhaka city in October, and Mirpur saw most of the fires.</div><div><br></div><div>However, monthly statistics showed that the number of fire incidents across the country decreased by 102 in October from 1,577 in September.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the press release, 501 fire incidents occurred in Dhaka division, 55 in Mymensingh, 239 in Chattogram, 213 in Rajshahi, 149 in Khulna, 59 in Sylhet, 66 in Barishal, and 193 in Rangpur last month.</div><div><br></div><div>As many as 167 people were dead and 830 were injured in other accidents, and the fire service participated in rescue operations involving 846 incidents, it said. Of them, 690 were road accidents, according to the press release.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, there were 10 accidents caused by gas cylinder explosions, 13 due to faults in gas lines, 21 elevator accidents, 3 lightning incidents, and 58 drowning incidents.</div><div><br></div><div>Thirty-eight people drowned in rivers, ponds and other water bodies across the country last month. Among them, 44 occurred in Dhaka city areas alone, killing 8 and injuring 7.</div><div><br></div><div>The fire service also said their offices across the country provided services responding to 4,817 calls over incidents of fire and accidents in October.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the fire service also provided ambulance services in response to 1,139 calls. In the month of October, 1,164 patients were transported and provided services across the country. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 09:38:24', '2023-11-07 09:38:24'),
(9963, 9963, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel’s war on Gaza is turning the Palestinian enclave into “a graveyard for children,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He spoke as the number of Palestinians killed in a month of airstrikes and artillery bombardment passed 10,000, including more than 4,000 children.</div><div><br></div><div>Protection of civilians “must be paramount,” Guterres said. “We must act now to find a way out of this brutal, awful, agonizing dead end of destruction,” he said, and again called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has defied growing international demands for a ceasefire, and says hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 should be released first.</div><div><br></div><div>UN chiefs said the war must stop now. “An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable. We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now,” they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The 18 signatories to their statement included UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and UN aid chief Martin Griffiths.</div><div><br></div><div>An overnight bombardment of Gaza by air, ground and sea was one of the most intense since Israel began its offensive following the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas killed 1,400 people and seized more than 240 hostages.</div><div><br></div><div>The Health Ministry in Gaza said dozens of people were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City and further south in Gaza neighbourhoods such as Zawaida and Deir Al-Balah.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Medical sources said at least 75 Palestinians were killed and 106 hurt in the attacks. Health officials said eight people were killed in an airstrike on the Rantissi cancer hospital in Gaza City.</div><div><br></div><div>People searched for victims or survivors at the Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza, where the health ministry said Israeli forces had killed at least 47 people in strikes on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>“All night I and the other men were trying to pick the dead from the rubble. We got children, dismembered, torn-apart flesh,” said Saeed al-Nejma, 53.</div><div><br></div><div>In a separate attack, 21 Palestinians from one family were killed in airstrikes, the Health Ministry said. Israel’s military said its strikes hit “tunnels, terrorists, military compounds, observation posts, and anti-tank missile launch posts.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Ground troops killed several Hamas fighters while taking a militant compound containing observation posts, training areas and underground tunnels, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>A US diplomatic push in the region is intended to reduce risks of the conflict escalating.</div><div><br></div><div>Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Ankara to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, whotold him that a ceasefire in Gaza needed to be declared urgently. - Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 10:00:08', '2023-11-07 10:00:08'),
(9964, 9964, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government on Tuesday announced Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry level Readymade Garment (RMG) workers, raising it by 56.25% from the existing one.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian announced the new wage structure for RMG workers which will be effective from December 1.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and representative of garment owners Md Siddiqur Rahman submitted a revised proposal for increasing workers’ salary by Tk 2100 from the previous proposal to Tk 12500 to Liaqat Ali Mollah, Chairman of the Minimum Wage Board at his office in Palatan.</div><div><br></div><div>Representative of garment owners for minimum wage Md Siddiqur Rahman, Jatiya Garment Sramik Karmachari League (JGSKL) president Sirajul Islam Rony, Liaqat Ali Mollah, chairman of the Minimum Wage Board, and labour ministry officials joined the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 22, the proposals from both sides were submitted to the Minimum Wage Board. The owners side proposed Tk 10,400 as minimum salary which the workers’ side denied to accept and they demanded Tk20,400.</div><div><br></div><div>Garments workers in the capital and adjoining areas returned to their workplaces on Sunday after 12 days of unrest for a minimum wage of Tk 23,000.</div><div><br></div><div>The minimum wage for garment workers was last fixed in 2018. Accordingly, the garment workers were getting a minimum wage of Tk 8,000. Now the minimum wage has been increased by Tk 4,500 and the salary hike rate is 56.25 percent. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 16:02:11', '2023-11-07 16:02:11'),
(9965, 9965, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Matarbari Coal-fired power plant is going to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on November 11 (Saturday).</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Power Division officials have confirmed this saying that they have been taking all necessary preparations to make the programme a success.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official sources, the first unit (600 MW) of the 1200 MW ultra super critical technology-based one of the largest power projects, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was already synchronised with the national grid on July 29 this year.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Now synchronising the second unit of the project,\" a top official of the Power Division told UNB.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCL), a subsidiary of state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), set up the 1200-MW power plant, having two units, on 1,414 acres of land in Matarbari and Dhalghata unions of Maheshkhali upazila of Cox\'s Bazar district.</div><div><br></div><div>JICA has been financing the project under which a deep-sea port is also being developed to facilitate coal unloading from ships.</div><div><br></div><div>The work of the jetty for the coal discharge with the power plant is almost finished. Vessels have also started sailing at the jetty.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources said the Prime Minister will inaugurate the deep sea port as well along with the power plant.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Some 13,104 tonnes of coal will be required daily to generate electricity at full scale. Coal discharge jetties and silos have been constructed for this.</div><div><br></div><div>Coal required for 60 days has been kept in the huge silos. Up to 80,000-tonne-capacity mother vessels can directly enter the coal jetty. And it will take one and a half to two days to unload the coal from the mother vessel.</div><div><br></div><div>Two separate ashponds are kept to store ash for a lifetime of 25 years of the power plant. One has an area of 90 acres, another spread over 600 acres. Coal yard has been prepared on 80 acres of land for coal storage.</div><div><br></div><div>A loan agreement on the project was signed between the Government of Bangladesh and JICA on June 16, 2014. The project cost was estimated at Tk 51,800 crores including Tk 43,921 crore project support by JICA.</div><div><br></div><div>According to project sources, construction of the jetty and physical infrastructure work has already been completed.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials of the CPGCL said that the project was implemented ensuring all necessary measures to prevent environmental pollution.</div><div><br></div><div>A ship carrying&nbsp; 64,300 tonnes of coal for the Matarbari plant first arrived from Indonesia on June 23 this year. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 16:09:16', '2023-11-07 16:09:16'),
(9966, 9966, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#104a5a\">Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have decreased by USD $1.21 billion to $19.45 billion, after paying import liabilities to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) for September and October.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to the Bangladesh Bank (BB), the gross reserve is $26.42 billion. But there is a difference of $5.76 billion, with BB\'s calculation based on the BPM-6 method as per International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>That is, according to the BPM-6 manual, the gross reserve was 20.66 billion. After paying ACU\'s bills, the country\'s reserves decreased to $19.45 billion on Tuesday (November 7).</div><div><br></div><div>Md Mezbaul Haque, executive director and spokesperson of BB, in this regard, told UNB that the payment of ACU has been cleared today. But the payment receipt will be tomorrow (Wednesday).</div><div><br></div><div>ACU is an international transaction settlement system. Through this, transactions between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are settled.</div><div><br></div><div>ACU is headquartered in Tehran, the capital of Iran. In this system, the central banks of the respective countries pay the import amount dueevery two months. But now Sri Lanka does not have the membership of ACU. Due to the economic crisis, the country\'s membership has been temporarily suspended.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the financial condition of Sri Lanka is stable and the foreign exchange reserve is around $3.5 billion, the membership has not been restored yet. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 16:11:45', '2023-11-07 16:11:45'),
(9967, 9967, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two special metro rail services will operate from 7:10am and 7:20am from Uttara North station from tomorrow to facilitate students and professionals of different educational institutions.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>However, the services will be available only for commuters with MRT pass or Rapid pass, according to Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL).</div><div><br></div><div>The two metro trains will stop at all metro rail stations that are currently operational, DMTCL said in a Facebook post.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, the metro service runs from 7:30am until 11:30am (12:00pm for MRT and Rapid pass holders) on Uttara-Motijheel-Uttara route and 7:30am to 8:00pm (8:30pm for MRT and Rapid pass holders) on Uttara-Agargaon-Uttara route.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Agargaon-Motijheel section of MRT Line-6 on Saturday (November 5), almost a year after the first part (Uttara-Agargaon) of the line (Uttara-Agargaon) opened to the public. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-07 16:14:36', '2023-11-07 16:14:36'),
(9968, 9968, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A covered van of a courier service was set on fire in the Shapmara area of Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari on Wednesday morning amid the first day of the countrywide 48-hour blockade BNP and like-minded parties called.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The fire service rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Jakaria, officer-in-charge of Matiranga Police Station, confirmed the matter.</div><div><br></div><div>Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police Mukta Dhar said they are ready to provide all possible assistance to ensure the smooth movement of the general public.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP leaders and activists were seen picketing in support of the blockade on different roads. Although the ticket counter for the long-distance buses from Khagrachhari is open, no bus has left the district, the OC said, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>Vehicular movements in the city and suburbs were normal, with few trucks entering due to intensified police measures, he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 09:13:17', '2023-11-08 09:13:17'),
(9969, 9969, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A female garment worker was killed and ten were injured in a clash between police and RMG workers at Konabari in Gazipur on Wednesday (November 08, 2023).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Anjuara Khatun, 30, wife of Jamal Hossain of Sirajganj district.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said workers of garment factories took to the streets in the morning in Konabari, demanding Tk 23,000 as the minimum salary.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police fired rubber bullets, sound grenades and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them, triggering a clash that left eleven people injured.</div><div><br></div><div>The agitating garment workers claimed that Anjuara died on the way to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a female garment worker — injured in the clash — was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Garment workers have been demonstrating, demanding to increase their basic salary to Tk 23,000, for several days across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday fixed Tk 12,500 as minimum salary for entry-level RMG workers. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 09:31:59', '2023-11-08 09:31:59'),
(9970, 9970, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The trailer for Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur was unveiled today. The film based on Sam Manekshaw features Vicky Kaushal in lead role.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Vicky Kaushal is gearing up for his film Sam Bahadur. On Tuesday, the cast and makers released the eagerly-awaited film\'s trailer. The period film stars Vicky as Sam Manekshaw, the charismatic war hero, and Fatima Sana Shaikh as late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Sam Bahadur also features Sanya Malhotra as Silloo, Sam\'s wife.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Vicky, who last collaborated with filmmaker Meghna Gulzar on the spy thriller Raazi, transforms into Sam Manekshaw, complete with his distinctive handlebar moustache, in the film.</div><div><br></div><div>We\'re now on WhatsApp. Click to join.</div><div>Earlier on Monday, taking to Instagram, Vicky wrote along with a new poster, “This is the story about the man, who dedicated his life to the Indian Army, to the nation. Trailer out tomorrow! Sam Bahadur in cinemas 1.12.2023.” In the poster, Vicky is seen wearing an Army uniform and walking near his soldiers, who are standing in a line.</div><div><br></div><div>The trailer builds on the teaser released last month and depicts Vicky Kaushal bring to life every inch of India\'s first Field Marshal. He\'s seen giving a tough talk to his fellow armymen, while holding his own against several high-profile leaders, including Indira Gandhi, the then-prime minister. The film is set in the late 1960s and early \'70s. ‍According to Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 09:58:32', '2023-11-08 09:58:32'),
(9971, 9971, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home on Wednesday morning after attending the International Conference on Women in Islam and performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the prime minister and her entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 7:41 am.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the flight departed King AbdulAziz International Airport here at 10:54 pm&nbsp; on Tuesday local time.</div><div><br></div><div>On November&nbsp; 5, the premier went to Madina on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>On that day, she performed Ziarat of the Rawja Mubarak of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) at Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina and offered Fateha there after Asar prayers.</div><div><br></div><div>Then she left for Makkah and performed holy Umrah at the Al Masjid Al-Haram ((Kaaba Sharif)) after Esha prayers ob the same day.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On November 6, the prime minister attended the conference and delivered her speech.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On the sidelines of the conference, she also held meetings its top officials of OIC and member countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from joining the conference, she attended the opening of the Women in Islam Exhibition and banquet dinner in honour of her.</div><div><br></div><div>The Kingdom in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) hosted the conference on November 6-8. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 10:15:19', '2023-11-08 10:15:19'),
(9972, 9972, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The UN rights chief Volker Turk has urged Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to release main opposition leader Khaleda Zia for urgent medical treatment outside the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi doctors have said Zia, a two-times former premier, was at \"high risk\" of dying without overseas medical intervention abroad after the Hasina government rejected pleas to let her leave.</div><div><br></div><div>Zia, 78, heads the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and has been living under effective house arrest since her release from a 17-year prison sentence in 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>The two women are known as the Battling Begums and their internecine rivalry has dominated the politics of the South Asian nation of 170 million people for over four decades.</div><div><br></div><div>Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a letter to Hasina that Zia\'s release would be seen as \"an important step towards political dialogue and reconciliation\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"I appeal to your government to consider her release to enable her to receive the urgent and specialised medical care that she requires outside of the country,\" he wrote in the letter dated November 1 and seen by AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>Zia has advanced liver cirrhosis, diabetes and heart problems. Three US doctors carried out minor surgery on her last month, but the government rejected a family request to allow her to travel to Germany for a liver transplant.</div><div><br></div><div>The country is gearing up for general elections due in January, with the opposition holding regular protests, and Zia\'s death would likely trigger huge demonstrations.</div><div>Hasina, who has been in power for nearly 15 years, faces mounting pressure from Western powers to hold free and fair elections, which could set the stage for a comeback by Zia\'s resurgent BNP.</div><div><br></div><div>Turk also asked the government \"to prevent any arbitrary detention including detention that could be perceived as politically motivated or which might impact the environment for fair and credible elections\". Accoridng to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 13:39:12', '2023-11-08 13:39:12'),
(9973, 9973, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Deadly exchanges between the Israeli military and members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia have been occurring with alarming frequency for the past several weeks, leaving not just the people of the two countries tense and jittery but those in the wider Middle East region too.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Areas along the border between the two countries have borne the brunt of the hostilities, triggered by the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip, which came in the wake of the Palestinian militant group Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>Just how far Hezbollah is willing to get embroiled in a separate conflict with Israel is a matter of intense speculation. Pressure is mounting on Hezbollah and its Palestinian allies to open a new front against Israel in southern Lebanon, but so is the fear of depleting their valuable war arsenal and inviting a massive US military retaliation.</div><div><br></div><div>“Watching the horror of the Israeli attack on Gaza, many Lebanese are reliving the nightmare of the destruction of their own country in the Israel-Hezbollah war of July-August 2006,” Lebanese economist Nadim Shehadi wrote in a recent opinion piece in Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>Having already deployed two aircraft-carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean early in the siege of Gaza, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the US has now sent an Ohio-class guided missile submarine to help deter a regional war.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (Hezbollah) are facing pressure from the ‘axis of resistance,’ like Hamas and other Palestinians, who believe that Hezbollah should play a leading role in the next phase,” Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at Carnegie Middle East Center, told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>Regardless of Hezbollah’s strategic calculations, the cost of the near-daily exchanges between its fighters and the IDF keeps rising steadily in both human and material terms.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, a woman and three children were killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s National News Agency said the four victims were the sister of a local radio correspondent and her three grandchildren, aged 10, 12 and 14.</div><div><br></div><div>Najib Mikati, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, condemned the Israeli attack as a “heinous crime” and said the government would file a complaint at the UN Security Council.</div><div><br></div><div>Shortly after the attack, Hezbollah said it fired Katyusha rockets at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona. In a statement, the group said it would not tolerate attacks on civilians and that its response would be “firm and strong.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Sunday, four rescue workers were injured in an Israeli bombing in southern Lebanon that hit two ambulances, according to state media.</div><div><br></div><div>“What is happening is ungodly, it’s evil, both in Gaza and the civilians who are dying here in Lebanon,” Ali, 43, a businessman from Dahieh, a predominantly Shiite suburb south of Beirut, told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>Since Oct. 7, at least 81 people have been killed on the Lebanese side in cross-border skirmishes, according to the AFP news agency. That figure includes 59 Hezbollah fighters.</div><div><br></div><div>Three of those deaths occurred on Sunday, according to Hezbollah sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, six soldiers and two civilians have been killed on the Israeli side, according to IDF statements.</div><div><br></div><div>The tit-for-tat attacks across the Lebanon-Israel border, in spite of the presence of a UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) in the area, have raised concerns that Israel’s use of overwhelming force to destroy Hamas in Gaza could touch off a wider conflagration, drawing in not only Lebanon but also Syria, Iraq, Yemen and even Iran.</div><div><br></div><div>In his first speech since Israel’s siege of Gaza, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday warned Israel against the “folly” of an attack on Lebanon, with the rider that halting its “aggression against Gaza” would prevent a regional conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Israel would be committing “the biggest foolishness in its history” if it launched an attack against his fighters. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, fired back with his own hyperbole: “Don’t test us. A mistake will exact a price you can’t even imagine.”</div><div><br></div><div>Many of Nasrallah’s followers had expected him to announce during his speech that Hezbollah was going to become directly involved in the conflict instead of restricting its role to launching sporadic attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the general consensus in Lebanon, based purely on Nasrallah’s words, is that Hezbollah will not sacrifice blood and treasure in a war not directly related to the interests of the group or the Iranian regime.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who oppose Hezbollah now will say: ‘See they didn’t defend the cause they claim,’” said Ali, the businessman. “And if he does join the war, they’ll say: ‘See, he dragged Lebanon into war.’”</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to a 2022 US-brokered deal between Lebanon and Israel, he said: “It is unfortunate because we were just starting to make some advancements with Washington, especially after the maritime border disputes they were brokering. According to Arab News reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 13:42:47', '2023-11-08 13:42:47'),
(9974, 9974, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Belgium’s deputy prime minister called on the Belgian government on Wednesday to adopt sanctions against Israel and investigate the bombings of hospitals and refugee camps in Gaza.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It is time for sanctions against Israel. The rain of bombs is inhumane,” deputy prime minister Petra De Sutter told Nieuwsblad newspaper. “It is clear that Israel does not care about the international demands for a cease-fire,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel struck at Gaza in response to a Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which gunmen killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. The war has descended into the bloodiest episode in the generations-long Israel-Palestinian conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>De Sutter said the European Union should immediately suspend its association agreement with Israel, which aims at better economic and political cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said an import ban on products from occupied Palestinian territories should be implemented and violent settlers, politicians, soldiers responsible for war crimes should be banned from entering the EU.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, she said, Belgium should increase funding for the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate the bombings while cutting money flows to Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is a terrorist organization. Terror costs money and there must be sanctions on the companies and people who provide Hamas with money,” De Sutter said.</div><div><br></div><div>With the war now entering its second month, UN officials and G7 nations stepped up appeals for a humanitarian pause in the hostilities to help alleviate the suffering in Gaza, where buildings have been flattened and basic supplies are running out. Palestinian officials say more than 10,000 people have been killed, 40 percent of them children. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 13:49:19', '2023-11-08 13:49:19'),
(9975, 9975, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday expressed hope that there will be no need to summon foreign diplomats before the upcoming national election on any issues.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have reminded them of their limits in the past. It\'s too close to election and they will remain careful,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The State Minister made the remarks while responding to a question about previous summoning of foreign diplomats after their statements about the country’s internal politics.</div><div><br></div><div>“After the recent months\' engagement, I do not think it will require (summoning any of the diplomat)... They said they will remain careful as their statements will have a bigger impact at this time,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahriar Alam said everyone is now in election mode and it is too close to the election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that the government will take necessary steps if needed.</div><div><br></div><div>“However, if needed, it will be sad, and we will have no choice but to do whatever we think is right,” Shahriar added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 14:07:44', '2023-11-08 14:07:44'),
(9976, 9976, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised as a “historic step” a recommendation by the European Union executive on Wednesday to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions, even as it fights to repel Russia’s war.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The recommendation by the European Commission is an important milestone on Kyiv’s road to Western integration and a geo-political gambit for the EU as Ukraine has been fighting against a large-scale Russian invasion since February 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The Commission said the talks should formally be launched once Kyiv satisfies remaining conditions related to reining in corruption, adopting a law on lobbying in line with EU standards and strengthening national minority safeguards.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is a strong and historic step that paves the way to a stronger EU with Ukraine as its member,” Zelensky said on social media, vowing to press on with the necessary reforms.</div><div><br></div><div>The 27 national EU leaders are next due to decide mid-December on whether to accept the Commission’s recommendation. Any such decision requires unanimity of the bloc’s 27 members, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle.</div><div><br></div><div>If accepted, EU officials expect formal accession talks with Kyiv to start next year. Such negotiations take years before candidates meet extensive legal and economic criteria to join. The bloc is also wary of taking in a country at war.</div><div><br></div><div>“Ukraine continues to face tremendous hardship and tragedy provoked by Russia’s war of aggression,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “And yet, the Ukrainians are deeply reforming their country, even as they are fighting a war that is existential for them.”</div><div><br></div><div>Her Commission’s report on Wednesday showed that Kyiv met four out of seven conditions to start formal accession talks, though more were near completion. Von der Leyen said the Brussels-based Commission would reassess progress next March.</div><div><br></div><div>A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest would not support Ukraine’s EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular as regards education. Source: Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 14:17:47', '2023-11-08 14:17:47'),
(9977, 9977, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two minor cousins drowned in a pond while playing at Algadiya village in Nagarkanda upazila of Faridpur on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were Abu Bakkar, 5, son of Md Jafar Sheikh and Nahida Akter, 4, daughter of Shahfiqul Islam, of Algadiya village under Charjoshordi union of the upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals said the two children might have drowned while playing near a pond at noon.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage of search, the children were found floating in the pond and rushed to Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared them dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Kamruzzama Saheb Fakir, chairman of the union parishad, confirmed the death of the children. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 14:23:28', '2023-11-08 14:23:28'),
(9978, 9978, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Most have targeted Chinese victims, but experts warn that Japan’s “yakuza” mobsters are getting increasingly involved.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Keo Vanthan, a spokesman for Cambodia’s immigration police, told AFP that the 25 suspects were arrested in Phnom Penh in September for “online scams” at the request of Japanese authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>Chhay Kim Khoeun, Cambodia’s National Police spokesman, said the suspects targeted people in Japan.</div><div><br></div><div>“They committed some activities that affect the interests of Japanese people,” he told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>The yakuza emerged from the tumult of post-war Japan, becoming multibillion-dollar criminal organisations involved in gambling, drugs, prostitution, loan sharking, protection rackets, and white-collar crime.</div><div><br></div><div>“Like other crime groups in East Asia they have been under pressure at home and looking for opportunities, and Southeast Asia and in particular the Mekong have been an attractive place to do business,” the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s deputy regional representative Benedikt Hofmann said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said yakuza activity started picking up around 2017 and has become more significant in the past year or two.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2018, a retired Japanese crime boss was arrested in Thailand after more than 14 years on the run after photos of his “yakuza” tattoos and a missing little finger went viral.Cambodia deported 25 Japanese people today who were suspected of involvement in online scam operations.</div><div><br></div><div>Criminal networks have set up numerous compounds in Cambodia, Myanmar, and elsewhere to run online scams fleecing victims for large sums of money. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 14:56:38', '2023-11-08 14:56:38'),
(9979, 9979, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tahreer Azzam, a nurse at Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem, has been caring for young, desperately-ill Palestinian patients for 16 years.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>But amid Israel’s relentless bombardment in Gaza since Oct 7, she now struggles to find them.</div><div><br></div><div>Usually, around 100 patients from Gaza receive care each day for complex health needs such as treatment for rare cancers and open heart surgery, at hospitals like Azzams, as well as in the occupied West Bank, Israel and other countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).</div><div><br></div><div>That came to a halt after Oct 7, when Hamas broke through the Gaza border fence, killing nearly 1,400 people inside Israel and taking some 240 hostages.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, Israel imposed a complete siege on Gaza, bombarding the coastal enclave and launching a ground offensive. More than 10,000 Palestinians, including over 4,000 children, have been killed, according to health officials in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Azzam and her colleagues have been trying to reach their patients ever since, including checking Facebook to see whether they are still alive.</div><div><br></div><div>“We saw a post announcing that one of our child patients had been killed in the strikes. He had been at the department only a week before. He was six years old,” she told Reuters in an interview.</div><div><br></div><div>The WHO is pushing for the most vulnerable among the chronically ill to be allowed out for treatment. Other countries have offered to take in patients, including Egypt, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates.</div><div><br></div><div>Before the war, around 20,000 patients per year sought permits from Israel to leave the Gaza Strip for healthcare, many of them requiring repeat trips across the border.</div><div><br></div><div>Tahreer Azzam, a nurse at Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem, has been caring for young, desperately-ill Palestinian patients for 16 years.</div><div><br></div><div>But amid Israel’s relentless bombardment in Gaza since Oct 7, she now struggles to find them.</div><div><br></div><div>Usually, around 100 patients from Gaza receive care each day for complex health needs such as treatment for rare cancers and open heart surgery, at hospitals like Azzams, as well as in the occupied West Bank, Israel and other countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).</div><div><br></div><div>That came to a halt after Oct 7, when Hamas broke through the Gaza border fence, killing nearly 1,400 people inside Israel and taking some 240 hostages.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, Israel imposed a complete siege on Gaza, bombarding the coastal enclave and launching a ground offensive. More than 10,000 Palestinians, including over 4,000 children, have been killed, according to health officials in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Azzam and her colleagues have been trying to reach their patients ever since, including checking Facebook to see whether they are still alive.</div><div><br></div><div>“We saw a post announcing that one of our child patients had been killed in the strikes. He had been at the department only a week before. He was six years old,” she told Reuters in an interview.</div><div><br></div><div>The WHO is pushing for the most vulnerable among the chronically ill to be allowed out for treatment. Other countries have offered to take in patients, including Egypt, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates.</div><div><br></div><div>Before the war, around 20,000 patients per year sought permits from Israel to leave the Gaza Strip for healthcare, many of them requiring repeat trips across the border. - reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 15:11:27', '2023-11-08 15:11:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9980, 9980, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday said onions and potatoes will be available at lower prices by mid-December.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while replying to questions from journalists after a meeting of the National Tariff Policy Monitoring and Review Committee at the secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the prices of onion may decrease when the new crop will arrive in market.”Murikata variety of onion will be available in market next and price may come down.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Minister also emphasized the need for promoting local production.</div><div><br></div><div>“Again, as new potatoes start will hit the market at the end of December, then price will come down. Now it\'s a matter of our own production. Again, when we talk about oil and sugar, it depends on the price in the international market. Depending on the context, prices will increase or decrease. We have 20 per cent shortage of onion what we need. We meet this by importing, 90 per cent of which comes from India. The price has gone up there too,” said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>He mentioned that the prices of vegetables fluctuates due to factors such as rain, transportation cost, and occasional hoarding. However, he said prices of certain vegetables have started to decrease, and he expected the prices of winter vegetables will come down in the coming days.</div><div><br></div><div>Tipu Munshi said they hope to see some relief in prices as imports continue.” In the meantime, the first shipment of imported eggs has entered the country. I see its impact on the market. If more eggs are imported you will find egg&nbsp; at the price fixed by the government.” According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 15:19:26', '2023-11-08 15:19:26'),
(9981, 9981, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Wednesday said that the movement will continue till the goal of restoring democracy is achieved.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said this while speaking at a virtual press briefing amid the first day of the countrywide 48-hour blockade the BNP and its like-minded parties called on wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our leaders and activists will carry out every programme that the party will announce. Our destination is either a prison or a highway. There is nothing in the middle of these two,” Rizvi said.</div><div><br></div><div>“They can take us to prison, hurt us in many ways, torture us, but we will accept everything and this journey will continue till democracy is restored.”</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that member secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan East Chhatra Dal Al-Amin was picked by plainclothes members of the law enforcing agencies, Rizvi said, “We do not know where one of our student leaders is ...and how he is. Sheikh Hasina\'s law enforcement agencies and their intelligence agencies are doing these things every day.”</div><div><br></div><div>This is for creating an overall anarchic and intimidating environment so that the BNP leaders and activists cannot continue their movement, but the government will fail, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi condemned the killing of a female garment worker in a police attack on the garment industry workers while they were demonstrating for better wages at Konabari in Gazipur.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi claimed that more than 515 leaders and activists were arrested and 1,920 were sued in 18 cases in the last 24 hours amid countrywide blockade. “A total of 12,445 leaders and activists were arrested and 579 cases were filed since the October 28 grand rally.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The first day of the two days of blockade is underway amid so much oppression, torture and sabotage. The programme has been successful,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“No long distance vehicles were run throughout the country. Because they didn’t get passengers. That means people have support to our programme,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 16:05:01', '2023-11-08 16:05:01'),
(9982, 9982, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least five members of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) sustained injuries in a blast of an Armed Personnel Carriers (APC) during a clash with readymade garment (RMG) workers on Dhaka-Tangail Highway on Wednesday afternoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The injured are Prabir, 30, Fuad, 28, Khorshed, 30, Ashiqul, 27, and Bipul, 24.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals said RMG workers were demonstrating on the highway demanding a monthly minimum wage of Tk 23,000 instead of government-announced Tk12,500.</div><div><br></div><div>At one stage of the demonstration, a clash broke out between the RMG workers and law enforcers, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The APC went off suddenly when it was being used to tackle the demonstrating workers. Five cops who were inside the APC, sustained injuries in the blast.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Initially, they were rushed to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital and three of them shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), said Shaheed Tajuddin Hospital\'s resident physician Rafiqul Islam.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Prabir, Fuad, and Khorshed, 30, were sent to the DMCH for better treatment, he said, adding that Ashiqul and Bipul, 24, were undergoing treatment in Gazipur.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Ibrahim Khan, deputy commissioner (DC-DB) of the GMP, could not be reached over mobile phone despite repeated attempts in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the morning, a female RMG worker named Anjuara Khatun was killed and 10 were injured in a clash between police and workers at Konabari in Gazipur.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said workers of garment factories took to the streets in the morning in Konabari, demanding Tk 23,000 as the monthly minimum salary.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police fired rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas to disperse them, triggering a clash that left 11 people injured.</div><div><br></div><div>The protesting garment workers claimed that Anjuara died on the way to the DMCH. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-08 16:14:25', '2023-11-08 16:14:25'),
(9983, 9983, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today (November 09, 2023) reiterated his country\'s non-interference approach towards other countries\' internal affairs, noting that the future of Bangladesh will be determined by the people of Bangladesh.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He laid emphasis on maintaining political and social stability through joint efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our policy is very clear. We don’t intervene. It is our hope that there will be stability after the next election and that our cooperation will continue,” the Chinese ambassador said. He hoped that the election will be held based on “constitution and laws.”</div><div><br></div><div>He was addressing an event titled “BRI@10: Ushering in Next Golden Decade” at a Dhaka hotel, organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB).</div><div><br></div><div>CEAB President Ke Changliang spoke as the special guest at the event. DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also spoke on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want stability. We hope, Chinese people and property will be protected. So far, we feel safe. Thanks for the efforts that have been taken,” said the ambassador.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is the pre-election year in Bangladesh. Many friends from the media have come to ask me what is China’s observations on the current political situation in Bangladesh. I want to underscore that the upcoming election is an internal affair of Bangladesh,” said Ambassador Yao.</div><div><br></div><div>As a matter of foreign policy, he said, China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries, and opposes any force interfering in internal affairs of other countries.</div><div><br></div><div>“The future of Bangladesh shall be determined by people of Bangladesh. China is full of confidence about the better future of Bangladesh as well as China-Bangladesh relations,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“As a friend of Bangladesh and a country with large investments, enterprises and personnel in Bangladesh,” he said, “China sincerely hopes that all stakeholders in Bangladesh would take the fundamental interests of the people into full consideration, properly resolve their differences, and jointly maintain political and social stability.”</div><div><br></div><div>In two years’ time, China and Bangladesh will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.</div><div><br></div><div>The envoy said China is willing to take this opportunity to work with Bangladeshi friends from all walks of life to stay committed to the themes of peace, stability and development, push bilateral relations to a new level, and usher in a new era of friendly cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, he said they are discussing the possibility of a free trade agreement between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>The ambassador said they want more trade and investment between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>He laid emphasis on boosting Bangladesh\'s exports through product diversification and having a more balanced trade in the next couple of years.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question on political dialogue, he said this answer should come from the political leaders, but they hope to see political and social stability in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Ambassador Yao said the repatriation of the Rohingyas is a very complicated process that requires international support.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Rohingyas are in very poor condition, and all stakeholders need to come forward to achieve the repatriation goal.</div><div><br></div><div>Delivering his welcome remarks, DCAB President Lotus said the historic trip to China by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a young politician in the mid-1950s remains forever etched in their minds. \"And today, Bangladesh and China are moving closer together as friends on the international stage,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 09:05:09', '2023-11-09 09:05:09'),
(9984, 9984, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said the Election Commission is determined to hold the next general election in the stipulated time and procedures as its constitutional obligation.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We told (President Mohammed Shahabuddin) that we, the Election Commission, are determined to hold the election in the stipulated time and fixed method as per the constitutional responsibility and obligation bestowed upon us,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC said this while talking to reporters after an EC delegation headed by him met President Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban here in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they informed the president about their (EC’s) overall preparation taken for holding the upcoming national election.</div><div><br></div><div>The President expressed satisfaction about their preparations and assured them of extending his cooperation if necessary.</div><div><br></div><div>“He (the President) assured that he would always be ready to extend any sort of assistance and cooperation for the sake of a free election,” said Habibul Awal.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, the EC said if needed, they would seek his (President’s) cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>“He (The President) said the democratic and constitutional continuation will have to be upheld at any cost,” said the CEC.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they told the president that they continue seeking cooperation tirelessly from all political parties, the government and the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“We assured him that we are optimistic that we will be able to complete the upcoming parliamentary elections in time as per the constitutional obligation amid cooperation from all (stakeholders),” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>About the tentative election schedule, the CEC said they informed the president that the election is very imminent. The election will have to be held before January 29 next. “But we still have not made a complete decision (over the schedule),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will take the final decision over the schedule through discussion among us (election commissioners). We’ll announce the election schedule soon,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a question if any talks were held to hold dialogues to dispose of the political dispute, the CEC replied in negative saying that no such discussion was held.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 09:09:22', '2023-11-09 09:09:22'),
(9985, 9985, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 5.2-magnitude earthquake jolted Jordan-Syria region at 0232 GMT on Thursday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 36.53 degrees north latitude and 36.30 degrees east longitude. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 09:50:43', '2023-11-09 09:50:43'),
(9986, 9986, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Britain’s government escalated its row with London’s police chief on Thursday over the handling of a pro-Palestinian march this weekend, accusing his officers of taking a softer stance toward left-wing causes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Plans for a demonstration in London on Saturday’s Armistice Day has sparked a row between government and police, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying he would hold the force accountable for any trouble after it said there was not enough reason to ban it.</div><div><br></div><div>London has been the venue for some of the biggest demonstrations in Europe since militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, with tens of thousands of marchers gathering each weekend to demand an end to Israel’s retaliatory bombing of Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Police have said they expect a significant demonstration on Saturday, Nov. 11, the anniversary of the end of World War One but that there are no plans for protest on Nov. 12, when formal Remembrance Sunday events are held in central London.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunak has called the march disrespectful but police commissioner, Mark Rowley, has said any ban would require intelligence of a threat of serious disorder, and that such bans had not been implemented for a decade.</div><div><br></div><div>Interior Minister Suella Braverman has called the demonstrations “hate marches.” Writing in The Times on Thursday she said they were an “assertion of primacy by certain groups — particularly Islamists” and a show of strength.</div><div><br></div><div>“Unfortunately, there is a perception that senior police officers play favorites when it comes to protesters,” she wrote. “During COVID, why was it that lockdown objectors were given no quarter by public order police yet Black Lives Matters demonstrators were enabled, allowed to break rules and even greeted with officers taking the knee?“</div><div><br></div><div>Braverman, seen as a possible future leader of the governing Conservative Party, said while freedom of speech and assembly were long-held traditions in Britain, there was “a debate to be had” over whether some public displays were so offensive they should be banned.</div><div><br></div><div>Neil Basu, a former senior officer in London’s Met Police, said the political criticism could increase the likelihood of counter protesters turning up, increasing the risk of violence.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s somewhat ironic that all of this rhetoric about this march might actually be increasing the intelligence case, to have it banned,” he told LBC Radio.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly 200 people have been arrested since the Oct. 7 attack for hate crimes in Britain, including antisemitic and Islamophobic offenses, and public order offenses, many of which were racially aggravated and linked to protests. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 10:08:38', '2023-11-09 10:08:38'),
(9987, 9987, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg \"personally rejected\" proposals aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of teenagers on Facebook and Instagram, internal communications shared as part of an ongoing lawsuit have revealed, reports CNN.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to the unsealed communications, Zuckerberg overruled senior executives, including Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, who advocated for increased measures to protect more than 30 million teens using Instagram in the United States.</div><div><br></div><div>One notable rejection involved a 2019 proposal to disable Instagram\'s \"beauty filters,\" which digitally alter users\' appearances and have been linked to promoting unrealistic body image expectations, negatively impacting teens\' mental health, said the report.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite broad support from top executives, Zuckerberg insisted that there was a \"demand\" for the filters and claimed he had seen \"no data\" indicating harm.</div><div><br></div><div>The lawsuit revealed internal tensions within Meta, with executives expressing concerns about the lack of investment in well-being initiatives. Instagram\'s policy chief, Karina Newton, and Meta\'s vice president of product design, Margaret Gould Stewart, had recommended disabling beauty filters based on advice from academics and external advisors. However, after Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth brought the matter to Zuckerberg\'s attention, the proposal was rejected.</div><div><br></div><div>The newly unveiled documents also accused Meta of exploiting the psychology of adolescent brains and claimed that Zuckerberg personally set goals for increasing user engagement on Instagram, potentially prioritising profits over user wellbeing.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, Meta spokesman Andy Stone defended the company, emphasising that they have a robust central team overseeing youth well-being efforts and have implemented various tools to support teens and families. Stone also stated that Meta banned filters promoting cosmetic surgery, changes in skin colour, or extreme weight loss. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 10:50:22', '2023-11-09 10:50:22'),
(9988, 9988, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to field against Sri Lanka on Thursday as they make a last push for a World Cup semi-final berth with rain threatening to play spoilsport.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Kiwis have lost four straight matches and made one change from their previous defeat to Pakistan in a rain-hit game at the same venue in Bengaluru last weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>Fit-again fast bowler Lockie Ferguson comes in for leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.</div><div><br></div><div>\"A little bit of weather around. A few unknowns,\" said Williamson.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our focus has been on the type of cricket we want to play. Hopefully we can make a few improvements on past performances.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Kiwis remain slight favourites in the hunt for the remaining semi-final spot as they have a better run rate than rivals Pakistan and Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Victory in the match and defeats for Pakistan and Afghanistan will take them clear on 10 points and into the semis, but a loss will leave their fate out of their hands.</div><div><br></div><div>Table-toppers India, South Africa and Australia have already booked their places in the final-four of the 10-team tournament.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, are already out of the semi-final race but have Champions Trophy qualification on the line.</div><div><br></div><div>The top seven teams from this World Cup will gain entry into the 2025 tournament where hosts Pakistan will have automatic qualification.</div><div><br></div><div>The teams are still hurting from the \"timed out\" dismissal -- the first in international cricket history -- for Angelo Mathews in their previous loss to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Mendis said New Zealand \"is a calm team\" when asked about their previous ill-tempered encounter with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne takes the place of fast bowler Kasun Rajitha.</div><div><br></div><div>Teams:</div><div><br></div><div>New Zealand: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (capt), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham (wkt), Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt/wkt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka</div><div><br></div><div>Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (RSA), Joel Wilson (WIS)</div><div><br></div><div>TV Umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG)</div><div><br></div><div>Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND) - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 11:05:43', '2023-11-09 11:05:43'),
(9989, 9989, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The ongoing political and labour unrest has hit the country\'s economy at a wrong time.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Since September 28 the BNP-led opposition has imposed on-again off-again nationwide hartals and blockades to press for resignation of the government paving the way for a free and fair election under a non-partisan caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>The situation has been compounded as the political unrest coincides with continuing protests by garment workers for hiking their wage.</div><div><br></div><div>The protests have been marked by clashes with police, casualties and torching of vehicles, mainly buses.</div><div><br></div><div>The anti-government protests has hit the country even as the economy, smarting from Covid-19 setbacks, is struggling with the foreign exchange shortage, the value of taka sliding over 30 percent, double-digit inflation, the high price of energy and labour unrest cantering salary hike, economists say expressing worries.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bank has recently held discussions with prominent economists and its former governors on the ways to overcome the situation.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The invited economists suggested policy changes to overcome the US dollar crisis, a stable exchange rate and reduce the inflation at a tolerable level, according to sources familiar with the talks.</div><div><br></div><div>The labour unrest for higher wage in the garment sector is also solvable by the RMG owners and policymakers of the sector, they opined.</div><div><br></div><div>But the economists and businesspeople felt that they have little to say about the political unrest except suggesting a consensus among the political parties on how to hold the next election which may be held by first week of January.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Talking with UNB former senior economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dr Ahsan H Mansur said the political conflicts are pushing the economy towards great uncertainty.</div><div><br></div><div>Until there is a peaceful solution to the impasse on the upcoming national election, this situation may continue having dire economic and social consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>“But so far there is no sign of flexibility in the attitude of politicians. Disruption of production activities for a few days can be a long-term effect. This will lead to an adverse effect to inflationary pressures, dollar crisis, and employment opportunities,” said Mansur.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Export-import, private sector credit growth, remittance inflow, investment, jobs creation, GDP growth, revenue collection, and all other sectors will be affected by this political uncertainty, said Mansur, who is also chairman of Policy Research Institute (PRI), a private think tank.</div><div><br></div><div>He said a key source of the country’s foreign exchange income is the export sector. An average of $5 billion a month comes from the export of goods.</div><div><br></div><div>Exports of goods fell by 14 percent in October compared to the same month of the previous fiscal year, he pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>Garment exports fell by 13 percent in October compared to September. Exports worth $3.76 billion were earned in the month in October FY2023-24. That is $600 million less than the same month FY2022-23.</div><div><br></div><div>FBCCI president Mahbubul Alam said traders are worried about the strikes and blockades. This is seriously disrupting the product supply system. This has led to hike in the prices of many items,</div><div><br></div><div>He said the businesspeople feel that there should be a political compromise anyway. Everyone has to consider the economy and the interests of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Faruque Hasan told UNB that amid the election-centered conflict and recent labour unrest the buyers of Bangladeshi products are expressing concern.</div><div><br></div><div>Some brand buyers have reduced export orders due to the uncertainty of getting the product in hand on time, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Buyers are worried; they want us to understand the situation. They have been requested for a meeting on behalf of Buyers Forum in Dhaka,” the BGMEA President said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Shop Owners Association General Secretary Md. Zahirul Haque Bhuiyan said that a day’s strike causes a loss of Tk 6000 to 6,500 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The economic loss from the siege is also huge. Some shops remain open during the blockade. But buyers are a few. The daily loss in sales can reach up to Tk. 5,000 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the political parties to reach an understanding for an early solution to the problem and save the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>“All have to keep the country’s interest above everything else,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Lokman Hossain, general secretary of Karwan Bazar Kitchen Market Traders Association, said that supply of goods has been affected by the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>The number of cargo trucks arriving at the market came down by at least 30 to 40 percent during the protest days.</div><div><br></div><div>“There are a few buyers in the market. If the blockade continues and goods trucks are unable to arrive, there will be problems in the supply chain,” Lokman said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Masrur Reaz, economist and Chairman of Policy Exchange told UNB that political uncertainty affects all the sectors of the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>This should be resolved with the consent of political parties for the sake of recovering the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that growing political uncertainty will bring a double blow to the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div><br></div><div>The domestic supply chain is disrupted, production is being affected and buyers’ confidence is reducing due to the uncertainty, he pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>The trend of decreasing import of capital machinery used in production is quite alarming. A decrease in capital imports means output will decrease. This will further reduce exports.</div><div><br></div><div>Analysing different financial data it is found that the main source of foreign exchange is the export sector. But there has been a fall in earnings from this sector.</div><div><br></div><div>An average of 5 billion US dollars is earned in a month from the export of goods. But the exports of goods fell by 14 percent in October compared to the same month of the previous FY 2022-23.</div><div><br></div><div>In the first three months of the current FY2023-24, the import of capital equipment has decreased by almost 20 percent. The import of raw materials of various types of ready-made garments has decreased by about 26 percent compared to the same period of the FY2022-23.</div><div><br></div><div>Imports of cotton, the main raw material for apparel production, have declined the most, by about 39 percent. Yarn, cloth and other raw materials also decreased at almost the same rate. Imports of other raw materials other than apparel fell by more than 36 percent. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 11:11:00', '2023-11-09 11:11:00'),
(9990, 9990, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Giving a pause for two days, the BNP and like-mined parties will enforce another&nbsp; spell of a 48-hour countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade beginning from Sunday to mount pressure on the Awami League government to quit power and hold the next election under a non-partisan administration.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a virtual press briefing on Thursday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>The fresh agitation was announced around 13 hours before the end of the opposition’s 48-hour nationwide blockade that was enforced at 6am on Wednesday. The ongoing blockade has been marked by widespread incidents of violence, including torching and vandalising vehicles.</div><div><br></div><div>The other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, also announced a similar programme by issuing press releases.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the blockade programme will be observed from 6am Sunday to 6am Tuesday across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, he said the&nbsp; opposition parties will also arrange prayers on Friday in mosques after Juma prayers in memory of opposition leaders and activists and the garment workers who have been killed in police firing during their demonstrations.</div><div><br></div><div>He said special munajats will also be offered seeking the salvation of the departed souls of the slain opposition leaders, activists and the garment workers.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said vehicles of the newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>He said their blockade will continue until the release of their all arrested leaders and until their one-point demand is met.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their blockade was successful with the spontaneous support of the country’s people.</div><div><br></div><div>He thanked leaders and activists of BNP and like-minded parties to make the blockade programme a success.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the party enforced a 48-hour nationwide blockade from 6am on November 5 and a three-day countrywide blockade from October 31 to November 2.</div><div><br></div><div>They also observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Oct ober 29 in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour into the start of BNP\'s much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 12:26:18', '2023-11-09 12:26:18'),
(9991, 9991, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Toxic gray smog has sickened tens of thousands of people in Pakistan’s cultural capital of Lahore, forcing authorities to shut schools, markets and parks for four days, officials said Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The decision came after the country’s second-largest city was repeatedly ranked the world’s most polluted city. Doctors advised people to wear face masks and stay at home. Residents said many people were coughing and having breathing problems.</div><div><br></div><div>“Wearing of marks and staying at home are the two easiest solutions to avoid getting rushed to hospitals with respiratory-related diseases, infections in eyes and skin diseases,” said Salman Kazmi, a doctor at Lahore’s main Mayo Hospital, where thousands of people were treated for such ailments this week.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the concentration of PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter, in the air approached 450, considered hazardous.</div><div><br></div><div>Experts say the burning of crop residue at the start of the winter wheat-planting season is a key cause of the pollution.</div><div><br></div><div>Lahore was once known as the city of gardens, which were ubiquitous during the Mughal era of the 16th to 19th centuries. But rapid urbanization and surging population growth have left little room for greenery in the city. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 12:55:46', '2023-11-09 12:55:46'),
(9992, 9992, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five Republican presidential candidates in the United States have clashed in their latest debate over a host of issues, including the war in Gaza, immigration and their difficult quest to win the nomination against former President Donald Trump.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Tim Scott sparred on the stage of the third debate of the campaign in Miami, Florida on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The stage was downsized from the last debate in September with former Vice President Mike Pence suspending his campaign and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum failing to qualify.</div><div><br></div><div>Trump, who remains the distant frontrunner despite his mounting legal woes, once again decided to skip proceedings.</div><div><br></div><div>The war in Gaza and its international and domestic implications dominated the first part of the debate, but the candidates’ support for Israel kept resurfacing even when discussing other topics.</div><div><br></div><div>Haley and Ramaswamy – who remain longshot candidates – deepened their rivalry, exchanging jabs throughout the evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Scott, who cut a quiet figure in the previous debate, delivered a more assertive performance, claiming more speaking time.</div><div><br></div><div>DeSantis, long seen as the most serious threat to Trump’s grip on the party’s nomination, promoted his conservative record in Florida while criticising President Joe Biden’s policies. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 13:17:04', '2023-11-09 13:17:04'),
(9993, 9993, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said holding a free, fair and neutral election is the main goal of her government.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Election is coming and this is the democratic and constitutional right of the people. Protecting this right and holding a free, fair and neutral election is the goal of the government,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at the Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the democratic rights of the people so far have got is the outcome of Awami League’s movement and struggle.</div><div><br></div><div>“The free, fair and neutral election is the contribution of Awami League,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the ruling Awami League chief, said that her party believes in the democratic and constitutional rights of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League repeatedly came to power getting votes of the people, formed government and developed socioeconomic status of the people,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Coming down heavily on BNP, she said that whenever people live in peace, BNP becomes active to create anarchy through arson terrorism.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have to save people from this unrest and arson terrorism, this is the main task,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister mentioned that conspiracy is on by the vested quarters to cripple Bangladesh economically.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are conspiring from every side to create unnatural situation in the country through arson terrorism and killing people. We have to advance facing all these odds,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She requested all to remain vigilant so none can stop the forward march of the country in the coming days. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 14:16:09', '2023-11-09 16:41:48'),
(9994, 9994, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 15-year-old boy was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) while he was cutting grass at Diar Manikchak border in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was Samirul Islam alias Samiul of Barinagar village of Char Ashariadah union of the upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>The incident happened at the border on Thursday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals said, Samiul went to cut grass on the land near Diyar Manikchak border around 9:30 am. At that time, BSF soldiers of Char Ashariadah outpost on the Indian border fired three rounds at Samirul. He died on the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>Commander of 53 Battalion Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Lt Col Nahid Hossain said the visited the spot in the afternoon after receiving information about the incident. The body was later recovered.</div><div><br></div><div>Ashraful Haque Bhola, chairman of Char Ashariadah UP said, “There is a barbed wire fence on the border of the area. There are sometimes warnings not to let anyone go near the barbed wire fence. However, Samirul was cutting grass 150 yards inside Bangladesh from the zero line of the border. The BSF opened fire in a completely provocative manner. When they see someone approaching the barbed wire of the border, they shoot.”</div><div><br></div><div>Atiqul Islam, Godagari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) , said , BGB members recovered the body of the boy. The body will be handed over to the family and necessary action will be taken in this regard according to the law. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 14:33:10', '2023-11-09 14:33:10'),
(9995, 9995, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Brazilian justice minister Flavio Dino delivered a stiff rebuke to Israel today after its Mossad spy agency said it had helped foil an attack by the Islamist group Hezbollah on Jewish targets in Brazil.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dino was responding to a highly unusual statement published yesterday in which Israel’s Mossad agency thanked Brazilian police and said that, “given the backdrop of the war in Gaza”, Hezbollah was continuing to attack Israeli, Jewish and western targets.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier yesterday, Brazil’s federal police arrested two unnamed people on terrorism charges, and carried out 11 search and seizure warrants on properties.</div><div><br></div><div>Without explicitly naming Israel, Dino said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “Brazil is a sovereign country”, and “no foreign force orders around the Brazilian federal police”.</div><div><br></div><div>Dino said the investigations that resulted in yesterday’s operations “began before the outbreak of the ongoing tragedies on the international scene”, and said the investigation had “nothing to do with international conflicts”.</div><div><br></div><div>“We appreciate appropriate international cooperation, but we reject any foreign authority that deems to direct Brazilian police bodies, or use our investigations for the use of propaganda or its political interests,” he wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>He did not explicitly deny any of the details in the Israeli statement, but seemed more angered by its timing, tone and the link it drew to the current war in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Dino’s comments may chill relations with the Israeli government as Brazil tries to negotiate a safe exit for around 30 Brazilians still stuck in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>They also come as a growing number of Latin American nations take a stronger line on Israel over its bombardment of Gaza in the wake of the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>Late last month, Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel, while Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors.</div><div><br></div><div>Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has sought to balance criticism of Hamas’ attacks with calls for a ceasefire.</div><div><br></div><div>Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group in Lebanon, could not immediately be reached for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Neither could the Iranian government. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 14:40:48', '2023-11-09 14:40:48'),
(9996, 9996, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Police in Italy said today they had arrested a 37-year-old Algerian man in the Milan subway, later discovering he was wanted by that country for alleged ties to Islamic State (IS).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>When stopped by police officers for a routine check, the man became “particularly aggressive”, said police in Milan, who added the arrest took place “in recent days”.</div><div><br></div><div>He was “repeatedly shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while attempting to grab from his backpack an object that turned out to be a knife with a blade more than 12cm long”, they said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The man was later found to be wanted by authorities in Algeria, suspected since 2015 of belonging to “IS militias and employed in the Syrian-Iraqi theatre of war”, police said.</div><div><br></div><div>Police said the suspect was unknown to Italian authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>The man is currently in Milan’s San Vittore prison and awaiting extradition, they added.</div><div><br></div><div>IS proclaimed a “caliphate” in 2014 across swathes of Syria and Iraq, launching a reign of terror that continues with hit-and-run attacks and ambushes. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 15:03:40', '2023-11-09 15:03:40'),
(9997, 9997, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Powerful Russian anti-ship missiles acquired by Hezbollah give it the means to deliver on its leader\'s veiled threat against U.S. warships and underline the grave risks of any regional war, sources familiar with the group\'s arsenal say.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Washington last week his group had something in store for the U.S. vessels deployed to the region since war erupted last month between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel, shaking the wider Middle East.</div><div><br></div><div>Two sources in Lebanon familiar with the Iran-backed group\'s arsenal say he was referring to Hezbollah\'s greatly enhanced anti-ship missile capabilities, including the Russian-made Yakhont missile with a range of 300 km (186 miles).</div><div><br></div><div>Reports by media and analysts have for years indicated that Hezbollah acquired Yakhont missiles in Syria after deploying there more than a decade ago to help President Bashar al-Assad fight a civil war.</div><div><br></div><div>Hezbollah has never confirmed possessing the weapon.</div><div><br></div><div>The Shi\'ite group\'s media office did not immediately respond when reached for comment for this story.</div><div><br></div><div>Washington says its Mediterranean naval deployment - comprising two aircraft carriers and their supporting ships - aims to prevent the conflict from spreading by deterring Iran, which backs groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.</div><div><br></div><div>Hezbollah perceives the U.S. warships as a direct threat because of their ability to hit the group and its allies.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasrallah said in a speech on Friday that the U.S. warships in the Mediterranean \"do not scare us, and will not scare us\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have prepared for the fleets with which you threaten us,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The White House said after Nasrallah delivered his Friday speech that Hezbollah must not exploit the Hamas-Israel war, and the United States did not want to see the conflict expand into Lebanon.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the sources said Hezbollah\'s anti-ship capabilities had developed enormously since 2006, when the group first demonstrated it could strike a vessel at sea by hitting an Israeli warship in the Mediterranean during a war with Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There\'s the Yakhont, and of course there are other things besides it,\" the source said, without elaborating.</div><div><br></div><div>The source added that use of this weapon by Hezbollah against hostile warships would indicate the conflict had escalated into a major regional war. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 15:31:40', '2023-11-09 15:31:40'),
(9998, 9998, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Actor Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana is stepping into the acting world with web film, The Archies, and we have heard that the actor has come out to support her through a special move.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to a source, Shah Rukh will be making a special appearance in the web film.</div><div><br></div><div>“He is connected to the project, and it is a special one for him as it marks Suhana’s entry in the industry. He wanted to be part of the project in some way, due to which he has a special connection to it,” says the insider, adding, “He has either a cameo appearance or he is onboard as a narrator in the web film”.</div><div><br></div><div>“The whole team is hush hush about his involvement, as they want to keep it a surprise. That being said, it will definitely be a special one for him and his fans,” adds the source.</div><div><br></div><div>The highly anticipated project, which is based on The Archies comics, also marks the acting debuts of a bunch of young talents, including veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya Nanda, and actor Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor’s daughter Khushi Kapoor.</div><div><br></div><div>The Zoya Akhtar directorial also features Agastya Nanda, Dot, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, and Yuvraj Menda, in the lead roles. The film is slated to release in the OTT space in December this year.</div><div><br></div><div>While the teams and the platforms are keeping mum, fans are excited to see if it is indeed true.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Shah Rukh was seen in Pathaan and Jawan, which worked well at the box office. He will next be seen in Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki, which will clash with Prabhas’ Salaar. Accoridng to Hindustan Times reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-09 15:51:27', '2023-11-09 15:51:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(9999, 9999, '<div><br></div><div>India and the U.S. underlined their commitment to boosting security ties Friday as their top diplomats and defense chiefs met to discuss regional security, China and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi as part of an Asian trip aimed at showing unity over Russia’s war in Ukraine and preventing differences on the Israel-Hamas war from deepening.</div><div><br></div><div>Blinken said the U.S. and India were continuing to “deepen our collaboration on everything from emerging technologies to defense to people-to-people ties\" and align diplomacy for \"an Indo-Pacific region that’s free, that’s open, that’s prosperous, that’s resilient.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the two sides discussed the crisis in the Middle East and \"we appreciate the fact that from day one India has strongly condemned the attacks of Oct. 7. And as our joint statement makes clear, India and the United States stand with Israel against terrorists.”</div><div><br></div><div>Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the situation in the Middle East was a big concern. While India has condemned the Hamas attack on Israel, it balances its position by calling for talks on \"a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side-by-side at peace with Israel.” - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-10 17:56:24', '2023-11-10 17:56:24'),
(10000, 10000, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday inaugurated the much-awaited 102-kilometre Chattogram-Cox\'s Bazar dual-gauge single railway line setting yet another milestone in the country\'s communication network.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The southern region wore a festive look as she unveiled the new rail route (from Dohazari in Chattogram to Cox’s Bazar) for train movement at a ceremony at newly constructed Cox’s Bazar Railway Station.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The premier flagged off a train and then travelled by it from Cox’s Bazar Railway Station to Ramu Railway Station.</div><div><br></div><div>She bought her own ticket from the counter of the railway station. She waved the green flag before boarding the train.</div><div><br></div><div>She also blew the whistle signalling the start of the train.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the inauguration programme, the prime minister said, “Today Cox\'s Bazar has been linked to the country\'s railway network.&nbsp; I am really very delighted for being able to attend the inaugural ceremony physically, \" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I have kept my promise by inaugurating the railway. This was a longstanding demand of this region. This is a day of feeling proud,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters during the train ride, the prime minister said that this train link will contribute a lot to country’s GDP and economy.</div><div><br></div><div>“Transportation of goods, people and tourists will be expedited resulting in increase the GDP and more vibrant economy,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that Cox’s Bazar has the longest sandy sea beach in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“But we could not build this tourist spot up to the mark. We have to make sure that tourists can come here comfortably,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina said that apart of tourists conveyance the trade and commerce of this area have been given importance.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are building a deep seaport, power station, building an economic zone here,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She also mentioned that Bangladesh will be linked with trans Asian railway by this rail line.</div><div><br></div><div>“This rail line will go to Ghumdhum from Ramu, later from Ghumdhum it will be linked with South and South East countries.”</div><div><br></div><div>On her arrival at the venue, the prime minister was received by Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan and local MPs.</div><div><br></div><div>Local artists greeted her with traditional songs and dances.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The railways minister presided over the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Ginting and Railways Ministry secretary Md Humayun Kabir also spoke at the event. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 09:04:04', '2023-11-11 09:04:04'),
(10001, 10001, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 jolted Ethiopia at 0626 GMT on Saturday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The epicenter, with a depth of 10.0 km, was initially determined to be at 5.31 degrees north latitude and 36.75 degrees east longitude. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 09:18:15', '2023-11-11 09:18:15'),
(10002, 10002, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said BNP and its allies only know how to destroy the good things her government creates.</b></span><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">“They (BNP and its allies) only know how to destroy, not to create. We creat and they destroy,” she said.</span><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The prime minister said this while inaugurating the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail communication.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Recalling the the horrible days when BNP-Jamaat enforced arson terrorism to burn people alive,  Hasina said that their hearts are filled with darkness.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who can kill people through arson attacks, burn buses, trucks, trains, those who were involved in criminalisation they are not blind at all. Their hearts are filled with darkness,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, urged everyone to remain vigilant against BNP and its allies.</div><div><br></div><div>She warned that destructiveness and burning people alive will not be tolerated.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But it will not be tolerated if they  destroy and burn people alive,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan presided over the programme where Asian Development Bank (ADB) country director for Bangladesh Ginting and Railways Ministry secretary  Md Humayun Kabir also spoke.</div><div><br></div><div>A documentary on the rail line project was screened at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>On her arrival at the venue, the prime minister was welcomed by Railways Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujan along with local MPs.</div><div><br></div><div>Local artistes performed traditional songs and dances to greet the PM, according to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 09:26:11', '2023-11-11 16:36:09'),
(10003, 10003, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A total of 130 garment factories in Ashulia, Savar and Dhamrai have been declared closed due to workers’ protest.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The closure notices were seen at the entrances of factories today.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Sarwar Alam, superintendent of Savar Industrial Police, said the authorities concerned have closed 130 garment factories in Savar, Ashulia and Dhamrai for an indefinite period.</div><div><br></div><div>During a visit, several garment factories including Rose Dresses Limited, Ananta Garments Limited, Pioneer Limited, AR Jeans Producer Limited, Agami Apparels Limited, Crosswear Limited, Sain Apparels Limited, Textown Limited, Ornet Knit Garments Industries Limited and others were seen to be closed.</div><div><br></div><div>Garment workers in different parts of the country have been demonstrating for over a week demanding a hike in basic salary to Tk 23,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The government on November 7 fixed Tk 12,500 as the minimum salary for entry-level RMG workers. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 09:48:11', '2023-11-11 09:48:11'),
(10004, 10004, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron told the BBC in an interview published late on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Macron said there was “no justification” for the bombing and saying a cease-fire would benefit Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” actions of Hamas, but that while recognizing Israel’s right to protect itself, “we do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked if he wanted other leaders — including in the United Sates and Britain — to join his calls for a cease-fire, Macron said: “I hope they will.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has faced growing calls for restraint in its month-long war with Hamas but says the Gaza-based militants, who attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and took hostages, would exploit a truce to regroup.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement responding to Macron’s comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that world leaders should be condemning Hamas, and not Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>“These crimes that Hamas (is) committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world,” Netanyahu said.</div><div><br></div><div>Macron’s interview to the BBC aired a day after a humanitarian conference on Gaza was held in Paris.</div><div>Macron said the “clear conclusion” of all governments and agencies present at that summit was “that there is no other solution than first a humanitarian pause, going to a cease-fire, which will allow to protect... all civilians having nothing to do with terrorists,” reports Reuters.</div><div><br></div><div>“De facto, today, civilians are bombed, de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 10:29:05', '2023-11-11 10:29:05'),
(10005, 10005, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Administrators of MIT suspended a number of students Thursday from the prestigious technology school after Israel-Hamas war protesters took over a prominent building for much of the day and then some refused to leave by a set deadline.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It was far from the only disruption at college campuses in recent days over the war. Brandeis University banned a pro-Palestinian student group this week, while nearly two dozen students were arrested over a protest at Brown University.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, Columbia University announced it was suspending Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace as official student groups through the end of the term. It accused both of repeatedly violating campus policies including an unauthorized event Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>The range of responses to these protests show that college administrators are struggling to address protests that have gotten heated and turned once-quiet spaces on campus into places where some students say they don’t feel safe.</div><div><br></div><div>At MIT, Sally Kornbluth, the school’s president, sent a letter to all students outlining the “boundaries of protest on campus” during a pro-Palestinian demonstration that she described as “disruptive” and “loud.” The protest in the building called Lobby 7 lasted much of the day and attracted counterprotesters.</div><div><br></div><div>When some protesters refused to leave after a deadline was set, the school said it would suspend them. But after hearing concerns including visa issues, Kornbluth said they would be “suspended from non-academic campus activities.” It was unclear how many students would be affected and when that would happen.</div><div><br></div><div>“After exhausting all other avenues for de-escalating the situation, we informed all protesters that they must leave the lobby area within a set time, or they would be subject to suspension,” Kornbluth wrote. “Many chose to leave, and I appreciate their cooperation. Some did not.”</div><div><br></div><div>People on both sides criticized the response.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our love and fight for the people of Gaza will not be swayed by the administration’s fear tactics,” MIT-wide Coalition for Palestine organizer Mohamed Mohamed said in a statement. “While the administration may possess the means to send letters and emails to all students, staff, faculty, and workers, we possess something even more potent — a just cause and the collective voices of thousands in the MIT community who remain committed to advocating for an end to the genocide and an end to the occupation.”</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, the MIT Israel Alliance criticized the university for not academically suspending any of the protesters, whom they accused of preventing students from attending classes.</div><div><br></div><div>“Instead of dispersing the mob or de-escalating the situation by rerouting all students from Lobby 7, Jewish students specifically were warned not to enter MIT’s front entrance due to a risk to their physical safety,” the group said in a statement. “The onus to protect Jewish students should not be on the students themselves.”</div><div><br></div><div>The latest war began with an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas militants who targeted towns, farming communities and a music festival near the Gaza border, killing at least 1,200 people. Israel has responded with weeks of attacks in Gaza, which have killed more than 11,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry — most of them Palestinian civilians.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, Brandeis University President Ron Liebowitz put out a statement to the school community saying it no longer recognized the Brandeis chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine. It made the move over what the university said was the group’s support of Hamas and its “its call for the violent elimination of Israel and the Jewish people,” he wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>Brandies was founded in 1948 by the American Jewish community.</div><div><br></div><div>The group, according to The Boston Globe, was sent a notice Monday that its status as an official student group had been rescinded.</div><div><br></div><div>“All students, faculty, and staff are welcome here, and encouraged to participate in the free exchange of ideas,” Liebowitz wrote. “To promote such free exchange, we must not and do not condone hate, the incitement of violence, or threats against or harassment of anyone, be they Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Israeli, Palestinian, or any other religion or ethnicity.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Brandeis chapter of the National Students for Justice in Palestine could not be reached for comment. But the Globe reported that the group, in an October statement after Hamas attacked Israel, said it was a “moral imperative to recognize and support the resilience of the people who have endured 75 years of oppression, displacement, and the denial of their basic rights.” That included “armed resistance.”</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University’s Department of Public Safety arrested 20 students who refused to leave a campus building during a sit-in. The students, with the group BrownU Jews for Cease-fire Now, posted on X that they were calling on the university to promote an “immediate cease-fire and a lasting peace” as well as the divestment of its endowment from companies that “enable war crimes in Gaza.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, the university said it repeatedly warned students they were trespassing before arresting them.</div><div><br></div><div>“At Brown, we recognize our responsibility for being an educational institution that manages challenging discussions in a way that remains true to the fundamental principle of freedom of expression while emphasizing the importance of safety for all community members,” Brown said in a statement.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Brown leaders have met with many student groups in recent weeks to listen to and address concerns, and we will continue to do so moving forward.” - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 11:02:47', '2023-11-11 11:02:47'),
(10006, 10006, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday once again urged the people to vote for Awami League in the upcoming national elections to help finish the incomplete development programmes.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Election is coming, and I want you to vote for boat (electoral symbol of Awami League) so we can serve you again and complete the unfinished works,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was addressing a public meeting at Matarbari Thermal Power Plant Project\'s township ground in the afternoon organised by AL\'s Maheshkhali Upazila unit.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that Awami League could form the government for three consecutive terms as people of the country voted it to power.</div><div><br></div><div>She blamed the increasing inflation on Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have tried to contain that. We have taken steps to curb inflation rate and very soon inflation rate will decline. People will be able to live a better life,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She urged all to utilise their every piece of land for farming and produce whatever they can.</div><div><br></div><div>“Please do not leave behind a single inch of land without farming. We have to develop our own country,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the ruling Awami League president, said that her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liberated this country, and it is her duty to improve the fate of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“The father of the nation placed Bangladesh as least developed country, and following his ideology and footsteps we have put Bangladesh as the developing country. We have to implement that,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>For that purpose, she said, the people have to cast their votes for boat and ensure the win of Awami League in the next election.</div><div><br></div><div>“Only Awami League can do that, no one else can.&nbsp; They do not have any patriotism and no responsibility towards people,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Coming down heavily on BNP and its allies for unleashing arson attacks again on general people,&nbsp; Hasina said, If any person has humanity, then that person can not burn anyone alive.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Their only task is to burn people alive and destroy property,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>So, the PM said, people have to remain cautious about them.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said that for the development and welfare of the mass people she is ready for any sort of sacrifice.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“If needed I am ready to sacrifice my blood like my father. My only task is to ensure your welfare,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud, AL lawmaker from Maheshkhali and Kutubdia constituency Asheq Ullah Rafiq also spoke with Maheshkhali Upazila AL President Valiant Freedom Fighter Anwar Pasha Chowdhury in the chair. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 12:53:51', '2023-11-11 12:53:51'),
(10007, 10007, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The nationwide blockades for the past few days have dealt a severe blow to the business landscape of Bangladesh, leaving wholesale markets desolate and causing a week-long economic slump.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The impact has spread over areas like New Market, Chandni Market, Eastern Plaza, Elephant Road, Farmgate, Gulistan Market, Shantinagar, Kakrail, Mouchak Market, Rampura-Badda, Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Gulshan-Banani, and Uttara in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Nawabpur, Chawkbazar, Islampur, Babubazar, Shankharibazar, Moulvibazar, and Bangabazar, also witnessed a decline in trade activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Dewan Aminul Islam, President of Dhaka New Market Traders’ Association, said that sales were very low during the blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>“There are no buyers. Small traders are suffering more. If the blockade continues, then we will be the most affected,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Employees at Olympia Bakeryshop in the Baitul Mukarram area similarly report a decline in sales. They have resorted to a shift toward alternative sales strategies within familiar networks.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabuj, a tea vendor at Paltan intersection, said his shop faced a significant contraction in sales over the past week.</div><div><br></div><div>“I make TK10-12,000 per day. Now it’s Tk2-3,000,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Farooq Hasan, President of BGMEA, told UNB “The sector was already suffering from a shortage of buyers in the international market. Now, due to internal political instability, we have to face a more difficult situation. As a result, not only the export sector will be affected, but the entire economy of the country will be affected.&nbsp; It will also affect the reserves.”</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Hatem, Executive President of BKMEA, expressed concern over escalating losses among traders.</div><div><br></div><div>“The internal transportation of goods has been severely impeded. Industrial production witnessed a decline.Export sector is especially vulnerable to the ongoing blockade,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB) President, Abdus Salam Murshedi, told UNB that due to the blockade, businesses cannot collect the raw materials stuck at various ports due to the transportation crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahbubul Alam, president of Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), called for a collective reconsideration of the ongoing strike blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>“Such programs, if prolonged, may lead to a standstill in the wheels of the economy,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 29, a hartal was observed across the country called by BNP and other like-minded opposition parties. After the three-day blockade on October 31, the blockade continued on November 5 and 6, and after the two-day blockade, it continued on November 8 and 9 with a one-day break. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 13:20:55', '2023-11-11 13:20:55'),
(10008, 10008, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>When a historic earthquake struck Morocco in September, Ahmed Aazab tightly hugged his wife and four children as their home’s brick walls tumbled around them.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The roof collapsed, shattering clay pots in the kitchen and trapping picture frames and homework assignments beneath rubble. When the ground finally stopped shaking, the construction worker shepherded his five loved ones to a park. Then he rescued his father, mother and aunt, who were trapped in his childhood home nearby.</div><div><br></div><div>For centuries, families in towns like Moulay Brahim in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains constructed their homes of stone and bricks, which they made by tightly ramming handfuls of muddy earth into molds.</div><div><br></div><div>Now they face the daunting task of rebuilding from the quake and villagers and architects are debating just how.</div><div><br></div><div>From Mexico to Hawaii, the question of rebuilding communities without changing them for the worse arises in the aftermath of virtually all-natural disasters. In Morocco, King Mohammed VI’s cabinet pledged in a statement the week after the quake to rebuild “in harmony with heritage and architectural features.”</div><div><br></div><div>More than 3,000 people died in September\'s earthquake in Morocco, and some 1,000 villages were damaged. The country plans to spend $11.7 billion on post-earthquake reconstruction over the next five years — equivalent to roughly 8.5% of its annual GDP. Morocco plans to allocate residents cash relief for basic necessities, with an additional $13,600 to rebuild households that were completely destroyed and $7,800 to those that were partially destroyed.</div><div><br></div><div>Because of the number of earthquakes in Morocco, there’s widespread agreement among villagers and architects that safety should be a top priority. That’s created a drive for modern building materials and an ambivalence toward the government’s stated commitment to rebuild in line with Morocco’s cultural and architectural heritage.</div><div><br></div><div>In some places, local officials awaiting word from higher authorities have stopped those who have tried to start building. That\'s sowed resentment as the weather grows colder, laid-off miner Ait Brahim Brahim said in Anerni, a pastoral mountainside village where 36 people died.</div><div><br></div><div>Many say they hope to build with the concrete and cinderblocks commonly used in larger Moroccan cities, rather than the traditional earthen bricks they suspect may have compounded their misfortune.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everyone goes for modern. The traditional ways, no one cares about it,” Ait Brahim said.</div><div><br></div><div>But a subset of architects and engineers is pushing back against the idea that bricks made from earth are more vulnerable to damage.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammed Hamdouni Alami, a professor at Rabat’s National School of Architecture, said that the idea that newer materials like concrete are signs of higher social class has taken hold as parts of Morocco experienced rapid development.</div><div><br></div><div>“People see that the government is building all over the country using concrete and think it’s because it’s better and safer. They ask, ’Why should we build with materials that are for the poor, that are unsafe and primitive?” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>But Hamdouni Alami said that bricks of earth, often called adobe in Spain and the Americas, have long been used in wealthier earthquake-prone regions like California. Some of Morocco’s most famous buildings constructed with them — including Marrakech’s 16th Century El Badi Palace — have survived the test of time.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s not an issue of materials, it’s an issue of techniques,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Kit Miyamoto, a Japanese-American structural engineer, led a team that met with masons and surveyed damage after the earthquake and reached a similar conclusion. His team\'s report said it found “no significant difference in the seismic performance of either traditional or modern construction systems.” It concluded that poorly constructed homes of a combination of concrete and earthen materials fared worst in the earthquake.</div><div><br></div><div>“A common belief in many post-earthquake affected communities worldwide is that old traditional construction systems must be ‘bad and weak,’ while new modern techniques such as steel and concrete are inherently ‘better,’” they wrote in their October report. “Poor construction quality is the primary cause of failure, not modern versus traditional material systems.”</div><div><br></div><div>Miyamoto said he hopes that Morocco rebuilds using affordable materials that residents will be able to repair. If the government merely rebuilds using more costly concrete, he said, he worries about residents’ future ability to make small repairs to maintain seismic safety.</div><div><br></div><div>His team\'s recommendations included that rebuilding adhere to a code with new seismic safety requirements added in 2011, seven years after a violent earthquake shook the country’s north.</div><div><br></div><div>The code includes sections about earthen materials, foundations, building reinforcement and the ideal space between bricks. It restricted the number of floors that could be built in earthquake-prone areas and prohibited the use of mud bricks on “soft ground.”</div><div><br></div><div>However, the extent of its implementation remains limited — a problem that many have blamed for damage in cities like Casablanca and rural parts of the country hit by the earthquake. There, many walls — whether made of concrete or earthen bricks — lacked adequate foundations, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The problem isn’t the building code, it’s that it’s not in use,” Miyamoto said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 13:37:12', '2023-11-11 13:37:12'),
(10009, 10009, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The second seasonal live concert of Coke Studio Bangla, the Bangladeshi franchise of the globally popular musical program Coke Studio, enthralled thousands of fans at Bangladesh Army Stadium in the capital on Friday night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The event showcased a total of 125 artists including singers, musicians and dance performers, according to the organisers.</div><div><br></div><div>Began with the performance of Hatirpool Sessions in the afternoon, the main concert started with the electrifying track \"Nasek Nasek\" by Animes Roy and Pantha Kanai, the very first track of Coke Studio Bangla Season One - the event went on rocking the audiences from 6:30 pm till 12 am.</div><div><br></div><div>During this time, the ensemble line-up of Coke Studio Bangla\'s artists from both seasons including Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Animes Roy, Pantho Kanai, Meghdol, Momotaz Begum, Mizan Rahman, Ritu Raj, Sanzida Mahmood Nandita, Elita Karim, Shuvo (D rockstar), Anuradha Mandal, Shawon Gaanwala, Moktadir Dewan Shanto with \'Beatmosphere\', Jalali Set, Ripon Kumar Sarkar (Boga), Sunidhi Nayak, Soumyadeep Sikdar (Murshidabadi), Kaniz Khandaker Mitu, Md Makhon Mia, Warda Ashraf, Shanila Islam, Jannatul Firdous Akbar, Armeen Musa and Ghashphoring Choir, Riad Hasan, Pollob Vai, Sohana (Daughter of coastal), Mukul Mojumder Ishaan, Islam Uddin Palakar, Emon Chowdhury, Arfan Mredha Shiblu, Aleya Begum, Fuad Al Muqtadir, Tasfia Fatima Tashfee, Suchona Shelly, Bappa Mazumder, Hamida Banu, Pritom Hasan and others showcased their stunning performances one after another.</div><div><br></div><div>There were several \'magical\' moments delivering the platform\'s tagline \"Real Magic\" - including Jalali Set\'s electrifying rap performance, Beatmosphere\'s jaw-dropping beatboxing and acapella performances, Emon Chowdhury’s heart-touching guitar tribute to rock legend Ayub Bachchu and Pritom\'s flamboyant showstopping performance of \'Deora\' which saw a fan jumped on the stage and hugged Pritom while the artist dealt the situation with care and professionalism.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the performers delivering great performances from their end, the concert suffered with chaotic situations from the beginning till the end. The entire Army Stadium area and the adjacent roads were jam-packed with concertgoers, and many fans could not even enter the venue despite being legitimate ticket holders.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>That happened because the gates had to be closed after 7 pm as the concert went on becoming massively overcrowded from the beginning, with more than 30 thousand music lovers.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, despite putting out restrictions and operating rigorous security checks on the entrance, the entire atmosphere of Army Stadium got poisonously polluted with the smokes of cigarettes and weeds, and the issue was even addressed by the organizers as they continuously requested the crowd not to smoke.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the concert ended on a high note with Coke Studio Bangla music producer and curator Arnob thanking the fans and confirming the upcoming season three. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 13:47:55', '2023-11-11 13:47:55'),
(10010, 10010, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The health care system in the Gaza Strip is \"on its knees,\" the head of the World Health Organization warned Friday, noting that half of the territory\'s 36 hospitals are no longer functioning.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking to the Security Council, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation on the ground as desperate: \"Hospital corridors crammed with the injured, the sick, the dying; morgues overflowing; surgery without anesthesia; tens of thousands of displaced people sheltering at hospitals.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"The health system is on its knees, and yet somehow is continuing to deliver lifesaving care,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Tedros said there had been more than 250 attacks on health care -- such as strikes on hospitals, clinics, ambulances and patients -- in Gaza and the West Bank, and 25 such attacks in Israel in the conflict triggered by Hamas\'s shock October 7 assault.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The best way to support those health workers and the people they serve is by giving them the tools they need to deliver that care -- medicines, medical equipment and fuel for hospital generators,\" he said, calling for an increase in aid trickling in through the Rafah crossing with Egypt and repeating the UN\'s call for a ceasefire.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I understand what the children of Gaza must be going through, because as a child, I went through the same thing,\" said the WHO chief, who is from Ethiopia\'s Tigray region.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The sound of gunfire and shells whistling through the air; the smell of smoke after they struck; tracer bullets in the night sky; the fear; the pain; the loss -- these things have stayed with me throughout my life.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He also denounced the \"horrific, barbaric and unjustifiable attacks\" carried out by Hamas fighters, and demanded the release of hostages held by the militant group.</div><div><br></div><div>The head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Marwan Jilani, addressed the Security Council by video, calling on members to \"do all you can to spare further deaths and sufferings.\" The council is divided on the war and has failed to issue a resolution on it.</div><div><br></div><div>He highlighted the dire situation at the Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City, which the Red Crescent said was fired on Friday by Israeli snipers.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our utmost concern is the direct threat to the lives of all those wounded and sick, together with tens of thousands of civilians, including thousands of children,\" Jilani said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They are looking at you, imploring you to act to stop another possible massacre unfolding.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Security Council started its meeting with a minute of silence to honor the victims of the Hamas assault, the civilians killed in Israel\'s retaliatory strikes on Gaza, as well as the journalists and UN personnel who have died in the war. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 13:55:58', '2023-11-11 13:55:58'),
(10011, 10011, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Police arrested a local BNP leader from Sirajganj’s Diardhangora area on Friday night in a case filed over sabotage.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Shamim Hossain Hitler, co-organizing secretary of Sirajganj district unit BNP, was arrested around 10:30pm, Sirajul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station, confirmed, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, there are several cases against him, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader was sent to jail on Saturday morning, told the OC.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 14:00:14', '2023-11-11 14:00:14'),
(10012, 10012, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least five houseboats were reduced to ashes in a massive fire that broke out at Srinagar\'s iconic Dal Lake early Saturday morning. The fire, believed to have originated from a houseboat at Ghat number 9, quickly spread and engulfed four adjacent houseboats, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The houseboats, known for their historical significance and cultural value, were moored along the lake when the fire broke out.</div><div><br></div><div>Immediate action was taken by special teams from the fire services department, who rushed to the scene to control the blaze. The financial toll of the disaster is expected to be substantial, with preliminary estimates reaching crores.</div><div><br></div><div>However, there was no loss of life in the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, however, initial reports suggest that a short circuit may have been the catalyst. According to Hindustan Times reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 14:06:25', '2023-11-11 14:06:25'),
(10013, 10013, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">This is the season of eating healthier, enjoying seasonal produce and enjoying more and more outdoor activities. However a sudden drop of temperature may also bring along seasonal ailments which especially affects the elderly, young children and those who already suffer from co-morbidities.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This season increases incidents of cold, cough, flu and aggravates health conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis, eczema, asthma, etc.&nbsp;</div><div>Statistics also suggest that more people tend to suffer from heart attacks in winter. Here are some essential health tips to keep your body healthy this winter and fight seasonal infections:</div><div><br></div><div>► Have dry fruits</div><div>Dry fruits and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cashews naturally increase your body temperature. When added to your winter diet, dry fruits can work wonders for you because they have more nutrition, vitamins, minerals, and fibre than any other fresh fruit.</div><div><br></div><div>► Eat seasonal root vegetables</div><div>Many winter root vegetables are known for being carb-heavy and starchy. However, winter root veggies are complex, slow-burning carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates help you feel full and satisfied and won’t result in sharp blood sugar rises. Some common root vegetables include carrots, radishes, beetroot, sweet potato, purple yam, etc.</div><div><br></div><div>► Maintain high hygiene</div><div>Wash your hands regularly to keep infections away. Wash well before eating, after using the washroom and touching any contaminated things. Encourage young children to wash their hands after coming home from outdoors.</div><div><br></div><div>► Stay hydrated</div><div>You may not feel as thirsty in the winters. However, having enough water intake is one of the best things which you can do to avoid many of the winter ailments.</div><div><br></div><div>► Eat fresh fruits</div><div>Boost your immunity by including more and more seasonal fruits that include oranges, strawberries, amla, papaya, kiwi, etc. in your diet.</div><div><br></div><div>► Have enough fibre</div><div>People have a tendency to overeat during the winter months since it’s vital to stay warm. However, this does not mean you eat only calorie-rich foods and fatty foods. Include more plant based foods that include soluble fibre and help aid your digestion.</div><div><br></div><div>► Have leafy green vegetables</div><div>Dark leafy greens are high in vitamins A, C, and K as well as a number of other nutrients. Include spinach, fenugreek leaves, mustard greens, etc in your diet that not only improve your bone health but also aid in preventing dry skin during the winter.</div><div><br></div><div>► Include Omega-3 fatty acids</div><div>These are the good fats found in foods like fish, nuts, and seeds of plants. In addition to lowering a person’s stress levels, they aid in reducing the body’s levels of joint pain and stiffness.</div><div><br></div><div>► Use herbs and spices</div><div>Include spices like turmeric, ginger, garlic, and onions in your diet to fight inflammation, maintain the health of your nasal passages, and boost your immune system.</div><div><br></div><div>► Exercise regularly</div><div>Wintertime is a time when it’s normal to feel a little lethargic. However, it’s crucial to maintain a moderate amount of physical exercise to boost your immunity and fend off the seasonal illnesses that are typical during this time of year. Try some indoor exercises like yoga, aerobics, strength training, and other similar ones if the weather outside makes it impossible to exercise.</div><div><br></div><div>► Moisturize your skin</div><div>Your skin may become dry, dull, and hard throughout the winter. To maintain it smooth and radiant, cover your skin with a high-quality moisturiser and sunscreen. This is especially important for people suffering from psoriasis and eczema.</div><div><br></div><div>► Keep yourself warm</div><div>Keep your airways open and your immune system healthy by dressing for the weather and arming yourself with coats, mufflers, caps, and other protective gear.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 15:10:50', '2023-11-11 15:10:50'),
(10014, 10014, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The BNP and like-minded opposition parties are set to enforce another spell of nationwide blockade of road, rail and waterways for 48 hours from Sunday morning, to mount pressure on the Awami League regime to quit and pave the way for the next election under a non-party neutral administration.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The blockade will begin at 6am on Sunday and end at 6am on Tuesday across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Giving a pause for two days, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, will also enforce the blockade simultaneously.</div><div><br></div><div>At a virtual press briefing, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday called upon the country’s people and the BNP supporters to observe the programme spontaneously to make it successful.</div><div><br></div><div>Vehicles of the newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the three-day blockade.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the party enforced two rounds of 48-hour nationwide blockade from Nov 5 to Nov 9 with a break on Nov 7 and a three-day countrywide blockade from October 31 to November and programmes were marked by widespread incidents of clashes, violence and torching of several dozens of vehicles.</div><div><br></div><div>They also observed a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on October 29 in protest against the attacks on BNP’s grand rally at Nayapaltan that ended amid the incidents of torching vehicles and clashes, leaving three people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>According to BNP, their party’s 11 leaders and workers were killed and around 3,906 others were injured in clashes with police and the ruling party leaders and activists since October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, a police constable, a journalist and ruling party activists were also killed in clashes during the period.</div><div><br></div><div>Half an hour into the start of BNP\'s much-talked-about grand rally at Nayapaltan on October 28, BNP leaders and workers locked in a clash with the ruling party activists and police at Kakrail. Soon violent clashes spread around Nayapaltan, foiling the rally midway. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 15:26:35', '2023-11-11 15:26:35'),
(10015, 10015, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As thousands of Taylor Swift fans eagerly lined up Thursday for the superstar\'s first-ever concert in Argentina, they saw themselves surrounded by posters urging them to not vote in favor of right-wing populist Javier Milei in next week\'s presidential election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"A Swiftie Doesn\'t Vote Milei,\" read one of the posters, using the term commonly used to describe fans of the 12-time Grammy winner.</div><div><br></div><div>Some Swifties agreed. \"Taylor defends lots of positions and things that Milei doesn\'t represent,\" said 17-year-old Julieta Bracamontes. \"That sign is right and I agree with it.\"</div><div><br></div><div>At the bottom of the poster a hashtag read \"Milei Is Trump.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Milei, a self-described anarcho-capitalist who holds lots of socially conservative positions including opposition to abortion, has often been described as Argentina\'s Donald Trump.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think Trump is very similar to Milei,\" said Constanza Trunsky, a psychology student, noting the points in common between Argentina\'s current political climate and the views Swift has expressed in the past, particularly her support for the LGBT community.</div><div><br></div><div>Milei has said he supports marriage equality, which has been the law in Argentina since 2010, but has spoken up against sex education in schools and is opposed to the state devoting funds to assist the trans community as well as other minority groups.</div><div><br></div><div>Another poster that suddenly appeared in numerous locations around the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires showed a stylized stencil portrait of Swift holding a tray of cookies of different shapes that read, \"Massa 2023,\" in reference to Economy Minister Sergio Massa, Milei\'s opponent in the Nov. 19 presidential runoff.</div><div><br></div><div>The most hardcore Swifties immediately knew the image made reference to a famous photo of an overalls-wearing Swift holding cookies in favor of President Joe Biden\' s 2020 candidacy.</div><div><br></div><div>Politics first burst into the South American country\'s Swift fandom late last month, when a fan club issued a news release calling on fans of the superstar singer to vote against Milei.</div><div><br></div><div>Milei \"represents the antidemocratic right that comes to take away all our acquired rights,\" the fan club said in a news release.</div><div><br></div><div>The group spoke up shortly after Massa received the most votes in the Oct. 22 election, obtaining 37% of the total, almost seven points more than Milei but not enough to avoid a runoff.</div><div><br></div><div>But not all Swifties agreed with the fan club meddling in politics.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I don\'t think it\'s something they should get involved in and say that Swifties won\'t vote (for Milei) because everyone has their personal opinion, and they can\'t generalize like that,\" Lucila Losinno, 28, said Thursday while waiting to get into the concert.</div><div><br></div><div>Others who had been impatiently waiting for the Eras Tour to arrive in South America were eager to shake off any talk of politics.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I don\'t sympathize with any of the politicians, but I don\'t know, I feel that putting the face of the artist on something political isn\'t very good,\" said Malena Garachena, 19. But \"it\'s OK, I don\'t think she\'ll see it.\" - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-11-11 15:34:36', '2023-11-11 15:34:36');
