INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5153, 5153, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Another unidentified object has been shot down over North American airspace, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the latest object \"violated Canadian airspace\" and was shot down over Yukon in north-west Canada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled to track down the object which Mr Trudeau says was taken out by a US F-22 fighter jet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is the third object to be shot down over North America in the last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The American military destroyed a Chinese balloon last weekend, and on Friday an unspecified object the size of a small car was shot down off Alaska.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Trudeau confirmed on Saturday he gave the order and had spoken with US President Joe Biden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Canadian forces will now recover and analyse the wreckage of the object,\" he wrote on Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest unspecified object was flying over central Yukon at about 40,000 ft (12,000m) and intercepted at about 15:41 local time on Saturday, defence minister Anita Anand told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She described it as \"small\" and \"cylindrical\", but that recovery efforts are still being carried out to discover more details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ms Anand said it was taken out \"about 100 miles\" from the US border, adding it posed a \"reasonable threat to civil aviation\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said it \"appears to be smaller than the one shot down off the coast of South Carolina\" last Saturday - meaning the giant Chinese suspected spy balloon that measured 200ft (60m) tall.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Posting earlier on Twitter, Prime Minister Trudeau thanked the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) which carries out air defence for the US and Canada and led the mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House said the object had been tracked and monitored \"over the last 24 hours\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Out of an abundance of caution and at the recommendation of their militaries, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau authorised it to be taken down,\" it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The leaders discussed the importance of recovering the object in order to determine more details on its purpose or origin.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Giving more details on the mission to take down the object, the US Department of Defense confirmed two F-22 jets took off from a military base in Anchorage, Alaska and the object was shot down with an AIM 9X missile.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pentagon Press Secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder added that the FBI will be \"working closely\" with Canadian police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not clear what the object is. But its appearance over North America comes just a week after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was also destroyed by the US.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Then on Friday another unspecified object was tracked and shot down over Alaska at the orders of US President Biden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a short statement, the military said US troops, including from the Alaska National Guard, were still conducting search and recovery activities on sea ice for Friday\'s object.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said it had no further details about the object\'s capabilities, purpose or origin but confirmed the FBI is helping with the recovery near the Alaskan town of Deadhorse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Arctic weather conditions, including wind chill, snow, and limited daylight, are a factor in this operation, and personnel will adjust recovery operations to maintain safety,\" it added - and that the rescue operation will continue as weather permits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last weekend, defence officials told US media that debris from the Chinese balloon landed in 47ft (14m) of water - shallower than they had expected - near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has denied the balloon - which first entered US airspace on 28 January - was used for spying purposes, saying it was a weather device gone astray.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US, however, said the balloon is part of a fleet of surveillance balloons that have flown over five continents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The balloon incident has strained US-China relations, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelling a planned trip to Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chinese officials on Friday accused the US of \"political manipulation and hype\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an interview on Thursday, President Biden defended his handling of the Chinese balloon, maintaining that it was not \"a major breach\". BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 02:14:14', '2023-02-12 02:14:14'),
(5154, 5154, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Duda\'s comments come despite him and President Zelensky having spoken this week - at the end of the Ukrainian leader\'s surprise headline-grabbing European tour. In London, President Zelensky used his speech in Parliament to call for the means to help fight Russia in the air:</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I appeal to you and the world with the simple, and yet most important words - combat aircraft for Ukraine, wings for freedom.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s leader repeated that call in Paris and Brussels, in a rare departure from his country, under the tightest of security. He made headlines right around the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Warsaw, President Duda told me sending F-16 jets would pose a \"serious problem\" because, with fewer than 50 of the aircraft in the Polish air force, \"we have not enough… and we would need many more of them.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also stressed that combat aircraft, like the F-16s, have a \"very serious need for maintenance\" so it\'s \"not enough just to send a few planes\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With Poland being a Nato member, said Mr Duda, any decision to provide fighter jets had to be a \"joint decision\" - rather than one for any single country to take.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are also nerves about whether providing planes would pull Nato directly into the conflict - and even into war against Russia itself. At the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, Duda said sending jets would \"open a military interference in the Ukrainian conflict\". But - in direct response to Ukraine\'s request for planes this week - the Polish leader\'s comments are significant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As Ukraine\'s neighbour, President Duda has been one of the most ardent supporters of President Zelensky and has contributed vast amounts of military aid, becoming the main supplier of heavy weaponry - including infantry fighting vehicles and artillery, drones and ammunition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duda was also at the forefront of pushing other allies to promise to provide tanks in recent weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After notable reluctance from Germany, and a fraught debate across Europe about the risks of escalating the conflict, Leopard tanks will arrive in Ukraine, along with Challengers from the UK and Abrams from the US.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poland has also provided homes to millions of Ukrainian refugees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Duda is adamant that \"weaponry has to be delivered to Ukraine all the time… it needs armaments.\" But it is clear he doesn\'t think sending combat aircraft in large numbers is likely from Poland or any other ally, at least in the short term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK also made it clear pretty rapidly that sending planes to Ukraine was not realistic in the immediate future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yes, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said \"nothing was off the table\" while he savoured his photo opportunity with President Zelensky in front of a tank this week - jeans tucked into unlaced boots, tieless, alongside the Ukrainian leader in his familiar army sweatshirt and combat trousers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But before too long, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was making plain that would mean training for pilots and other support first. No UK jets will take off for Ukraine any time soon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All week, British politicians have been falling over themselves to associate with the biggest political celebrity in the world right now, President Zelenksy, sharing their blurry phone snaps of his historic Westminster Hall speech and giving interviews about how moving it was to be there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron greeted him like a film star in front of the Elysee Palace. EU leaders then frantically tweeted pictures of their own \"grip and grin\" moments with the Ukrainian leader later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is staunch support for President Zelensky without doubt. It\'s not just shown in flowery language and promises of commitment but, as President Duda explains, with guns, tanks and drones, plus support for refugees, rather than selfies with MPs. Western allies emphasise how countries have come together in a way that will have disappointed and frustrated Vladimir Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders, like Poland\'s president, underline the threat they feel to their own countries. Talking to him in Warsaw about the conflict is a world away from conversations in Westminster, with the Russian border at Kaliningrad only about 200 miles away.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dilemma over jets is another example of the fraught calculations our leaders face. What is practically possible in terms of supporting Ukraine? And what is politically and diplomatically viable, without provoking a wider war?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poland and other countries\' firm backing does not mean the West, or even Ukraine\'s closest allies, will or can say \"yes\" to his every request. One senior diplomatic source suggests President Zelensky is, of course, well aware of this.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His headline-grabbing journey this week was not just about the jets, and it doesn\'t look like it will soon result in \"wings for freedom\". But - as we approach the anniversary of Russia\'s invasion - his European tour\'s careful choreography, and powerful imagery will have reminded not just Western politicians but also their publics, of what is at stake. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 02:41:47', '2023-02-12 02:41:47'),
(5155, 5155, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Real Madrid have been crowned FIFA World Club Cup champions after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 5-3 in a thrilling encounter Morocco.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Spanish side Real Madrid were heavy favourites to clinch the title for a fifth time and after going 2-0 up inside 20 minutes another trophy for the storied European giants never seemed in doubt. But Al Hilal put up a fight that delighted fans and supporters across the Arab world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 13th-minute goal for Vinicius Jr and a strike by Federico Valverde five minutes later put Los Blancos in command of the game.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moussa Marega pulled a goal back for Al Hilal, but the strength of Real Madrid was too much for the Saudi side to overcome.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the first time a team from the Middle East has reached the final of the tournament and Al Hilal’s success is a sign of the region’s growing importance to world football.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After defeating South American champions Flamengo in the semi-finals, Al Hilal’s players were all gifted SR1m ($266,500) by Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the promise of the same bonus again if they were able to beat Real Madrid, and a reported SR500,000 from Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz Al-Faisal, it was all too much to do for Al Hilal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A second-half goal for legendary striker Karim Benzema added to the tally, before Valverde claimed his second of the night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al Hilal can hold their heads high, after putting up a fight against one of the greatest teams in the world. Luciano Vietto pulled a goal back for the Saudi side in the 63rd minute, but it wasn’t enough.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Real Madrid were able to score more-or-less at will, and in the very next attack Vinicius Jr. netted the Spanish side’s fifth goal of the night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Luciano Vietto set up an exciting finish by bringing up the eighth goal of the night to make it 5-3.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Driven by the thought of making Arab and World football history, as well as the thought of a further financial bonus if they could have overturned Real Madrid, Al Hilal’s players gave it everything they had for the final 10 minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ultimately, though, the Spanish champions and their squad of world stars were just too strong.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The FIFA Club World Cup is an annual international club football competition organised by FIFA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The competition brings together the champion clubs from each of FIFA’s six continental confederations, as well as the host country’s national league champion, to determine the best club team in the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tournament has been held since 2000 and past winners include Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tournament was held in Morocco this year and as winners Real Madrid earn the right to display the FIFA Club World Cup trophy until the next tournament. AB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 02:51:49', '2023-02-12 02:51:49'),
(5156, 5156, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Botswana have agreed to identify potential areas of cooperation in agriculture, livestock and fisheries and exchange technical knowledge and expertise in the agriculture sector.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides agreed to continue discussions in agriculture and fisheries at the government, farmers and expert levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister Md Shahriar Alam, who is on a two-day official bilateral visit to Botswana, met with Botswana\'s Minister of Agriculture Fidelis M Malao in Gaborone Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahriar was accompanied by the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Pretoria, foreign ministry officials and embassy officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Botswana delegation was represented by high officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, including representatives of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fidelis said Botswana is connected to many countries of the region by land routes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Botswana government is putting special focus on developing the country\'s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahriar said his visit to Botswana marked the first foreign ministry delegation visit to Botswana and expressed satisfaction over the conclusion of the visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral political consultations between the countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He briefed the Botswana side about Bangladesh\'s achievements in the agriculture sector during the last decade, including the production of food staples, vegetables, fisheries, poultry and livestock, despite having a comparatively low amount of land.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He called on the Botswana side for considering providing contract farming opportunities to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the unused agricultural land.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh already initiated contract farming in other countries in Africa on a low scale, Shahriar added. \"Cooperation may be forged among B2B and B2G levels on contract farming.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh, Botswana agree to share knowledge, expertise in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Botswana side expressed keen interest in concluding an MoU on cooperation in agriculture and contract farming between Bangladesh and Botswana.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fidelis invited an agricultural expert delegation from Bangladesh to visit Botswana and underlined the need of establishing contacts between the agricultural experts and producers of the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources proposed building a partnership with Bangladesh in agricultural education areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The delegation led by the state minister also had a meeting with the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The university said both sides may exchange knowledge in horticulture, food security, nutrition and veterinary areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahriar said cooperation may be forged between Bangladesh and Botswana agricultural institutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides agreed to sign an MoU on cooperation in agriculture and livestock areas and to exchange visits of agricultural experts. 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, '2023-02-12 04:07:11', '2023-02-12 04:07:11'),
(5157, 5157, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">New Zealand\'s prime minister on Sunday warned residents to hunker down and prepare an evacuation plan as a cyclone began pummelling the northern tip of the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cyclone Gabrielle is forecast to envelop the upper half of the North Island over a 48-hour period from Sunday evening, two weeks after parts of the same region experienced devastating flooding.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Auckland remains under a state of emergency after flash floods swamped the city on January 27, resulting in four deaths and forcing thousands from their homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Debris from that deluge remains on the streets of the country\'s biggest city, which now faces another bout of heavy rainfall and severe winds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said everyone should be ready to face the threats posed by flooding, huge ocean swells and strong winds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our main message to people across the country is to please take the severe weather warning seriously and to make sure you\'re prepared,\" he told journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Make sure you\'ve got your grab-and-go kits, make sure you know where you need to go in the event you need to evacuate your homes.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The MetService weather bureau measured wind gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour (86 miles per hour) in northern New Zealand on Sunday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This system poses a very high risk of extreme, impactful, and unprecedented weather over many regions of the North Island from Sunday to Tuesday,\" the MetService said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cyclone is forecast to weaken slightly as it moves slowly south on Monday and Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Strong winds forced the closure of Auckland\'s Harbour Bridge on Sunday, while most flights into and out of Auckland Airport on Monday have already been cancelled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gabrielle was downgraded from a tropical cyclone as it approached New Zealand, meaning wind speeds and rainfall would be slightly less intense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The storm passed over Australia\'s remote Norfolk Island on Saturday night, where there were reports of downed trees and power cuts but no significant damage. 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, '2023-02-12 04:16:35', '2023-02-12 04:16:35'),
(5158, 5158, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The death toll from a massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria will \"double or more\" from its current level of 28,000, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths has said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Griffiths arrived on Saturday in Turkey\'s southern city of Kahramanmaras, the epicentre of the first 7.8-magnitude tremor that upturned millions of lives in the pre-dawn hours of Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said of the death toll in an interview with Sky News on Saturday: \"I think it is difficult to estimate precisely as we need to get under the rubble but I\'m sure it will double or more.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We haven\'t really begun to count the number of dead,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials and medics said 24,617 people were killed in Turkey and 3,574 in Syria. The confirmed total now stands at 28,191.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tens of thousands of rescue workers are scouring flattened neighbourhoods despite freezing weather that has deepened the misery of millions now in desperate need of aid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United Nations has warned that at least 870,000 people urgently need hot meals across Turkey and Syria. Up to 5.3 million people may have been made homeless in Syria alone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Almost 26 million people have been affected by the earthquake, the World Health Organization (WHO) said as it launched a flash appeal on Saturday for $42.8 million to cope with immediate health needs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey\'s disaster agency said more than 32,000 people from Turkish organisations are working on search-and-rescue efforts. There are also 8,294 international rescuers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Soon, the search and rescue people will make way for the humanitarian agencies whose job it is to look after the extraordinary numbers of those affected for the next months,\" Griffiths said in a video posted to Twitter. 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, '2023-02-12 04:34:27', '2023-02-12 04:34:27'),
(5159, 5159, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Seven police died Saturday in an ambush while traveling in a coca-growing valley in southern Peru, the national police said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attack took place in La Convencion province in the Cusco region, in a wide valley known as VRAEM (the acronym stands for Valley of the Rivers Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The armed forces there have been fighting drug gangs and the remnants of the Shining Path leftist group for decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We regret the loss of our police brothers, who were ambushed when they were traveling in a police vehicle in the town center of Natividad in #Vraem, where 7 police officers have died and one police officer has survived,\" the national police said on Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In August 2022, the Peruvian Army claimed to have seriously injured Shining Path leader Victor Quispe Palomino, or \"Comrade Jose,\" in an operation against \"terrorist camps.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A year and a half earlier, in January 2021, the Peruvian military dealt a severe blow to the guerrillas -- known in Spanish as the Sendero Luminoso -- by killing in the VRAEM the group\'s number two, a man known as \"Comrade Raul,\" one of the most wanted men in Peru and a brother of Comrade Jose.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Almost all Shining Path leaders are dead or imprisoned, but their remnants number some 350 members, 80 of whom are armed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Maoist group emerged in 1980 when it launched a \"people\'s war\" against the government. The ensuing two decades of clashes with the army left a toll of 69,000 dead and missing, according to the country\'s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 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, '2023-02-12 05:01:53', '2023-02-12 05:01:53'),
(5160, 5160, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bigg Boss has undergone quite a change since it first aired in 2006, and was hosted by Arshad Warsi. However, the one thing that has been constant is its popularity. Fans look forward to each season and pour immense love on their favourite contestants. With just hours to go for the Bigg Boss 16 finale, here is looking back at the winners of the previous seasons.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rahul Roy - Bigg Boss 1 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rahul Roy, best known for his role in the 90s hit Aashiqui, beat Carol Gracias to win the first-ever season of Bigg Boss in 2007. Along with the trophy, he took home Rs1 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ashutosh Kaushik - Bigg Boss 2 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reality television star Ashutosh Kaushik won Bigg Boss 2 in 2008, a year after he won MTV Roadies 5. He, too, was awarded Rs1 crore. He was recently in the news after he approached the Delhi High Court seeking removal of certain pictures, videos and articles online, citing his ‘Right to be Forgotten’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vindu Dara Singh - Bigg Boss 3 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vindu Dara Singh, who has acted in films such as Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, Partner, Kambakkht Ishq and Housefull, was the winner of Bigg Boss 3. He defeated Pravessh Rana to win Rs1 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shweta Tiwari - Bigg Boss 4 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Television star Shweta Tiwari won Bigg Boss 4 in 2011 and the prize money was Rs1 crore. She has since participated in a bunch of other reality shows, including Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Khatron Ke Khiladi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Juhi Parmar - Bigg Boss 5 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Juhi Parmar, best known for playing the titular role in Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan, was announced as the winner of Bigg Boss 5 in 2012. She competed against Pooja Bedi, Sunny Leone and Shakti Kapoor, among others. She won an amount of Rs1 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Urvashi Dholakia - Bigg Boss 6 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unlike previous seasons, the prize money for Bigg Boss was slashed in the sixth season. Winner Urvashi Dholakia, who defeated Imam Siddique, took home ₹50 lakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gauahar Khan - Bigg Boss 7 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gauahar Khan beat her co-contestants, including Tanishaa Mukerji, Kushal Tandon, Pratyusha Banerjee and Ajaz Khan, to win Bigg Boss 7. She won ₹50 lakh. In Bigg Boss 14, she returned as a ‘senior’ for a two-week stint on the show.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gautam Gulati - Bigg Boss 8 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gautam Gulati, who grabbed eyeballs for his displays of affection with Diandra Soares on Bigg Boss 8, became the winner of the show. He was given ₹50 lakh along with the trophy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prince Narula - Bigg Boss 9 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Along with the Bigg Boss 9 trophy, Prince Narula also won the heart of his co-contestant Yuvika Chaudhary, whom he eventually married. He won prize money of ₹50 lakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manveer Gurjar - Bigg Boss 10 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manveer Gurjar, the first non-celebrity to win Bigg Boss, got a cheque for ₹50 lakh as he was announced the winner. He beat Bani J to take home the trophy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shilpa Shinde - Bigg Boss 11 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shilpa Shinde won ₹44 lakh as the Bigg Boss 11 winner, while second runner-up Vikas Gupta took home ₹6 lakh after winning the ‘Vikas City’ task.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dipika Kakar - Bigg Boss 12 winner</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Television star Dipika Kakar became the Bigg Boss 12 winner and won ₹30 lakh. The amount she took home was reduced as singer Deepak Thakur chose to leave the show after taking the money bag of ₹20 lakh. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 05:19:59', '2023-02-12 05:19:59'),
(5161, 5161, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Md Shahabuddin Chuppu, a retired district and session judge, is on way to become the country\'s next president. This was confirmed by AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He also served as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Comission. UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 05:26:07', '2023-02-12 05:26:07'),
(5162, 5162, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Aspirants for the Presidential election will have to submit their nomination papers to Election Commission (EC) today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“According to the polls schedule, the nomination papers can be submitted to the Chief Election Commission (CEC) office till 4 pm on February 12,” EC Secretariat Secretary Md Jahangir Alam told BSS earlier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on February 13 from 10 am, while nomination papers can be withdrawn till 4pm on February 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 19, the 22nd Presidential election will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) complex.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President may hold office for five years from the date of assumption of office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Incumbent President M Abdul Hamid assumed office on April 24, 2018. Accordingly, his five-year tenure will end on April 23, 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the country\'s Constitution, members of parliament are voters in the Presidential election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League has the absolute majority in the current parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In that case, there is no possibility of any party other than the Awami League to give a candidate to the presidential polls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If there is one candidate for the presidency, the election will not require a meeting or voting in parliament. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 05:32:14', '2023-02-12 05:32:14'),
(5163, 5163, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The air quality in Dhaka showed no signs of improvement as it continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 175 at 10:28 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked fourth in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, China’s Shenyang and India’s Mumbai occupied the first three spots, with AQI scores of 183, 182 and 180 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka air ‘hazardous’, most polluted in the world this morning</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. 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, '2023-02-12 05:45:45', '2023-02-12 05:45:45'),
(5164, 5164, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Shefali Tudu, 42, a member of Mundumala Mohila Somobai Samity in Tanore Upazila in the district, has brought happiness to their four-member family through homestead gardening after taking loan from the cooperative association.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to BSS here Saturday, Tudu said they have been producing chemical-free vegetables, using vermin-compost. They are also selling some vegetables in the local market after meeting the family\'s demand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added chemical-free vegetables are in high demand at the village, and locals purchase the vegetables at higher prices.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They cultivate red leafy, bottle gourd, carrot, snake gourd and napa shak on 40 decimals of land by using bio-fertilizer.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tudu does not go to the local market to sell the vegetables, rather villagers come to her home to purchase vegetables at high prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If all the farmers grow chemical-free vegetables by using vermicompost on their lands, it will meet people\'s demand for chemical-free foods, Tudu continued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Suborna Khatun, 45, a resident of Bidirpur village at Mohanpur Upazila, has become an icon for her various income-generating cooperative activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I had taken Taka 15,000 from our Ghashful Mohila Somobai Samity in Mohanpur Upazila of the district as loan for the first time in 2016,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She has expanded her ventures to diversified fields, including homestead gardening, poultry birds rearing, beef fattening and potato farming at present after the best use of the borrowed money.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I have learnt how to become self-reliant through income-generating activities and to contribute to society,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rozina Begum, 38, of Khoira village under Mohanpur upazila has become almost self-reliant through manufacturing vermi-compost. With her husband Abu Bakkar\'s close collaboration, she established a household factory for manufacturing organic fertilizer.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vermicompost fertilizer, one kind of organic fertilizer made from earthworm, has started becoming popular in the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rozina Begum is now an ideal in their village as she shed the light on knowledge of producing vermicompost fertilizer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said only earthworm and cow-dung are used in producing vermicompost fertilizer which also helps protect the environment, maintain fertility of the land, increase resistance power of crops against diseases and escalate crops production.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cooperative has taught the village people to help each other and eradicate their plights, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a whole, cooperatives have become a boon for many rural people, particularly the women, as they are improving their living and livelihood conditions through engagement in the cooperative activities in the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Muhammad Nurannabi, Joint Registrar of the Department of Cooperative, said a total of 4,658 cooperative members were imparted mobile training to make them able in operating different income-generating activities competently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from this, 775 cooperative members, including 425 women, were given institutional training in the regional cooperative training center in Naogaon during the last fiscal year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They have been working relentlessly to improve the socio-economic condition of the cross-sections of people through organizing them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Mohila Somobai Samity has been formed in 28 upazilas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are 32,221 cooperative societies consisting of 14.68 lakh members in all 67 upazilas of eight districts in Rajshahi division and the societies have mobilized deposits of around Taka 1,472.87 crore at present.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A project titled \"Livelihood Development of Underprivileged Women through rearing improved cows\" is being implemented in 12 cooperative societies in six upazilas of four districts in the division.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the project, the beneficiary women were given loans worth around Taka 20.94 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nurannabi said loans of around Taka 24.10 crore were disbursed among the members of 195 cooperative societies in 200 Ashrayan Projects in the division. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 06:08:06', '2023-02-12 06:08:06'),
(5165, 5165, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">“Everything is Allah’s will,” Md Shahabuddin Chuppu, who is set to be the next President of Bangladesh, said today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is no reaction now.&nbsp; This is Almighty Allah’s will,” Md Shahabuddin told reporters after submitting his nomination paper at the Election Commission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md Shahabuddin, a retired district and session judge, had served as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An Awami League team, led by the party’s general secretary Obaidul Quader, went to the Election Commission to submit the nomination paper of its presidential candidate. The delegation members included AL Presidium members Mohammad Faruk Khan, Jahangir Kabir, and Abdur Rahman, AL Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud. 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, '2023-02-12 06:16:27', '2023-02-12 06:16:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5166, 5166, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An Israeli settler shot and killed a Palestinian in the northern West Bank on Saturday, Palestinian health officials said, while an 8-year-old child died of injuries suffered a day before in a car-ramming attack in Jerusalem.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As night fell, warning sirens sounded in southern Israel when Palestinian militants fired a rocket from the Gaza Strip that was intercepted by Israeli aerial defenses, the Israeli military said. There was no immediate statement from Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saturday\'s events were the latest escalation in months of surging violence in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the northern West Bank, near Salfit, a farming village of olive groves, video footage showed Israeli settlers racing down the hills and tearing into the town. As Palestinians poured into the streets to see what was going on, an Israeli settler opened fire, killing a 27-year-old villager, said Ghassan Douglas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israeli settlements in the Nablus region. The settlers dispersed when the Israeli military arrived, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the villager who was killed as Methqal Rayan and said he was shot in the head. Video shared by the village council shows the settlers firing at least 10 gunshots toward the residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Douglas said that the northern West Bank has seen an intense wave of settler violence in recent days. On Friday, he said, just after the car-ramming attack in Jerusalem that killed three Israelis, settlers similarly streamed into the village and stole several sheep from a farmer. Settlers attacked and wounded Palestinians who tried to defend the farmer, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israeli police opened an investigation into the shooting of the Palestinian, the military said. It said Israeli security forces de-escalated the situation after the Palestinian was taken to the hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Jerusalem, Asher Menahem Paley, 8, died a day after a Palestinain man rammed a car into a bus stop in an Israeli settlement in the eastern half of the contested capital, which Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem announced his death Saturday. His 6-year-old brother was killed in the car-ramming, along with a man in his 20s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the attack, Israel\'s new hard-line government vowed a harsh response. Almost immediately, Israeli police arrested and interrogated the relatives of the suspected assailant, 32-year-old Hussein Qaraqa from the gritty east Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Qaraqa’s family said he was born in Jerusalem but has family in Bethlehem. His uncle, 63-year-old Adnan Qaraqa in Bethlehem, told The Associated Press that his nephew had been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Qaraqa said Hussein\'s mental problems started in 2008, when he was arrested for the first of several minor offenses. He alleged that Israeli interrogators badly beat Hussein in detention, from which he emerged “irrevocably changed.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A few years later, Hussein fell from a crane at a construction site, his uncle said, sustaining a severe injury that worsened his mental condition. Hussein bounced between psychiatric wards for years, Qaraqa added, and was released from a hospital just two days before plowing into the crowded bus stop on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The West Bank has been on edge since Israel stepped up raids in the territory last spring, following a series of deadly Palestinian attacks inside Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem in 2022, making it the deadliest year in those territories since 2004, according to leading Israeli rights group B’Tselem. Last year, 30 people were killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pace of death has quickened this year. So far, 45 Palestinians have been killed, according to a count by The Associated Press. Palestinians have killed 10 people on the Israeli side during that time. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 06:32:27', '2023-02-12 06:32:27'),
(5167, 5167, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Bangladesh will never look back again, rather it will continue marching to be a smart, developed and prosperous country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"InshaAllah, Bangladesh will never look back again. The country is marching forward and it will continue,\" she said while addressing Bangladesh Ansar and VDP\'s 43rd National Assembly-2023 as the chief guest at the Ansar and VDP academy in Shafipur, Gazipur.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to her government\'s initiative for developing the country\'s information technology sector, the premier said, \"This Bangladesh will be a smart Bangladesh.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that the country was liberated in exchange for huge blood in the War of Liberation, Sheikh Hasina said today Bangladesh got the recognition of a developing country.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;\"But, we want to advance more. We want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country along with its socioeconomic development,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said people of the country will stand on their own feet and they must not have to extend hands for begging to anyone.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said that the Covid-19 pandemic created a huge pressure on the economy in the international arena, while Ukraine-Russia conflict caused economic recession around the globe.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have to keep us free from this. That\'s why, I urged all to follow the footsteps of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman not to leave single inch of arable land uncultivated,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She also asked all to ensure every left-out arable land to be brought under cultivation process.</div><div><br></div><div>\"For that Ansar and VDP can play special role. You can train the rural people and engage them in various cultivation activities to produce crops and preserve those,\" she said, adding, \"I hope that you (Ansar and VDP) will contribute\".</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque welcomed the prime minister on her arrival at the venue.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister handed over different medals in eight categories to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields.</div><div><br></div><div>She also inspected different contingents of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP riding on an open car.</div><div><br></div><div>She, as well, witnessed a spectacular parade of smartly-turned out contingents of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, she witnessed choreography and cultural programme. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 08:40:30', '2023-02-12 08:40:30'),
(5168, 5168, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The owner of the Russian Wagner Group private military contractor actively involved in the fighting in Ukraine has predicted that the war could drag on for years.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview released late Friday that it could take 18 months to two years for Russia to fully secure control of Ukraine\'s eastern industrial heartland of Donbas. He added that the war could go on for three years if Moscow decides to capture broader territories east of the Dnieper River.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement from Prigozhin, a millionaire who has close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was dubbed “Putin’s chef” for his lucrative Kremlin catering contracts, marked a recognition of the difficulties that the Kremlin has faced in the campaign, which it initially expected to wrap up within weeks when Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in the fall when the Ukrainian military launched successful counteroffensives to reclaim broad swaths of territory in the east and the south. The Kremlin has avoided making forecasts on how long the fighting could continue, saying that what it called the “special military operation” will continue until its goals are fulfilled.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian forces have focused on Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk provinces that make up the Donbas region where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian and Western officials have warned that Russia could launch a new broad offensive to try to turn the tide of the conflict as the war approaches the one-year mark. But Ukraine\'s military intelligence spokesman, Andriy Chernyak, told Kyiv Post that “Russian command does not have enough resources for large-scale offensive actions.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The main goal of Russian troops remains to achieve at least some tactical success in eastern Ukraine,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Prigozhin said that the Wagner Group mercenaries were continuing fierce battles for control of the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He acknowledged that the Ukrainian troops were mounting fierce resistance.</div><div><br></div><div>As Russian troops have pushed their attacks in the Donbas, Moscow has also sought to demoralize Ukrainians by leaving them without heat and water in the bitter winter.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, Russia launched the 14th round of massive strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. High-voltage infrastructure facilities were hit in the eastern, western and southern regions, resulting in power outages in some areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine\'s energy company, Ukrenergo, said Saturday that the situation was “difficult but controllable,” adding that involved backups to keep up power supplies but noting that power rationing will continue in some areas.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Head of Ukraine\'s state nuclear operator Energoatom Petro Kotin said Saturday that more power will come into the country\'s energy system after two nuclear reactors have been repaired.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine\'s military chief, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said that Russian forces launched 71 cruise missiles, 35 S-300 missiles and seven Shahed drones between late Thursday and midday Friday, adding that Ukrainian air defenses downed 61 cruise missiles and five drones.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ukrainian authorities reported more attacks by killer drones later on Friday. The Ukrainian air force said the military downed 20 Shahed drones in the evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia\'s Defense Ministry said that Friday\'s strikes hit all the designated targets, halting the operation of Ukraine\'s defense factories and blocking the delivery of supplies of Western weapons and ammunition. The claim couldn\'t be independently verified.</div><div><br></div><div>Late Friday, Russian military bloggers and some Ukrainian news outlets posted a video showing an attack by a sea drone on a strategic railway bridge in the Odesa region. The grainy video showed a fast-moving object on the surface of the water approaching the bridge in Zatoka, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Odesa, and exploding in a powerful blast.</div><div><br></div><div>The authenticity of the video couldn\'t be verified, but the Ukrainian military on Saturday confirmed the use of sea drones by Russian forces.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine’s military chief Zaluzhnyi said in an online statement that he has expressed concern about the use of such drones in a phone conversation with the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, on Saturday, adding that it “poses a threat to civilian navigation in the Black Sea.”</div><div><br></div><div>The attack marks the first combat use of a sea drone by Russia in the conflict. Igor Korotchenko, a retired colonel of the Russian armed forces who frequently comments on the conflict on Russian state TV, noted Saturday that such drones should be equipped with a more powerful load of explosives to inflict more significant damage.</div><div><br></div><div>The bridge, which was targeted by Russian missile strikes early in the war, serves the railway link to Romania, which is a key conduit for Western arms supplies.</div><div><br></div><div>In other developments, the governor of Russia\'s Kursk region along the border with Ukraine said that a group of construction workers was hit by Ukrainian shelling that killed one of them and wounded another.</div><div><br></div><div>The governor of another Russian border region, Belgorod, reported the shelling of the town of Shebekino, saying it damaged two buildings but no one was hurt. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 09:24:22', '2023-02-12 09:24:22'),
(5169, 5169, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Who doesn’t dream of healthy, strong, and shiny hair? However, many of us experience untimely hair fall due to diverse reasons. For natural hair growth, it\'s important to keep the scalp healthy by maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding some foods.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>Best foods for healthy hair growth</div><div><br></div><div>Eggs&nbsp;</div><div>Protein is known as the building block of hair. Lack of protein in hair may lead to hair fall. Biotin is the main source of the production of a hair protein namely keratin.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>If you have a biotin deficiency, you need to consume foods that contain more biotin. Essential protein and biotin can be consumed from eggs.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Spinach and Other Dark Leafy Greens</div><div>Spinach and other dark leafy greens provide iron which is one of the basic minerals required for your hair cells. Research has shown that if you have a deficiency of iron in your body you may lose hair.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>If your body cannot run sufficient iron, oxygen and nutrients cannot be transported to the hair roots and follicles adequately which can ultimately hamper growth and make your strands weak.</div><div><br></div><div>Citrus Fruits&nbsp;</div><div>Citrus fruits give you the Dose of Vitamin C that your body requires for iron absorption. According to nutritionists, one lime each day is sufficient to get your daily dose of Vitamin C. You can take it as lemon juice with honey or refined sugar. You can take an orange which is also a good source of Vitamin C.</div><div><br></div><div>Nuts and Seeds&nbsp;</div><div>Nuts and Seeds are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids that nourish the hair and support thickening. Your body cannot produce these healthy fats naturally, so you need to gain them from your diet. Almonds and walnuts are enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Likewise, you can take flax seeds as a mid-meal healthy snack to get essential fats to your hair.</div><div><br></div><div>Carrots are Rich in Vitamin A</div><div>Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A and the hair contains the fastest-growing tissues in the body. Vitamin A is required for the growth of every cell.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Drinking carrot juice regularly can help with the quick growth of your hair. Vitamin A helps the scalp to produce natural sebum oil which keeps the roots of the hair healthy and boosts hair growth.</div><div><br></div><div>Almond Butter</div><div>Almond butter has a huge range of nutrients like protein, healthy fats, and certain vitamins and they all have been linked to hair health. Almond is an excellent source of vitamin E that is extremely good for keeping your hair thick and glossy.</div><div><br></div><div>From one tablespoon of almond butter you will get around 3.87 milligrams of Vitamin E and the recommended daily Vitamin E allowance is 15 milligrams. So you will be all set if you can eat more than one tablespoon per day.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Yogurt</div><div>Do you know the misty thick, full, wavy hair of Greeks? Perhaps, it\'s due to the thick, protein-rich yogurt that Greeks and other cultures have been taking for hundreds of years because Greek yogurt contains vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, and B vitamins. Pantothenic acid and Vitamins B can help you maintain healthy skin and hair.</div><div><br></div><div>Read More: Why do Mosquitoes bite me so much?</div><div><br></div><div>Oatmeal</div><div>Oats contain iron, fiber, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids that revive hair growth, making it thick and healthy.</div><div><br></div><div>You can take a bowl of oatmeal along with some chia seeds in the morning if you want to up the hair-boosting power. Oats are called nutritional powerhouse and they are considered a complete protein that can help promote beautiful and shiny locks.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Lentils</div><div>Lentils are enriched with folic acid which helps your body produce red blood cells. Those red blood cells bring oxygen to your organs, including your skin and scalp help grow and strengthen your hair.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Liver</div><div>We have already mentioned that iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, especially in women. Organ meats- the liver has iron in abundance.</div><div><br></div><div>Strawberries</div><div>From a cup of strawberries, you can get more than a day\'s worth of vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, which is the main component of your hair.</div><div><br></div><div>Brussels Sprouts</div><div>Brussels sprouts have multiple nutritional benefits that make them exceptional food for your hair growth. A cup of Brussels sprouts meets your daily vitamin C requirements in maintaining healthy hair.</div><div><br></div><div>Sweet potatoes</div><div>Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and this compound is converted by the body into vitamin A, which is linked to hair health.</div><div><br></div><div>Sweet peppers</div><div>Sweet peppers have antioxidant-rich vitamin C, which may support hair growth. In fact, one yellow pepper provides up to 456% of the daily vitamin C needs of women and 380% for men.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Soybeans</div><div>Studies have shown that compounds namely spermidine abundant in soybeans help hair growth.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Meat</div><div>Meat, especially red meat, is rich in nutrients that assist hair growth because the protein available in meat helps repair and strengthen hair follicles.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Fish</div><div>Fatty fishes are excellent sources of nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids that may prevent scalp drying and promote hair growth. Deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids may result in dull hair, dry scalp, or lifeless hair.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Worst Foods and Drinks for Healthy Hair Growth</div><div>The following foods contain some nutrients that can damage hair rather than promote hair growth. If you want healthy and glossy hair, avoid these foods:&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Swordfish</div><div>Seafood like swordfish has outrageous levels of mercury that are linked to hair loss.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sugar</div><div>Sugar speeds up hair loss as it hinders the absorption of Protein, the essential element of hair growth. So, don’t take foods that have sugar.</div><div><br></div><div>Starchy, Refined Grains</div><div>Avoid white bread, cakes, pastries, white pasta, and other refined, over-processed starches because these also go hand-in-hand with sugar and they cause your hair to thin.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Alcohol</div><div>Alcohol dehydrates you, which can make your hair more fragile. So, avoid alcohol if you want to ease up your skin and hair.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dairy</div><div>Undoubtedly, dairy products are healthy but dairy contains a certain amount of fat that increases the testosterone levels in your body and it is one of the many hair fall reasons. Plus, if you have dandruff, eczema, or psoriasis, then dairy products can accelerate this problem.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Carbonated Drinks</div><div>Carbonated drinks lead to an increase in sugar in your bloodstream. This sugar hampers your blood circulation and lowers the nutrient supply to your hair follicles and causes hair loss.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bottom Line</div><div>Hair is a part of a human’s overall beauty. However, without the right nutrients, like vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein, and essential fatty acids, you can slow down hair growth and hair loss. So, take these nutrients regularly to treat hair loss and promote the rate of your hair growth. Similarly, avoid foods that discourage hair growth and help with hair loss. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 10:48:35', '2023-02-12 10:48:35'),
(5170, 5170, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Tiger census by using camera trapping method in the Sundarbans is going on in full swing.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Under the ‘Sundarbans Tiger Project’ the census was begun on January 1 last.</div><div><br></div><div>Aiming to get actual number of tigers, construction of high hillock for saving the wild life from the devastating storm and protect to come wild lives to the locality, the government has taken the project at a cost of Taka 36 crore, said Mihir Kumar Doe, Conservator of forest in Khulna.</div><div><br></div><div>This project comprising of counting tigers, construction of high hills for shelter of wild lives at the time of cyclone and flood, nylon fence to protect the entrance of wild animals into nearby locality.</div><div><br></div><div>The construction of nylon fencing will be started in next 23-24 fiscal years. The entrance of wild animals will be protected after completion of the construction, said Mihir Kumar Doe, the Conservator of forest of the Khulna Region.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, tigers have come close to 11 villages of Sharonkhola and Morelganj upazila under Bagerhat district as well as forest offices recently.</div><div><br></div><div>Forest officials and villagers stayed at their home fearing the attack of tigers.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentionable, the forest department is expected to publish the census result in March 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the forest department, the census is being carried out by surveying the rivers and creeks and by looking for footprints of tigers.</div><div><br></div><div>Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans West Division, and Project Director (PD) of the Tiger Conservation Project Dr Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, told BSS that around 484 cameras have been installed in the Sundarbans to capture pictures of tigers and other animals. They will later analyze the findings by using advanced technology, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The forest officer said survey and camera trappings will be continued for the next three months.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, in November 2023, a similar survey will be conducted alongside capturing photographs.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We will be able to announce the results by June to March in 2024,\"he added.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Forest Department, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change approved a project titled \'Sundarban Tiger Conservation Project\' on March 23 last year. The cost of the project was estimated at Tk 35 crore 93 lakh 80 thousand.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the last survey conducted in 2018, there are 114 tigers in the Sundarbans in Bangladesh portion, which was 106 in 2015 and 404 in 2004. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 12:52:19', '2023-02-12 12:52:19'),
(5171, 5171, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that their party has no interest in the presidential election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We do not want to comment on what this government is doing or not doing,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He told reporters at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office as they sought his comment on the ruling party’s nomination for the presidential election.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the purpose of their press conference was to inform the media about the attacks and obstruction by the police and the ruling party activists during their party’s countrywide march programme at the union level on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said they are least bothered about who is going to be the next president of the country as their main focus is now on the ongoing movement for realizing their 10-point demand, including the restoration of the government, dissolution of parliament and holding the next polls under a caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League Advisory Council Member and freedom fighter Md Shahabuddin Chuppu is set to be the next President of Bangladesh as the ruling party nominated him as the party’s presidential candidate.</div><div><br></div><div>A delegation of Awami League, led by party General Secretary Obaidul Quader, went to the Election Commission in the morning and submitted the nomination paper of its presidential candidate.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Shahabuddin, a retired district and session judge, had served as a commissioner at the Anti-Corruption Commission. -&nbsp; According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 13:18:05', '2023-02-12 13:18:05'),
(5172, 5172, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) nominated presidential candidate Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Awami League nominated President candidate Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at her official Ganabhaban residence here this morning,\" PM\'s Assistant Press Secretary MM Emrul Kayas told BSS.</div><div><br></div><div>On his arrival at the Ganabhaban, Mohammad Shahbuddin Chuppu was greeted with a flower bouquet by the Prime Minister and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman\'s younger daughter and PM\'s younger sister Sheikh Rehana.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the morning, the AL nominated former judge Mohammad Shahbuddin Chuppu as its candidate for 22nd presidential election.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL Parliamentary Party (ALPP) entrusted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the task of finalizing the nominee for the presidency at its meeting on February 7 at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and she picked Shahabuddin Chuppu.</div><div><br></div><div>The tenure of incumbent President Abdul Hamid ends on April 24.</div><div><br></div><div>AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, AL Presidium Members Faruque Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman, Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Office Secretary Biplab Barua, and Information and Research Secretary Dr Salim Mahmud, were present. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 14:33:51', '2023-02-12 14:33:51'),
(5173, 5173, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Islamic Foundation today launched pre-hajj registration and hajj registration service centre at his Agargaon headquarters in the city, said a press release.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Director General of Islamic Foundation Dr Moha Bashirul Alam inaugurated the pre-hajj registration and hajj registration service centre.</div><div><br></div><div>The release said the Islamic Foundation started registration service from today. The centre will provide all kinds of services relating to pre-hajj and hajj registration.</div><div><br></div><div>The Islamic Foundation requested all to contact for pre-hajj registration and hajj registration related information the following officials - Deputy Director (acting) of Islamic Foundation Muhammad Mujib Haider, contact number 01550687022 and 01716209915, assistant director Mostafizur Rahman, number 01550687064 and 01684019160, director of dini dawat and cultural department Md Anisur Rahman, number 01758406883. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 14:48:22', '2023-02-12 14:48:22'),
(5174, 5174, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Rice production in the country increased to 4.4 crore metric tonnes in the fiscal year2021-22, which broke the previous records, said Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Besides, in the past 14 years, rice production has increased by 29%, wheat by 37%, maize by 671%, potato 110%, pulse 328%, vegetables 645% and onion 395%, he said while addressing the eights convocation of Bangladesh Agriculture university (BAU) in Mymensingh.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister presided over the convocation ceremony on behalf of President Abdul Hamid, also Chancellor of the univerisity.</div><div>Due to the surprising success achieved in the agriculture sector there has been no crisis in food, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the university authorities to prepare the agriculture graduates for developing climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.</div><div><br></div><div>The agriculture minister also urged to invent climate-tolerant, high-yielding varieties of crops and modern farming methods and spread those among farmers quickly in a bid to boost agricultural production and ensure food security in the future by tackling various challenges including shrinking of land, population growth and climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>He also asked the graduates to be skilled to introduce use of robotics, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and drones in agriculture sector, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also stressed the need for modifying the curriculum of Agriculture Universities and modernizing it.&nbsp;</div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">More than 6,000 students received degrees and 224 gold medals at the convocation.</span></div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 15:09:21', '2023-02-12 15:09:21'),
(5175, 5175, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Rangpur Riders secured their place in the next round of the tournament with a thrilling win over Fortune Barishal in the eliminator on Sunday in Mirpur.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The match was filled with nail-biting moments as both teams fought to claim the victory. In the end, it was the Riders who emerged triumphant, knocking out their Fortune Barishal with a close four-wicket win.</div><div><br></div><div>As the match neared its conclusion, Rangpur found themselves needing just eight runs to secure the win. The pressure was on as the final over began, but Mahedi Hasan was equal to the task. He showed incredible composure and skill, hitting Kamrul Islam for two consecutive fours after a single in the first ball. This heroic effort ensured the Riders\' victory and set them up for the second qualifier against any of the Sylhet Strikers or Comilla Victorians.</div><div><br></div><div>Barishal batted first and scored 170 for 3 wickets. Despite having a strong opportunity to increase their score, they failed to capitalize in the middle overs and missed out on adding more runs to the board.</div><div><br></div><div>In the chase, Shamim Hossain led the Rangpur Riders with a magnificent 71 runs off 51 balls, including four fours and four sixes. Rony Talukdar, the opening batsman for the Riders, also contributed a valuable 29 runs off 17 balls.</div><div><br></div><div>In the latter stages of the game, Nicholas Pooran and Dwayne Bravo failed to deliver as they scored only 5 and 2 runs, respectively.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>However, Mahedi stepped up and played a pivotal role in leading Rangpur to a thrilling conclusion. They successfully finished the match with three balls left to play.</div><div><br></div><div>For Barishal, Shakib Al Hasan, Kamrul, and Khaled Ahmed took two wickets each.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Mehidy Hasan Miraz had a strong performance, scoring 69 runs off 40 balls with nine fours and one six while opening the innings for Barishal.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This contribution was complimented by strong efforts from Mahmudullah Riyad and Karim Janat who scored 34 and 33 runs respectively. Despite these impressive performances, the team was unable to secure their place in the next phase of the BPL.</div><div><br></div><div>Barishal was only able to secure five wins in 13 matches during the league. Despite having talented players under the leadership of Shakib, their overall performance was not enough to qualify for the next phase. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 15:28:47', '2023-02-12 15:28:47'),
(5176, 5176, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Turkish justice officials targeted more than 130 people allegedly involved in shoddy and illegal construction methods as rescuers extricated more survivors, including a pregnant woman and two small children, six days after a pair of earthquakes collapsed thousands of buildings.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The death toll from Monday’s quakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria stood at 33,179 on Sunday and was certain to rise as search teams locate more bodies in the rubble. Authorities said more than 92,600 other people were injured in the disaster.</div><div><br></div><div>As despair also bred rage at the agonizingly slow rescue efforts, the focus turned to who was to blame for not better preparing people in the earthquake-prone region that includes an area of Syria that was already suffering from years of civil war.</div><div><br></div><div>Even though Turkey has, on paper, construction codes that meet current earthquake-engineering standards, they are too rarely enforced, explaining why thousands of buildings slumped onto their side or pancaked downward onto residents.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said Sunday that 134 people were being investigated for their alleged responsibility in the construction of buildings that failed to withstand the quakes, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency. He said that three had been arrested pending trial, seven people were detained and seven other were barred from leaving the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Bozdag has vowed to punish anyone responsible, and prosecutors have begun gathering samples of buildings for evidence on materials used in constructions. The quakes were powerful, but victims, experts and people across Turkey are blaming bad construction for multiplying the devastation.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities at Istanbul Airport on Sunday detained two contractors held responsible for the destruction of several buildings in Adiyaman, the private DHA news agency and other media reported. The pair were reportedly on their way to Georgia.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the arrested contractors, Yavuz Karakus, told reporters Sunday: “My conscience is clear. I built 44 buildings. Four of them were demolished. I did everything according to the rules,” the DHA news agency reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Two more people were arrested in the province of Gaziantep suspected of having cut down columns to make extra room in a building that collapsed, the state-run Anadolu Agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>A day earlier, Turkey’s Justice Ministry announced the planned establishment of “Earthquake Crimes Investigation” bureaus. The bureaus would aim to identify contractors and others responsible for building works, gather evidence, instruct experts including architects, geologists and engineers, and check building permits and occupation permits.</div><div><br></div><div>A building contractor was detained by authorities on Friday at Istanbul airport before he could board a flight out of the country. He had built a luxury 12-story building called Ronesans Rezidans in the historic city of Antakya, in Hatay province. When it went down, it left an untold number of dead. He was formally arrested Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>In leaked testimony published by Anadolu, the man said the building followed regulations and he did not know the building didn’t withstand the quakes. His lawyer suggested the public was looking for a scapegoat.</div><div><br></div><div>The detentions could help direct public anger toward builders and contractors, deflecting attention away from local and state officials who allowed the apparently sub-standard constructions to go ahead. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, already burdened by an economic downturn and high inflation, faces parliamentary and presidential elections in May.</div><div><br></div><div>Survivors, many of whom lost loved ones, have turned their frustration and anger also at authorities. Rescue crews have been overwhelmed by the widespread damage which has impacted roads and airports, making it even more difficult to race against the clock.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan acknowledged earlier in the week that the initial response has been hampered by the extensive damage. He said the worst-affected area was 500 kilometers (310 miles) in diameter and was home to 13.5 million people in Turkey. During a tour of quake-damaged cities Saturday, Erdogan said a disaster of this scope was rare, and again referred to it as the “disaster of the century.”</div><div><br></div><div>Rescuers, including crews from other countries, continued to probe the rubble in hope of finding additional survivors who could yet beat the increasingly long odds. Thermal cameras were used to probe the piles of concrete and metal, while rescuers demanded silence so that they could hear the voices of the trapped.</div><div><br></div><div>A pregnant woman was rescued Sunday 157 hours after the quake in the hard-hit province of Hatay, State-broadcaster TRT said.</div><div><br></div><div>HaberTurk television broadcast the live rescue of a 6-year-old boy removed from the debris of his home in Adiyaman. The child was wrapped in a space blanket and put into an ambulance. An exhausted rescuer removed his surgical mask and took deep breaths as a group of women could be heard crying in joy.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkey’s health minister, Fahrettin Koca, posted a video of a young girl in a navy blue jumper who was rescued. “Good news at the 150th hour. Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!” he tweeted.</div><div><br></div><div>Rescue workers pulled out a man in Antakya, hours after hearing voices from beneath the rubble. Workers said the man, who appeared to be in his late 20s or 30s, was one of nine still trapped in the building. But when asked whether he knew of any other survivors, he said he hadn’t heard any voices for three days.</div><div><br></div><div>The man weakly waved his hand as he was passed hand to hand on a stretcher as workers applauded and chanted, “God is great!”</div><div><br></div><div>A team of German and Turkish relief workers rescued an 88-year-old woman alive from rubble in Kirikhan, German news agency dpa reported. The efforts of a team of Italian and Turkish rescuers also paid off when they removed a 35-year-old man from the wreckage in the hard-hit city of Antakya. He appeared to be unscathed as he was transported on a stretcher to an ambulance, private NTV television reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Overnight, a child was also freed in the town of Nizip, in Gaziantep, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, while a 32-year woman, was rescued from the ruins of a eight-story building in the city of Antakya. The woman asked for tea as soon as she emerged, according to NTV.</div><div><br></div><div>In Kahramanmaras, near the epicenter of the first 7.8 quake that struck early Monday morning, efforts were underway to reach a survivor detected by sniffer dogs beneath a now-pancaked seven-story building, NTV reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Those found alive, however, remained the rare exception.</div><div><br></div><div>A large makeshift graveyard was under construction in Antakya’s outskirts on Saturday. Backhoes and bulldozers dug pits in the field as trucks and ambulances loaded with black body bags arrived continuously. The hundreds of graves, spaced no more than 3 feet (a meter) apart, were marked with simple wooden planks set vertically in the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>Hatay’s airport, whose runway was damaged in the quake, was reopened on Sunday, the transportation ministry announced. That should help somewhat getting help into the region.</div><div><br></div><div>The picture is less clear of the plight across the border in Syria.</div><div><br></div><div>United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, visiting the Turkish-Syrian border Sunday, said in a statement that Syrians have been left “looking for international help that hasn’t arrived.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We have so far failed the people in north-west Syria. They rightly feel abandoned,” he said, adding, “My duty and our obligation is to correct this failure as fast as we can.”</div><div><br></div><div>The first U.N convoy to reach northwest Syria from Turkey was on Thursday, three days after the earthquake.</div><div><br></div><div>Before that, the only cargo coming across the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Turkey-Syria border was a steady stream of bodies of earthquake victims — Syrian refugees who had fled the war in their country and settled in Turkey but perished in Monday’s 7.8 magnitude quake — coming home for burial.</div><div><br></div><div>Political disputes have also held up aid convoys sent from areas of northeast Syria controlled by U.S.-backed Kurdish groups to those controlled by the Syrian government and by Turkish-backed rebels who have fought with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces over the years.</div><div><br></div><div>The death toll in Syria’s northwestern rebel-held region has reached 2,166, according to the rescue worker group the White Helmets. The overall death toll in Syria stood at 3,553 on Saturday, though the 1,387 deaths reported for government-held parts of the country hadn’t been updated in days. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 16:04:35', '2023-02-12 16:04:35'),
(5177, 5177, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A delegation of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led by President Faruque Hassan has met Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md. Mustafizur Rahman in New Delhi and sought support to boost trade with India.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim, Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Press, Publication and Publicity Shovon Islam and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Trade Mohammed Kamal Uddin were also present on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>The delegation went to India to attend sourcing meet and roadshows organized jointly by BGMEA and the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry in India from 9-12 February.</div><div><br></div><div>They discussed current Bangladesh-India trade situation and potential of boosting bilateral trade between the two neighboring countries.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said there were many areas where Bangladesh and India could support each other to get mutual trade benefits.</div><div><br></div><div>India is potential source of manmade fibre-based fabrics along with chemicals and other raw materials while the country is also promising export destination of Bangladesh RMG, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BGMEA President sought the support of the Bangladesh High Commission in removing non-tariff barriers between Bangladesh and India to pave the way for more trade with ease.</div><div><br></div><div>He requested the High Commission’s cooperation in addressing problems at land ports to expedite export-import procedures, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Faruque Hassan also called on the High Commission to make consular service easier and facilitate long-term visas for Indian businessmen.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-12 16:28:30', '2023-02-12 16:28:30');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5178, 5178, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The tents are so close to the border wall between Syria and Turkey, they are almost touching it.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those living here on the Syrian side may have been displaced by the country\'s more than decade-old civil war. But they could also be survivors of the earthquake. Catastrophes overlap in Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The earthquake, untroubled by international borders, has brought havoc to both countries. But the international relief effort has been thwarted by checkpoints. In southern Turkey, thousands of rescue workers with heavy lifting gear, paramedics and sniffer dogs have jammed the streets, and are still working to find survivors. In this part of opposition-held north-west Syria, none of this is going on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">I had just crossed the border from four days in the city of Antakya, Turkey, where the aid response is a cacophony - ambulance sirens blare all night long, dozens of earth movers roar and rip apart concrete 24 hours a day. Among the olive groves in the village of Bsania, in Syria\'s Idlib province, there\'s mostly silence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The homes in this border area were newly built. Now more than 100 have gone, turned to aggregate and a ghostly white dust which gusts across the farmland. As I climb over the chalky remains of the village, I spot a gap in the ruin. Inside, a pink-tiled bathroom sits perfectly preserved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The earthquake swallowed Abu Ala\'s home, and claimed the lives of two of his children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The bedroom is there, that\'s my house,\" he says, pointing to pile of rubble. \"My wife, daughter and I were sleeping here - Wala\', the 15-year-old girl, was at the edge of the room towards the balcony. A bulldozer was able to find her, [so] I took her and buried her.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the dark, he and his wife clung to olive trees as aftershocks rocked the hillside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Syrian Civil Defence Force - also known as the White Helmets - which operates in opposition-held areas, did what they could with pickaxes and crowbars. The rescuers, who receive funding from the British government, lack modern rescue equipment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abu Ala\' breaks down when he describes the search for his missing 13-year-old son, Ala\'. \"We kept digging until evening the next day. May God give strength to those men. They went through hell to dig my boy up.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He buried the boy next to his sister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bsania wasn\'t much, but it was home. Rows of modern apartment buildings, with balconies facing out across the Syrian countryside into Turkey. Abu Ala\' describes it as a thriving community. \"We had nice neighbours, nice people. [They] are dead now.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A deeply religious man, he is now bereft. \"What am I going to do?\" he asks. \"There are no tents, no aid, nothing. We\'ve received nothing but God\'s mercy until now. And I\'m here left to roam the streets.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As we leave, he asks me if I have a tent. But we have nothing to give him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">I meet up with the White Helmets, expecting to find them looking for survivors. But it is too late. Ismail al Abdullah, is weary from effort, and what he describes as the world\'s disregard for the Syrian people. He says the international community has blood on its hands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We stopped looking for survivors after more than 120 hours passed,\" he says. \"We tried our best to save our people, but we couldn\'t. No-one listened to us.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"From the first hour we called for urgent action, for urgent help. No-one responded. They were just saying, \'We are with you\', nothing else. We said, we need equipment. No-one responded.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from a few Spanish doctors, no international aid teams have reached this part of Syria. It is an enclave of resistance from Bashar al-Assad\'s rule. Under Turkish protection, it is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group that was once affiliated to al-Qaeda. The group has cut those links, but almost all governments have no relations with them. For our entire time in Syria, armed men, who didn\'t want to be filmed, accompanied us and stood at a distance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than a decade into Syria\'s stalled civil war, the 1.7m people who live in this area continue to oppose President Assad\'s rule. They live in makeshift camps and newly built shelters. Most have been displaced more than once, so life here was already very hard before the earthquake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The international help that reaches this part of Syria is tiny. Many of the earthquake victims were taken to the Bab al-Hawa hospital, which is supported by the Syrian American Medical Society. They treated 350 patients in the immediate aftermath, general surgeon Dr Farouk al Omar tells me, all with only one ultrasound.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When I ask him about international aid, he shakes his head, and laughs. \"We cannot talk more about this topic. We spoke about that a lot. And nothing happened. Even in a normal situation, we don\'t have enough medical staff. And just imagine what it\'s like in this catastrophe after earthquake,\" he says.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the end of the corridor, a tiny baby lies in an incubator. Mohammad Ghayyath Rajab\'s skull is bruised and bandaged, and his small chest rises and falls thanks to a respirator. Doctors can\'t be sure, but they think he\'s around three months old. Both of his parents were killed in the earthquake, and a neighbour found him crying alone in the dark in the rubble of his home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Syrian people have been forsaken many times, and tell me they have grown used to being disregarded. But still there is anger that more help is not forthcoming.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the town of Harem, Fadel Ghadab lost his aunt and cousin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"How is it possible that the UN has sent a mere 14 trucks worth of aid?\" he asks. \"We\'ve received nothing here. People are in the streets.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More aid has made it into Syria, but not much and it is too little, too late.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the absence of international rescue teams in Harem, children remove rubble. A man and two boys use a car-jack to prize apart the collapsed remains of a building, carefully salvaging animal feed onto a blanket. Life isn\'t cheaper in Syria, but it is more precarious.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is ending and I have to leave. I cross the border back into Turkey and soon get stuck in a traffic jam or ambulances, construction equipment - the gridlock of a national and international aid response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">My phone pings with a message from a Turkish rescuer telling me his team found a woman alive after 132 hours buried under her home. Behind me in Syria, as darkness falls, there is only silence. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 02:11:36', '2023-02-13 02:11:36'),
(5179, 5179, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">\"Stay close to the wall. Move fast. Single file. Just a few at a time.\"</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The staccato instructions come from the Ukrainian army escort taking us to a military position in battle-scarred Bakhmut, a city once famed for its sparkling wines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the eastern city \"our fortress\". Russian forces have spent the past six months trying to capture Bakhmut. Now they have intensified their onslaught - Ukraine believes - to tear it down ahead of the anniversary of the invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We follow orders, darting down an icy rubble-strewn street, with a clear blue sky overhead - ideal for Russian drones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just after we cross the road, two Russian shells come slamming down behind us on the other side. We turn around to see black smoke rising and keep on running.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Was the shelling random or aimed at us? We can\'t be sure, but everything that moves in Bakhmut is a target - soldier or civilian.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For hours there is no let-up in the shelling, incoming and outgoing. A Russian fighter jet roars overhead. The nearest Russian troops are just two kilometres away.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is street fighting in some areas, but Ukrainian forces still hold the city - despite sub-zero temperatures and dwindling ammunition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have some shortages of ammunition of all kinds, especially artillery rounds,\" says Capt Mykhailo from the 93rd Mechanised Brigade, whose call sign is \'Polyglot\'. \"We also need encrypted communication devices from our Western allies, and some armoured personnel carriers to move troops around. But we still manage. One of the main lessons of this war is how to fight with limited resources.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We get an insight into the ammunition problems as Ukrainian troops target a Russian position with 60mm mortars. The first mortar round flies from the tube with a loud bang. The second round doesn\'t eject.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There\'s a hiss of smoke and a shout of \"misfire\" sending the mortar unit scrambling for cover. Troops tell us the ammunition is old stock, sent from abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The battle for Bakhmut is a war within a war. Some of the fiercest fighting of the invasion has happened here. And now the Kremlin\'s forces are gaining ground, metre by metre, body by body. Wave after wave of mercenaries from the notorious Wagner group have been sent into battle here. There are reports of fields of Russian corpses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow now has effective control of both main roads into the city, leaving just one back route left - a slender supply line.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They have been trying to take the city since July,\" says Iryna, press officer of the 93rd Brigade. \"Little by little they are winning now. They have more resources, so if they play the long game they will win. I can\'t say how long it will take.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Maybe they will run out of resources. I really hope so.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We move from carefully concealed firing positions to bunkers humming with generators and warmed by stoves. But troops take care to conceal any smoke which could give away their location - part of the housekeeping of war. Among those we meet there is calm determination to fight on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They are trying to encircle us so that we leave the city, but it\'s not working,\" says Ihor, a camouflage-clad commander, with a battle-hardened edge. \"The city is under control. Transport moves, despite constant artillery strikes. Of course, we have losses from our side, but we are holding on. We only have one option - to keep going to victory.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is another option - to withdraw from Bakhmut before it\'s too late. But among the defenders on the ground there seems little appetite for that. \"If we have such an order from our HQ, OK, order is order,\" says Captain Myhailo. \"But what sense to hold all these months if you need to retreat from this city? No, we don\'t want to do this.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He recalls those who have given their lives for Bakhmut - \"a lot of good brave men who just love this country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And if the defenders of Bakhmut were to withdraw, it would pave the way for Russia to push towards bigger cities in eastern Ukraine like Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow has stepped up its attacks in other front-line areas in the Donbas region in the east, and in the south. Ukrainian officials say a new Russian offensive is already under way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kremlin is on a clock, as it counts down to the anniversary on 24 February. \"They are mad about dates and so-called \'victory days\',\" says Capt Mykhailo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the battle of attrition for Bakhmut could wear out the Russians, according to Viktor, a tall, lean Ukrainian commander who has captured Russian magazines on a shelf in his bunker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"They don\'t defend now,\" he says, \"they just attack. They continue taking some metres, but we are trying to make sure they take as little of our land as possible. We are holding the enemy here and wearing them out.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is still some life in Bakhmut if you know where to find it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A blast of heat and light hits you when you walk through the door of the \"invincibility hub\", past boxes of donated food supplies. It\'s a boxing club turned life-support system where local people can recharge their phones and themselves, with hot food and companionship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was crowded when we visited, with elderly women clustered around a stove, and two young boys sitting in the boxing ring, glued to a TV screen, and playing war games.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around 5,000 civilians remain in Bakhmut without running water or power - many are elderly and poor. \"Some are pro-Moscow. They are waiting for the Russians,\" a Ukrainian colleague mutters darkly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All here are fighting their own battles says Tetiana, a 23-year-old psychologist who is at the hub watching over her young brother and sister. She\'s still in Bakhmut because her 86-year-old grandmother can\'t move and relies on her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Most people deal with it by praying to God,\" she says. \"Faith helps. Some forget that they are people. Some show aggression. They start behaving worse than animals.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Back outside the battle for this broken city rages on, with a drum beat of shelling as we leave. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 02:16:25', '2023-02-13 02:16:25'),
(5180, 5180, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The US has shot down another unidentified flying object in the fourth military operation of its kind this month.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Joe Biden ordered it to be downed near Lake Huron, close to the Canadian border, on Sunday afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The object could have interfered with commercial air traffic as it was traveling at 20,000ft (6,100m), a Pentagon statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was first detected above military sites in Montana on Saturday, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The object, which was not deemed a military threat, has been described by defence officials as unmanned and octagonal in shape. It was downed by a missile fired from an F-16 fighter jet at 14:42 local time (19:42 GMT).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident raised further questions about the spate of high-altitude objects that have been shot down over North America this month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A suspected Chinese spy balloon was downed off the coast of South Carolina on 4 February after hovering for days over the continental US. Officials said it originated in China and had been used to monitor sensitive sites.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China denied the object was used for spying and said it was a weather monitoring device that had been blown astray. The incident - and the angry exchanges in its aftermath - ratcheted up tensions between Washington and Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Sunday, a defence official said the US had communicated with Beijing about the first object after receiving no response for several days. It was not immediately clear what was discussed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since that first incident, American fighter jets have shot down three further high-altitude objects in as many days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Biden ordered an object to be shot down over Alaska on Friday, and on Saturday a similar object was shot down over the Yukon in north-western Canada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials have not publicly identified the origin or purpose of these objects. Both the US and Canada are still working to recover the remnants, but the search in Alaska has been hampered by Arctic conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These objects did not closely resemble, and were much smaller than, the [4 February] balloon and we will not definitively characterise them until we can recover the debris,\" a White House National Security spokesperson said. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 03:09:12', '2023-02-13 03:09:12'),
(5181, 5181, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dozens of leaders and senior officials from Arab and Islamic countries warned on Sunday Israeli actions in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank could worsen regional turmoil, as violence surges between Israel and the Palestinians.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting in Cairo was hosted by the Arab League and attended by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas along with many foreign ministers and senior officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The high-level gathering came amid one of the deadliest periods of fighting in years in Jerusalem and the neighboring Israeli-occupied territory. Forty-five Palestinians have been killed so far this year, according to a count by The Associated Press. Palestinians have killed 10 people on the Israeli side during that time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speakers at the meeting condemned Israel’s “unilateral measures” in Jerusalem and the West Bank in statements, including home demolitions and expanding settlements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also condemned visits by Israeli officials to the city’s contested holy site, which is sacred to both Jews and Muslims and has often been the epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian unrest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was no immediate comment from Israel\'s government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The officials also voiced support for Jordan\'s role as custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam. The mosque is built on a hilltop in Jerusalem’s Old City that is the most sacred site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount because it was the site of the Jewish temples in antiquity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since Israel captured the site in the 1967 Mideast War, Jews have been allowed to visit but not pray there. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Calling Jerusalem \"the backbone of the Palestinian cause,\" el-Sissi warned of dire repercussions of any Israeli move to change the status quo of the holy site, saying they would “negatively impact” future negotiations to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said such measures would impede the long-sought after two-state solution to the conflict, which would leave “both parties and the whole Middle East with difficult and grave options.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">El-Sissi, whose country was the first Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, called on the international community to “reinforce the two-state solution and create conducive conditions for the resumption of the peace process.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">King Abdullah II also called for Israel to cease its violations and incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The region cannot live in peace, stability, and prosperity without any progress made on the Palestinian cause,” he warned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, the secretary-general of the pan-Arab organization, also warned that attempts to partition the Al-Aqsa Mosque and obliterate its Arab and Islamic identity “would fuel endless unrest and violence.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abbas, the Palestinian president, said his administration would resort to the United Nations and its agencies and demand a resolution to protect the two-state solution to the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The State of Palestine will continue going to international courts and organizations to protect our people’s legitimate rights,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ongoing bout of violence has put the region on edge. Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egyptian, Israeli and Palestinian leaders and urged them to ease tensions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel is run by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new far-right government. Many politicians in Netanyahu’s administration oppose Palestinian independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunday\'s meeting in Cairo issued a final statement that condemned what it called “Israeli\'s systemic policy” that aims at “distorting and changing” Jerusalem’s “Arab and Islamic culture and identity.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The communique also urged the International Criminal Court to pursue its investigation and hold those responsible for Israel’s alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 03:17:15', '2023-02-13 03:17:15'),
(5182, 5182, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">When Zafer Mahmut Boncuk\'s apartment building collapsed in Turkey\'s devastating earthquake, he discovered his 75-year-old mother was still alive — but pinned under the wreckage.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For hours, Boncuk frantically searched for someone in the ancient, devastated city of Antakya to help him free her. He was able to talk to her, hold her hand and give her water. Despite his pleas, however, no one came, and she died on Tuesday, the day after the quake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Like many others in Turkey, his sorrow and disbelief have turned to rage over the sense there has been an unfair and ineffective response to the historic disaster that has killed tens of thousands of people there and in Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Boncuk directed his anger at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, especially because she seemed so close to rescue but no one came. Her remains were finally removed Sunday, nearly a week after the building collapsed. His father\'s body is still in the rubble.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What would happen if it was your own mother, dear Recep Tayyip Erdogan? What happened to being a world leader? Where are you? Where?” he screamed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I gave her water to drink, I cleared her face of rubble. I told her that I would save her. But I failed,” said Boncuk, 60. “The last time we spoke, I asked if I should help her drink some water. She said no, so I rubbed some water on her lips. Ten minutes later, she died.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He blamed “ignorance and lack of information and care — that’s why my mother died in front of my eyes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many in Turkey express similar frustration that rescue operations have been painfully slow since the Feb. 6 quakes and that valuable time was lost during the narrow window for finding people alive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Others, particularly in southern Hatay province near the Syrian border, say Erdogan’s government was late in delivering assistance to the hardest-hit region for what they suspect are both political and religious reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the southeastern town of Adiyaman, Elif Busra Ozturk waited outside the wreckage of a building on Saturday where her uncle and aunt were trapped and believed dead, and where the bodies of two of her cousins already had been found.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For three days, I waited outside for help. No one came. There were so few rescue teams that they could only intervene in places they were sure there were people alive,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the same complex, Abdullah Tas, 66, said he had been sleeping in a car near the building where his son, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren were buried. He said that rescuers had first arrived four days after the earthquake struck. The Associated Press could not independently verify his claim.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What good is that for the people under the debris?” he asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Onlookers stood behind police tape Saturday in Antakya as bulldozers clawed at a high-rise luxury apartment building that had toppled onto its side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over 1,000 residents had been in the 12-story building when the quake struck, according to relatives watching the recovery effort. They said hundreds were still inside but complained the effort to free them had been slow and not serious.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This is an atrocity, I don’t know what to say,” said Bediha Kanmaz, 60. The bodies of his son and 7-month-old grandson had been pulled from the building — still locked in an embrace — but his daughter-in-law was still inside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We open body bags to see if they’re ours, we’re checking if they’re our children. We’re even checking the ones that are torn to pieces,” she said of herself and other grief-stricken relatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kanmaz also blamed Turkey’s government for the slow response, and accused the national rescue service of failing to do enough to recover people alive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She and others in Antakya expressed the belief that the presence of a large minority of Alevis — an Anatolian Islamic community that differs from Sunni and Shia Islam and Alawites in Syria — had made them a low priority for the government. Traditionally, few Alevis vote for Erdogan’s ruling party. There was no evidence, however, that the region was overlooked for sectarian reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan said Wednesday that disaster efforts were continuing in all 10 affected provinces and dismissed allegations of no help from state institutions like the military as “lies, fake slander.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he has acknowledged shortcomings. Officials said rescue efforts in Hatay were initially complicated by the destruction of the local airport’s runway and bad road conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anger over the extent of the destruction, however, is not limited to individuals. Turkish authorities have been detaining or issuing detention warrants for dozens of people allegedly involved in the construction of buildings that collapsed, and the justice minister has vowed to punish those responsible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kanmaz blamed negligence on the part of the developer of the apartment building where her family had been killed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If I could wrap my hands around the contractor’s neck, I would tear him to shreds,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That contractor, who oversaw the construction of the 250-unit building, was detained at Istanbul Airport on Friday before boarding a flight out of the country, Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency reported. On Saturday, he was formally arrested. His lawyer suggested the public was looking for a scapegoat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In multiethnic southern Turkey, other tensions are rising. Some expressed frustration that Syrian refugees who fled to the region from their devastating civil war are burdening the sparse welfare system and competing for resources with Turkish people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are many poor people in Hatay, but they don’t offer us any welfare; they give it to the Syrians. They give so much to the Syrians,” Kanmaz said. “There are more Syrians than Turks here.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were signs Saturday the tensions could be boiling over.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two German aid groups and the Austrian Armed Forces temporarily interrupted their rescue work in the Hatay region citing fears for the safety of their staff. They resumed work after the Turkish army secured the area, the Austrian Defense Ministry spokesman tweeted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is increasing tension between different groups in Turkey,” Lt. Col. Pierre Kugelweis of the Austrian Armed Forces told the APA news agency. “Shots have reportedly been fired.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">German news agency dpa reported that Steven Berger, chief of operations of the aid group I.S.A.R. Germany, said that “it can be seen that grief is slowly giving way to anger” in Turkey’s affected regions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For Kanmaz, it was a mixture of grief and anger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I’m angry. Life is over,” she said. “We live for our children; what matters most to us is our children. We exist if they exist. Now we are over. Everything you see here is over.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 03:35:39', '2023-02-13 03:35:39'),
(5183, 5183, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested an alleged drug peddler with 96 kgs of hemp from sadar upazila in the district yesterday evening.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The arrested person was Md Faisal alias Mamun, 38, of Chandrapur village under Noakhali sadar upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">RAB said, an operation team of RAB-5 from Chapainawabganj camp on detective information, conducted a raid in Mohananda Bridge toll plaza area near Zila Shilpakala Academy at 7 pm and detained a covered van.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After searching the covered van RAB found the hemp.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the elite force handed him over to the police of Chapainawabganj sadar thana with a case, the sources added. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 04:25:33', '2023-02-13 04:25:33'),
(5184, 5184, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israel hit Gaza with air strikes on Monday in response to a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave at the weekend, the army said, as unrest persisted in the occupied West Bank.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestinian Red Crescent said one person was killed in a pre-dawn Israeli army raid in Nablus in the northern West Bank, the scene of near-relentless violence over the past year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The army did not immediately comment on the Nablus raid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But in Gaza, it said it had struck \"an underground complex containing raw materials used for the manufacturing of rockets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The strikes were launched were \"in response to the Saturday rocket launch from Gaza into Israel,\" the army added in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the Israeli strikes, air raid sirens sounded in communities in near the Gaza border, the military said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were no reported casualties in Gaza or Israel following the latest round of missile fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Israeli-Palestinian conflict is enduring a dramatic increase in violence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the start of the year, the conflict has claimed the lives of 47&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Palestinian adults and children, including militants and civilians, following the latest death in Nablus.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nine Israeli civilians, including three children, and one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a move like to inflame tensions, Israel\'s security cabinet late Saturday announced that it would legalise nine West Bank Jewish settlements in response to fatal Palestinian attacks in annexed east Jerusalem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A security cabinet statement said many of the newly authorised communities had existed for years, and others for decades, but had not previously been recognised as legitimate by Israel\'s government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has occupied the West Bank since the 1967 Six Day War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 475,000 Jewish settlers now live in the Palestinian territory, in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">communities considered illegal under international law.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most of that population is in settlements that Israel has unilaterally&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">authorised, but some live in communities that have not been given government authorisation.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The security cabinet also said it intends to announce a new round of settler housing construction in the West Bank, a step likely to draw widespread international condemnation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned against settlement expansion in a trip to the region last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\'s hardline government also announced a beefed up security presence in Israel-annexed east Jerusalem, the scene of two recent deadly attacks targeting civilians. 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, '2023-02-13 04:41:13', '2023-02-13 05:44:31'),
(5186, 5186, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka ranked as the 18th most polluted city in the world this morning (February 13, 2023) as per Air Quality Index (AQI).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The air in Dhaka was categorized as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning and the megacity had an AQI score of 123 at 9:33 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia’s Krasnoyarsk, Poland’s Krakow and Bosnia Herzegovina’s Sarajevo occupied the first three spots, with AQI scores of 199, 186 and 182, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the AQI remains in between 101 and 150, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected in this condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this range, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, people with diabetes, and people of lower SES are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while 201-300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and 301-400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone (O3).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by wide seasonal variations in rainfall, high temperatures and humidity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. 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, '2023-02-13 04:51:11', '2023-02-13 04:51:11');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5187, 5187, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United Nations decried Sunday the failure to ship desperately needed aid to war-torn regions of Syria, while warning the death toll of more than 33,000 from the earthquake that also struck Turkey is set to rise far higher.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A UN convoy with supplies for northwest Syria arrived via Turkey, but the agency\'s relief chief Martin Griffiths said much more was needed for millions whose homes were destroyed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have so far failed the people in northwest Syria. They rightly feel</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">abandoned. Looking for international help that hasn\'t arrived,\" Griffiths said on Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Assessing damage in southern Turkey on Saturday, when the toll stood at 28,000, Griffiths said he expected the figure to \"double or more\" as chances of finding survivors fade with every passing day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Supplies have been slow to arrive in Syria, where years of conflict have ravaged the healthcare system, and parts of the country remain under the control of rebels battling the government of President Bashar al-Assad, which is under Western sanctions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But a 10-truck UN convoy crossed into northwest Syria via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, according to an AFP correspondent, carrying shelter kits, plastic sheeting, rope, blankets, mattresses and carpets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bab al-Hawa is the only point for international aid to reach people in rebel-held areas of Syria after nearly 12 years of civil war, after other crossings were closed under pressure from China and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The head of the World Health Organization met Assad in Damascus on Sunday and said the Syrian leader had voiced readiness for more border crossings to help bring aid into the rebel-held northwest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"He was open to considering additional cross-border access points for this emergency,\" WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Conflict, Covid, cholera, quake -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The compounding crises of conflict, Covid, cholera, economic decline and now the earthquake have taken an unbearable toll,\" Tedros said a day after visiting Aleppo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that he was \"waiting to move across lines to the northwest, where we\'ve been told the impact is even worse\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But while Damascus had given the all-clear for cross-line aid convoys to go ahead from government areas, Tedros said the WHO was still waiting for a green light from rebel-held areas before going in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Assad looked forward to further \"efficient cooperation\" with the UN agency to improve the shortage in supplies, equipment and medicines, his presidency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had also thanked the United Arab Emirates for providing \"huge relief and humanitarian aid\", with pledges of tens of millions of dollars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But in Turkey security concerns prompted the suspension of some rescue operations, and dozens of people have been arrested for looting or trying to defraud victims in the aftermath of the quake, according to state media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An Israeli emergency relief organisation said Sunday it had suspended its earthquake rescue operation in Turkey and returned home because of a \"significant\" security threat to its staff.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Miraculous tales -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Miraculous tales of survival have still emerged, though experts caution that hopes for finding people alive in the devastation dim with each passing day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Almost 160 hours after the quake, several more people were rescued, including an eight-year-old boy in Gaziantep and a 63-year-old woman in Hatay, state media reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey\'s disaster agency said more than 32,000 people from Turkish</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">organisations are working on search-and-rescue efforts, along with 8,294 international rescuers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But in many areas, rescue teams said they lacked sensors and advanced search equipment, leaving them reduced to carefully digging through the rubble with shovels or only their hands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If we had this kind of equipment, we would have saved hundreds of lives, if not more,\" said Alaa Moubarak, head of civil defence in Jableh, northwest Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Anger grows -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syria\'s transport ministry said 62 aid planes had landed in Syria this week with more on the way from Saudi Arabia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jordan\'s foreign ministry announced the country\'s air force had flown the first two planeloads of 480 UN tents to Syria and Turkey \"out of 10,000 tents that will be transported\" to the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After days of grief and anguish, anger in Turkey has been growing over the poor quality of buildings as well as the government\'s response to the country\'s worst disaster in nearly a century.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 12,141 buildings were officially either destroyed or seriously damaged in Turkey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three people were put behind bars by Sunday and seven more have been detained-- including two developers who were trying to relocate to the former Soviet republic of Georgia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials and medics said 29,605 people had died in Turkey and 3,581 in Syria from Monday\'s 7.8-magnitude quake, bringing the confirmed total to 33,186. 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, '2023-02-13 05:41:18', '2023-02-13 05:41:18'),
(5188, 5188, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) to be \"true friend\" of the coastal people by establishing guardianship at the sea.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The motto of the force (BCG) is \'Guardian at Sea\' which means to establish yourself as true friend of the coastal people,\" she said while addressing 28th founding anniversary function of the BCG and the BCG Day-2023 at the Coast Guard Headquarters in capital\'s Sher-e-Banglanagar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier highly praised the Coast Guard personnel as they are standing beside the innocent and helpless people in the coastal belts by warding off many criminal acts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said her government has been working to transform the Coast Guard into a modern and up-to-date force with knowledge of information technology.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We want our Coast Guard to be built as a developed and powerful force with knowledge of modern information technology,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said her government has launched Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to orbit, adding that a groundbreaking change has been made in the coast guard\'s communication system by establishing its connection with the satellite.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We can ensure our security using the digital system, (with establishing the satellite connection),\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister also unveiled a newly constructed establishment of the BCG at Lakshimpur by pressing a button.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and BCG Director General (DG) Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury were present at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the ceremony, the prime minister handed over Bangladesh Coast Guard medals to several BCG personnel including its director general in recognition of their glorious contribution to the force as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the outset of the programme, a smartly turned out contingent of the Bangladesh Coast Guard also gave a state-salute to the premier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A short video documentary on Coast Guard\'s activities was screened. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 05:52:55', '2023-02-13 05:52:55'),
(5189, 5189, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Today marks the 11th death anniversary of celebrated actor Humayun Faridi, one of the brightest stars in the sky of the country’s silver screen. Faridi was one of the most influential actors of Bangladesh who captivated the audience for over two decades with his powerful and versatile acting skills in theatre, television drama and films.</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The artiste, who worked in television dramas, movies and theatre plays, was born on May 29 at Narinda in Dhaka in 1952.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Humayun Faridi also fought in Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">After independence, he got admitted to Jahangirnagar University to study Economics. Faridi’s expedition in showbiz began as a leading organiser of Jahangirnagar University’s 1976 Drama Festival. There he came to notice of renowned cultural personality Nasiruddin Yousuff, who was attending the festival as a judge.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In 1978, he began theatre acting career with the play ‘Shakuntala’.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Faridi debuted in television dramas through ‘Nil Nakshar Shandaney’ in 1982. He later acted on numerous TV dramas. One character ‘Kan Kata Ramjan’ from the drama ‘Shongshoptok’ earned Faridi extreme popularity in the country.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Humayun Faridi starrer popular drama serials are ‘Nil Nakshar Shandhany’, ‘Durbin Die Dekhun’, ‘Bhangoner Shabdha Suni’, ‘Bakulpur Koto Dur’, ‘Dubhuboner Dui Bashinda’, ‘Ekti Laal Shari’, ‘Mohuar Mon’, ‘Shiter Pakhi’, ‘Kothao Keu Nei’ and ‘Prioy Jon Nibash’. </p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He was awarded National Film Award in 2004 for his acting in ‘Matritta’.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The legendary actor breathed his last on February 13 in 2012.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 06:53:48', '2023-02-13 11:05:44'),
(5190, 5190, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 12 civilian died and six were injured in an attack by suspected jihadists in northwestern Burkina Faso, near the border with Mali, locals told AFP on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Several dozen men on motorbikes attacked the village of Sanakadougou\" in Kossi province overnight Thursday and Friday, a resident told AFP, requesting anonymity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents said at least 12 people died and six were wounded, but it was feared the toll could be higher.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Almost the entire village was burnt down,\" one witness said, adding that locals had started leaving the area from Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"(Villagers) could not take anything because the attackers set fire to everything or looted and carried away the rare goods and livestock,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were also reports of another attack by armed groups on the neighbouring town of Yaran on Sunday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deadly ambushes attributed to jihadists have multiplied in recent weeks in Burkina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This week, about 40 people, civilians or soldiers, died in various attacks while the previous week 50 were killed in several jihadist raids. 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, '2023-02-13 07:00:55', '2023-02-13 07:00:55'),
(5191, 5191, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">To support export and import-based businesses to cope with global uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, IFC is providing $50 million to Prime Bank Limited in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This IFC funding will support working capital, trade finance, and foreign exchange liquidity needs of export and import based entities borrowing through Prime Bank\'s Offshore Banking Unit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The financing package is part of IFC\'s \'Fast Track COVID-19 Facility,\' a package designed to support countries and private sectors to cope with the impacts of the pandemic under the Working Capital Solutions (WCS) program, said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This IFC engagement with Prime Bank will also be supported by the&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">International Development Association\'s Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commercial banks are the largest providers of working capital and foreign exchange trade finance support to manufacturing and infrastructure businesses, key drivers of Bangladesh\'s economy.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unexpected turbulence in the global markets because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting war has restrained foreign exchange liquidity in the market. With this funding, Prime Bank is expected to extend loans to its export and import-based customers, helping keep businesses afloat, resume exports and preserve jobs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"IFC\'s support reflect resilience of Bangladesh economy and confidence on Prime Bank. IFC has been a valuable partner of Prime Bank since 2014 and this relationship helps us to significantly expand our OBU business. We are really thankful to IFC for its continued support. This fresh funding of USD 50 Million targeted for SME clients will help us to grow SME portfolio of the bank,\" said Managing Director &amp; CEO of Prime Bank Hassan O. Rashid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Bank is one of the leading private-sector commercial banks in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh. It was awarded the \"2021 Best Bank Partner for Equipment Trade in South Asia\" by IFC under its Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP).&nbsp;</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This project is IFC\'s 4th WCS facility to Prime Bank, supporting a long-standing partner bank\'s ability to provide critical financing services and promote the resilience of the trade finance market in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is clear the impacts of COVID-19 are still being felt by a number of businesses in Bangladesh\'s key industries, effectively constraining their operating ability,\" said Allen Forlemu, Regional Industry Director, Financial Institutions Group, IFC.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This funding package is designed specifically to help ensure businesses in Bangladesh can continue to trade and have access to working capital, helping them maintain operations and preserve jobs. Small and medium-sized businesses, which are the backbone of the country, and have been particularly impacted by the pandemic, are expected to benefit the most from this IFC funding.\" Added Allen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IFC has provided a total of $310 million in working capital solutions to banks in Bangladesh and liquidity support to companies since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, including this new funding to Prime Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Since 2010, IFC has invested over $3.6 billion to help private sector grow in Bangladesh, creating jobs for the country\'s people. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 07:26:49', '2023-02-13 07:26:49'),
(5192, 5192, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) fined Khulna Tigers Head Coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon and three other players for breaching the code of conduct during their respective matches in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rangpur Riders duo Mahedi Hasan and Nicholas Pooran while Comilla Victorians&nbsp; allrounder Mosaddrk Hossain were the three players to receive the punishment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahmud was fined 30 percent of his match fees for a Level 1 breach that is contrary to the spirit of the game during his side\'s T20 match against Fortune Barishal at the Sher-e- Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) on February 10. He was seen smoking in the dressing room which went viral in social media outlet.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition to the fine, two demerit points have been added to the Mahmud\'s disciplinary record. On-field umpires Ali Arman Rajon and Ravindra Wimalasari, third umpire Muhammad Kamruzzaman and fourth official Mahfuzur Rahman Litu levelled the charge. Mahmud accepted the sanction proposed by Match Referee Debabrata Paul and as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahedi was found in breach which refers to abuse of cricket equipment, in the Eliminator on February 12 against Fortune Barishal at the SBNCS and was fined 25 percent of his match fees. One demerit point was also added to his disciplinary record.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pooran meanwhile, breached the BCB\'s clothing regulations in the same match and was handed a 50 percent match-fee fine. Two demerit points were added to his record also.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On-field umpires Prageeth Rambukwella and Ali Arman Rajon, third umpire Tanvir Ahmed and fourth official Mahfuzur Rahman Litu brought the charges. The players admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Match Referee Akhtar Ahmad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mosaddek was fined 25 percent of his match fees while, one demerit point was added to his disciplinary record for breaching the logo guideline in the first Qualifier against Sylhet Strikers at the SBNCS on February 12.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On-field umpires David Millns and Raveeendra Wimalasiri, third umpire Muhammad Kamruzzaman and fourth official Muzahid Swapan leveled the charge. The player did not contest the sanction proposed by Match Referee Neeyamur Rashid and therefore, no formal hearing was required. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 07:34:24', '2023-02-13 07:34:24'),
(5193, 5193, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A U.S. fighter jet shot down an “unidentified object” over Lake Huron on Sunday on orders from President Joe Biden. It was the fourth such downing in eight days and the latest military strike in an extraordinary chain of events over U.S. airspace that Pentagon officials believe has no peacetime precedent.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Part of the reason for the repeated shootdowns is a “heightened alert” following a spy balloon from China that emerged over U.S. airspace in late January, Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said in a briefing with reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since then, fighter jets last week also shot down objects over Canada and Alaska. Pentagon officials said they posed no security threats, but so little was known about them that Pentagon officials were ruling nothing out — not even UFOs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have been more closely scrutinizing our airspace at these altitudes, including enhancing our radar, which may at least partly explain the increase,” said Melissa Dalton, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. authorities have made clear that they constantly monitor for unknown radar blips, and it is not unusual to shut down airspace as a precaution to evaluate them. But the unusually assertive response was raising questions about whether such use of force was warranted, particularly as administration officials said the objects were not of great national security concern and the downings were just out of caution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">VanHerck said the U.S. adjusted its radar so it could track slower objects. “With some adjustments, we’ve been able to get a better categorization of radar tracks now,\" he said, \"and that’s why I think you’re seeing these, plus there’s a heightened alert to look for this information.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added: “I believe this is the first time within United States or American airspace that NORAD or United States Northern Command has taken kinetic action against an airborne object.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked if officials have ruled out extraterrestrials, VanHerck said, “I haven’t ruled out anything at this point.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Pentagon officials said they were still trying to determine what exactly the objects were and said they had considered using the jets\' guns instead of missiles, but it proved to be too difficult. They drew a strong distinction between the three shot down over this weekend and the balloon from China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The extraordinary air defense activity began in late January, when a white orb the officials said was from China appeared over the U.S. and hovered above the nation for days before fighter jets downed it off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. That event played out over livestream. Many Americans have been captivated by the drama playing out in the skies as fighter jets scramble to shoot down objects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest brought down was first detected on Saturday evening over Montana, but it was initially thought to be an anomaly. Radar picked it up again Sunday hovering over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and it was going over Lake Huron, Pentagon officials said Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. and Canadian authorities had restricted some airspace over the lake earlier Sunday as planes were scrambled to intercept and try to identify the object. According to a senior administration official, the object was octagonal, with strings hanging off, but had no discernable payload. It was flying low at about 20,000 feet, said the official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, U.S. officials were still trying to precisely identify two other objects shot down by F-22 fighter jets, and were working to determine whether China was responsible as concerns escalated about what Washington said was Beijing\'s large-scale aerial surveillance program.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An object shot down Saturday over Canada\'s Yukon was described by U.S. officials as a balloon significantly smaller than the balloon — the size of three school buses — hit by a missile Feb. 4. A flying object brought down over the remote northern coast of Alaska on Friday was more cylindrical and described as a type of airship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both were believed to have a payload, either attached or suspended from them, according to the officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Officials were not able to say who launched the objects and were seeking to figure out their origin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three objects were much smaller in size, different in appearance and flew at lower altitudes than the suspected spy balloon that fell into the Atlantic Ocean after the U.S. missile strike.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The officials said the other three objects were not consistent with the fleet of Chinese aerial surveillance balloons that targeted more than 40 countries, stretching back at least into the Trump administration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC’s “This Week” that U.S. officials were working quickly to recover debris. Using shorthand to describe the objects as balloons, he said U.S military and intelligence officials were “focused like a laser” on gathering and accumulating the information, then compiling a comprehensive analysis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The bottom line is until a few months ago we didn’t know about these balloons,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the spy program that the administration has linked to the People’s Liberation Army, China’s military. “It is wild that we didn’t know.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eight days ago, F-22 jets downed the large white balloon that had wafted over the U.S. for days at an altitude of about 60,000 feet. U.S. officials immediately blamed China, saying the balloon was equipped to detect and collect intelligence signals and could maneuver itself. White House officials said improved surveillance capabilities helped detect it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s Foreign Ministry said the unmanned balloon was a civilian meteorological airship that had blown off course. Beijing said the U.S. had “overreacted” by shooting it down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Then, on Friday, North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined U.S.-Canada organization that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected and shot down an object near sparsely populated Deadhorse, Alaska.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later that evening, NORAD detected a second object, flying at a high altitude over Alaska, U.S. officials said. It crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday and was over the Yukon, a remote territory, when it was ordered shot down by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In both of those incidents, the objects were flying at roughly 40,000 feet. The object on Sunday was flying at 20,000 feet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cases have increased diplomatic tensions between the United States and China, raised questions about the extent of Beijing’s American surveillance, and prompted days of criticism from Republican lawmakers about the administration’s response. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 08:19:22', '2023-02-13 08:19:22'),
(5194, 5194, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping during his three-day trip in China starting Tuesday, as the two U.S. rivals seek further cooperation.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the announcement Sunday, saying Raisi\'s visit was at Xi\'s invitation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raisi will meet with Xi and their delegations will sign cooperation documents, according to Iran\'s state news agency IRNA. Meeting with Iranian and Chinese business leaders and Iranian expatriates in China is also part of his itinerary, the report added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raisi\'s visit is expected to deepen ties between the two political and economic partners that are opposed to the U.S.-led Western domination of international affairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two leaders met last September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, when Xi underscored China\'s support for Iran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In December, Raisi pledged to remain committed to deepening the strategic partnership during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Hu Chunhua in Tehran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and an important source of investment in the Mideast country. In 2021, Iran and China signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement that covered major economic activities from oil and mining to industry, transportation and agriculture.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both countries have had tense relations with the United States and have sought to project themselves as a counterweight to American power alongside Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington has accused Iran of selling hundreds of attack drones to Russia for its war in Ukraine and has sanctioned executives of an Iranian drone manufacturer. At that same time, ties between Moscow and Beijing have grown stronger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran on Saturday celebrated the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution amid nationwide anti-government protests and heightened tensions with the West. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 08:46:50', '2023-02-13 08:46:50'),
(5195, 5195, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Salman Khan unveiled the first song from his upcoming film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan during the Bigg Boss 16 finale on Sunday. Titled Naiyo Lagda, the song features Salman in long hair and shades, grooving alongside Pooja Hegde on the picturesque terrain of Ladakh.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>However, the highlight of the song was Salman\'s unique dance step, which looked more like leg exercise as he brought his knees to the ground one by one.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Naiyo Lagda has been sung by Kamaal Khan and Palak Muchhal with music by Himesh Reshammiya. It has been written by Shabbir Ahmed. As soon as Salman shared the song on social media, many commented on his peculiar dance step in particular.</div><div><br></div><div><iframe frameborder=\"0\" src=\"//www.youtube.com/embed/lzEop75AeOk\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"note-video-clip\"></iframe><br></div><div><br></div><div>A Twitter user asked, “Is he playing PT teacher (physical trainingteacher) in the film?” Another said, “When you have to do lunges and shoot the song on the same day... Bhai OG (original).”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>One more tweeted, “Me jeans pant ese hi check karta hoon shopping karne jaata hoo tab (whenever I go shopping, I check jeans and pants in the same way).”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A person also commented, “Aisa lag raha hai bhai batting karne ja rahe hai toh usse ka warmup kar rahe hai (it seems he is going to bat and doing warm up before his turn).”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A Twitter user also said, “Bhai apna daily workout bhi gaane ke andar hi kar dete hai (bhai does his daily workout in the song itself).”</div><div><br></div><div>Many Salman Khan fans also came out in his support. A fan reacted to a Twitter user, “Bhai tum to yeh step bhi nahin kar paaoge (you can\'t even do this brother).\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Another said, “Bhai woh bhai hai jo karte hai vahi style ho jata hai. bhai aur jo hilte vahi dance ho jata hai (he is Bhai, whatever he does becomes a style and however he moves becomes a dance step).”</div><div><br></div><div>Directed by Farhad Samji, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan also stars Venkatesh Daggubati and would mark the film debut of Shehnaaz Gill and Palak Tiwari. It is scheduled to release this Eid in April. - Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 10:00:28', '2023-02-13 10:00:28'),
(5196, 5196, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A small asteroid has entered the Earth\'s atmosphere and was seen lighting up the sky above the English Channel, creating a stunning shooting star effect.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The 1m (3ft) meteoroid - or small asteroid - was seen shortly before 03:00 GMT on Monday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Social media users, some based in the south of England, shared footage of the rock which has been dubbed Sar2667.</div><div><br></div><div>It is just the seventh time an asteroid impact has been predicted in advance.</div><div><br></div><div>The European Space Agency tweeted that it was \"a sign of the rapid advancements in global asteroid detection capabilities!\"</div><div><br></div><div>A person who says they witnessed the event wrote on Twitter that the asteroid \"lit up the sky with a pink flash which was spectacular.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Another said: \"I just stood at my window and turned on my phone. I wasn\'t expecting much but it really was amazing.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The agency earlier said the object was expected to \"safely strike\" the earth\'s atmosphere near to the French city of Rouen.</div><div><br></div><div>The International Meteor Organization, a Belgium-based non-profit organisation, said the object would have entered about 4km (2.5 miles) from the French coast, and would create a \"fireball\" effect.</div><div><br></div><div>Asteroids are small rocky objects that orbit the sun, often described as minor planets.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities are aware of more than 1.1 million asteroids, although the true number is believed to be much higher.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 30,600 travel in an orbit that brings them near Earth\'s own, according to the European Space Agency.</div><div><br></div><div>The last asteroid predicted to enter the Earth\'s atmosphere in advance was seen in the sky above Ontario, Canada in November last year.</div><div><br></div><div>In January, an asteroid the size of a minibus had been on a direct collision course with earth.</div><div><br></div><div>In reality, the rock would likely have disintegrated high in the atmosphere before impact.</div><div><br></div><div>Asteroid detection experts are most concerned about \"goldilocks asteroids\", much larger space rocks that could do serious damage to earth if they impact.</div><div><br></div><div>In October, the American space agency NASA announced its experiment to deflect the path of an asteroid had been successful. - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 10:27:23', '2023-02-13 10:27:23'),
(5197, 5197, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll across Turkey and Syria following Monday’s catastrophic earthquake reached at least 36,217.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The death toll in Turkey has reached 31,643, Turkish Emergency Coordination Center SAKOM said Monday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The confirmed death toll in Syria is 4,574. That number includes more than 3,160 in opposition-held parts of northwestern Syria, according to the health ministry of the Salvation Government governance authority, reports CNN</div><div><br></div><div>The Syrian death toll also includes 1,414 deaths in government-controlled parts of Syria, according to state news agency SANA.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 10:46:22', '2023-02-13 10:46:22'),
(5198, 5198, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Eoin Morgan, England\'s 2019 World Cup-winning captain, has announced his retirement from all forms of professional cricket with immediate effect.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Morgan, 36, retired from international cricket in July 2022 after a 16-year career - first with Ireland, then with England - but continued to play in short-form tournaments around the world.</div><div><br></div><div>He captained London Spirit to the Hundred\'s eliminator last year, was a losing finalist in the Abu Dhabi T10 with New York Strikers, and made seven appearances for Paarl Royals in the recently-concluded SA20.</div><div><br></div><div>Morgan will remain involved in the professional game as a broadcaster and is unlikely to be short on offers to become a coach if he desires.</div><div><br></div><div>He said in a statement: \"It is with great pride that I am announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket. After much deliberation, I believe that now is the right time to step away from the game that has given me so much over the years. From moving to England in 2005 to join Middlesex, right up to the very end, playing for Paarl Royals in SA20, I have cherished every moment.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As there are in every sportsperson\'s career, there have been highs and lows, but my family and friends have been by my side throughout it all. I would like to say a particularly special thank you to my wife, Tara, my family and close friends who have supported me unconditionally.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I also must thank all my teammates, coaches, fans, and those behind the scenes who not only made me the player I became but have also made me the man I am today. Thanks to cricket, I have been able to travel the world and meet incredible people, many of whom I have developed lifelong friendships with. Playing for franchise teams across the globe has given me so many memories that I will hold onto forever.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Since my retirement from international cricket, I have been able to spend more time with my loved ones, and I look forward to being able to do so more and more in the future. Having said that, I will undoubtedly miss the adventure and challenges of playing professional cricket.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Although I am calling time on my playing career, I will still be involved in the game, working alongside broadcasters at international and franchise tournaments as a commentator and pundit. I am sincerely looking forward to what the future holds.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Middlesex, Morgan\'s county, said: \"Middlesex Cricket would like to thank Eoin for all he has done for the Club and the game throughout his career. We are extremely proud to have played a part in his success and wish him every success for his future career in the media.\" Source: ESPN</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 10:57:27', '2023-02-13 10:57:27'),
(5199, 5199, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Police arrested a BNP activist, seen brandishing a pistol while clashing with Awami League activists in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur on Saturday in a video that has been circulated widely.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Md Moniruzzaman, Sreepur Police Station officer-in-charge (OC), confirmed the arrest and told media that the motive behind toting the firearm was to “terrorise people” before attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Law enforcers arrested the man identified as Jahidul Islam and seized the pistol from his possession.</div><div><br></div><div>According to reports, Jahidul was spotted brandishing a pistol during Saturday’s clash between Awami League and BNP activists in Gazipur’s Sreepur.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, at least 19 people were injured in a clash between Awami League and BNP activists during the latter’s ongoing union-level march in Sirajganj’s Sadar upazila on Saturday. Twelve motorbikes were vandalised and three were burnt during the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said brickbats were thrown from a BNP procession when AL activists were holding a meeting to prepare for a peace rally.</div><div><br></div><div>On social media, many questioned posts and tweets from BNP-Jamaat activists and allies for putting the blame solely on law enforcers and asking UN to “put pressure on Bangladesh” while keeping mum over such attacks by their activists at the grassroots level. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 11:31:02', '2023-02-13 11:31:02'),
(5200, 5200, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Lionel Messi on Sunday gave three cheers to the help being given to earthquake victims in Türkiye.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Argentine football star urged his Instagram followers to help UNICEF, which aims to help quake-affected children.</div><div><br></div><div>\"These are very sad days for the thousands of children and their families who have been affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria,\" the 35-year-old wrote, \"My heart goes out to them. UNICEF has been working in the area right from the start to protect the children. Your help is very valuable!\"</div><div><br></div><div>Messi previously donated his signed Paris Saint-Germain jersey to Turkish international defender Merih Demiral\'s campaign, which has auctioned the signed jerseys of star players to raise funds to help for quake victims.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 29,600 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye this week, according to the latest official figures.</div><div><br></div><div>Last Monday’s magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 10 provinces, also including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanliurfa. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 11:51:08', '2023-02-13 11:51:08'),
(5201, 5201, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said the government will provide free health care services worth Tk 50,000 to some 15 lakh poor families in six districts.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“We have expanded the ‘health security programme’ to six districts instead of one district. As a result, 15 lakh families will get free health services worth Tk 50,000,” he said at a programme at the ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>The services will be available in Manikganj, Barishal, Barguna, Laxmipur, Kurigram and Dhaka North and South city Corporations, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has a plan to extend the services to all districts in phases, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The health services will be provided targeting poor families and 15,000-20,000 families from one upazila have been enrolled under the programme, said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are giving priority to primary health services. Already, a booklet has been prepared and being distributed in all schools. The booklet contains guidelines on the food students should eat to remain healthy and fit,” said Maleque.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question about fourth doses of Covid-19, the minister said no expired vaccines are being used and so there is no need to panic, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>He also asked all not to be misled by any rumour regarding the issue.</div><div><br></div><div>On the Nipah virus, he also said that the virus is now under control as no new patient has been detected now.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 12:46:13', '2023-02-13 12:46:13');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5202, 5202, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bollywood actor Rakhi Sawant\'s husband Adil Durrani has landed in another problem after an FIR was filed against him in Mysuru today after an Iranian student accused him of rape.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Rakhi Sawant\'s husband Adil Durrani has been accused of raping, cheating, threatening, and blackmailing a female student who came to Mysuru from Iran to study, the police said.</div><div><br></div><div>A case has been registered at the VV Puram police station of Mysuru, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>Adil Durrani was acquainted with a student from Iran who had come to Mysuru to study Doctor of Pharmacy for the past 5 years.</div><div><br></div><div>According to police, Adil Durrani allegedly raped her after promising to marry her.</div><div><br></div><div>Believing that they would get married, the Iranian student developed physical contact with him in one of the apartments in VV Puram, the FIR said.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently, Adil Durrani refused to marry the student for the last 5 months.</div><div><br></div><div>Aggrieved by this, the student has filed a complaint at the VV Puram police station of Mysuru. She also accused him of blackmailing her that he would share photos of their private moments on social media.</div><div>After the complaint filed by Rakhi Sawant, this is the second case that Adil Durrani would have to face.</div><div><br></div><div>He was arrested after Rakhi Sawant filed an FIR against him, alleging he mishandled her funds. Rakhi also accused him of engaging in domestic violence.</div><div><br></div><div>She also claimed that Adil had broken up with her and was living with his alleged girlfriend.</div><div><br></div><div>She further stated that she will opt for a divorce as he cheated on her. While Adil had initially called it false, he finally admitted that he and Rakhi Sawant had been married.</div><div><br></div><div>The Police filed the FIR under IPC Sections 406, 420 498 (A), and 377.</div><div><br></div><div>Rakhi Sawant, last month, revealed that she had married Adil in 2022. Taking to Instagram, she shared a photograph of their purported marriage certificate which shows that the wedding took place on May 29, 2022. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 14:18:49', '2023-02-13 14:18:49'),
(5203, 5203, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Saudi Arabia is interested in joining the BRICS group of the world’s five major developing economies, as well the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to Russia\'s Ambassador to the kingdom, Sergey Kozlov.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The five BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – currently account for more than 40% of the world’s population and nearly a quarter of global GDP. Meanwhile, the China and Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security bloc, includes major powers like India in its ranks.</div><div><br></div><div>“As part of the diversification of the kingdom\'s foreign policy, Saudi Arabia is keen to join such international associations as the SCO and BRICS,” Kozlov said on Sunday in an interview with RIA Novosti.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the ambassador, the possibility of the Gulf nation’s membership in the SCO is being actively discussed, while the idea of joining BRICS is under consideration.</div><div><br></div><div>“In general, the willingness of [our] Saudi partners to become an integrated part of these multilateral organizations, primarily the SCO, seems to have a good prospect,” Kozlov said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that “more than a dozen” nations had expressed interest in entering the BRICS group.</div><div><br></div><div>Algeria, Argentina, and Iran have reportedly asked to join BRICS, while Bangladesh, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay are members of its New Development Bank. Argentina\'s potential accession is supported by China according to several sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, the UAE, Venezuela and Zimbabwe have also shown interest in becoming BRICS members. Source: rt.com&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 14:44:04', '2023-02-13 14:44:04'),
(5204, 5204, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A joint rescue team of Bangladesh continues to play its part in the rescue effort in Turkey for the fourth day following last Monday\'s earthquake, one of the deadliest natural disasters ever to hit the region.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh team has so far wrested a 17-year-old girl from the rubble and recovered 12 bodies, Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of the fire service headquarters media cell, said Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The rescuers were among thousands of local and overseas teams, including Turkish coal miners and experts aided by sniffer dogs and thermal cameras, who scoured pulverized apartment blocks for signs of life.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh team consisting of 34 members from the army and 12 from the fire service left Dhaka Wednesday at 10pm and reached Turkey\'s Adana Military Air Base Thursday at 9:46pm.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, they reached Adiyaman city in southeastern Turkey and started search and rescue operations, Shahjahan said.</div><div><br></div><div>The quake and hundreds of aftershocks, some nearly as powerful as the first, struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, killing more than 35,000 and reducing whole swaths of towns and cities inhabited by millions to fragments of concrete and twisted metal, reported AP Monday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 14:52:15', '2023-02-13 14:52:15'),
(5205, 5205, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty felt that they couldn\'t maintain the high intensity, especially in batting, which eventually caused their seven-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in their first match in the ICC Women\'s T20 World Cup in Cape Town.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Tigresses indeed hoped to win the game, considering that they won against the same opponents several times in the recent past.</div><div><br></div><div>But electing to bat first, they were restricted to paltry total 126-8, which Sri Lanka hunted down with ease, making 129-3 in 18.2 overs. Opener Harshitha Samarawickrama led the charge with 50 ball-69 not out, studded with eight fours and one six.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I believe we were at least 15/20 runs shot. In this type of wicket, you needed at least 140 runs if you want to win the game. Because Sri Lanka\'s batting is really strong,\" Joty said after the match.</div><div><br></div><div>For Bangladesh, Sobhana Mostary made team high with 29 while Joty herself made 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh started well, making 72 runs in the first 10 overs. But in the last 10 overs, they were able to put on just 54 runs, a thing that dug their graveyards.</div><div><br></div><div>The Tigresses will take on Australia in their next match tomorrow (Tuesday) at Gqeberha, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>\"Australia is also a strong opponent but we are hopeful to give them a tough game,\" Joty said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 14:58:28', '2023-02-13 14:58:28'),
(5206, 5206, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Oil prices fell on Monday ahead of the release of critical US inflation data due later this week, sparking recession fears in the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>International benchmark Brent crude traded at $85.56 per barrel at 09.55 a.m. local time (0655 GMT), down 0.96% from the closing price of $86.39 a barrel in the previous trading session.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $78.86 per barrel, a 1.07% drop after the previous session closed at $79.72 a barrel.</div><div><br></div><div>Oil prices came under pressure ahead of the release of US inflation data. This week, markets will focus on macroeconomic data, especially the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the US, and statements from US Federal Reserve (Fed) officials.</div><div><br></div><div>Sentiments over soaring inflation raised oil demand concerns and caused a decrease in prices.</div><div><br></div><div>The acceleration in economic activity in the world\'s largest oil importer, China, raised hopes of a demand recovery while limiting price declines.</div><div><br></div><div>On the supply side, Russia\'s March announcement of a 500,000-barrel cut in oil production raised supply concerns.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement last week, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak warned that Western countries\' price caps on Russian oil and petroleum products could cause supply problems in the market.</div><div><br></div><div>Reiterating that Russia will not sell oil to those who impose a price cap, Novak stated that Russia would reduce production to maintain market balance. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 15:44:24', '2023-02-13 15:44:24'),
(5207, 5207, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Kyiv conceded today that fighting with Russian forces north of Bakhmut was “difficult”, a signal that Ukrainian troops are coming under mounting pressure in the longest-running battle of Moscow’s invasion.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Russia has made capturing the destroyed city in the eastern Donetsk region its main military aim nearly one year into the war while Ukraine is determined not to cede more ground.</div><div><br></div><div>“The situation is difficult near Soledar: the village of Paraskoviivka is (coming) under intense shelling and assaults,” the Ukrainian presidency said in its daily report.</div><div><br></div><div>Paraskoviivka is a hamlet on the northern outskirts of Bakhmut, where Russian forces have been posting painstaking incremental gains for several weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia’s defence ministry meanwhile said today Russian forces had captured Krasna Gora, another village adjacent to Paraskoviivka.</div><div><br></div><div>It said “volunteer assault units” with fire support from Russian artillery had “liberated” the settlement.</div><div><br></div><div>That announcement came after the Wagner private military group claimed to have captured the village and without any ground support from regular Russian forces.</div><div><br></div><div>The months-long battle for Bakhmut has exposed tensions between the paramilitary group and the Russian army though the Kremlin denies any rift.</div><div><br></div><div>In January, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed his fighters had taken control of nearby Soledar, but the Russian defence ministry said two days later that Moscow’s forces were controlling the town.</div><div><br></div><div>“After the capture of Soledar and the mass hype saying that there were other (soldiers) besides Wagner in Soledar, of course, the guys were very frustrated,” Prigozhin said Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Within a 50km (31 miles) radius, more or less, only Wagner fighters remain, and they will take Bakhmut,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian forces have cut three out of four Ukrainian supply routes to Bakhmut, the Kremlin-appointed leader of the Donetsk region Denis Pushilin said last week.</div><div><br></div><div>Observers of the conflict have downplayed Bakhmut’s strategic importance, but the city has turned into a key political and symbolic prize.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ukrainian general staff said that Russian troops had shelled 16 settlements near Bakhmut with tanks, mortars and artillery the previous day.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine on Monday also reported a “tense” situation near Vugledar, another town in Donetsk under Russian attack, reports AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“Russians continue to constantly shell the nearby settlements there,” the presidency said.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile in southern Kherson three people died and one was injured in the past 24 hours due to Russian attacks, the presidency added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-13 16:01:03', '2023-02-13 16:01:03'),
(5208, 5208, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked all concerned to explore new markets for Bangladeshi garments with invention of newer items keeping pace with its ever-changing trend.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They, who are working with garments and their exports, will have to find new markets. Newer products will have to be produced keeping in mind that the choices vary with different countries,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier was addressing as the chief guest a function marking the National Textiles Day-2022 and inauguration of six textile educational institutes in six districts, joining from her official Ganabhaban residence here through a video conference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ministry of Textiles and Jute organised the function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said Bangladesh has to coordinate the fresh ideas with its old and historical tradition in textiles, for which, a university on fashion and design was established in the private sector to prepare skilled manpower.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Fashion and design are very important and they are changing constantly. We have to keep pace with the ever-changing trend of garments and realise which design is high in demand,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The newly inaugurated six textile institutes are: Sheikh Rehana Textile Engineering College in Gopalganj, Sheikh Russel Textile Institute, Jamalpur, Shahid Abdur Rob Serniabat Textile Institute, Gouronodi, Barishal, Shahid Kamaruzzaman Textile Institute, Naogaon, Begum Amina Mansur Textile Engineering Institute, Sirajganj and Bhola Textile Institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi (Birpratik), its Secretary Md. Abdur Rauf and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Acting President Shahidullah Azim also spoke at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the prime minister, the textiles and jute minister handed over honorary awards to 10 persons and institutions including BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMEA, and Bangladesh University of Textiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video documentary on the measures taken by the government for advancement of textiles in Bangladesh was screened. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 07:01:36', '2023-02-14 07:01:36'),
(5209, 5209, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">&nbsp;A crash between an armoured truck and a bus has killed 20 people and injured another 60 in South Africa, the Limpopo province transport department said on Tuesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Twenty people were tragically killed in an accident after a cash transport truck lost control and crashed head-on with a bus going in the opposite direction\" on Monday at 1500 GMT, the department said in a statement. 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, '2023-02-14 07:12:16', '2023-02-14 07:12:16'),
(5210, 5210, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">As the winter season says goodbye, tens of thousands mango trees have been flowering in Rajshahi region, famous for the production of the seasonal delicious mango fruit nationwide.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Huge blooming of mango trees at this stage predicts an excellent production of the most popular fruit in the region this season, if the climatic conditions remain favourable till its harvesting period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abul Hossain, a farmer of Mazar Diar village in Paba upazila, said buds started appearing in mango trees this season before the end of winter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Motaleb Hossain, a mango grower of Charghat upazila, said he has over 200 mango trees in his orchard. He has cultivated a large variety of mangoes this season. He expects a handsome profit for the blooming of mango trees this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station (FRS) Dr Shafiqul Islam told BSS that the prevailing climate condition is suitable to blossom in mango trees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mango trees were also seen sprouting early at various places. Hundreds of thousands of mango trees have already bloomed and worn eye-catching looks with huge flowers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every year new mango orchards, especially of Amrapali, BARI mango-3 and 4 varieties are rapidly increasing in the districts, said agriculturists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Naogaon was long known for paddy cultivation, but for the last couple of years it became the highest mango-producing district, surpassing the mango capital of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Islam said Chapainawabganj still has the highest amount of land covered by mango orchards, but Naogaon saw a one-and-a-half-times increase in its mango farm acreage annually over the last 10 years, according to the latest official data given by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The area covered by mango orchards in Naogaon increased by 14,925 hectares in the period; while the increase was 9,520 hectares in Chapainawabganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mango farming is not only increasing, but it is changing as well. Instead of creating mango orchards for a hundred years or more, farmers are targeting only 10 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Normally 10 mango trees are planted in one bigha of land, but in the new farming method, farmers can plant up to 200 trees in the same space, said Md Nuruzzaman, a mango grower of Porsha upazila of Naogaon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These trees will bear fruit for 10 years or less, and then we have to uproot them and replant.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The growth of mango orchards is the highest in two Naogaon upazilas- Porsha and Sapahar. They have 72 percent of the orchards of the district, says DAE.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, around 45 to 50 percent mango trees have already sprouted in Chapainawabganj while 55 to 60 percent in Rajshahi on an average as there maining mango trees are expected to sprout by mid-March in some cases, he continued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the FRS, many of the grassroots mango farmers were imparted training to yield maximum output side by side with safe production after the best uses of modern technologies, Dr Shafiqul Islam added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Shamsul Wadud said the farmers have been caring and taking measures for making mango farming successful everywhere.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The farmers have been keeping contacts with the agriculture officers at the field levels to control the possible attacks by hoppers and some other pest attacks on the mango flowers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are around 35 lakh mango trees of different ages on some 23 thousand hectares of land in the region, said the DAE officials concerned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The number of growing mango trees has been increasing in the region for the last couple of decades. Mango, the leading seasonal cash crop of the northwestern region, vitalizes the overall economy of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After witnessing the present climate condition, both the growers and the officials are very much optimistic about high yield of the seasonal fruit. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 07:19:03', '2023-02-14 07:19:03'),
(5211, 5211, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Rising rents, a gasoline price rebound and vehicle costs helped keep US inflation elevated in January, analysts say, amid signs that policymakers have some way to go in bringing prices down.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US central bank has hiked interest rates rapidly in the past year to raise borrowing costs and cool demand in the world\'s biggest economy, as inflation skyrocketed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But even as the consumer price index (CPI), an important inflation gauge due to be released Tuesday, eases from last year\'s decades-high levels, analysts warn of some stickier areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Overall, the CPI rose 6.5 percent in December compared with a year ago, furthering a steady decline from June\'s blistering 9.1 percent reading.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The so-called core figure excluding the volatile food and energy components, however, has fluctuated over the same period. It fell to 5.9 percent in June, rose to 6.6 percent in September and then slipped again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The area that I\'m concerned about is services inflation, which is more related to the strength of the domestic economy, particularly the labor market, and nominal wage growth,\" said Ryan Sweet, chief US economist at Oxford Economics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rental costs \"won\'t peak until the second half of this year,\" while wage growth remains robust and there is still pent-up demand for services spending, he told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"During the pandemic, people shifted their spending away from services because they couldn\'t go out to restaurants, bars, sporting events,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With Covid-19 restrictions easing, people are now turning back to services, which make up the bulk of consumer spending, Sweet said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Economists expect overall inflation to have cooled further in January on an annual basis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But they forecast the CPI to have risen 0.5 percent from December to January, picking up from a prior 0.1 percent pace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Uneven\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"While overall prices have been slowing on a sustained basis, the easing in core inflation has been more uneven,\" said Rubeela Farooqi of High Frequency Economics in a recent note.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prices of goods have eased as supply chains untangle but a strong labor market supports incomes and, in turn, demand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re going to see a lot of goods disinflation over the next several months,\" said Sweet of Oxford Economics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it will take a significant amount of this to offset services inflation expected in the pipeline.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Farooqi told AFP the Federal Reserve is closely eying the cost of services excluding housing, food and energy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We do think inflation peaked in June. But getting back to two percent is not imminent,\" she said, referring to policymakers\' long-term inflation target.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"From a policy perspective, the Fed\'s message on rates closely aligns with these developments; to lower inflation... rates will have to move higher and policy will have to remain restrictive for some time,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Should inflation fail to cool between December and January, analysts expect the Fed will press on with further hikes to the benchmark lending rate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, Fed Governor Michelle Bowman warned in a speech that it would likely be \"necessary to further tighten monetary policy to bring inflation down toward our goal.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added that, with the economic outlook remaining uncertain, \"I expect that we will continue to be surprised by economic and geopolitical developments and by the incoming data.\" 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, '2023-02-14 07:42:26', '2023-02-14 07:42:26'),
(5212, 5212, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Saudi Arabian plane carrying aid to quake-hit Syria landed in second city Aleppo Tuesday -- the first in more than a decade of war, a transport ministry official told AFP.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Planeloads of foreign aid have landed in Syria since a 7.8-magnitude quake struck the war-torn country and neighbouring Turkey killing more than 35,000 people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is the first plane from Saudi Arabia to land on Syrian territory in more than 10 years,\" the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the press.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Saudi plane landed at Aleppo International Airport carrying 35 tonnes of food aid, state news agency SANA said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The last such flight landed in Syria in February 2012.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After more than a decade of war, President Bashar al-Assad\'s government remains a pariah in the West, complicating international efforts to assist those affected by the quake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Arab League suspended Syria in 2011 and some Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have severed ties with it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi Arabia broke off relations with President Bashar al-Assad\'s government in 2012 and backed rebels in earlier stages of the war, now nearly in its 12th year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Riyadh has pledged aid to both rebel-held and government-controlled areas of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was no direct contact with the Assad government, an official at King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre told AFP earlier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 3,600 people have been killed by the quake in Syria alone, according to the government and emergency services in the rebel-held northwest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mostly government-controlled province of Aleppo was badly hit, with more than 200,000 people left homeless, according to the World Health Organization.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since 2011, the conflict in Syria has killed nearly half a million people and forced around half of the country\'s pre-war population from their homes, with many seeking refuge in Turkey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even before Monday\'s earthquake, the majority of the population was in need of humanitarian assistance. The latest disaster has only piled on more misery. 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, '2023-02-14 07:58:58', '2023-02-14 07:58:58'),
(5213, 5213, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked all concerned to explore new markets for Bangladeshi garments with invention of newer items keeping pace with its ever-changing trend.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They, who are working with garments and their exports, will have to find new markets. Newer products will have to be produced keeping in mind that the choices vary with different countries,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier was addressing as the chief guest a function marking the National Textiles Day-2022 and inauguration of six textile educational institutes in six districts, joining from her official Ganabhaban residence here through a video conference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ministry of Textiles and Jute organised the function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said Bangladesh has to coordinate the fresh ideas with its old and historical tradition in textiles, for which, a university on fashion and design was established in the private sector to prepare skilled manpower.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Fashion and design are very important and they are changing constantly. We have to keep pace with the ever-changing trend of garments and realise which design is high in demand,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The newly inaugurated six textile institutes are: Sheikh Rehana Textile Engineering College in Gopalganj, Sheikh Russel Textile Institute, Jamalpur, Shahid Abdur Rob Serniabat Textile Institute, Gouronodi, Barishal, Shahid Kamaruzzaman Textile Institute, Naogaon, Begum Amina Mansur Textile Engineering Institute, Sirajganj and Bhola Textile Institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi (Birpratik), its Secretary Md. Abdur Rauf and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Acting President Shahidullah Azim also spoke at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the prime minister, the textiles and jute minister handed over honorary awards to 10 persons and institutions including BGMEA, BKMEA, BTMEA, and Bangladesh University of Textiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video documentary on the measures taken by the government for advancement of textiles in Bangladesh was screened. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 08:15:48', '2023-02-14 08:15:48'),
(5214, 5214, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The president-elect of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin will meet the incumbent President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban this evening.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Prime Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana will also accompany the president-elect, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid on Monday congratulated Shahabuddin for being elected President of Bangladesh and exchanged greetings on the phone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahabuddin will be the 22nd President of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal declared ruling party’s nominee Shahabuddin, Awami League Advisory Council member, the president-elect of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the election schedule two nomination papers were submitted for Shahabuddin on Sunday and one of those was accepted as valid after scrutiny on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A gazette was issued in the afternoon in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ruling party\'s nominee was declared the next president of the country as no other political party with representation in parliament proposed any name for the presidential election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid is set to complete his tenure on April 23 this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the constitution, a new president has to be elected within 90 to 60 days prior to the end of the incumbent president\'s tenure. 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, '2023-02-14 08:35:28', '2023-02-14 08:35:28'),
(5215, 5215, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A court here today sentenced one person to death for killing a young girl named Brishti Akter under Harirampur upazila of the district in 2017.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">District and Sessions Judge Joyosree Samaddar pronounced the verdict in a crowded court in presence of the convict Abul Hossain, a resident of Harirampur Upazila of the district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the prosecution, on November 5, 2017 Abul Hossain killed Brishti Akter, daughter of Ramjan Ali of village Sorobdinagar under Harirampur Upazila of the district with a sharp weapon entering her bedroom in broad daylight as her parent refused his proposal to marry Rishti.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mother of the deceased, Aklima Begum, filed a case against Abul Hossain&nbsp; with Harirampur Police Station on the same day</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Investigation Officer (IO) of the case SI Kohinur Mia of Harirampur Police Station submitted a charge-sheet against Abul Hossain on July 10 in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After examining all the witnesses and documents, the Judge pronounced the verdict. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 08:57:54', '2023-02-14 08:57:54'),
(5216, 5216, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court today set March 21for submitting the probe report in a case filed against four people including former superintendent of police (SP) Babul Akhter and expatriate YouTuber Elias Hossain.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Ashek Imam re-fixed the date as the Investigation Officer (IO) of the concerned case failed to submit the probe report in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, a Dhaka court on January 12, set today for submitting the probe report accepting the First Information Report (FIR) in the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Chief Banaj Kumar Majumder filed the case against four under Digital Security Act and Special Powers Act with the capital\'s Dhanmandi Police Station on September 27.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other two accused in the case are - Babul\'s father Md Abdul Wadud Miah, 72, and brother Md Habibur Rahman Labu, 45. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 09:44:45', '2023-02-14 09:44:45'),
(5217, 5217, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A court here today fixed February 19 to hold hearing on charge framing in Niko graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman passed the order at a temporary courtroom of the Dhaka Special Judge\'s Court-9 at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia, lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali sought exemption from filing charges against her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the hearing did not end today, the court re-fixed the date for the last time.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against five including Begum Khaleda Zia with Tejgaon police station on December 9, 2007 for abusing power in signing a deal with Canadian company Niko for exploring and extracting gas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ACC on May 5 in 2008 submitted the charge-sheet against 11 people including Khaleda Zia. The ACC accused them of incurring a loss of more than Taka 13 thousand crore of state exchequer by that deal. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 10:12:31', '2023-02-14 10:12:31'),
(5218, 5218, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Officials from India’s Income Tax department began conducting searches Tuesday (February 14, 2023) at the BBC’s offices in the capital, New Delhi, three of the broadcaster’s staff members told the Associated Press.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The search comes weeks after the British broadcaster released a controversial documentary that examined Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role during the 2002 anti-Muslim riots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teams from the tax department surveyed the BBC\'s Delhi and Mumbai offices, the Press Trust of India news agency reported, quoting officials who were not identified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India banned the two-part documentary “India: The Modi Question” last month and authorities scrambled to halt screenings of the program and restrict clips of it on social media in a move that critics and political opponents decried as an assault on press freedom.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s Foreign Ministry called the documentary a “propaganda piece designed to push a particularly discredited narrative” that lacked objectivity.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC in a statement had said the documentary was “rigorously researched” and involved a wide range of voices and opinions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We offered the Indian Government a right to reply to the matters raised in the series — it declined to respond,” the statement said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 10:41:27', '2023-02-14 10:41:27'),
(5219, 5219, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An agreement has been signed between Bangladesh Railway and joint consultancy firm Oriental Consultancy Global Company Limited (Japan) for carrying out preparatory work for feasibility study and detailed design of 11 projects.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Project Director Mahbubur Rahman and GM Yuji Asano signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh Railway and Oriental Consultancy Global Company Limited, respectively, at Rail Bhaban on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Railway Minister Md Nurul Islam Sujon was present during the signing ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When talking to reporters, the minister said a number of projects have been taken to develop a modern rail communication system within 2045.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New rail bridge beside the Hardinge Bridge, building cord line from Narayanganj-Cumilla/Laksham route, construction of dual gauge on Bangabandhu Bridge East-Tarakandi-Jamalpur-Dewanganj Bazar section route, building a broad gauge on the existing Jashore-Benapole route, setting up of dual gauge line or broad gauge line on Bhairab-Bazar-Mymensingh section and convert the meter gauge line of Santahar-Bogura-Kaunia-Lalmonirhat section into broad gauge are among the 11 projects, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have taken a decision in principle that the whole country will be brought under broad gauge line and the projects will be implemented at a cost of Tk 235.37 crore which will be financed by Asian Development Bank and the government,” said the minister. 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, '2023-02-14 11:26:15', '2023-02-14 11:26:15'),
(5220, 5220, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Marufa Hossain died of brain tumor last night.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She breathed her last around 9.30pm at Rajarbagh Police hospital while undergoing treatment. Marufa was 40, said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;She left behind her husband and a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn her death.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Marufa Hossain.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a condolence message, Mamun prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marufa joined Bangladesh Police Service through 28th BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service) in 2010. She was born in Netrokona in 1983.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her namaz-e-janaza was held at Rajarbagh police auditorium at 10.30am. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-14 11:41:52', '2023-02-14 11:41:52');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5221, 5221, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Kazi Nuruddin Rana, father of Buet student Fardin Noor, who was found dead in Shitalakhkhya River on November 7, last year, filed a petition seeking time to file a no-confidence petition against the DB report saying that he died by suicide.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kazi Nuruddin Rana, filed the petition before the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shanta Islam on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also fixed March 16 for hearing the petition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on February 6, DB police submitted the final report before a Dhaka court clearing Amatullah Bushra, a private university student, of the murder charges in the case and settling that Fardin died by suicide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also fixed February 14 for hearing the final report of DB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Advocate Habibur Rahman filed a petition seeking permanent bail to Bushra in the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also extended her bail till March 16.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DB Inspector Yasin Shikder, also the investigating officer of the case, submitted the report to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate\'s Court of Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fardin, a 3rd year student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s civil engineering department and a resident of Qutubpur area in Narayanganj\'s Fatullah was found dead from the Shitalakhkhya River, behind a cotton mill at Siddhirganj, on November 7, three days after he went missing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Farhad, a physician at Narayanganj General Hospital where the autopsy was done, said there were several injury marks on Fardin’s head and body.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kazi Nuruddin Rana, Fardin’s father, filed a case in connection with his son’s killing with Rampura Police Station on the same day. The case was later transferred to Detective Branch (DB) Police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, DB police arrested Bushra from her Banasree residence in Dhaka on November 10.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a long 38-day investigation, the DB chief said on December 14 that Fardin roamed alone around different areas of Dhaka on the night of November 4 before he went missing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Fardin was not murdered, he committed suicide by jumping into the river from Sultana Kamal Bridge on November 4 out of desperation,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 8, Judge Tahsin Iftekhar of Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge\'s Court-7 granted bail to Bushra in the case after hearing a bail petition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 10, Bushra walked out of the Kashimpur Women\'s Central Jail, two months after her arrest. 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, '2023-02-14 11:52:27', '2023-02-14 11:52:27'),
(5222, 5222, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh and France have marked the celebration of 50 years of their diplomatic relations by issuing commemorative stamps in both Dhaka and Paris.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy released the commemorative stamp in Dhaka while French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Bangladesh’s Ambassador to France Khondker M Talha did the same in Paris, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh and France established their diplomatic relations in 1972 with France’s recognizing Bangladesh as an independent State on 14 February 1972. 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, '2023-02-14 12:08:16', '2023-02-14 12:08:16'),
(5223, 5223, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The European Parliament voted on Tuesday to approve a ban on new sales of carbon-emitting petrol and diesel cars by 2035, clearing the final legislative hurdle.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">EU member states have already approved the legislation and will now formally nod it into law, despite opposition from conservative MEPs, the parliament\'s biggest group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Supporters of the bill had argued to that it would give European carmakers a clear timeframe in which switch production to zero-emission electric vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This in turn will support the European Union\'s ambitious plan to become a \"climate neutral\" economy by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Let me remind you that between last year and the end of this year China will bring 80 models of electric cars to the international market,\" EU vice president Frans Timmermans warned MEPs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These are good cars. These are cars that will be more and more affordable, and we need to compete with that. We don\'t want to give up this essential industry to outsiders.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But opponents argued that industry is not ready for such a dramatic cut off in production of internal combustion engine vehicles -- and that hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our proposal is ... to let the market decide what technology is our best to reach our goals,\" said MEP Jens Gieseke, a member of the centre-right European People\'s Party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gieseke declared that arguments from Green and socialist MEPs that electric cars are cheaper to run had been rendered \"null and void\" by the crisis of soaring energy costs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In Germany 600,000 people work on ICE production, those jobs are at risk,\" he declared, urging the European Commission to rethink plans to also extend the ban to trucks and buses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Opponents also argue car batteries are produced abroad by Europe\'s competitors like the United States, but Timmermans argued that thanks to EU-backed investment European production would increase.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The law passed the Strasbourg assembly by 340 votes to 279, with 21 abstentions. 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, '2023-02-14 13:11:04', '2023-02-14 13:11:04'),
(5224, 5224, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President-elect Mohammed Shahabuddin Chuppu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday met the incumbent President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister\'s sister Sheikh Rehana, wife of president-elect Dr Rebecca Sultana accompanied them, Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On their arrival, President Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanom welcomed them with flower bouquets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid congratulated Shahabuddin for being elected President of Bangladesh and exchanged greetings on the phone. They also enquired of their health condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also briefed the President about the activities of ther government during the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahabuddin Chuppu will be the 22nd President of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal declared the ruling party’s nominee the president-elect of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the election schedule two nomination papers were submitted for Shahabuddin on Sunday and one of those was accepted as valid after scrutiny on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A gazette was issued in the afternoon in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ruling party\'s nominee was declared the next president of the country as no other political party with representation in parliament proposed any name for the presidential election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid is set to complete his tenure on April 23 this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read more: Md Shahabuddin set to become next President of Bangladesh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the constitution, a new president has to be elected within 90 to 60 days prior to the end of the incumbent president\'s tenure. 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, '2023-02-14 16:20:38', '2023-02-14 16:20:38'),
(5225, 5225, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today handed over the keys of ‘Bir Nibash’ to valiant freedom fighters, who are financially marginalized.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister handed over keys to 5000 houses at a programme – held in Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium – organized by the Liberation War Affairs Ministry with the Minister AKM Mozammel Huq in the chair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM joined the programme virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The houses are being given away to freedom fighters as gifts from the Prime Minister, on the occasion of Mujib Borsho and 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project, ‘House construction for insolvent freedom fighters’ – approved by the ECNEC on March 21 last year – is being implemented at the cost of Tk 4,122 crore which will come from government funds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main objective of the project is to construct 30,000 ‘Bir Nibash’ (houses) for insolvent freedom fighters, Birangana (women freedom fighters), widows and children of martyred and late freedom fighters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Named ‘Bir Nibash’ (Home for Heroes), each 635sqft house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, and a kitchen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This project is an initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to uplift the socio-economic status of financially marginalized freedom fighters, as well as widows and children of late freedom fighters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cost of building each house is Tk 14,10,382, as per the official source.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Commissioners of Narail, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Gazipur and Kishoreganj, on behalf of the Prime Minister handed over the keys in their respective areas. 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, '2023-02-15 06:44:12', '2023-02-15 06:44:12'),
(5226, 5226, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today stayed the High Court order that had asked the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Boi Mela on condition.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after hearing a petition.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">With the latest order, Adarsha Prokashoni will not be allowed to participate in the book fair.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Advocate Anik R Haque stood for Adarsha Prokashoni while Senior Advocate Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented Bangla Academy.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On February 8, the HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir passed an order asking the authorities concerned to give stall allotment to Adarsha Prokashoni to participate in the month-long Ekushey Book Fair on condition.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Counsel Anik said the court asked the Bangla Academy to give the stall allotment on condition that it cannot keep three books —‘Bangalir Mediocrity’r Sandhane’ by Faham Abdus Salam, ‘Unnoyan Bibhram’ by Zia Hasan and ‘Oprotiroddho Unnoyane Obhaboniyo Kothamala’ by Foyez Ahmad Taiyeb.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Later, Bangla Academy filed a petition challenging the HC order.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On Monday (February 13), the Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim set February 15 for hearing on the petition.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Advocate Anik said that though the books were not blacklisted or banned, the participation of the publishing house was restricted involving the books.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The writers of 600 books, which were published from the Adarsha Prokashoni, will be deprived of taking part in the month-long fair, he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Owner Mahabubur Rahman filed a petition with the HC seeking intervention after authorities disclosed the names of the participating publishing houses except Adarsha Prokashoni on January 12. UNB</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 07:00:38', '2023-02-15 07:00:38'),
(5227, 5227, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Not even Kylian Mbappé\'s substitute appearance could end Paris Saint-Germain\'s slump, as it lost 1-0 at home to Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League clash.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A third straight loss made it five defeats in 11 games this year for PSG coach Christophe Galtier\'s team.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bayern winger Kingsley Coman volleyed home inside the penalty area from Alphonso Davies’ left-wing cross in the 53rd minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Paris-raised Coman, who PSG sold to Juventus when he was 18, held his hands up to show he wasn\'t celebrating scoring against his former club — again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s the city where I was born and raised so it was difficult to celebrate here,” Coman said. “Given our performance we could have done more, but at the end it was a bit difficult so we’re satisfied with the win.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Bayern won the last of its six Champions League titles in 2020, it beat PSG 1-0 with Coman heading home the winner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Cup superstar Mbappé made an unexpectedly quick recovery from injury and had two would-be goals disallowed for offside after coming on in the second half.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It was difficult, unpredictable. I wasn’t supposed to play but I wanted to play and help my mates. We did everything, we worked night and day to get me some game time,” Mbappé said. “I wanted to (start the game). But sometimes you have to be satisfied with what you can do, and that’s all I could do.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The return leg is on March 8.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PSG was eliminated by Real Madrid in the last 16 last season and may need Mbappé at this best to avoid another early exit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“When we have our players ready and we can play our attacking game, they (Bayern) are not comfortable,” Mbappé said. “We have to retain how we finished the game. We saw that we can cause them problems.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mbappé showed no ill effects of the thigh tear he sustained two weeks ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had a shot saved by Yann Sommer in the 73rd after racing through down the left. Sommer saved Neymar’s follow-up and the ball fell to Mbappé near the line, but he was well offside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mbappé peeled away in delight after volleying Nuno Mendes’ cross from close range with 10 minutes left, but it was chalked off following a quick video review.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“That’s the new soccer, there’s VAR. If it’s offside, it’s offside, you just have to switch quickly,” Mbappé said. “The important thing is to go over there and qualify, and from what I saw that\'s possible.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bayern’s defense held firm under some late pressure, although defender Benjamin Pavard received a second yellow card was sent off for a late tackle on Lionel Messi in stoppage time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bayern immediately generated pressure from the start against a nervous-looking PSG by closing down high up the field. PSG hadn’t lost three straight games since late 2011, which was only months into the new reign of Qatari owners QSI.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bayern really got on top of us and we struggled to hold the ball high up the pitch. The first half was very difficult for us,” Galtier said. “I knew we could use Kylian in the second half, but unfortunately we conceded this goal just before I was going to bring him on.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dominance of Julian Nagelsmann’s team in midfield was so complete that it forced Messi to drop deep to get the ball, and Neymar was anonymous for most of the match.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We were a bit surprised by how much of the ball we had. We didn’t expect Paris to be so passive; it was a good first half,” Nagelsmann said. \"The two times they really threatened it was offside.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Midway through the first half, Neymar lay face-first on the field after a shoulder barge from a defender. English referee Michael Oliver waved play on and Sommer — although nearby — didn’t check on Neymar, who at the 2018 World Cup in Russia earned an unwelcome reputation for diving and play-acting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bayern’s possession didn’t lead to clear chances, however, and midfielder Joshua Kimmich’s 20-meter drive was easily captured by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43rd.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nagelsmann showed shrewd tactical sense by bringing on Davies and switching Coman from the left to the right flank with seamless efficiency. Bayern came close to 2-0 when former PSG striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had a shot tipped onto the post by Donnarumma.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PSG midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery became the youngest player to start a Champions League knockout match at the age of 16 years, 343 days. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 07:28:20', '2023-02-15 07:28:20'),
(5228, 5228, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed support for Iran during a visit Tuesday by its president as Tehran tries to expand relations with Beijing and Moscow to offset Western sanctions over its nuclear development.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official Chinese account of Xi’s meeting with Ebrahim Raisi gave no indication whether they discussed Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Tehran supplied military drones to Russian President Vladimir Putin\'s government but says they were delivered before the war began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xi expressed support for Raisi’s government in language Beijing uses to criticize Washington’s domination of global affairs. China and Iran portray themselves, alongside Moscow, as counterweights to American power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“China supports Iran in safeguarding national sovereignty” and “resisting unilateralism and bullying,” Xi said in a statement carried by Chinese state TV on its website.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xi and Raisi attended the signing of 20 cooperation agreements including trade and tourism, the Chinese government announced. Those add to a 25-year strategy agreement signed in 2021 to cooperate in developing oil, industry and other fields.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China is one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil and a source of investment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran has struggled for years under trade and financial sanctions imposed by Washington and other Western governments over what they say is Tehran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons, an accusation the Iranian government denies. The United States government cut off Iran’s access to the network that connects global banks in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price urged China to influence Iran and lower potential threats in the region, saying that “would be in both of our interests.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The PRC has a role to play in very clearly signaling to Iran that its destabilizing activities — that its brinksmanship — is not going to be rewarded, it’s not going to be countenanced. It is not something that the international community is prepared to sit idly by and watch,” Price said Tuesday to reporters in Washington, referring to China by its official name, the People’s Republic of China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xi said Beijing “opposes external forces interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and undermining Iran’s security and stability,” according to the government statement. It said Xi promised to “work together on issues involving each other’s core interests,” but gave no details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raisi’s government didn’t immediately release details of the meeting, but the president called the two governments “friends in difficult situations” in a commentary published Monday by the ruling Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, asked whether Beijing was concerned that getting closer to Iran might complicate U.S.-Chinese ties, said their “friend relations” contribute to “promotion of peace and stability in the Middle East.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our relations do not target any third parties,” said the spokesperson, Wang Wenbin. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 07:35:50', '2023-02-15 07:35:50'),
(5229, 5229, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the next parliamentary election will be fair and free as she is committed to democracy and the Election Commission is completely independent.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The next election will be fair and free. I fought for democracy throughout my life,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said this when a US delegation, led by Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet, paid a courtesy call on her at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said if the people vote for Awami League in the next general election, her party will take the charge of governing the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I never want to come to power through vote-rigging,” she was quoted as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said she always struggled for the people’s rights to food and vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the first-ever EC’s reconstitution law was passed in parliament and then a neutral Election Commission was constituted on the basis of the law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the EC is completely independent. It has administrative and financial independence, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh is due to elect its next parliament by end of this year or first week of January next year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The last parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 08:03:11', '2023-02-15 08:03:11'),
(5230, 5230, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Romania briefly scrambled military jets and neighboring Moldova temporarily closed its air space Tuesday after authorities in both countries reported mysterious weather balloon-like objects traversing their skies.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incidents occurred at around midday local time and briefly raised concerns in the two Eastern European countries, both which border Ukraine and have been affected by Russia’s war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Romania’s defense ministry said it deployed two jets that are under NATO command to its southeastern skies to seek an aerial object it described as being small with “characteristics similar to a weather balloon.” It had been detected initially by radar systems in Romanian airspace at an altitude of about 11,000 meters (36,000 feet).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The crews of the two aircraft did not confirm the presence of the aerial target, neither visually nor on the onboard radars,” a ministry statement said, adding that the two MiG-21 LanceR aircraft stayed in the vicinity for about 30 minutes before returning to base.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York that “the Romanian fighter jets did not find any object, even if it was spotted on the radar … so no threat for the Romanian airspace.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was unclear whether the two incidents were related, and neither country said where they believed the objects had come from.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The events follow a string of comparable incidents this month in the U.S., in which objects detected and shot down by warplanes included a high-altitude Chinese balloon that traversed American airspace. China said it was a weather balloon that had accidentally drifted off course.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident in Moldova triggered widespread travel disruption and brief panic when authorities temporarily closed the country\'s airspace over what they later described as an object “similar to a weather balloon” spotted near the northern border with Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Scores of flights in the country of about 2.6 million people, one of Europe’s poorest, were canceled or rescheduled. Some were diverted to Romania.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Given the weather conditions and the impossibility of monitoring and identifying the object as well as its flight path … the decision was taken to temporarily close the airspace,” Moldova\'s aviation authority said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Romania has been a NATO member since 2004 and a European Union member since 2007. Moldova is militarily neutral and thus not a potential NATO member. It\'s looking to forge closer ties with the west and was granted EU candidate status last June, the same day as Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Russia of plotting to overthrow her country\'s government and derail it from its EU accession path.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed Sandu’s claims on Tuesday as “absolutely unfounded and unsubstantiated.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 08:28:09', '2023-02-15 08:28:09'),
(5231, 5231, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the people of the country to remain alert against the evil forces so they can\'t grip Bangladesh again.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The people of the country have to remain alert and cautious so that dark clutch (of evil force) must never again grip Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while handing over the keys of 5000 government-built houses, ‘Bir Nibash’, to the underprivileged freedom ighters of the country. A total of 30,000 houses are being built across the country under the project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liberation War Affairs Ministry organised the programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium with its minister AKM Mozammel Huq in the chair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that Bangladesh is advancing with unstoppable speed and no one will be able to stop it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh will be built with the spirit of the Liberation War. We will build Bangladesh as non-communal country imbued with the ideology of the Liberation War and that is our aim,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the people had sacrificed their blood to attain Independence in 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This is our country, we have gained our Independence sacrificing our blood under the leadership of the Father of the Nation. We will build this country as the Golden Bangladesh of the Father of the Nation, Inshallah,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liberation War Affairs Secretary Khaja Miah also spoke at the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A documentary related to the project was screened at the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Tk 4,122-cr project - house construction for poor freedom fighters - was approved by the Ecnec on March 21 last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the project 30,000 ‘Bir Nibash’ (houses) for poor freedom fighters, Birangana (women freedom fighters), widows and children of martyred and late freedom fighters will be built for their socioeconomic uplift.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Named as Bir Nibas, the 635-square-foot-houses, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room and a kitchen will be built for poor freedom fighters on their family homesteads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This project is an initiative of PM Hasina seeking to uplift the socio-economic status of poverty-stricken freedom fighters, widows and children of late heroic freedom fighters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Construction of each house costs Tk14,10, 382, according to official sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Commissioners of Narail, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Gazipur and Kishoreganj, on behalf of the Prime Minister handed over the keys in their respective areas. 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, '2023-02-15 09:30:03', '2023-02-15 09:30:03'),
(5232, 5232, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An Egyptian widow is struggling to afford meat and eggs for her five children. An exasperated German laundry owner watches as his energy bill jumps fivefold. Nigerian bakeries have shut their doors, unable to afford the exorbitant price of flour.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One year after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and caused widespread suffering, the global economy is still enduring the consequences — crunched supplies of grain, fertilizer and energy along with more inflation and economic uncertainty in a world that was already contending with too much of both.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As dismal as the war\'s impact has been, there’s one consolation: It could have been worse. Companies and countries in the developed world have proved surprisingly resilient, so far avoiding the worst-case scenario of painful recession.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But in emerging economies, the pain has been more intense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Egypt, where nearly a third of the population lives in poverty, Halima Rabie has struggled for years to feed her five school-age children. Now, the 47-year-old widow has cut back on even the most basic groceries as prices keep rising.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s become unbearable,” Rabie said, heading to her job as a cleaner at a state-run hospital in Cairo’s twin city of Giza. “Meat and eggs have become a luxury.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the United States and other wealthy countries, a painful surge in consumer prices, fueled in part by the war’s effect on oil prices, has steadily eased. It\'s buoyed hopes that U.S. Federal Reserve inflation fighters will relent on interest rate increases that have threatened to tip the world’s biggest economy into recession and sent other currencies tumbling against the dollar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China also dropped draconian zero-COVID lockdowns late last year that hobbled growth in the second-largest economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some good fortune has helped, too: A warmer-than-usual winter has helped lower natural gas prices and limit the damage from an energy crisis after Russia largely cut off gas to Europe. Still, oil and gas prices were high enough to cushion the impact on the energy-exporting Russian economy from the international sanctions imposed after President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war “is a human catastrophe,’’ said Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “But its impact on the world economy is a passing shock.’’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, in ways big and small, the war is causing pain. In Europe, for example, natural gas prices are still three times what they were before Russia started massing troops on Ukraine\'s border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sven Paar, who runs a commercial laundry in Walduern, southwest Germany, is facing a gas bill this year of about 165,000 euros ($176,000) — up from 30,000 euros ($32,000) last year — to run 12 heavy-duty machines that can wash 8 tons of laundry a day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have passed the prices on, one to one, to our customers,” Paar said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far, he has been able to keep his customers after showing them the energy bills that accompany the price increases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Fingers crossed, it’s working so far,\" he said. “At the same time, the customers groan, and they have to pass the costs on to their own customers.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While he\'s kept his steady customers, they\'re offering less business. Restaurants with fewer customers need fewer tablecloths washed. Several hotels closed in February rather than pay heating costs during their slow season, meaning fewer hotel sheets to clean.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Punishingly high food prices are inflicting particular hardship on the poor. The war has disrupted wheat, barley and cooking oil from Ukraine and Russia, major global suppliers for Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia where many struggle with food insecurity. Russia also was the top supplier of fertilizer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While a U.N.-brokered deal has allowed some food shipments from the Black Sea region, it\'s up for renewal next month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Egypt, the world’s No. 1 wheat importer, Rabie took a second job at a private clinic in July but still struggles to keep up with rising prices. She earns less than $170 a month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rabie said she cooks meat once a month and has resorted to cheaper byproducts to ensure her children get protein. But even those are becoming harder to find.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government urged Egyptians to try chicken feet and wings as an alternative source of protein — a suggestion met with scorn on social media but that also led to a spike in demand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Even the feet have become expensive,” Rabie said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Nigeria, a top importer of Russian wheat, average food prices skyrocketed 37% last year. Bread prices have doubled in some places amid wheat shortages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“People have huge decisions to make,” said Alexander Verhes, who runs Life Flour Mill Limited in the southern Delta state. \"What food do they buy? Do they spend it on food? Schooling? Medication?”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 40% of bakeries in the Nigerian capital of Abuja shut down after the price of flour jumped about 200%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The ones still in the business are doing so at breaking point with no profits,” said Mansur Umar, chairman of the bakers’ association. “A lot of people have stopped eating bread. They have gone for alternatives because of the cost.’’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Spain, the government is spending 300 million euros ($320 million) to help farmers acquire fertilizer, the price of which has doubled since the war in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Fertilizer is vital because the land needs food,’’ said Jose Sanchez, a farmer in the village of Anchuelo, east of Madrid. “If the land does not have food, then the crops do not grow up.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It all means a slowing global economy. The International Monetary Fund dropped growth expectations this year and in 2022 that equates to about $1 trillion in lost production. Europe\'s economy, for example, “is still experiencing significant headwinds\" despite a drop in energy prices and is at risk of falling into recessio n, said Nathan Sheets, global chief economist at banking giant Citi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IMF says consumer prices jumped 7.3% in the wealthiest countries last year — above its January 2022 forecast of 3.9% — and 9.9% in poorer ones, up from 5.9% expected pre-invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the U.S., such inflation has forced businesses to be nimble.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stacy Elmore, co-founder of The Luxury Pergola in Noblesville, Indiana, said the cost of providing health insurance for eight workers has spiked 39% over the past year — to $10,000 a month. Amid a labor shortage, she also had to raise hourly wages for her top installer from $24 to $30 an hour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inflation-whipped consumers began to balk at paying $22,500 for a 10-by-16-foot louvered pergola — kind of a gazebo without walls — that was sold through dealers. Sales sank last year. So Elmore pivoted to do-it-yourself models, selling directly to shoppers at a sharply reduced price of $12,580.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“With inflation so high, we’ve worked to broaden the appeal of our products and make them easier for the average person to acquire,” Elmore said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, many street vendors know they can’t pass along surging food prices to their already struggling customers. So some are skimping on portions instead, a practice known as “shrinkflation.’’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“One kilogram of rice was for eight portions ... but now we made it 10 portions,\" said Mukroni, 52, who runs a food stall and like many Indonesians goes by only one name. Customers, he said, “will not come to the shop\" if prices are too high.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We hope for peace,\" he said, “because, after all, no one will win or lose, because everyone will be a victim.’’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wiseman reported from Washington and McHugh from Frankfurt, Germany. AP journalists Samy Magdy in Cairo; Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; Anne D’Innocenzio in New York; Iain Sullivan in Anchuelo, Spain; and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 11:09:01', '2023-02-15 11:09:01');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5233, 5233, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The situation of persons affected by leprosy in Bangladesh indicates that the country’s outstanding economic growth is not reaching the entire population, a UN expert said today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She called for draft anti-discrimination laws to formally recognise leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, as a prohibited ground of discrimination.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Leprosy is hidden beneath multiple layers of systemic exclusion, structural discrimination and institutional neglect,” UN Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members, Alice Cruz, said in a statement at the end of an eight-day visit to Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has the fifth highest number of leprosy cases in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), with relevant data indicating ongoing transmission, late diagnosis, and gaps in the health system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“While I commend the Prime Minister’s commitment to eliminate leprosy by 2030, I am concerned that the state administration is failing to implement this promise,” the UN special rapporteur said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Adequate budget allocation with clear targets, indicators and benchmarks is essential to turn the government’s pledges into reality,” Cruz said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN expert expressed deep concerns about a high potential number of hidden leprosy cases, critically delayed diagnosis, ongoing transmission and disability among children and widespread disease-related discrimination and stigmatisation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also highlighted limited access to care for those affected – including rehabilitation, reconstructive surgery, assistive devices and psychosocial support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cruz deplored the data gap and limited understanding of leprosy among the relevant authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Fundamental principles of the right to development, such as equity, self-determination, participation and justice are not being met,” the UN special rapporteur said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Persons affected by leprosy and their families are still not enjoying the benefits of economic growth, nor are they seeing discrimination against them duly redressed,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The expert expressed concerns about reports on corruption with regard to access to disability-related benefits and other social protection schemes, limited efficiency of oversight institutions and essentially paternalistic approaches to people living in vulnerable situations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She noted that the government of Bangladesh was committed to actively engaging with the international human rights system to protect the fundamental rights of persons affected by leprosy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During her visit, Cruz met members of the government, representatives of civil society organisations, healthcare workers, and persons affected by leprosy. She visited healthcare facilities and communities affected by leprosy in Nilphamari and Bogura.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN special rapporteur will present her report on the visit to the Human Rights Council in June 2023. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 11:13:25', '2023-02-15 11:13:25'),
(5234, 5234, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government will import 1.5 lakh tonnes of TSP fertilizer from Tunisia in 2023.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) and Tunisian Chemical Group (GCT-Groupe Chimique Tunisien) signed an agreement in this regard on Tuesday at Tunis, capital of Tunisia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BADC Chairman Abdullah Sazzad and GCT General manager Mohammed Ridha Shalgam signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BADC has been importing TSP fertilizer from Tunisia under government to government basis since 2008.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The TSP fertilizer from Tunisia has a demand in Bangladesh due to its good quality. 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, '2023-02-15 11:18:23', '2023-02-15 11:18:23'),
(5235, 5235, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three motorcyclists were killed when a microbus hit a motorbike at Haripur in Ghatail upazila of Tangail district on Tuesday night.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were identified as Sona Mia, 22, Alamgir Hossain, 25 and Shamim Hossain, 26 of the upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All of them were workers of a workshop.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accident occurred at 10 pm when the microbus dashed the motorbike carrying the three people, leaving all dead on the spot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to a local hospital morgue. 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, '2023-02-15 11:23:45', '2023-02-15 11:23:45'),
(5236, 5236, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ranbir Kapoor recently attended an event at the Galgotias University in Delhi. Since he couldn\'t be with wife Alia Bhatt on Valentine\'s Day on Tuesday, he shared a message for her and their daughter Raha at the event. He was in a black shirt and black denims paired with a black jacket and sported a heavy beard.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While talking to the students from stage, Ranbir took a pause to wish Alia and Raha on Valentine\'s Day. He said amid loud cheers from the audience, \"I want to wish my two loves Happy Valentine\'s Day - my wife Alia and my beautiful daughter Raha. I love you girls, I wish you Happy Valentine\'s Day.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alia reacted to Ranbir\'s Valentine\'s Day message by sharing the video on her Instagram Stories and wrote, \"Cutest human ever\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alia\'s mom Soni Razdan had also wished Ranbir, Alia and her other daughter Shaheen Bhatt on Valentine\'s Day. Sharing a picture with Ranbir from Alia\'s baby shower last year and one of her pictures with Alia and Shaheen, Soni wrote, “Happy Valentines Day to my three.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ranbir and Alia came close during the making of their first film together Brahmastra. They tied the knot in April last year and welcomed daughter Raha in November. Brahmastra, which released in September, too went on to become the year\'s biggest Bollywood blockbuster.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ranbir is currently promoting his upcoming film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, starring Shraddha Kapoor as the female lead. The film revolves around the complicated story of Ranbir and Shraddha\'s characters who want to break up but don\'t want the other person to take the blame of making the decision. The film also stars Anubhav Singh Bassi, Dimple Kapadia, Boney Kapoor, Monica Chaudhary, Hasleen Kaur, Rajesh Jais and Ayesha Raza Mishra. It will release on Holi, March 8.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alia had praised the film\'s trailer and written on her Instagram Stories, “truly one of my most favourite trailers!!” She also joined Shraddha to reveal Ranbir\'s hidden Instagram ID as part of the film\'s promotions. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-15 11:43:19', '2023-02-15 11:43:19'),
(5237, 5237, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chief Election Commissioner&nbsp; Kazi Habibul Awal termed the ongoing controversy over President-elect Md Sahabuddin unexpected.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Md. Shahabuddin is qualified to be president as per our constitution, laws, and court rulings. Controversy like this about the president is unexpected,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his long career he served as a district judge, a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and a member of the AL Advisory Council.&nbsp; He is also a valiant freedom fighter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read more: Md Shahabuddin declared President-elect of Bangladesh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The controversy surrounding Shahabuddin is whether the post of the country’s head of state is an office of profit. Constitutional experts are divided on this subject.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday the Election Commission declared Shahabuddin, a nominee of ruling Awami League, elected as the country’s 22nd president unopposed. 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, '2023-02-15 14:03:48', '2023-02-15 14:03:48'),
(5238, 5238, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has assured Bangladesh that the implementation of the Burma Act will not contribute to any violence which is “not desired at all” in the region.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US side mentioned about the Burma Act during Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet’s just-concluded visit though there has been no specific proposal from the US side to Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We said there are issues to look into so that there is no further instability. They (US side) assured us that their efforts will be there to (help Myanmar) return to democratic process,” said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen while responding to a specific question.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday evening, he said there was no proposal from the US side regarding the Burma Act.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Counselor Chollet has emphasized continued US support to Bangladesh in addressing Rohingya issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Overall, the Burma Act requires little change in US policy in Myanmar. However, it does give the Biden administration the discretionary authority to make major changes, if it wishes to do so.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, the Burma Act should also be viewed as an indication that Congress thinks that the Biden administration should take a more active role in supporting the pro-democracy forces in Myanmar in their efforts to overthrow the SAC and establish a democratic government in the country, according to Michael F. Martin, an adjunct fellow (non-resident) with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the Rohingya issue, Counselor Chollet said they are continuously working and trying to help Bangladesh, which is hosting over 1 million Rohingyas, and also trying to deal with the root cause of the crisis in Myanmar. 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, '2023-02-15 14:38:06', '2023-02-15 14:38:06'),
(5239, 5239, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, Kiminori Iwama, today said that he will encourage Japanese companies to expand their business in Bangladesh to help the country achieve expected economic growth.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Japan wants to be more involved in Bangladesh’s national development,” said the ambassador in a meeting with Local Government and Rural Development Minister Tajul Islam on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ambassador expressed interest in investing in Chattogram municipality’s drainage system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A number of Japanese companies are interested in investing here,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also Read: Japan, IOM sign $5.7 million assistance to Rohingyas, host communities in Bangladesh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stating that there’s a similarity between Narayanganj city and Japan’s Naruto city, he said, “There can be a city-to-city partnership agreement that will benefit both the cities.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ambassador also said Japan wants more skilled labor from Bangladesh.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He noted that Japan will increase investment in the special economic zone at Araihazar if infrastructure and other facilities are increased.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The relations between the two countries will be strengthened more by investing in large projects like the Matarbari power plant, said the ambassador.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tajul Islam stressed the exchange of assistance in the information and technology and cultural sectors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They talked about a number of ongoing projects in Bangladesh that are being supported by Japan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They both emphasized strengthening cooperation in development work. 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, '2023-02-15 15:10:42', '2023-02-15 15:10:42'),
(5240, 5240, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India has assured Bangladesh of extending its cooperation for importing hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan through India, said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen Wednesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, he said they also discussed the \"practical problem\" in terms of transmission lines inside Bangladesh as there is a need for expanding the transmission network and boosting its capacity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Masud, who held foreign office consultations (FOCs) with Indian counterpart Vinay Kwatra, said India will help Bangladesh if any specific project is taken for expanding the transmission network and boosting its capacity within Bangladesh to supply electricity smoothly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh will also explore whether Indian lines of credit (LoCs) can be used if any specific project is taken in consultation with the relevant ministry for the expansion of transmission lines inside Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Nepal\'s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Rajendra Lingden Tuesday in a meeting with the Indian foreign secretary discussed matters of mutual interests, including cooperation in the energy and water resources sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the FOCs, Kwatra and Masud had wide-ranging discussions covering all aspects of Bangladesh-India ties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides agreed to further strengthen their ongoing cooperation, in diverse areas, including the India-funded concessional LoCs, trade and investment, connectivity, power and energy, defence and security, and people-to-people ties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kwatra concluded his official visit to Bangladesh Wednesday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the visit, the Indian foreign secretary called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and conveyed the Indian prime minister\'s message of the country\'s continued commitment to the bilateral relationship, upholding Bangladesh as the pivot of India\'s \"Neighbourhood First Policy\' and a key partner of \"Act East Policy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign secretary also called on Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and conveyed the greetings of the external affairs minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two sides agreed to enhance their cooperation and consultations on regional and international issues of shared interest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this context, India looks forward to active participation of Bangladesh as the \"guest country\" at various events during India\'s presidency of G-20.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides also agreed to extend reciprocal support to each other\'s upcoming candidature for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent years, especially in the last decade, Bangladesh and India have sustained a high level of engagement, including at the leaders\' level.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit of India\'s Foreign Secretary helped further strengthen the multifaceted partnership between the two countries, reinforced their time-tested ties and provided an opportunity to comprehensively review progress in the bilateral relationship, said the Indian side. 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, '2023-02-15 16:32:58', '2023-02-15 16:32:58'),
(5241, 5241, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the armed forces are being developed appropriately to give fitting reply if the country comes under attack by any external forces.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If external forces attack, we have to face that. For that we have to build up appropriate armed forces and accordingly we have taken various steps,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while addressing the 10th Tigers’ Reunion of the East Bengal Regiment at Bangladesh Military Academy (BMA).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that Bangladesh does not want to engage in war with anyone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We believe in the policy of friendship to all and malice to none. This policy was formulated by the Father of the Nation,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Briefly describing various development activities of the government to modernise Bangladesh Army, she said that Sheikh Russell cantonment has recently been established in Mawa-Jazira while construction of new cantonments is under way in Mithamin, Rajbari and Trishal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Construction of Army Aviation Forward Bases at Chattogram and Cox\'s Bazar and Aviation School at Lalmonirhat is also in progress,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that the government has added new composite brigade and para commando brigade in the army.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Sophisticated and up-to-date weapons are being procured for each force,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the government wants to transform Bangladesh as a country of peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For that we have adopted zero tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that Bangladesh has faced COVID-19 pandemic successfully.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But she mentioned that Russia-Ukraine war and subsequent sanctions caused economic recession across the globe where developed countries have also been affected.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Food prices in various countries increased excessively, and there is trouble in getting foods also,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the land of Bangladesh is fertile while people are very much skilled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I want that every citizen of the country will cultivate whatever land one has so that the blow of world economic recession can not hit Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that the government has increased country’s food production and ensured food security.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is true, but alongside of that we have to continue this (increased food production) until this (Russia-Ukraine) war stops and the world get rid of the economic recession,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She urged all to work hard ensure that the global economic recession does not affect Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the programme the PM took salute and also inspected the parade riding on an open jeep.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She witnessed the spectacular parade of a smartly-turned out contingent of East Bengal Regiment followed by a colourful cultural programme. 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, '2023-02-16 06:40:58', '2023-02-16 06:40:58'),
(5242, 5242, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A joint rescue team of Bangladesh continues to play its part in the rescue effort in Turkey for the sixth day following last Monday\'s earthquake, the deadliest such disaster since the country\'s founding 100 years ago.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh team has so far wrested a 17-year-old girl from the rubble and recovered 22 bodies, Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of the fire service headquarters media cell, said Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rescuers were among thousands of local and overseas teams, including Turkish coal miners and experts aided by sniffer dogs and thermal cameras, who scoured pulverized apartment blocks for signs of life.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh team consisting of 34 members from the army and 12 from the fire service left Dhaka Wednesday at 10pm and reached Turkey\'s Adana Military Air Base Thursday at 9:46pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, they reached Adiyaman city in southeastern Turkey and started search and rescue operations, Shahjahan said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Tuesday that more than 35,000 people died in Turkey as a result of last week\'s earthquake. Confirmed deaths in Turkey surpassed those recorded from the Erzincan earthquake in 1939 which killed around 33,000 people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The quake and hundreds of aftershocks, some nearly as powerful as the first, struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, killing more than 39,000 and reducing whole swaths of towns and cities inhabited by millions to fragments of concrete and twisted metal, reported AP yesterday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the death toll is almost certain to rise even further, many of the tens of thousands of survivors left homeless were still struggling to meet basic needs, like finding shelter from the bitter cold. 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, '2023-02-16 07:17:20', '2023-02-16 07:17:20'),
(5243, 5243, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka’s air quality is in the \'very unhealthy\' zone this morning (February 16, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 220 at 8:50 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked second in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Delhi occupied the first and third spots, with AQI scores of 245 and 190, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘‘very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. 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, '2023-02-16 07:29:27', '2023-02-16 07:29:27'),
(5244, 5244, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The High Court on Thursday asked the authorities concerned not to force students to disclose their marital status in admission form in educational institutions.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order after hearing a writ petition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta represented the state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On November 14, 2017, Advocates Fariha Ferdous and Nahid Sultana filed a writ petition attaching a report published in a national daily headlined “What the girl will do now?”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the report, on June 6, 2013, a class X girl was raped but the rapists denied the allegation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the girl became pregnant, she was admitted to the one stop crisis centre of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital and she lodged a complaint against the rapist, said the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police arrested the rapist and a DNA test proved that the rapist was the father of the child.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, a court ordered sending the girl to residential centre under Rajshahi division ‘Women Assistance Programme’ of the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During living at the centre, the girl appeared in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination and during her exam she gave birth to a baby boy on February 19, 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, she passed the SSC exam with GPA 4.3 and appeared her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination from there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, she was sent to her house and also passed the HSC exam with GPA 3.17.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On May 30, 2017, a court sentenced the rapist to life imprisonment and asked to bear the expenses of the baby boy. The court also fined him Tk one lakh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was put in the category of married women during the public examinations though she was unmarried.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The girl was unable to fill up the admission form of a nursing college due to her marital status as she was not married and had a child.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On December 11, 2018, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the option of marital status in admission process in educational institutions should not be declared unconstitutional.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC also issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to formulate a meaningful policy in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also asked to take steps as the girl can get enrolled in a nursing college immediately. 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, '2023-02-16 08:05:28', '2023-02-16 08:05:28'),
(5245, 5245, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, acts as a natural wall to protect lives, livelihoods, and homes of people living along the coasts of Bangladesh and India from cyclones and storms. But the vital forestland is shrinking due to human actions.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the last 100 years, Sundarbans has shrank significantly – endangering its biodiversity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Environmentalists and experts shared the information at a discussion in Khulna Press Club recently, marking the Sundarbans Day, and called for proactive public participation to protect the mangrove forest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sundarbans Day is observed in Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna and Satkhira districts every year since 2002 with an appeal to save the largest mangrove forest in the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A World Bank report, titled ‘Coping with climate change in the Sundarbans: Lessons from multidisciplinary studies’ (published in 2020), disclosed concerning information on shrinking of the forest area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the report, the total area of the Sundarbans (India’s West Bengal and Bangladesh) was 11,904 sqkm between 1904 and 1924. In 1967, it shrank to 11,663 sqkm, and in 2016, to 11,506 sqkm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to various sources, there are 450 small and major rivers and canals in the Sundarbans. The total length of these canals and rivers is about 350 km. Due to tides, the banks of the rivers are eroded and formed again. Data says that in 100 years, more erosion happened, which cannot be prevented yet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to UNB, Md Nur Alam Sheikh, convener of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA) Mongla zone, said, “People are continuously occupying the forestland and building homes, markets. The government must adopt a zero-tolerance policy to protect the forest, and law enforcers and forest officials must be strict in stopping encroachment.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sundarbans – home to numerous plants and wildlife, including the Royal Bengal Tiger – covers an area of 6,017 sqkm in Bangladesh. It was declared a “reserve forest” in 1978.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Calling the Sundarbans “saviour of the country during natural disasters,” Chairman of ‘Save the Sundarbans’, Dr Sheikh Faridul Islam, said that the mangrove forest has been protecting the coastal belt for ages acting as a natural shield.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We must ensure Bangladesh is protected through securing the forest,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof Dr Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, of Environment Science department of Khulna University, said, “There is no room for doubt… Bangladesh will not survive if the Sundarbans does not survive. All concerned should come forward.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People’s careless behaviour and indifference are the biggest threats to the Sundarbans, said Officer-in-Charge of East Sundarbans Karamjal Tourism Center and Wildlife Breeding Centre, Howladar Azad Kabir, adding that if this continues, there will be no Sundarbans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Just celebrating Forest Day on February 14 is not enough. Everyone must be aware and come forward to save Sundarbans,” he said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-16 08:18:30', '2023-02-16 08:18:30'),
(5246, 5246, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Eight people were injured in blast apparently from leakage in a gas pipeline at Balirhat in Chattogram port city early Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bahar Uddin, senior station officer of Kalurghat Fire Station, said the explosion occurred in a semi-pacca building in the area near the residence of one Makbul Haji around 3 am, leaving eight people injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A portion of a wall was blown away during the explosion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and rescued the injured victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, they were taken toa local hospital and given first aid. 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, '2023-02-16 08:37:59', '2023-02-16 08:37:59'),
(5247, 5247, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A woman and her six-month old grandchild were killed when a motorbike hit them near Diabari Metro Rail road in the capital early Thursday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were identified as Mazeda alias Khuki, 45, wife of Ismail Sarkar and her grandchild Rafia Akter of Sholohati in the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moudud Hawladar, officer-in-charge of Turag Police Station, said the accident occurred around 12:45 am when a motorbike knocked down Mazeda with her grandchild on lap crossed the no-2 station of the metro rail, leaving them critically injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, they were taken to Uttara Modern Medical College and Hospital from where Rafia was taken to Dhaka Medical College and hospital for better treatment but doctors declared him dead at 2:30 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Mazeda succumbed to her injuries around 1:45 am. 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, '2023-02-16 10:02:41', '2023-02-16 10:02:41'),
(5248, 5248, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A minor earthquake measuring 4.3 magnitude in the Richter Scale was felt at 11km northeast of Chhatak in Sunamganj district here around 9:56 this morning.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The epicenter of the tremor was located at Meghalaya in India,\" meteorologist Farzana Sultana told BSS.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the earthquake struck at the depth of 64.8 kilometers according to the US Geological Survey, which lasted for a few seconds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No damage was reported by now due to the tremor, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the seismologists, an earthquake ranging from 4 to 4.9 scale is considered as light. 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, '2023-02-16 10:12:03', '2023-02-16 10:12:03'),
(5249, 5249, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said the United States wants to establish a stronger relationship with Bangladesh, leaving aside the “misunderstandings”.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They (US) consider Bangladesh to be of importance. They want good relations with us where new possibilities are created,” Momen told reporters in Sylhet, adding that yesterday (February 15, 2023) was a “great day for Bangladesh.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to important discussions with senior diplomats from India, USA and South Korea, Momen said they all appreciated Bangladesh’s efforts and made a commitment to continue working for deeper relations.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has seen a series of visits by senior US officials in recent months with the last by US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, before the arrival of Counselor of the US Department of State, Derek Chollet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We had a very good discussion. They came to strengthen relations,” Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, Chollet said they remain “hopeful” about future relations with Bangladesh – building on the strong partnership that has developed over 51 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“We are hopeful for the future. It has been 51 years of a very strong partnership. We are looking forward to the next 51 years and beyond. We have many shared challenges but we have many common opportunities that we have talked about today,” he told reporters after his meeting with Foreign Minister Momen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US State Department counselor said that the US places considerable importance on its relationship with Bangladesh, which is growing politically, economically and in terms of security. 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, '2023-02-16 10:31:47', '2023-02-16 10:31:47'),
(5250, 5250, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two miners who went missing after a mine collapsed in Australia have died.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dylan Langridge, 33, and Trevor Davis, 36, were driving 125m (410ft) underground in Queensland\'s Dugald River mine on Wednesday when the ground gave way, local media say.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They fell 25m into a void along with their utility vehicle, a drill rig, and the drill rig operator.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drill rig operator managed to escape and raise the alarm, before being treated for minor injuries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Perenti, the global mining group which employed Mr Langridge and Mr Davis, said the pair\'s bodies were found after a \"significant\" search operation at the mine near Cloncurry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both worked as charge-up operators, a role that usually involves handling explosives and setting up blast areas for mining. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-16 10:51:28', '2023-02-16 10:51:28'),
(5251, 5251, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Food Minister Sadhan Chandar Majumder on Thursday the government is planning to provide over one crore families with 10 kg rice under Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme in the upcoming Ramadan.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this while responding to a question from journalists at the secretariat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country has achieved bumper Aman yield and the country won’t need to import rice once good yield of Boro paddy is achieved, said the minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the government usually distributes rice to people during the Ramadan under rationing, Kabikha, TR and OMS programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\" Rice and flour are distributed through 2500 dealers across the country on a regular basis,” he said, adding that the lower-income people can buy 5 kg rice at Tk 30 per kg and 3 kg flour at Tk 24 under OMS programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said over one crore families of the country get 5 kg rice and 3 kg flour each round the year and no one will fall in crisis for rice&nbsp; in the Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">50 lakh families will be provided with 30 kg rice at Tk 15 per kg&nbsp; from March 1 and people usually get&nbsp; rice under the progamme five months—March, April, May, September and October a year. 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, '2023-02-16 11:40:43', '2023-02-16 11:40:43');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5252, 5252, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Najmul Hossain Shanto, opening batsman of Sylhet Strikers, has been fined 30 percent of his match fees for violating the BCB Code of Conduct during Tuesday\'s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against Rangpur Riders.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Level 1 breach took place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto was found to have shown dissent towards an umpire\'s decision, a violation of Article 2.2 of the BCB Code of Conduct for players. However, the player accepted the penalty proposed by match referee ASM Roquibul Hassan, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Along with the fine, two demerit points were added to Shanto\'s disciplinary record, bringing the total number of demerit points to three. This was the second time that the player violated the code of conduct.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The charges against Shanto were made by on-field umpires Raveendra Wimalasiri, Prageeth Rambukwella, third umpire Tanvir Ahmed, and fourth official Ali Arman Rajon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Level 1 Code of Conduct breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player\'s match fee, as well as one or two demerit points. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-16 12:12:11', '2023-02-16 12:12:11'),
(5253, 5253, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy today said her country is interested to invest in Bangladesh\'s waste management system, claiming that France\'s waste management is atop in the world.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The France envoy said this when she paid a courtesy call on Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam at his ministry office in the Secretariat here, said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Masdupuy invited the LGRD minister and other officials concerned to visit France to learn about waste management in that country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting, Tazul said since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed power in 1996, there has been a revolutionary change in women\'s empowerment.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said appointing of women to various important positions, including judges of the Supreme Court, Speaker of the Parliament, Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, has been ensured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister told Masdupuy that the socio-economic development of the country has been possible due to the various measures taken by the current government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Bangladesh is moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the aim of building a developed and Smart Bangladesh by 2041. In this progress, demand in power, water, agriculture, energy and industrial sectors will increase day by day,\" Tazul said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Urging the French businessmen to invest in these sectors in Bangladesh, he said this will strengthen the relationship between the two countries and benefit the people of both countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said the government is making multi-pronged efforts to increase the income of the rural people as it will help increase the revenue collection, which will strengthen the national economy.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He requested the France envoy to invest in various projects for the development of the rural economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior officials of the Local Government Division were present at the meeting. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-16 13:12:10', '2023-02-16 13:12:10'),
(5254, 5254, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday officially launched the family planning strategy for the Rohingya refugee humanitarian crisis in Cox’s Bazar 2022-2025.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The strategy outlines an approach to increase the demand for modern contraceptive methods through community-based family planning interventions and facility-based family planning services among women and girls of Rohingya and surrounding host communities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The strategy was developed and approved in October 2022 under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Health Sector Cox’s Bazar, and the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) working group supported by the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Partners within the health sector operating in the camps provide sexual and reproductive health services from health facilities and women friendly spaces across the camps.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the course of the last five years, demand for family planning services has increased dramatically, with health facilities seeing an increase of 175% in family planning visits between 2018 and 2022, said a media release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This increase is due not only to the wide availability of services and trained health personnel, but also to community outreach, especially to men, and awareness-raising to dispel myths and misconceptions about contraception.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This multi-year strategy covering 2022–2025 will guide humanitarian partners to make family planning accessible, voluntary, and choice based for everyone. I commend UNFPA and other partners for their hard work and I am hopeful that this strategy will be a beneficial resource for providers and planners to scale up our humanitarian efforts,” said Dr Ashrafi Ahmad, additional secretary at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh Kristine Blokhus said they are pleased to have worked in productive partnership with the government of Bangladesh to articulate a family planning strategy which focuses both on community demand and facility health services, as well as advocacy and coordination to ensure partnerships and efficiency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Increasing demand among Rohingya women shows that these strategies – of providing voluntary, rights-based and respectful services – works to improve their lives”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis spoke about the broader importance of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services for women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Providing women and girls family planning information and services as part of their basic social services package, enables them to ensure the health and sustainability of their families. Family planning empowers women and allows them to steer their families out of poverty,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the participants of the launch were Dr Nurun Nahar Begum, Line Director (CCSDP), DGFP; Abdus Salam, joint secretary, MoHFW; Dr. Nd, Bashirul Alam, Additional Secretary, DG, Islamic Foundation, Md. Samsud Doza, Additional RRRC, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission; Dr Pintu Kanti Bhattacharjee, Deputy Director of Family Planning, Cox’s Bazar; Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Civil surgeon, Cox’s Bazar, Sayed Rubayet, Country Director, IPAS Bangladesh, Representatives from the Government of Bangladesh, as well as the representatives and head of sub offices from other United Nations agencies, development partners, and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also attended the event. 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, '2023-02-16 13:16:30', '2023-02-16 13:16:30'),
(5255, 5255, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday alleged that the ruling-party-backed syndicate is hiking the prices of imported goods unusually by establishing its control on the market and supply chain.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“Those who are looting the market every day and increasing the prices of goods are the people of the Awami League syndicate. Only those who belong to Awami League can now open LCs for the import of goods,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said dollars are now being given to the ruling party-supported importers to open LCs and import goods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But ordinary importers are not able to import the goods as they’re not given dollars. So, those who are importing goods by opening LC are selling the imported goods in the market at high prices. As the supply chain is in the hands of people belonging to the ruling party, they are controlling the market and hiking the prices of the imported goods,” he observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jatiyatabadi Sanskritik Dal, the BNP\'s cultural front, arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity protesting the price hikes in oil gas and all essential goods and a recent attack on BNP joint secretary general Khairul Kabir Khokon in Narsingdi.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khosru, a BNP standing committee member and a former commerce minister, said the main reason behind the increase in commodity prices is the Awami economy model. “They (AL) have created that model for plundering, but the common people of Bangladesh are paying a heavy price for it…the lines behind the trucks of TCB are getting longer day by day, exposing people’s real condition.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the current economic model of Awami League, he said the government will extract money from the people\'s pockets by increasing VAT, taxes, and the prices of gas, electricity, oil, and daily essentials, including imported goods. “Later, the ruling party people will loot the money and siphon off it abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader bemoaned that the resources and money of the country are being accumulated in the hands of less than one percent today, destroying the lives of common people. “This wealth is not only being accumulated in Bangladesh as they (AL leaders) are taking it abroad and making assets in Canada, Dubai, USA, UK, Malaysia, and Turkey by siphoning off money abroad. “People belonging to Awami League are accumulating wealth all over the world.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He called upon people from all walks of life to get united to protect the country and establish a pro-people government through a fierce movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the meetings of US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet with the PM, Foreign Minister, and senior journalists, Khosru said the US senior official has given a clear message that the relation and cooperation of America will decline with a country where democracy erodes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It’s a very strong warning and he issued it sitting on the soil of Bangladesh, and said there is no compromise on the issue of human rights, democracy, and press freedom. The democratic countries that believe in human rights, the rule of law, public security, and freedom of speech are now saying these words,” he observed. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-16 14:19:50', '2023-02-16 14:19:50'),
(5256, 5256, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A staggering 78 million girls and boys around the world today “don’t go to school at all” because of conflict, climate disasters and displacement – while tens of millions more receive only sporadic teaching – UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Thursday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Calling for more funding for education in emergencies spearheaded by the UN global fund Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the UN chief in a video message said no one should be denied their chance to learn.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A full 222 million children today experience blighted education, Guterres said. “To help them, 18 countries and private partners have pledged $826 million for UN global fund ECW, on the opening day of the landmark conference.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what barriers stand in your way, you have a right to a quality education,” he said, in an appeal for greater international efforts to ensure that more vulnerable children and youngsters get their chance to succeed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Delivering his comments at the Education Cannot Wait High-Level Financing Conference in Geneva, the Secretary-General welcomed the fact that since it was founded in 2017, the fund had trained 87,000 teachers and given seven million children in crisis “the education they deserve”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As pledges from 18 countries and the private sector topped $826 million on the first day of the conference, UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of ECW High-Level Steering Group Gordon Brown said: “We are talking about the most isolated, the most desolate, the most neglected children of the world. We’re talking about girls who find themselves trafficked or forced into child labour or child marriage unless we can help them.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 08:32:52', '2023-02-17 08:32:52'),
(5257, 5257, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects, following three weeks of high-stakes drama sparked by the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting much of the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president has directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an “interagency team” to review U.S. procedures after the U.S. shot down the Chinese balloon, as well as three other objects that Biden said the U.S. now believes are most likely “benign” objects launched by private companies or research institutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While not expressing regret for downing the three still-unidentified objects, Biden said he hoped the new rules would help “distinguish between those that are likely to pose safety and security risks that necessitate action and those that do not.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Make no mistake, if any object presents a threat to the safety and security of the American people I will take it down,” he added, repeating the legal justification cited for the downings — that the objects, flying between 20,000 and 40,000 feet posed a remote risk to civilian planes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The downing of the Chinese surveillance craft was the first known peacetime shootdown of an unauthorized object in U.S. airspace — a feat repeated three times a week later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden sharply criticized China\'s surveillance program, saying the shootdown sent a “clear message, the violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable,\" but said he looks to maintain open lines of communication with Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his first planned trip to China as the balloon was flying over the U.S., and a new meeting with his Chinese counterpart has yet to be scheduled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I expect to be speaking with President Xi and I hope we can get to the bottom of this,” Biden said, adding, “But I make no apologies for taking down that balloon.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden said the rules would remain classified so as not to “give a roadmap to our enemies to try to evade our defenses.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he expected the U.S. would keep its radar systems set going forward to detect slow-moving balloons as well as fast-moving aircraft and other possible intruders. But he said he had impressed on White House officials late Tuesday that security forces would have to fine-tune their response for when they spot balloons of unknown provenance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The White House scrambling fighters and tankers” and special forces, he said, “is not going to be a scalable solution to every bit of airborne junk.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese balloon has escalated tensions between the U.S. and China. Blinken travels Thursday to the Munich Security Conference and there is speculation he might use the opportunity to meet top Chinese foreign policy official Wang Yi, who will also be attending the conference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden had remained largely silent on the objects downed Friday off the coast of Alaska, Saturday over Canada and Sunday over Lake Huron. On Monday, the White House announced earnestly there was no indication of “aliens or extraterrestrial activity.” By Wednesday, U.S. officials said they were still working to locate the wreckage from the objects, but that they expected all three to be unrelated to surveillance efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The intelligence community is considering as a leading explanation that these could just be balloons tied to some commercial or benign purpose,” said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. No country or private company has come forward to claim any of the objects, Kirby said. They do not appear to have been operated by the U.S. government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still unaddressed are questions about the original balloon, including what spying capabilities it had and whether it was transmitting signals as it flew over sensitive military sites in the United States. It was believed by American intelligence to have initially been on a track toward the U.S. territory of Guam, according to a U.S. official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. tracked it for several days after it left China, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence. It appears to have been blown off its initial trajectory and ultimately flew over the continental U.S., the official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Balloons and other unidentified objects have been previously spotted over Guam, a strategic hub for the U.S. Navy and Air Force in the western Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It’s unclear how much control China retained over the balloon once it veered from its original trajectory. A second U.S. official said the balloon could have been externally maneuvered or directed to loiter over a specific target, but it’s unclear whether Chinese forces did so.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the balloon was shot down, the White House revealed that such balloons had traversed U.S. territory at least three times during President Donald Trump’s administration unknown to Trump or his aides — and that others have flown over dozens of nations across five continents. Kirby emphasized Monday that they were only detected by the Biden administration. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 08:40:41', '2023-02-17 08:40:41'),
(5258, 5258, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said they detained a Rohingya man with one lakh yaba pills from the Ukhiya border area on Thursday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The detainee was identified as Sharif Hossain, 21, son of Bashir Ahmed of Kutupalong Rohingya camp of Ukhiya upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tipped off, a team of BGB conducted a raid at Tulatuli Joliler Goda of Rajapalong union, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Saiful Islam Chowdhury, commanding officer of 34th BGB Battalion, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hot on the trail of potential \"drug smugglers,\" BGB detained Sharif with one lakh contraband yaba pills as was trying to smuggle the cheap synthetic drug from Myanmar into Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The detainee and the yaba pills were handed over to Ukiya Police Station, Saiful said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 08:45:27', '2023-02-17 08:45:27'),
(5259, 5259, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has urged Japanese IT entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh, taking the opportunity of the country\'s \"competitive strengths and policy incentives.\"</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was speaking at the webinar \"Investment Opportunities in Hi-Tech Parks in Bangladesh\" hosted by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, and the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) hosted Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 100 Japanese companies attended the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Palak said Japan could be a very good market for the local IT and ITES industry in the coming years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has a huge potential in hardware manufacturing too, as nationwide infrastructures are being built to support heavy manufacturing as well as technology manufacturing, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Bangladesh offers cost-effective solutions for technology and services, making it an attractive destination for international companies looking to outsource or establish a presence in the region. It has a young and educated population that is eager to adopt and use technology, creating a large potential market for ICT services and products,\" Palak said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed said: \"Japan is a very potential country for Bangladesh in terms of trade, business, investment and bringing skilled human resources. The Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan will provide all possible support to Japanese investors in starting and expanding business in Bangladesh.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khandoker Azizul Islam, managing director of the BHTPA, said the BHTPA is committed to providing necessary services to investors in hi-tech parks through its one-stop services, various incentives such as exemption of taxes and duties are also available for investors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yuji Ando, country representative of JETRO Dhaka, said Japanese companies consider Bangladesh a promising country for business. \"According to the latest JETRO survey, 71.6 percent of Japanese companies want to expand their business in Bangladesh.\" 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, '2023-02-17 08:52:26', '2023-02-17 08:52:26'),
(5260, 5260, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Grameenphone recently introduced bKash as its preferred payment partner.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bKash will be the primary payment option to facilitate one tap payment experience for the customers in the MyGP app.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone and Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash, formally launched the new service at a ceremony held in Dhaka Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This integration, which is the \"first of its kind in the industry, will simplify the digital lifestyle of the customers with hassle-free, convenient and secured payment with one tap,\" Grameenphone said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Once a customer binds bKash as the preferred payment method, they no longer need to put in OTP/PIN every time and the payment will be done with a tap of digital consent from the bKash account on the go.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To activate this service, a GP customer needs to add bKash as a preferred payment method through the MyGP app. After clicking on \"Add bKash Account,\" the users need to click the \"I Agree\" option and enter bKash account number.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the next step, OTP and PIN should be entered only for the first time to bind bKash as GP\'s preferred payment method. 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, '2023-02-17 09:02:57', '2023-02-17 09:02:57'),
(5261, 5261, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea on Friday threatened an \"unprecedentedly\" strong response to upcoming US-South Korea joint military drills, describing them as preparations for war.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The warning came ahead of a tabletop exercise next week in Washington, in which the two allies will discuss responses to the use of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has long condemned joint US-South Korea military drills, calling them rehearsals for an invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It regards the exercises planned for this year \"with just apprehension and reason... as preparations for an aggression war\", a spokesperson for the North Korean foreign ministry said in a statement released by state media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Washington and Seoul go ahead with the drills, \"they will face unprecedentedly persistent and strong counteractions\", the statement added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under its hawkish President Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea has beefed up military drills with the United States, which had been scaled back during the Covid pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were also paused for a bout of ill-fated diplomacy with Pyongyang under his predecessor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yoon\'s government is eager to convince the increasingly nervous South Korean public of Washington\'s commitment to deter Pyongyang, which last year declared itself an \"irreversible\" nuclear power and conducted a record number of weapons tests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The exercise next week will focus on \"joint planning, joint management and joint response with Washington\'s nuclear assets\" in case of a nuclear attack by Pyongyang, a South Korean defence ministry official told AFP on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang\'s aggressive statement reflects the significance of this drill, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The exercise will be an important criterion for the extent to which the US nuclear arsenal will be involved in deterring North Korea, Yang told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang has repeatedly said it is not interested in further talks, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently called for an \"exponential\" increase in his country\'s nuclear arsenal. 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, '2023-02-17 09:10:35', '2023-02-17 09:10:35'),
(5262, 5262, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United Nations launched a $1 billion appeal Thursday to help 5.2 million survivors of the most devastating earthquake in Türkiye’s modern history, two days after starting a $397 million appeal to help nearly 5 million Syrians across the border.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The funding, which covers three months, will allow aid organisations to swiftly ramp up their operations to support government-led response efforts in areas that include food security, protection, education, water and shelter.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both appeals will be followed by fresh appeals for longer-term help.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Türkiye is home to the largest number of refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbours for years,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Now is the time for the world to support the people of Türkiye – just as they have stood in solidarity with others seeking assistance.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said: “The people of Türkiye have experienced unspeakable heartache. I met families who shared their stories of shock and devastation. We must stand with them in their darkest hour and ensure they receive the support they need.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN and partners have been rushing to support Türkiye and neighbouring Syria in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck on February 6.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than nine million people in Türkiye alone have been directly impacted by the once-in-a-generation disaster, which has left 35,000 people dead in the country, according to the latest figures from the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The earthquakes struck at the peak of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of people – including small children and elderly people – without access to shelter, food, water, heaters and medical care in freezing temperatures.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 47,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged, including schools, hospitals and other essential services.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of people have sought refuge in temporary shelters across the country. Many families have been separated, and hundreds of children are now orphaned or unable to be reunited with their parents.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around 3.6 million Syrians have found a safe haven in Türkiye, along with nearly 320,000 people of other nationalities, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 1.74 million refugees live in the 11 provinces impacted by the earthquakes.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN is coordinating the operations of thousands of search-and-rescue personnel in five provinces – Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya – and humanitarian organisations have begun relief operations in the hardest-hit areas, in support of the government-led response.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This week also saw the launch of a nearly $400 million appeal for Syria, where aid delivery from across the border with Türkiye is continuing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said shelter needs are the top priority among displaced people there, where many homes have collapsed in the aftermath of the earthquakes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 8,900 buildings are completely or partially destroyed, leaving 11,000 people homeless. Other priorities include food, cash assistance and supplies to cope with the harsh winter weather. 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, '2023-02-17 10:03:27', '2023-02-17 10:03:27'),
(5263, 5263, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Air France-KLM said Friday that it had bounced back from two years of massive losses due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, returning to profit and pledging to soon repay an emergency state loan that kept the carrier afloat.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Franco-Dutch carrier said net profit reached 728 million euros ($777 million), nearly double the 290 million euros of 2019, before the pandemic ground the industry to a standstill.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heavy annual losses of 7.1 billion and 3.3 billion euros the two following years forced the company into painful cost-cutting that included job cuts and getting rid of unprofitable planes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also required cash injections, including a 2.5 billion euro emergency loan orchestrated by the French state, which the airline says it now plans to fully repay by April.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other Covid aid will also be repaid, freeing the company of restrictions imposed by the EU as part of the state help, and allowing it to pay dividends, increase executive pay or acquire rival carriers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We close out the year with a positive net income, having turned the page on Covid, and look to the future with confidence in our ability to address the challenges ahead,\" chief executive Benjamin Smith said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sales last year hit 26.4 billion euros, nearly the pre-Covid level of 27.2 billion three years ago, even though the airline transported just 83 million passengers -- 21 million fewer than before the crisis. 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, '2023-02-17 10:55:38', '2023-02-17 10:55:38'),
(5264, 5264, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Lionel Messi\'s father and representative Jorge Messi said on Thursday it is unlikely his son will return to play for Barcelona.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 35-year-old signed for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021 after the Catalan club were unable to renew his deal because of La Liga\'s financial fair play rules.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I don\'t think so, the conditions aren\'t right,\" Jorge Messi told reporters at Barcelona airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said he had not spoken to Barcelona president Joan Laporta about a deal and that Messi \"has a contract with Paris Saint-Germain\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi\'s deal with PSG is set to expire in the summer and at present he has not agreed new terms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Life takes many turns,\" said Jorge Messi, when asked if he would like to see his son play for Barcelona again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Argentina forward, who won the World Cup in December, joined Barcelona as a 13 year old and became a club legend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Messi won 35 trophies with Barcelona, scoring a record 672 goals in 778 games across all competitions. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 11:04:19', '2023-02-17 11:04:19'),
(5265, 5265, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh reported eight more Covid cases in the 24 hours to Friday morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the new numbers, the country\'s total caseload rose to 2,037,738, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The daily case test positivity rate rose to 0.67 percent from Thursday\'s 0.45 percent as 1,201 samples were tested.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The recovery rate increased to 98.09 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 11:14:35', '2023-02-17 11:14:35'),
(5266, 5266, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units on Friday brought out separate silent processions in the capital to press home the party’s 20-point demand, including holding the next polls under a non-party caretaker government.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The organisers said the march programme is also meant for registering the party’s protest against the rise in the prices of power and gas and essential items, repression on the opposition and mounting pressure on the government to release party chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the party’s plan, BNP’s Dhaka south city started a march from Motijheel to Nayabazar around 4:05 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with party standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and vice chairman Abdullah Al Noman took part after a brief address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Through the silent march, Fakhrul said , they would send out a message to the city dwellers to wake up and put up a resistance against the current government’s misrule and repressive acts and failure to run the country and check the growing prices of essential items.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The government has turned the country into a failed state. They badly destroyed the country and its institutions. The USA did not invite Bangladesh to its Summit for Democracy. It’s a matter of shame,” the BNP leader said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Awami League is basically a \'terrorist party\' and it always wants to cling to power by force. “BNP and the country’s people won\'t go to any more polls under the Awami League government.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul said the common people are gradually getting poorer while the ruling party men are getting richer by indulging in corruption and plundering.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said the government has been using law enforcers to hang onto power illegally by force. “The USA imposed sanctions on RAB as they indulged in extra-judicial killings at the behest of the government. “They (govt) are now using police to kill the opposition leaders and activists and repress them.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said the constitution must be amended since the country’s problems cannot be resolved in line with the current national charter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north city started a march from Uttara to Abdullahpur around 3:35pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain inaugurate the programme along with other party senior leaders, including Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Abdul Awal Mintoo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a brief address before taking out the procession, Mosharraf said their party has been on the streets with different programmes to realise public demands and to protest public sufferings as people are going through a tough time due to the misrule of the Awami League government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said their programmes are drawing huge public support, prompting the ruling party to come up with counter programmes out of fear of losing power. “Awami League is holding counter programmes, exposing its political bankruptcy.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said the&nbsp; people and the foreigners now can realise that no credible election can be held under the Awami League government. “That’s why foreign leaders and envoys are giving the government sermons about credible polls.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mosharraf urged the party leaders and activists to peacefully hold the programme as they did in the past without responding to any provocation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies joined the two separate programmes, carrying banners, national and party flags, festoons and portraits of the party\'s top leaders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A huge number of law enforcers have been deployed in the areas to maintain law and order and fend off any untoward incidents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from BNP, LPD, Gonoforum, People’s Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote and Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote also staged the march programme in different areas of the capital at different times on Friday as part of the simultaneous movement to oust the current government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP’s all others metropolitan city units will hold a similar programme on Saturday. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 11:23:49', '2023-02-17 11:23:49');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5267, 5267, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">No fresh case or death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Friday morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thirty-six dengue patients, including 16 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far, the DGHS has recorded 686 dengue cases, 642 recoveries, and eight deaths this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 12:16:32', '2023-02-17 12:16:32'),
(5268, 5268, '<div><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President M Abdul Hamid offered doa at the graves of his parents and other family members at their family graveyard in Karimganj village of Mithamin upazila in the district this afternoon.</b><br></div><div><br></div><div>In the munajat, a special doa was offered there, seeking for the eternal peace of the departed souls of his parents and relatives.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Local lawmaker and President\'s eldest son Rezwan Ahammad Taufiq, Md Afzal Hossain, MP, President\'s younger brother Principal Md Abdul Haque and Bangabhaban officials, among others, were present on the occasion. BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 13:24:59', '2023-02-17 13:24:59'),
(5269, 5269, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Friday asked the Bangladesh government to reconsider and if necessary cancel what it calls the vague and inequitable power purchase agreement with Adani Group.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“TIB expressed deep concern that the Bangladesh\'s power sector may become hostage to this controversial company if the unequal, opaque and discriminatory contract signed by Bangladesh Power Development Board to purchase 1600 megawatt electricity from India\'s Adani, which is an accused of share fraud, is implemented,” said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This organization suggested bringing applicable amendments to this agreement after reviewing its terms thoroughly by engaging experts, or if necessary scraping the agreement for the sake of the national interest especially considering that the final burden of this agreement should be borne by the people of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to national and international media reports, the electricity generated from the Adani power plant located in Godda, Jharkhand will cost almost three times more than the electricity produced in the country. Again, there is an obligation in the power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy power from Adani Power at this high price, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman said this agreement is considered as inequitable and unclear and unprecedentedly discriminatory contract for Bangladesh by the international reliable analysis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It seems that the agreement has ignored the interests of Bangladesh and favored the interests of Adani group in such a way that the electricity sector of Bangladesh can become a hostage in the hands of this company. This burden will have to be borne by the people of this country,” he said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 13:38:26', '2023-02-17 13:38:26'),
(5270, 5270, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has reminded everyone that a participatory election is not just the ruling party\'s responsibility.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is the duty of all political parties, including the BNP, to assist in conducting a participatory, inclusive and free election,\" the minister said while exchanging views with the journalists at his Chattogram residence on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If any parties boycott the election or try to prevent it, it is their responsibility to make the election non-participatory or unacceptable,\" the minister added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We want the next government to be elected through a participatory free, fair and transparent election. In the meeting led by the general secretary of Awami League with various ambassadors of the European Union on Thursday, the issue of a free and participatory election got precedence. We have communicated that to the EU ambassadors. And others are being told the same thing. We also want all political parties including BNP to participate in the upcoming elections in the country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question from the reporters regarding the increased visits by foreign delegations a year before the elections, the minister said it is good to have more visitors in the country, they are showing interest in Bangladesh. \"Since Bangladesh is an emerging economy, it is normal. As a result, our trade will be diversified and we will be able to sell more products,\" the minister added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir\'s demand for a caretaker government, Hasan Mahmud said ‘there is no caretaker government system anywhere in the world except in Pakistan. “BNP follows Pakistan, but our electoral process will be similar to that of Australia, India, the United States, and Japan. The election will be held as per the country’s constitution,” the minister said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-17 15:16:12', '2023-02-17 15:16:12'),
(5271, 5271, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 53 people were killed Friday in an ambush in central Syria blamed on the Islamic State group, state media reported, the deadiest attack by the jihadists in more than a year.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Fifty-three citizens who were truffle hunting were killed during an attack by the terrorists of IS to the southwest of the town of Al-Sokhna\" in the desert east of Homs, state television said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The director of Palmyra hospital, Walid Audi, said those killed were 46 civilians and seven soldiers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Audi told pro-government radio station Sham FM that their bodies had \"been brought to the hospital after the ambush\" that targeted dozens.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the attack, which it said was carried out by jihadists on motorcycles who opened fire on the truffle hunters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The jihadist group did not immediately claim the attack on its usual channels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It was the deadliest attack by IS since January last year when they stormed a prison in the Kurdish-controlled northeastern city of Hasakeh in a bid to free fellow jihadists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The resulting fighting inside the city killed 105 people, mostly civilians, as well as 268 jihadists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">- US kills IS leader -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Separately on Friday, the US Central Command said four American military personnel were injured in a blast during a raid that killed a senior IS leader in Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The IS leader, identified as Hamza al-Homsi, was killed, while the US troops and a working dog were being treated at an American medical facility in Iraq, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Many people, including women and children, have been targeted in recent years while truffle hunting in central, northeastern and eastern areas of Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Sixteen people, mostly civilians, were killed on Saturday in a similar attack targeting foragers in the same area, said the Observatory, which relies on a wide network of sources on the ground in Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Dozens of others were kidnapped in the attack, the Observatory said, adding that 25 of them were released on Friday but the fate of the others remains unknown.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In April 2021, the extremist group launched a similar attack, abducting 19 people, mostly civilians, in the eastern countryside of Hama province.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The Observatory said that IS was taking advantage of the annual harvest of desert truffles, which generally runs from February to April, to carry out attacks in remote locations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">After the jihadists lost their last scraps of territory following a military onslaught backed by a US-led coalition in March 2019, IS remnants in Syria mostly retreated to hideouts in the desert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">They have since used such hideouts to ambush Kurdish-led forces and Syrian government troops while continuing to mount attacks in neighbouring Iraq.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Syrian and Russian helicopters continue to launch air strikes targeting IS desert hideouts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The United Nations has said that despite setbacks, the jihadist group has \"maintained its ability to launch attacks at a steady pace\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It estimates the jihadist group maintains between 6,000 and 10,000 fighters inside Iraq and Syria, exploiting the porous border between the two countries and concentrating mainly in rural areas. 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, '2023-02-18 07:21:38', '2023-02-18 07:21:38'),
(5272, 5272, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A week before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s U.N. ambassador claimed that the West is driven by its determination to destroy Russia and declared: “We had no choice other than to defend our country — defend it from you, to defend our identity and our future.”</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Western ambassadors shot back, accusing Russia of using a Security Council meeting it called on lessons learned from the failure to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists that began in 2014 to justify what France’s U.N. Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere called “the unjustifiable” – Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Friday\'s meeting in the council — the only international venue where Russia regularly faces Ukraine and its Western supporters — put a spotlight on the deep chasm between the warring parties as the conflict moves into its second year with no end in sight, tens of thousands of casualties on both sides, and new military offensives expected.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Western nations including France and Germany of “holding back” on implementing the Minsk agreements brokered by the two countries to end the conflict between Ukraine and the separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk in the country’s mostly Russian-speaking industrial east that flared in April 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“You knew very well that the Minsk process for you is just a smoke screen, so as to rearm the Kyiv regime and to prepare it for war against Russia in the name of your geopolitical interest,” Nebenzia said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills accused Russia of failing to implement “a single commitment it made” in the Minsk agreements while the other signatories — France, Germany, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe — “sought to implement them in good faith.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">France’s De Riviere said his country and Germany have worked “tirelessly” since 2015 to promote dialogue between parties. “The difficulties encountered in implementing these agreements can never serve as justification or mitigating circumstances for Russia’s choice to end the dialogue with violence,” he stressed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">De Riviere recalled that exactly a year ago, on Feb. 17, 2022, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin reaffirmed to the council that the Minsk agreements were “the only international legal basis” to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, and that rumors of Russian military intervention were unfounded and stemmed from Western paranoia. Four days later, Russia recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, and on Feb. 24 it invaded Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The one and only lesson to be learned here is that Russia, by attacking Ukraine, has chosen alone, to put an end to dialogue and negotiation,” De Riviere said. “It took the decision alone to shatter the Minsk agreements, whose main objective, let us remember, was the reintegration of some regions of Donetsk and Luhansk under full Ukrainian sovereignty, in exchange for broad decentralization.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Britain’s U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward also cited Vershinin’s statement to the council that allegations of a Russian attack were baseless a week before President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion, and said the United Kingdom had learned some lessons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Russia lied when we warned of its intention to attack Ukraine,” she said. “Russia was planning for war while we called for diplomacy and de-escalation, and Russia continues to choose death and destruction while the world calls for a just peace.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia’s Nebenzia blamed “a criminal policy by the Ukrainian leadership which was goaded by the collective West” for refusing to implement the Minsk agreements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a year of war, he told Western members of the Security Council, “Obviously, we will not be able to live in the future the way we did in the past.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nebenzia accused the West of “deep Russophobia,\" and a “determination to destroy my country, using others if possible.” And he claimed it is not interested “in building a European and Euro-Atlantic security system together with Russia” because “for you such a system can only be aimed against Russia.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have no trust left in you and we are not able of believing any promises you make — not as regards a non-expansion of NATO in the east, or your desire not to interfere in our internal affairs, or your determination to live in peace,” Nebenzia said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“You have shown that it’s impossible to negotiate with you,\" he said. “You’ve shown how treacherous you are by creating on our borders a neo-Nazi, neo-nationalist beehive and then stirring it up.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine’s U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Russia of violating the Minsk agreements, citing as an example the Minsk memorandum of Sept. 19, 2014 ordering all military, militias and mercenaries to leave Ukraine that was never implemented.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The truth is that Putin has proved once and for all to be impossible to negotiate with,” he said. “Russia’s consistent undermining and final killing of the Minsk agreements make that crystal clear.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine urges “healthy forces in Russia, if there are any, to come to their senses and force Putin to implement the demands of the U.N. General Assembly to immediately cease the use of force and to withdraw Russian military forces from Ukraine,” Kyslytsya said. “The dictator should give up and recede into the past.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 07:37:20', '2023-02-18 07:37:20'),
(5273, 5273, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Wafting across the United States and into the attention of an alarmed national and global public, a giant Chinese balloon has changed Americans\' awareness of all the stuff floating in the air and how defense officials watch for it and respond.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. is updating its guidelines for monitoring and reacting to unknown aerial objects. That\'s after the discovery of a suspected Chinese spy balloon transiting the country triggered high-stakes drama, including the U.S. shootdowns of that balloon, and three smaller ones days later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Biden said Thursday that officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones. That could mean ones used for research, weather, recreational or commercial purposes. Officials have been unable to recover any of the remains of those three balloons, and late Friday the U.S. military announced it had ended the search for the objects that were shot down near Deadhorse, Alaska, and over Lake Huron on Feb. 10 and 12.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In all, the episodes opened the eyes of the public to two realities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One: China is operating a military-linked aerial surveillance program that has targeted more than 40 countries, according to the Biden administration. China denies it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two: There’s a whole lot of other junk floating up there, too.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A look at why there are so many balloons up there — launched for purposes of war, weather, science, business or just goofing around; why they\'re getting attention now; and how the U.S. is likely to watch for and respond to slow-moving flying objects going forward.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT ARE ALL THOSE BALLOONS DOING UP THERE?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some are up there for spying or fighting. Humans have hooked bombs to balloons since at least the 1840s, when winds blew some of the balloon-borne bombs launched against Venice back on the Austrian launchers. In the U.S. Civil War, Union and Confederate soldiers floated up over front lines in balloons to assess enemy positions and direct fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And when it comes to peacetime uses, the cheapness of balloons makes them a favorite aerial platform for all kinds of uses, serious and idle. That includes everything down to \"college fraternities with nothing better to do and $10,000,” joked Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Himes\' role on the committee involved him in a congressionally mandated intelligence and military review of the most credible of sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UFOs. That review also drove home to him and other lawmakers ”how much stuff there is floating around, in particular balloons,\" Himes said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the National Weather Service, balloons are the main means of above-ground forecasting. Forecasters launch balloons twice daily from nearly 900 locations around the world, including nearly 100 in the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">High-altitude balloons also help scientists peer out into space from near the edges of the Earth\'s atmosphere. NASA runs a national balloon program office, helping coordinate launches from east Texas and other sites for universities, foreign groups and other research programs. School science classes launch balloons, wildlife watchers launch balloons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commercial interests also send balloons up — such as Google\'s effort to provide internet service via giant balloons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And $12 gets hobby balloonists — who use balloons for ham radio or just for the pleasure of launching and tracking — balloons capable of getting up to 40,000 feet and higher.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That\'s roughly around the altitude that the U.S. military says the three smaller balloons were at when U.S. missiles ended their flights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most pilots probably wouldn\'t even be aware of a collision with such a balloon, said Ron Meadows, who produces balloons — with transmitters the size of a popsicle stick — for middle schools and universities to use for science education.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All it “does is report its location and speed,” Meadows said. “It\'s not a threat to anyone.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among hobby balloonists, there are suspicions that a balloon declared missing by the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Brigade was one of the ones shot down, as the publication Aviation Week Network first reported. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday the administration was not able to confirm those reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And it\'s not just the United States\' Mylar, foil and plastic overhead. Wind patterns known as the Westerlies sweep airborne things ranging from Beijing\'s tailpipe soot and the charred chunks of Siberian forest fires swinging over the Arctic and into the United States. China says its big balloon was a meteorological and research one that got picked up by the Westerlies. The U.S. says the balloon was at least partly maneuverable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHY ARE WE JUST NOW SPOTTING ALL THESE BALLOONS?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Short answer: Because we are just now looking for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Balloons\' rise to global prominence got a lift starting in the past few years. Congress directed the Director of National Intelligence to pull together everything the government has learned about unidentified aerial phenomena. That included creating a Defense Department UAP task force.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, in the first congressional hearing on unidentified airborne objects in a half-century, Scott W. Bray, the deputy director of Naval intelligence, told lawmakers that improved sensors, an increase in drones and other non-military unmanned aerial systems, and yes, “aerial clutter” including random balloons were leading to people noticing more unidentified airborne objects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That awareness kicked into overdrive this month, after the U.S. military and then the U.S. public spotted the Chinese balloon floating down from the High North. While the U.S. says previous Chinese balloons have entered U.S. territory, this was the first one of them to slowly cross the United States in plain view of the public.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That balloon, and what had been growing official awareness of a Chinese military-linked balloon surveillance campaign that had targeted dozens of countries, led U.S. officials to change radar and other sensor settings, screening more closely for slow-moving objects in the air as well as fast ones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">SIDEWINDER MISSILES: A LONG-TERM BALLOON STRATEGY?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Post big Chinese balloon, U.S. defense officials are expected to keep up broader monitoring so that balloons remain on the radar, but fine-tune the response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden\'s order to the Air Force to shoot down the three smaller airborne objects with Sidewinder missiles left him fending off Republican accusations he was too trigger-happy. Biden says all four shootdowns were warranted since the balloons could have posed dangers to civilian aircraft. Hobby balloons with payloads of only a few pounds are not covered by many FAA airspace rules.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden says the U.S. is developing “sharper rules” to track, monitor and potentially shoot down unknown aerial objects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He directed national security adviser Jake Sullivan to lead an interagency team to review the procedures. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 07:47:44', '2023-02-18 07:47:44'),
(5274, 5274, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden will use a speech in Poland on Tuesday to send a message to Russia\'s Vladimir Putin that NATO will continue to support Ukraine\'s war effort for \"as long as it takes,\" a spokesman said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden is leaving Monday for Warsaw on a brief trip to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of pro-Western Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and also members of the Bucharest Nine, a group of NATO members in eastern Europe. In addition, he will speak by phone with the leaders of Britain, France and Italy, the White House said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The talks with Duda will cover \"our bilateral cooperation, as well as our collective efforts to support Ukraine and to bolster NATO\'s deterrence,\" National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wednesday\'s meeting with leaders from the Bucharest Nine -- Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia -- will \"reaffirm the United States\' unwavering support for the security of that alliance.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main public event will be Biden\'s speech, delivered from Warsaw\'s Royal Castle, on \"how the United States has rallied the world to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy,\" Kirby said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"President Biden will make it clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine... for as long as it takes.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You\'ll hear messages in the president\'s speech that will certainly resonate with the American people, certainly will resonate with our allies and partners, without question resonate with the Polish people,\" Kirby said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And I would suspect that you\'ll hear him messaging Mr Putin as well, as well as the Russian people.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kirby said Biden has no plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the trip or to visit Ukraine -- which he has not gone to since the war started, due to the heavy security around US presidents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House will not say what specific aid Biden might announce during his trip, but Kirby said that Ukraine will be reassured about receiving \"continued, tangible support.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has provided far more than any other NATO country to Ukraine, with military, economic, humanitarian and other aid during the war now worth more than $100 billion. That includes a $47 billion package approved by Congress in December and which Kirby said was in the early stages of being disbursed. 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, '2023-02-18 08:48:08', '2023-02-18 08:48:08'),
(5275, 5275, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Railways Minister Advocate Nurul Islam Sujon has said the incumbent government has been working for the welfare of the people of all religious faiths living in the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve been establishing Bangladesh as a non-communal country. Here all people have equal rights. All citizens practice their respective religions freely and peacefully, a right guaranteed by the Constitution of Bangladesh,\" he said these at a discussion on the occasion of the 158th birth anniversary of Ray Saheb Takur Panchanon Barma held on the ground of Paralbari in Debiganj upazila of the district on Friday as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Bashonta Kumar Roy, former President of Bangladesh Kattrio Samittee, Upazila nirbahi officer(UNO) of Debiganj Golam Ferdous, central Jubo League member and minister\'s son Barrister Nahian Navid Koushik, among others, spoke it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;A large number of Hindu communities were present at the programme. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 09:13:27', '2023-02-18 09:13:27'),
(5276, 5276, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The holy Shab-e-Meraj will be observed tonight with religious fervor.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every year, on the night of Rajab 26, Muslims observe Shab-e-Meraj when Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) embarked on a special journey to meet the Almighty Allah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;In the journey, the Prophet travelled on the \"Buraq\" to Heaven where Allah gave him some instructions to take back to the faithful regarding the details of prayers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Muslim devotees will offer special prayers at mosques and homes seeking blessings of Allah for the welfare of the entire nation and the Muslim Ummah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Islamic Foundation is going to hold a meeting, doa and munajat at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 1.30 pm today highlighting the significance of Shab-e-Meraj, said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Islamic Foundation Director General (Additional Secretary) Dr Mohammad Bashirul Alam will preside over the meeting, while chairman of Arabic Department at Dhaka University Dr Md Abdul Quadir will join it as a discussant. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 09:31:03', '2023-02-18 09:31:03'),
(5277, 5277, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Rouf Chowdhury, founder and former Chairman of Bank Asia Limited, died of old-age complications at his Gulshan residence here this noon.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was 85, family sources said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Gulshan Azad Mosque in the city after Asar prayers today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The second namaz-e-janaza of the deceased will be held at his ancestral home in Malkhanagar of Munshiganj after Esha prayers. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 09:35:24', '2023-02-18 09:35:24'),
(5278, 5278, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A devastating earthquake that toppled buildings across parts of Turkey and neighboring Syria has revived a longstanding debate locally and in neighboring Cyprus about a large nuclear power station being built on Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coastline.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plant’s site in Akkuyu, located some 210 miles (338 kilometers) to the west of the epicenter of the Feb. 6 quake, is being designed to endure powerful tremors and did not sustain any damage or experience powerful ground shaking from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the size of the quake — the deadliest in Turkey’s modern history — sharpened existing concerns about the facility being built on the edge of a major fault line.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned company in charge of the project, says the power station is designed to “withstand extreme external influences” from a magnitude 9 earthquake. In nuclear power plant construction, plants are designed to survive shaking that is more extreme than what’s been previously recorded in the area they’re sited.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The possibility of a magnitude 9 earthquake occurring in the vicinity of the Akkuyu reactor “is approximately once every 10,000 years,” Rosatom told The Associated Press via email last week. “That is exactly how the margin of safety concept is being implemented.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An official with Turkey’s Energy Ministry, when contacted by the AP, said there were no immediate plans to reassess the project. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government protocol. Some activists, however, still say the project — the first nuclear power plant in Turkey — poses a threat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nuclear facilities are constructed of heavily reinforced concrete, sized for significant earthquake shaking and far more robust than commercial buildings, said Andrew Whittaker, a professor of civil engineering at the University at Buffalo who is an expert in earthquake engineering and nuclear structures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fact that it’s sited off the western end of the East Anatolian Fault, which was linked to last week’s powerful tremor, suggests that the design would have been checked for significant shaking, Whittaker added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Still, Whittaker said, it would be prudent to reassess seismic hazard calculations in the region for all infrastructure, including the plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There’s no reason to be concerned, but there’s always a reason to be cautious,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That’s little comfort to activists in Turkey and on both sides of ethnically divided Cyprus. They’ve renewed their calls for the project to be scrapped, saying that the devastating earthquake is clear proof of the great risk posed by a nuclear power plant near seismic fault lines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement to the AP, the Cyprus Anti-Nuclear platform, a coalition of over 50 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot environmentalist groups, trade unions and political parties, said it “calls on all political parties, scientific and environmental organizations and the civil society to join efforts and put pressure on the Turkish government to terminate its plans for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cypriot European Parliament member Demetris Papadakis asked the European Commission what immediate actions it intends to take to halt the plant because of the dangers posed by building a nuclear power station in a seismic zone so close to Cyprus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nuclear power plants worldwide are designed to withstand earthquakes and shut down safely in the event of major earth movement — about 20% of nuclear reactors are operating in areas of significant seismic activity, according to the World Nuclear Association.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For example, Japanese nuclear plants, including the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant, are in regions where earthquakes of up to magnitude 8.5 may be expected, the association said. Stricter safety standards were adopted after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, when a tsunami crashed into the Daichi plant, melting three reactors and releasing dangerous levels of radiation. And the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in California was designed to safely withstand earthquakes, tsunamis and flooding that could potentially occur in the region too, according to its operator.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish nuclear regulators provided the license for the plant’s construction in Akkuyu in 1976 following eight years of seismic studies to determine the most suitable location, but the project was slowed down after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986. Construction of the first reactor started in 2018. Large nuclear power plants have traditionally taken a while to build because of the size, scale and complexity of the infrastructure, and delays associated with first-of-a-kind plants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Rosatom, a study by Turkey’s Office for the Prevention and Elimination of Consequences of Emergency Situations indicates that the site in Akkuyu – some 60 miles (95 kilometers) from Cyprus’ northern coastline – is located in the fifth degree earthquake zone, which is considered the safest region in terms of earthquakes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plant design includes an external reinforced concrete wall and internal protective shell made of “prestressed concrete,” with metal cables stretched inside the concrete shell to give additional solidity to the structure, the company said. And the modern reactor design, Russia’s VVER-1200, includes an additional safety feature — a 144 ton steel cone called the “core catcher” that in an emergency, traps and cools any molten radioactive materials, Rosatom added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company emphasized that power units with VVER-1200 reactors comply with the post-Fukushima requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There’s a political dimension to qualms about the plant: Cyprus has accused Turkey of augmenting the Turkish Cypriots’ dependence on it in order to entrench the island’s ethnic division. Turkey has said it would supply the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of the island with electricity through an undersea cable. A pipeline suspended a couple of hundred meters under the Mediterranean’s surface is already supplying the north with water.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plant, whose first of four reactors is scheduled to go online later this year, will have a total capacity of 4,800 megawatts of electricity, providing about 10% of Turkey’s electricity needs. According to government figures, if the power plant started operating today, it could singlehandedly provide enough electricity for a city of about 15 million people, such as Istanbul, Rosatom added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It’s estimated to cost $20 billion. Rosatom has a 99.2% stake in the project, and is contracted to build, maintain, operate and decommission the plant. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 09:40:55', '2023-02-18 09:40:55'),
(5279, 5279, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Jibanananda Festival that celebrates mainly the works of major Bengali poet of 20th Century in Indian sub-continent Jibanananda Das will be held at the Rich Mix Theater in East London for the fourth year on February 19.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The focal point of the festival is to promote the infinite rich tradition of Bengali literature, by presenting the timeless literature of poet Jibanananda, known as \'Ruposhi Banglar Kobi\' (Poet of the beautiful Bengal), on the world stage,\" said poet Ahmed Kaysher, the director of Saudha.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Saudha has been organizing this event for the last two years and the literature circles of Britain have made a huge response to this festival,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Jeebananda Das is an unforgettable name not only in Bengali poetry after Rabindranath, but also in the world of world poetry. Through this event, we want to introduce a completely new poet to the poetry lovers of the past,\" he told BSS.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poet John Farndon, BBC Slam Poetry Champion poet David Lee Morgan, poet and translator Stephen Watts, poet and prose writer Sri Ganguly will talk about the possibility of various constraction-deconstructions of Jibanananda\'s poetry in the 21st century, said a release here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;German, Uzbek and Polish translations of Jibanananda\'s poems will be read by poet Amy Nelson Smith, poet Khasiat Rastamova and poet Aleksandra Smerenchanska respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Oriya and Urdu translations will be read by poet Mona Das and artist Samia Malik respectively.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flamenco dancer Mercedes Avila Caballero will perform on stage as Argentinian poet Gaby Sambucetti will recite the poems in Spanish.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poet Eric Shilander, Poppy Shahnaz, Dr. Zaki Rezwana Anwar, Poet Sarwar E Alam, Councilor Jasmin Chowdhury, Poet Tanzina Noor-e Siddique, Soma Das, Sanjay Das and Prapa Rezwana Anwar will read from Jibanananda\'s poems with flute-player Mayukhjit Chakraborty\'s music composition and performance in the background, the release added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Indian classical dancers Aritri Kundu, Manideepa Sheel, Esha Chakraborty Bhatracharya and Ishita Sinha will also perform on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudha Director Ahmed Kaysher said that the festival is supported by the South Asian Paper Grant and the Radharaman Society. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 09:46:13', '2023-02-18 09:46:13');
