INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11632, 11632, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has invited Irish investment in Bangladesh, particularly in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and IT sectors.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He also thanked Ireland for hosting a few thousand Bangladeshis and requested the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney to ease the visa process to enable more Bangladeshi students and IT professionals to pursue higher studies and work in Ireland.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister thanked the Irish Minister for visiting Bangladesh to further strengthen Bangladesh-Ireland bilateral relations.</div><div><br></div><div>He suggested further enhancement of bilateral trade in goods and services through new initiatives and sought Ireland’s support for EU’s EBA trade preferences to Bangladesh until 2032 and GSP+ benefits beyond 2032.</div><div><br></div><div>Minister Simon Coveney met with the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 18.</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish Minister congratulated the Foreign Minister on his new appointment.</div><div><br></div><div>Highly praising Bangladesh’s sustained high economic growth, he suggested exchange of visits of delegations with special focus on bilateral trade and collaboration in the areas of technology, pharmaceuticals and energy.</div><div><br></div><div>He also assured Irish support in favour of Bangladesh’s appeal for extension of EBA facilities until 2032 and GSP+ facilities beyond 2032.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the migrant-friendly policy of the Irish government, the Irish Minister welcomed more Bangladeshi students and professionals to Ireland.</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish Minister hoped for an early solution of the Rohingya crisis and added that an additional Euro 1.5 million humanitarian assistance would be provided to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The two ministers shared their views on the war in Gaza and expressed deep concern over the killing of people, particularly women and children.</div><div><br></div><div>They agreed that the two-state solution can bring lasting peace in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the Irish Minister officially opened Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, which is seen as an “important milestone” in the relations between Bangladesh and Ireland.</div><div><br></div><div>In its desire to further expand the bilateral relations with Dhaka, Ireland has recently appointed Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan as its Honorary Consul in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, and Masud Jamil Khan, among others, were present during the opening ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish Minister arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.</div><div><br></div><div>On the occasion of St Patrick’s Day, the National Day of Ireland and official opening of the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Bangladesh, Masud Jamil Khan and Kate Khan hosted an Iftar-dinner at a Dhaka hotel on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish Minister, Irish Ambassador to India, former Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, business leaders and journalists were present at the event. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 07:29:57', '2024-03-19 07:29:57'),
(11633, 11633, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, as part of her visit to Bangladesh as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP, is now staying in Koyra upazila of Khulna to see firsthand the impacts of climate change and lifestyle of people living in vulnerable coastal areas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A helicopter of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) carrying her landed at a helipad built in Gilabari area under Maheshripur union of the upazila around 8 am today.</div><div><br></div><div>Khulna Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Yasir Arefin said the Swedish Crown Princess is scheduled to visit six areas including Maheshripur, Maharajpur union parishads and Madinabad digital office.</div><div><br></div><div>During her brief visit, Princess Victoria will visit two vulnerable spots impacted by climate change and hear from people living in the areas, he said, adding that she will inaugurate Madinabad SmartPost Centre.</div><div><br></div><div>Koyra police station Officer-in-Charge Md Mizanur Rahman said around 16,000 police personnel are on duty along with members from Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, Navy, BAF, Coast Guard and intelligence to ensure security of the state guest. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 07:33:20', '2024-03-19 07:33:20'),
(11634, 11634, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Former champions Dhaka Abahani Limited registered their 5th consecutive wins in the 11-team Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League crushing Victoria Sporting Club by 16-0 goals at the Moulana Bhashani National Stadium here on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>With the day\' s feat, Dhaka Abahani Limited comfortably dominated the league table with an all-win record securing full 15 points from straight five matches.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, they outplayed Dilkusha SC 10-1 goals, Usha KC by 2-1 goals, Azad SC by 10-1 goals and Sadharan Bima KS by 3-0 goals</div><div><br></div><div>In the day\'s match, Ashraful Islam, Pushkar Kisha Mimo and Obaidul Hossain Joy made hattricks for the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Hujaifa Hossain scored two, Farhad Ahmed Shitul and Rakibul Hasan Rocky scored one each for the Abahani Ltd.</div><div><br></div><div>In the match, Abahani Ltd scored eight field goals, seven goals from penalty corners and one from penalty stroke.</div><div><br></div><div>Abahani dominated the first quarter by 5-0, took 9-0 lead in the 2nd quarter, dominated by 13-0 in the 3rd quarter and finished the match by 16-0 goals in the 4th and last quarters.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the day\'s first match, Ajax SC beat Azad SC by 4-1 goals at the same venue Monday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Indian player Lesham struck two, another Indian Deepik and Subrota scored one goal each for the winners while Khorshed scored the lone goal for the losers. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 09:11:11', '2024-03-19 09:11:11'),
(11635, 11635, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Former President Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats “hate Israel\" and hate “their religion,” igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Trump, in an interview, had been asked about Democrats\' growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the war in Gaza as the civilian death toll continues to mount.</div><div><br></div><div>“I actually think they hate Israel,” Trump responded to his former aide, Sebastian Gorka. “I think they hate Israel. And the Democrat party hates Israel.”</div><div><br></div><div>Trump, who last week became the Republican Party\'s presumptive nominee, went on to charge: “Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.”</div><div><br></div><div>The comments sparked immediate backlash from the White House, President Joe Biden\'s campaign and Jewish leaders. The vast majority of Jewish Americans identify as Democrats, but Trump has often accused them of disloyalty, perpetuating what critics say is an antisemitic trope.</div><div><br></div><div>At the White House, spokesperson Andrew Bates cast the comments as “vile and unhinged Antisemitic rhetoric\" without mentioning Trump by name.</div><div><br></div><div>“As Antisemitic crimes and acts of hate have increased across the world — among them the deadliest attack committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust — leaders have an obligation to call hate what it is and bring Americans together against it,” he said. “There is no justification for spreading toxic, false stereotypes that threaten fellow citizens. None.”</div><div><br></div><div>Biden’s campaign said, “The only person who should be ashamed here is Donald Trump.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Trump is going to lose again this November because Americans are sick of his hateful resentment, personal attacks, and extreme agenda,\" said spokesman James Singer.</div><div><br></div><div>Jonathan Greenblatt, who heads the Anti-Defamation League, said, “Accusing Jews of hating their religion because they might vote for a particular party is defamatory &amp; patently false.\"</div><div><br></div><div>“Serious leaders who care about the historic US-Israel alliance should focus on strengthening, rather than unraveling, bipartisan support for the State of Israel,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</div><div><br></div><div>Trump\'s comments come as Biden has been facing mounting pressure from the progressive wing of his party over his administration’s support for Israel in its retaliatory offensive in Gaza. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory.</div><div><br></div><div>While Biden continues to back Israel’s right to defend itself, he has increasingly criticized Netanyahu. After his State of the Union speech, he said he needed to have a “come to Jesus” conversation with the</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli leader. He has also accused Netanyahu of “hurting Israel more than helping Israel,\" saying, “he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.”</div><div><br></div><div>Trump took particular issue with recent comments from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the country\'s highest-ranking Jewish official. In a speech last week, Schumer sharply criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza, warning that the civilian toll was damaging Israel’s standing around the world. He also called for Israel to hold new elections.</div><div><br></div><div>While the White House formally distanced itself from Schumer’s comments, the Democratic leader and key ally was voicing an opinion increasingly held across Biden’s administration.</div><div><br></div><div>Schumer — whom Trump accused of being “very anti-Israel now” — responded by accusing Trump of “making highly partisan and hateful rants.”</div><div><br></div><div>“To make Israel a partisan issue only hurts Israel and the US-Israeli relationship,” he wrote on X.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pew Research Center reported in 2021 that Jews are “among the most consistently liberal and Democratic groups in the U.S.,” with 7 in 10 Jewish adults identifying with or leaning toward the Democratic Party. In 2020, it found that nearly three-quarters of American Jews disapproved of Trump’s performance as president, with just 27% rating him positively.</div><div><br></div><div>Americans have also increasingly soured on Israel’s military operation in Gaza, according to surveys from The Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. In January, 50% of U.S. adults said the military response from Israel in the Gaza Strip had gone too far, up from 40% in November.</div><div><br></div><div>That number was higher among Democrats, 6 in 10 of whom said the same thing in both surveys. - YONHAP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 09:44:04', '2024-03-19 09:44:04'),
(11636, 11636, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced nine people including Hallmark Group Managing Director (MD) Md Tanvir Mahmud and its Chairman and Tanvir’s wife Jesmin Islam to life imprisonment in a case filed over the misappropriation of over Tk 525.62 crore from the state-owned Sonali Bank.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Judge Md Abul Kashem of Dhaka Special Judge Court-1 also sentenced eight more accused including a senior officer of Sonali Bank to 10 years’ jail in the same case.</div><div><br></div><div>Others receiving life sentence include Hallmark Group General Manager Tushar Ahmed, T and Brothers Director Taslim Hasan, Max Spinning Mills owner Mir Zakaria, Paragon Group Managing Director Saiful Islam Raja, Nakshi Knit Managing Director Md. Abdul Malek, Abul Matin and Taslim Hasan.</div><div><br></div><div>Those sentenced to 10 years in prison are: Savar’s Tetuljhora Union Parishad Chairman Md Jamal Uddin Sarkar; the then Sonali Bank’s Dhanmondi Branch Senior Executive Officer Meherunnesa Merry; former GMs of the bank’s head office Noni Gopal Nath, Mir Mahidul Rahman, MD Humayun Kabir; Deputy GM Moinul Haque; DGM Safiz Uddin; and AGM Md Kamrul Hossain Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the court set February 28 for delivering the judgment of the case, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted an appeal to the court to produce two more witnesses.</div><div><br></div><div>Accepting the appeal, the court later took testimony from the witnesses and set March 19 for final delivery of the judgment.</div><div><br></div><div>ACC filed the case accusing Hallmark MD Tanvir and others bringing the allegations of embezzlement of Tk 525 crore, 62 lakh and 92,800 with Ramna Police Station on October 4, 2012.</div><div><br></div><div>After investigating, ACC submitted chargesheet accusing 26 people on October 7, 2013.</div><div><br></div><div>A Dhaka court framed charges against the accused on February 17 and 27 in 2016.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 11 cases were lodged in the Hallmark scam while the judgment of one of the cases was delivered on Tuesday. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 09:46:49', '2024-03-19 09:46:49'),
(11637, 11637, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Famine is \"imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger, according to a report Monday that warned escalation of the war could push half of Gaza\'s total population to the brink of starvation.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The report, by the international community’s authority on determining the severity of hunger crises, came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings. Aid groups complain that deliveries by air and sea by the U.S. and other countries are too slow and too small.</div><div><br></div><div>The European Union’s top diplomat said the impending famine was “entirely manmade” as “starvation is used as a weapon of war.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and fired on them from inside the Shifa Hospital compound.</div><div><br></div><div>Clashes continued all day in and around the hospital, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli military said troops killed 20 people it identified as Hamas militants, and one of its own soldiers was killed, though the identification of the dead as militants could not be confirmed. Among those killed was a senior commander in Gaza’s Hamas-led police forces who Israel said was hiding in the hospital. Gaza officials said the commander was coordinating protection of aid convoys.</div><div><br></div><div>The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.</div><div><br></div><div>RAFAH OFFENSIVE COULD PUSH HALF OF GAZA TO STARVATION</div><div><br></div><div>The latest findings on hunger in Gaza came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an initiative first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia that now includes more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies to determine the severity of food insecurity.</div><div><br></div><div>It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people — nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million — are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger. That means they face extreme lack of food and critical levels of acute malnutrition. The figure includes around 210,000 people in the north.</div><div><br></div><div>Outright famine is projected to occur in the north anytime between now and May, it said. An area is considered to be in famine when 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two adults or four children per every 10,000 people die daily.</div><div><br></div><div>The report said the first condition has been fulfilled, and it is “highly likely” the second has as well. The death rate is expected to accelerate and reach famine levels soon, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>The report warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do, the fighting could drive over 1 million people — half of Gaza’s population — into catastrophic hunger and potentially cause famine in the south.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur,” said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Program country director for the Palestinian territories.</div><div><br></div><div>Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, called for “all roads” to be opened for aid, including into northern and central Gaza. The WFP report said aid from airdrops is “negligible” compared to what is brought on trucks.</div><div><br></div><div>Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion, and entire neighborhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicenter of Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 27 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, according to the Health Ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>A spokesman for the Israeli military body that deals with Palestinian issues, Shimon Freeman, said Israel \"places no limit on the amount of aid that can enter the Gaza Strip” and encourages countries to send aid. Israel has accused U.N. bodies of failing to distribute aid in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.</div><div><br></div><div>Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had “ample warning” that if it continued to destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.</div><div><br></div><div>“In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.</div><div><br></div><div>“Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support,” he said. “Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.”</div><div><br></div><div>‘WE’RE TRAPPED INSIDE’</div><div><br></div><div>The raid on Shifa Hospital began before dawn, when Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery surrounded the complex and troops stormed into a number of buildings.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’re trapped inside,” said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the facility for months. “They fire at anything moving.”</div><div><br></div><div>In the evening, he said tanks were still in the hospital yard, and he could see three bodies outside the gates. “We can’t retrieve the dead,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Gaza’s Health Ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety. The war has displaced around 80% of Gaza’s population.</div><div><br></div><div>Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said senior Hamas militants had regrouped in the hospital and were directing attacks from inside.</div><div><br></div><div>Among those killed in the raid was Faiq Mabhouh, a senior officer in the Gaza police, which is under Gaza’s Hamas-led government but distinct from the militant group’s armed fighting wing. The Israeli military said he was armed and hiding in Shifa, and that weapons were found in an adjacent room.</div><div><br></div><div>The Gaza government said Mabhouh was in charge of protecting aid distribution in the north and coordinating between aid groups and local tribes. Aid groups say Israeli strikes on police are one reason public order has collapsed, leading to desperate Palestinians overwhelming aid trucks on the road.</div><div><br></div><div>Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that safe passage was available for civilians who wanted to leave.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war.</div><div><br></div><div>The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive. The ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but it says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 10:29:58', '2024-03-19 10:29:58'),
(11638, 11638, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">PUST Correspondent: Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) branch new committee has been formed for the next one year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last day (18 March) the organization announced 27 members committees for the 2024-25 session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al Emran, the student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department selected as Charir, Mededi Hasan and Taib Hasan both are students of the same department (EEE) has been selected as Activity Secretary and Technical Secretary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The another members of committee’s are Md.Naimul Islam(Vice-Chair), Sarkar(Vice-Chair), Prapti Das(Asst. Secretary),Taiful Islam khan Rongon(Asst. Secretary), Kawsar Ahmed Refat(Treasurer), Md.Shoeb Hosen Shishir(Asst. Treasurer), Md. Naimur Rahman(Webmaster), Md. Montasir Rafi(Asst. Webmaster), Md. Safiul Islam(Event Management Coordinator), Mehedi Hasan Tuhin(Asst. Event Management Coordinator), Md. Naimur Rahman Tusher(Asst. Event Management Coordinator ), Dipon Roy(Logistic Coordinator), Wajed Ali(Asst. Logistic Coordinator), Md.Kornel Ahmed Rahul(Graphics Coordinator), Mahbuba Sultana Promi(Asst. Graphics Coordinator), Mahmudul Hasan Bappy(Asst. Graphics Coordinator), Jabin Tasnin Upoma(Content Writer Coordinator), Anamika Rani(Asst. Content Writer Coordinator), Mehreen Afroz Samia(Public Relation Coordinator), Md. Tamim(Asst. Public Relation Coordinator), Md Merazul Islam(Research and Development Coordinator), Jatibasu Madak (Photography Coordinator), Shaikh Tafriha Anika(Student Activity Coordinator), Nasir Uddin Badhon(Membership Development Coordinator)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ariful Islam the assistant professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department selected as counselor, Dr. Robiul Islam (Assistant Professor), T.H.M Sumon Rashid (Associate Professor) of the same department and Electrical, Electronics and Communication Engineering (EECE) department assistant professor Liton Chandra Paul has been elected as advisor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new chair Al Emran said, ‘I am giving the thanks to all the members and well wisher of IEEE PUST branch for my new role in organisation. I will try to fill up this year\'s goals of IEEE with all committee members.\'</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'PUST Correspondent', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 11:29:58', '2024-03-19 11:29:58'),
(11639, 11639, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court on Tuesday ordered Khulna-4 MP and vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Abdus Salam Murshedy to hand over his residence in Gulshan to the Housing and Public Works Ministry.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the order and asked Murshedy to complete the process within three months after receiving the copy of the verdict.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also said that the residence in Gulshan where Salam Murshedy is living is an abandoned property of the government.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior Advocate Mohammad Syed Ahmed stood for Murshedy, Senior Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while deputy attorney general Saifuddin Khaled represented the state and Advocate Anik R Haque stood for the petitioner.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocate Syed said they will file an appeal petition challenging the verdict.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 30, 2022, Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an inquiry into the allegations of corruption against the BFF official.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the writ petition, the house located in Gulshan-2 was listed as the abandoned house under the gazette in 1986. But Murshedy is living there after occupying it.</div><div><br></div><div>Three letters of the Housing and Public Works Ministry to the chairman of Rajuk issued on April 13, 2015, January 20, 2016 and July 4, 2022 were attached to the writ petition.</div><div><br></div><div>The Housing and Public Works Ministry sought explanation from Rajuk Chairman over the occupation of the house by Murshedy .</div><div><br></div><div>On November 1, 2022, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inaction of the authorities concerned in taking legal steps against the AL lawmaker for occupying the house illegally, should not be declared beyond legal authority.</div><div><br></div><div>It also asked the authorities concerned to submit all documents regarding the house to the court.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 8 this year, the ACC in its investigation found the allegations of forgery and fraud over the house true and on the basis of information of witnesses and documents, the ACC filed a case against five people including Murshedy. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 11:32:15', '2024-03-19 11:32:15'),
(11640, 11640, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a decisive move against gang violence, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have apprehended 35 operatives including two masterminds behind several notorious teen gangs, across key areas of Dhaka. From March 11 to 18, focused operations spanned Mohammadpur, Adabar, Nakhalpara, Tejgaon, and surrounding locales, marking a significant stride in curbing urban crime.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The arrest announcement came today via a statement from RAB-2’s Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP-media), Shihab Karim. Among those detained were Md. Akash, Md. Farid, and Md. Imam Hossain, alongside figures like Md. Arif alias Rasel Mia and Md. Mosharraf, pinpointing a wide net cast by law enforcement to dismantle these criminal networks.</div><div><br></div><div>This crackdown follows reports of rampant robbery, mugging, and extortion, leading to a targeted response from several RAB teams in areas under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) jurisdiction. Notably, operations led to the capture of leaders from the FDC Munna and King Jamal Group, including Md Ismail alias “FDC Munna” and Md Jamal Hossain, as well as heads of the King Mosharraf and Apna Bhai Groups.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities also seized locally-made weapons used in these gangs’ criminal endeavours. The arrests reveal a disturbing trend of violence, snatchings, and extortion, with teen gangs frequently clashing over territory and influence. Preliminary interrogations have unearthed admissions of past crimes and plans for future violence, indicating a deep-rooted issue within Dhaka’s underbelly.</div><div><br></div><div>The arrestees engaged in criminal activities under the guise of everyday professions, from transport workers to vegetable vendors, making their operations not only diverse but challenging to dismantle, said the RAB statement, highlighting the deceptive methods employed by these groups to evade law enforcement.</div><div><br></div><div>Following their arrest, the teen gang members have been transferred to various police stations across the DMP area for further legal proceedings, signifying the beginning of a lengthy process to bring these individuals to justice. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 11:43:42', '2024-03-19 11:43:42'),
(11641, 11641, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The average daily temperature of the ocean surface around the world broke the 2023 record in March, reaching 21.2C (70.16F), \"the highest temperature ever recorded.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to data from the Climate Reanalyzer at the University of Maine in the northeastern US and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), global warming has led to an increase in ocean surface temperatures.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the data, while the highest ocean temperature in 2023 was measured in August at 21.1C (69.98F), the ocean surface temperature record was broken in March this year with 21.2C (70.16F).</div><div><br></div><div>NOAA marine scientist Gregory C. Johnson told CNN that the average global ocean temperature measured in 2023 was 0.25C (32.45F) higher than in 2022, equivalent to 20 years of warming in one year.</div><div><br></div><div>Johnson said that as greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere increases, they expect these record temperatures to continue. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 11:45:53', '2024-03-19 11:45:53'),
(11642, 11642, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Oil prices retreated on Tuesday from the highest levels seen in the past four months with investor profit-taking, strong US dollar, and market players\' cautious stance ahead of the US Federal Reserve\'s (Fed) decision on interest rates.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>International benchmark Brent crude traded at $86.85 per barrel at 10.30 a.m. local time (0730 GMT), a 0.04% decrease from the closing price of $86.89 per barrel in the previous trading session.</div><div><br></div><div>The American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $82.12 per barrel at the same time, a 0.05% fall from the previous session that closed at $82.16 per barrel.</div><div><br></div><div>Investor profit-taking in early trade, which followed record highs since November 2023 seen in the previous session as a result of supply constraints and geopolitical tensions, was the driving force behind the price slumps.</div><div><br></div><div>With support from the latest data, the US dollar index increased by 0.22% to 103.46 on Tuesday, aiding the fall in oil prices.</div><div><br></div><div>The strong US dollar is expected to lower demand by making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, uncertainty over the US Fed\'s upcoming monetary decision continues to weigh on prices.</div><div><br></div><div>Experts forecast that the bank will leave the policy rate unchanged and not start rate cuts in May as previously expected.</div><div><br></div><div>This will keep oil prices suppressed for now as high interest rates boost the value of the US dollar, a move that is set to deter oil trade by making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.</div><div><br></div><div>However, rising hostilities in the Red Sea, one of the world\'s busiest maritime routes for oil and fuel shipments, curtailed price declines. The regional war between US and UK forces fighting the Houthi organization is raising supply concerns in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Yemen\'s Houthi group has been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies that are transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently announced the creation of a multinational mission, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to counter the Houthi attacks. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 11:47:32', '2024-03-19 11:47:32'),
(11643, 11643, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The incoming Palestinian prime minister said on Tuesday that he will appoint a technocratic government and establish an independent trust fund to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In a mission statement acquired by The Associated Press, Mohammad Mustafa laid out wide-ranging plans for the kind of revitalized Palestinian Authority called for by the United States as part of its postwar vision for resolving the conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>But the PA has no power in Gaza, from which Hamas drove its forces in 2007, and only limited authority in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any return of the PA to Gaza and his government is staunchly opposed to Palestinian statehood.</div><div><br></div><div>Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas designated Mustafa as prime minister last week. The U.S.-educated economist and longtime adviser to Abbas is an independent with no political base.</div><div><br></div><div>In the mission statement, Mustafa said he would appoint a “non-partisan, technocratic government that can gain both the trust of our people and the support of the international community.” He promised wide-ranging reforms of PA institutions and a “zero tolerance” policy toward corruption.</div><div><br></div><div>He said he would seek to reunify the territories and create an “independent, competent and transparent agency for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction and an internationally managed trust fund to raise, manage and disburse the required funds.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The vision statement made no mention of Hamas, which won a landslide victory the last time Palestinians held national elections, in 2006, and which polls indicate still has significant support.</div><div><br></div><div>The 88-year-old Abbas, who is in overall control of the PA, has remained in power since his own mandate expired in 2009 and has refused to hold elections, citing Israeli restrictions. Polls consistently find that a large majority of Palestinians want him to resign.</div><div><br></div><div>Mustafa said the PA aims to hold presidential and parliamentary elections, but he did not give a timetable and said it would depend on “realities on the ground” in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians want for their future state.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2021, Abbas blamed Israeli restrictions in annexed east Jerusalem for his decision to indefinitely delay elections in which his secular Fatah party was expected to suffer major losses. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 13:31:00', '2024-03-19 13:31:00'),
(11644, 11644, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As experts warn that Gaza is on the verge of catastrophic famine, the UN\'s human rights chief said Tuesday that such a \"human-made catastrophe\" could still be prevented.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"The projected imminent famine in Gaza can and must be prevented. The alarm bells sounded over the past months by the UN, including my office, have not been heeded,\" human rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence read the remarks of Volker Turk at a UN press briefing in Geneva.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This catastrophe is human-made and was entirely preventable,\" Turk said.</div><div><br></div><div>The situation of hunger, starvation, and famine is \"a result of Israel\'s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure,\" he said, underlining that law and order were breaking down as desperation mounts.</div><div><br></div><div>He urged Israel to ensure that the population could access this aid in \"a safe and dignified manner.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"The clock is ticking,\" he said. \"Everyone, especially those with influence, must insist that Israel acts to facilitate the unimpeded entry and distribution of needed humanitarian assistance and commercial goods to end starvation and avert all risk of famine.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The rights chief reiterated his call for a full restoration of essential services and an immediate cease-fire.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a special brief by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) released on Monday, famine is \"imminent\" in Northern Gaza and Gaza City, projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel is waging a retaliatory offensive on Gaza since a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The offensive has killed 31,819 victims and injured 73,934 others amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Palestinian enclave, leaving its population, particularly residents of the enclave\'s northern areas, on the verge of starvation.</div><div><br></div><div>About 85% of Gazans have been displaced by the Israeli onslaught amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave\'s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 14:03:25', '2024-03-19 14:03:25'),
(11645, 11645, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The technology rivalry between the US and China resurfaced after the former attempted to ban the social media platform TikTok, owned by the Chinese firm ByteDance, on national security grounds.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The US sees the platform as a threat due to security concerns and the company’s alleged ties to the Chinese government.</div><div><br></div><div>US President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill if Congress decided to block access to TikTok, and the House of Representatives passed it, paving the way for a nationwide ban on TikTok because it “poses a national security problem.”</div><div><br></div><div>In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wanbin accused the US of exploiting the national security issue to use state power to suppress TikTok, despite the lack of evidence that its national security was threatened.</div><div><br></div><div>The TikTok case has shown once again that the US stresses rules and order that benefit only Washington, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a video statement that the company will do everything possible to protect the app, claiming that banning it would jeopardize the jobs of 300,000 Americans.</div><div><br></div><div>- ‘US sees TikTok as cybersecurity issue, means to interfere in US politics’</div><div><br></div><div>Kadir Temiz, a lecturer at Türkiye’s National Intelligence Academy, told Anadolu that the attempt to ban TikTok would turn the US-China trade rivalry into a more complex and confrontational process involving political and security issues.</div><div><br></div><div>“The US government sees TikTok as a cybersecurity issue, and a means of interfering in US politics, especially in data security, citing the platform’s ties to the Chinese government, and consequently, the Chinese Communist Party,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The ban is meant to reinforce the public perception that the seemingly innocent economic activities of Chinese brands threaten US security,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Temiz noted that TikTok differs from other companies as it is a highly influential platform, both economically and politically, with approximately 170 million US users.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Preventive measures could have been taken to address TikTok’s data and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. However, TikTok has become the main target, as it gaining strength day by day against its existing American competitors and rising to an effective position in the market,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>-⁠ International trade order may be pushed towards protectionist structure</div><div><br></div><div>Temiz emphasized that the TikTok ban may push the current global trade order toward a more protectionist structure.</div><div><br></div><div>“The ban holds the potential to escalate the ongoing competition in tech, especially in data science, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and chips, with reciprocal sanctions and measures,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“While some see the decision to ban TikTok as a way to influence American public opinion and capitalize on anti-Chinese sentiment in the run-up to the upcoming elections, it could force other countries to take similar decisions,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Temiz said China may take steps against US firms as a possible response.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Currently, social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are banned in China. China cannot respond in a manner comparable to the TikTok ban.</div><div><br></div><div>\"China will, however, argue that technological competition and the US\' unilateral protectionist decisions undermine the international free trade and markets,\" he said. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 14:34:32', '2024-03-19 14:34:32');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11646, 11646, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The UN Security Council on Monday condemned “in the strongest terms” Houthi strikes against international maritime traffic in the Red Sea and demanded that all such attacks “cease immediately.”</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November and say their assaults will continue until Israel ends its war on Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attacks highlighted by the council included one on March 6 on the Barbados-flagged merchant carrier True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden, which left two Filipino nationals and a Vietnamese citizen dead and several crew members injured. It was the first fatal strike against shipping by the Houthis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another was an anti-ballistic missile attack on Feb. 18 that targeted the Belize-flagged, UK-owned cargo ship Rubymar and caused it to sink. The vessel was carrying 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer, raising fears of environmental damage to the Red Sea, including its coral reefs and marine life.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Council members reiterated the importance of the “full implementation of Resolution 2216” and subsequent resolutions that call for an end to the violence in Yemen and to all unilateral actions that threaten the political process in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They emphasized the need for “practical cooperation, including with the government of Yemen, to prevent the Houthis from acquiring the arms and related materiel necessary to carry out further attacks,” and reiterated that all member states must adhere to “their obligations in regards to the targeted arms embargo.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The council also demanded the immediate release of the Japanese-operated cargo ship Galaxy Leader and the 25 members of its crew, who have been unlawfully detained by the Houthis for more than 100 days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Members emphasized the importance of Red Sea maritime routes to humanitarian operations in Yemen and beyond, and to the local fishing industry and the Yemeni people whose livelihoods it supports. They reaffirmed that “the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels of all states transiting the Red Sea and Baab Al-Mandab, in accordance with international law, must be respected.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With that in mind, council members warned of the adverse effects of a “March 4 Houthi decision purporting to require ships obtain a permit from their ‘Maritime Affairs Authority’ before entering Yemeni waters, on the freedom of commercial navigation and humanitarian operations, including into Yemen.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week, UN officials expressed concern that parties involved in the conflict in Yemen might engage in “risky military adventurism” that could push the country into a new cycle of war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Although we have tried to shield the peace process from regional developments since the war in Gaza, the reality is (that) what happens regionally impacts Yemen, and what happens in Yemen can impact the region,” Hans Grundberg, the UN’s special envoy for Yemen said during a meeting of the Security Council to discuss the latest developments in the country and the Red Sea. “The current trajectory gives cause for serious concern.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Council members stressed the importance of efforts to enhance regional and international cooperation to counter threats to peace and security in the region, and called for a deescalation of hostilities in the Red Sea to help preserve the peace process in Yemen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They commended the internationally recognized government of Yemen on its efforts “to preserve the maritime environment,” and called on all UN member states, organizations and agencies to support that work.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The council also emphasized the need to “prevent further regional spillover of the conflict, and its impact on the security and the stability of the region and beyond,” and reiterated “the necessity to address the root causes contributing to regional tensions and to the disruption of maritime security in order to ensure a prompt, efficient and effective response.” - Arab News</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 14:57:36', '2024-03-19 14:57:36'),
(11647, 11647, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday voiced deep concern over the move to amend the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules 1979 by relaxing the provision for mandatory submission of wealth statements.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>As a result of this initiative, some 15 lakh government employees will be exempted from accountability as well as corruption will be encouraged, said a TIB press release.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) urged the government to cancel the initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the annulment of provision of wealth statement submission will create a situation where the dishonest government officials would become more corrupt.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The proposed amendment of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules is exactly opposite to the government\'s electoral pledge and the government’s top leadership’s declaration of zero tolerance policy against corruption,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there was a provision to submit the assets statement every year, but later it was relaxed and made the provision for submitting wealth statements after every five years due to the reluctance of the government employees.</div><div><br></div><div>Now the removal of the obligation means in a sense to massively promote the government employees to become corrupt, said the TIB Executive Director, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“If there is no provision to submit the wealth statement, the tendency among the government employees would go up to acquire illegal wealth through adopting corruption fearlessly,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, the suffering of people to avail the services in government offices will increase, illegal money transactions will enhance manifold and overall the government’s dream of ensuring a well-governed system will end in failure, said Dr Iftekharuzzaman.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 14:59:08', '2024-03-19 14:59:08'),
(11648, 11648, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Residents of different areas in the city have been experiencing acute water and gas crises.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the beginning of holy Ramadan, their problems have been aggravated further.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The areas include Mohammadpur, Adabar, Mansurabad, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Malibagh, Gulbagh,&nbsp; Mugda, Manda and Maniknagar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of these, the residents of Mohammadpur, Adabar, Mansurabad, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Malibagh, and Gulbagh are experiencing water crisis while the residents of Mugda, Manda and Maniknagar are facing gas crisis.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The affected city dwellers said the water crisis in their areas is so acute that they get water from Dhaka WASA supply lines after every three days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But when water comes, it comes along with sand\", said Rumana Rahman, a resident of the Mohammadpur area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She informed them that they have lodged complaints with Dhaka WASA authority several times. But still the problem is persisting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Echoing the same, Maniruzzaman of Shewrapara said that they have to collect drinking water from alternative sources to meet the emergency needs as water supply from WASA lines is not available.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Sometimes, we get water from WASA lines at midnight but at a very low pressure\", he told UNB.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Contacted Dhaka (Water Supply and Sewerage Authority) WASA deputy managing director (O&amp;M) Engineer A. K. M. Shahid Uddin admitted the problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he claimed the problems have been resolved after receiving complaints from the consumers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Some of the pumps went out of order in those areas. We repaired some of those and replaced some others. Now, there is no problem of waters there\", he told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahid also said sometimes some consumers lodge verbal complaints to the media. But when we investigate, we don\'t find the authenticity of the complaints.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also noted that sometimes, in-house pumps get out of order, but consumers complain against the WASA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka WASA officials, however, claimed that there is no gap between demand and supply of water in Dhaka city. Rather, production capacity is more than the demand for water, they said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Dhaka WASA data shows that currently water demand in Dhaka city is 260 crore liters per day while WASA\'s production capacity is 290 crore liters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But lack of a proper system to rationally supply the water sometimes creates problems when a deep water pump in any area gets out of order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the existing system, it becomes difficult to recover the shortage of that area, he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every year in summer water shortage occurs in different areas of Dhaka. The main reason for this is the dependence on underground sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2010, 80 percent of the water produced by Dhaka Wasa was from underground sources, which are being drawn through deep tube wells and 20 percent was surface water.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Dhaka WASA planned to increase surface water production to at least 70 percent by 2021. However, the target was not achieved. Still 70 percent of WASA\'s daily water production comes from underground sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the gas crisis, Al Amin, a resident of the Manda area informed that most of the times of a day, the area remains without gas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We receive natural gas in the Titas pipeline only at midnight and it remains for 3 hours from 1 am to 4 am\" he told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Titas gas officials admitted that the gas crisis is part of the overall shortfall in the national grid, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Titas officials said the country\'s gas demand is about 4000 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) while the state-owned Petrobangla can hardly supply 2660 MMCFD leaving about 1400-1500 MMCFD as.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-19 15:20:23', '2024-03-19 15:20:23'),
(11649, 11649, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The law ministry has given its opinion in favour of extending Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence suspension by another six months on the existing two conditions, said Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The opinion of the Law Ministry is being sent to the Home Ministry, he told reporters in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>The government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order by suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with conditions that she would stay at her Gulshan house and would not leave the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then, her release term has been extended every six months following the family\'s plea.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today, we gave opinion in favour of extending Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence suspension by another six months on the existing two conditions. A file is being sent to the Home Ministry,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Drawing attention on the petitions of Khaleda’s family about permanent release and treatment abroad, the minister said “I have told you (media) earlier that the petition which was sent under section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure(CrPC) has been disposed of and there is no scope to take steps in this regard except extending jail term suspension.”</div><div><br></div><div>On March 6, a petition was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking another extension of the suspension of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia\'s jail term and permission to take her abroad for better treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>The Security Services Division of the Home Ministry will issue a gazette notification in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>The conditional suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence will come into effect from March 25.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 08:16:07', '2024-03-20 08:16:07'),
(11650, 11650, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five people were dead when a bus rammed into a microbus on Faridpur-Barishal highway at Chagolchira in Maksudpur upazila of Gopalganj district on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>The accident occurred around 10:45 am when the Dhaka-bound bus hit the microbus, leaving five people dead on the spot and several others injured, said officer-in-charge of Maksudpur Police Station, Asraful Alam.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses claimed that 15-20 people were injured in the accident. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 08:42:24', '2024-03-20 08:42:24'),
(11651, 11651, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The exit ramp of Dhaka Elevated Expressway\'s Karwan Bazar section, in front of FDC, opened to traffic on Wednesday (March 20, 2024).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader formally opened the ramp in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>With this, 16 ramps of the Elevated Expressway have been opened so far.</div><div><br></div><div>On September 3 last year, the 11.5 km Airport-Farmgate stretch of Dhaka Elevated Expressway was opened to traffic and today the FDC gate ramp was opened. “This is an Eid gift from the Prime Minister for the people,” Quader said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will be able to fully open it by the beginning of next year. Hatirjheel ramp will be opened and progress is on following that direction,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about the increased traffic congestion in Dhaka during the month of Ramadan, the minister said, “People go to shopping malls during Ramadan and there will be some traffic jam. However, there is no traffic jam from Uttara to Motijheel. People can easily reach their destinations.”</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 2, 2023 inaugurated the Airport-Farmgate segment of Dhaka Elevated Expressway.</div><div><br></div><div>The total length of the expressway is 19.73 km and people can enter and exit the expressway through ramps in 31 points.</div><div><br></div><div>The project director said 72.51 percent work of the expressway has been completed and the work at Hatirjheel and Panthakunja points is underway.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dhaka Elevated Expressway project was undertaken in 2011. On December 15, 2013, Bangladesh Bridge Authority signed a revised agreement with First Dhaka Elevated Expressway Company Limited, the investment company of the project. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 08:44:38', '2024-03-20 08:44:38'),
(11652, 11652, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Death toll from the gas cylinder blast in Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila went up to 14, as another burn victim died early Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Kamala Khatun, 65.</div><div><br></div><div>Kamala, who received 80 percent burn injuries, breathed her last around 4:30 am at the ICU of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, said Tariqul Islam, resident medical officer of the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Conditions of 8-9 more victims who are undergoing treatment at the hospital are stated to be critical, added the doctor.</div><div><br></div><div>Solaiman Molla, Mansur Ali, Tayeba, Ariful Islam, Mahidul, Nargis Khatun, Zahirul Islam, Motaleb, Md Solaiman, Rabbi, Tawhid, Yeasin and Mashiur previously died from burn injuries from the blast.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 35 people, including women and children, sustained burn injuries after a gas cylinder exploded in Kaliakair on March 13.</div><div><br></div><div>One patient was admitted with 100 percent burns while three were hospitalised with 95 percent burns, and 16 were hospitalised with over 50 percent burns, according to sources at the hospital, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>Locals said a fire broke out from a gas cylinder at a house in Telir Chala area of Mouchak in Kaliakair around 6 pm on Wednesday. When residents of the house threw it out on the road, the explosion occurred.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 09:09:32', '2024-03-20 09:09:32'),
(11653, 11653, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In the Gobindapur area of Ambikapur union, Sadar upazila, Faridpur district, Lovely Akter and Imtiaz Mollah have transformed their fortunes and become a beacon of success in onion seed farming, locally referred to as “black gold”.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Starting with just two bighas of land, the couple has expanded their cultivation to 40 bighas, witnessing substantial economic growth that allowed them to construct a multi-storey building and continually invest in new land.</div><div><br></div><div>The duo, parents to a tenth grader and a fourth grader, embarked on this venture after observing the lucrative outcome of onion seed cultivation within their family post-marriage. After her marriage, she found that some family members among her in-laws were involved in onion seed cultivation and decided to join along with her husband in this endeavor. They earned good money in the first year and haven\'t looked back since, Lovely shared.</div><div><br></div><div>Their hard work has paid off handsomely, with an investment of Tk 75 lakh in building their home from the profits of onion seed sales, and aspirations to earn around Tk 1 crore in profits this season if conditions remain favorable.</div><div><br></div><div>They anticipate harvesting 2-2.5 maunds of seeds from their land, with cultivation costs exceeding Tk 1 lakh per bigha.</div><div><br></div><div>This success story has inspired a wider adoption of commercial onion seed farming in Faridpur, contributing to a significant shift in the local economy and reducing reliance on imported seeds. The district can now meet 50% of the country\'s onion seed demand, with farmers eyeing a production value of Tk 300 crore this year despite potential challenges in natural pollination.</div><div><br></div><div>The district Department of Agriculture Extension reports that 1,890 hectares across nine upazilas have been dedicated to onion seed cultivation this year, aiming for over 7.5 metric tons of seed production. This marks an increase from the previous year and highlights the growing interest among farmers, spurred by the crop\'s profitability and government support in cultivation techniques.</div><div><br></div><div>Anwar Hossain, Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer, said the soil and weather of the district is fit for onion seed cultivation. Farmers cultivate three varieties of onion seeds in the district.</div><div><br></div><div>However, challenges such as reduced pollination due to a lack of bees have prompted farmers to adopt manual pollination methods, which may not yield results as fruitful as natural processes. Concerns also loom over potential market competition from Indian imports if local production falls short.</div><div><br></div><div>As the farming community remains hopeful for favorable weather to ensure a productive season, the local agriculture department continues to provide specialized support to bolster this emerging sector.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Director of the district Department of Agriculture Extension, Rafiqul Islam, emphasized the district\'s advantageous soil and climate for onion seed farming, projecting a promising market value exceeding Tk 300 crore for this year\'s harvest. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 09:14:08', '2024-03-20 09:14:08'),
(11654, 11654, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday said it reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on the final review of a $3 billion bailout package.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The announcement came after the IMF team’s week-long visit to Islamabad concluded on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>When approved by the IMF executive board, Islamabad will have access to around $1.1 billion, Nathan Porter, IMF team leader, said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The global lender praised Pakistan\'s central bank and outgoing caretaker government for \"strong program implementation\" and hoped the new government would continue its efforts for the stabilization of its economy.</div><div><br></div><div>“Pakistan’s economic and financial position has improved in the months since the first review, with growth and confidence continuing to recover on the back of prudent policy management and the resumption of inflows from multilateral and bilateral partners,\" Porter said.</div><div><br></div><div>The IMF official added that the new government is committed to continuing the policy efforts that started under the current Stand-By Arrangement to entrench economic and financial stability for the remainder of this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Last June, the IMF approved a crucial nine-month arrangement with Pakistan to aid its economic stabilization program.</div><div><br></div><div>The ongoing IMF program is set to conclude in the second week of April as Pakistan\'s foreign reserves have risen to over $13 billion. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 09:25:22', '2024-03-20 09:25:22'),
(11655, 11655, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Governments are being driven to strengthen their position within the global chip supply chain due to the growing strategic importance and economic competitiveness of semiconductors (chips) and geopolitical tensions.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The semiconductor industry is the driving force behind technological innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs) and automation and plays a vital role in economic prosperity and national security.</div><div><br></div><div>The global chip shortage during the coronavirus pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in the chip supply chain which put many technologies and essential products used in daily life at risk.</div><div><br></div><div>Today’s rise in global competition to support the chip industry has resulted in the rapid growth of the chip market.</div><div><br></div><div>Some governments, long aware of chips’ strategic importance, are trying to support manufacturers financially. Countries such as Malaysia, India and Vietnam have started using a three-pronged approach to attract investment: forging technology alliances with the US, transferring knowledge from global chipmakers, and offering subsidies.</div><div><br></div><div>As the race for technological dominance between the US and China escalates, the two countries continue investing in their tech companies to get an edge.</div><div><br></div><div>Global chip market size expected to reach $588.4B in 2024</div><div><br></div><div>Chips are used in many electronic products, ranging from smartphones and computers to cars and medical devices, and as the demand for these products increases, so does the demand for chips.</div><div><br></div><div>The recent interest in AI technology significantly contributes to the increased demand for chips.</div><div><br></div><div>According to data from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, global semiconductor sales are projected to jump 13.1% in 2024 to reach $588.4 billion as demand for chips used for artificial intelligence increases.</div><div><br></div><div>Data from the Semiconductor Industry Association reveals that global chip sales decreased 8.2% in 2023 to $526.8 billion and reached their highest level in 2022, at $574.1 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>Analysts say the long-term outlook for the chip market is robust, with chips playing a more prominent and significant role in the many products the world depends on.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the world’s major chip companies are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Intel, Qualcomm, SK Hynix, Micron Technology, Nvidia, Broadcom, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Texas Instruments and MediaTek.</div><div><br></div><div>Asia-Pacific dominates chip market</div><div><br></div><div>The Asia-Pacific region is the largest market for chips, accounting for more than half of the global market share. Some of the world’s largest semiconductor companies such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix operate in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>Although not the biggest chip producer, China is the biggest chip consumer. The country is also the largest producer of gallium and germanium, elements used in chip production.</div><div><br></div><div>China enabled 52 factories since 2018 through a range of financial support programs of more than $50 billion in funds including grants, equity investment, public incentives, favorable loans and tax breaks as the country set a clear national goal in its five-year development plan to achieve self-sufficiency in all segments of the semiconductor value chain.</div><div><br></div><div>US aims for leadership in chipmaking</div><div><br></div><div>North America is another significant region in the chip market, with the US being home to some of the world’s largest chipmakers such as Intel, Qualcomm, AMD, and Nvidia.</div><div><br></div><div>Intel is a major microprocessor supplier, Qualcomm makes smartphone chips and AMD produces graphics processing units, or GPUs.</div><div><br></div><div>The US government sees AI as the defining technology of this generation. Those who cannot produce state-of-the-art chips cannot take advantage of and therefore lead the AI market.</div><div><br></div><div>Although the US accounts for 25% of total chip demand, the country has seen its chip production capacity decline from 37% in the 1990s to 12%.</div><div><br></div><div>Considering China’s efforts to strengthen its position in the industry, the US is concerned this will pose a significant threat to national security.</div><div><br></div><div>The Biden administration aims to recapture the country’s leading position in the chip industry and the global technology race.</div><div><br></div><div>The CHIPS and Science Act, signed on Aug. 9, 2022, aims to increase domestic semiconductor production and alleviate the chip shortage that disrupts production in many sectors, from automobiles to electronics.</div><div><br></div><div>The bill includes $52.7 billion in support for semiconductor production and a four-year 25% tax cut to encourage the establishment of semiconductor factories.</div><div><br></div><div>The current US administration also aims to use the investments to produce 20% of the world’s advanced logic chips.</div><div><br></div><div>Europe finds its position in the chip race</div><div><br></div><div>Europe is in the race to become a significant player in the semiconductor industry with companies such as the Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors and ASML Holding as well as Germany-based Infineon Technologies.</div><div><br></div><div>NXP Semiconductors is a leading supplier of semiconductors to the automotive industry, while ASML Holding is a major supplier of lithography systems used in semiconductor manufacturing.</div><div><br></div><div>As for Infineon Technologies, it also supplies semiconductors to a wide range of industries.</div><div><br></div><div>The European Union is taking concrete steps to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in chips, including plans for countries to allocate up to €35 billion ($37.9 billion) to boost its advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>The EU’s 2022 legislation to support chip manufacturing is said to have attracted more than €100 billion in investment.</div><div><br></div><div>Chip industry sees record investment</div><div><br></div><div>Investments in the chip industry have reached record levels as countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and the US strongly encourage chip manufacturing for “independence.”</div><div><br></div><div>Semiconductors, also known as microchips, are not only the backbone of today’s interconnected world but are also becoming a competitive area between countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Efforts to develop near-human-level AI systems are also reshaping the global semiconductor industry. Many countries are striving to supply Silicon Valley’s most sought-after products and participate in the global AI arena. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 10:42:59', '2024-03-20 10:42:59'),
(11656, 11656, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a fervent critique of the ruling Awami League (AL), BNP\'s Senior Joint Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, charged the government with sacrificing the nation\'s independence and dignity in exchange for support from the Indian government. Rizvi’s allegations were made during a press briefing at the BNP’s central office in Nayapaltan on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi claimed that AL does not seek the mandate of the Bangladeshi people, instead “clinging to power through the backing of the Modi government and entering into bonds of subjugation.”</div><div><br></div><div>He further accused the AL of perceiving Bangladesh as a “dummy state,” alleging that the real power behind the AL is not the people of Bangladesh but India. By supporting the Awami League, India is exercising control over Bangladesh, infringing upon the rights of its citizens,” Rizvi added.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting concerns over foreign influence, Rizvi said, “It is believed that India dictates the appointments of crucial positions like the chief of Bangladesh Police and BGB, undermining our sovereignty.”</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also pointed to statements made by Indian foreign ministry officials expressing support for the Awami League ahead of the January 7 national election. “The notion of our sovereignty is being compromised under the guise of stability under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership,” he stated.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader criticized the Awami League’s acceptance of India’s alleged dominance, declaring that “people of Bangladesh will never accept the supremacy of India, even if the AL leaders have.” He clarified that the BNP\'s dispute lies not with the people of India but with the Indian government’s policies towards Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also said the “India out” campaign is gaining momentum in Bangladesh, saying that it is people’s protest against the country’s influence.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the Awami League’s reaction to the campaign, Rizvi mentioned that AL leader Obaidul Quader found the social media movement “not expedient,” implying discomfort within the ruling party regarding the public’s dissent towards India’s role in Bangladesh’s political landscape. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 10:51:32', '2024-03-20 10:51:32'),
(11657, 11657, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In an exclusive interview with the country’s first policy magazine WhiteBoard, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina explained her priority goals in setting out long term policies that have led to a rise in living standards in the youngest nation in South Asia.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“The Bangladesh model, is based on certain indigenous values and policy continuity. Policy-makers have to factor in issues like our strategic location, our topography, our people’s needs, our history, our environment and our resources. A foreign prescription for development never works,” explained Sheikh Hasina, currently the longest serving female head of state in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our country’s governance will be based on our priorities alone. In other words, Bangladesh cannot import the development formula of another country,” added the premier.</div><div><br></div><div>She also laid focus on the need for having an open mindset to learn about developments taking place around the world.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“This doesn’t mean we shut our eyes to developments across the world. We have to study the good practices of different countries to repurpose them for our needs,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Under her watch, Bangladesh has become a top performer in attaining MDGs and overcame countries in South Asia in human development indices. In the interview, her economic policy approaches have been illustrated in depth that policy experts say offer a lesson for the country’s future policymakers.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question on foreign partners influencing the country’s economy, she referred to it as a “deep-rooted dependency” and said, “Foreign dependency has been reducing, and this is because of a deliberate approach by my administration.”</div><div><br></div><div>“In this effort, you have to start viewing yourself as an equal. These issues need to be tackled in a nuanced way. Political leadership and money play a big role here.”</div><div><br></div><div>In the space of more than five decades, Bangladesh has come a long way from rules of military dictators that economists often describe as “worst stints when policymakers succumbed to foreign pressures.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Not to be outdone at foreign prescriptions to shape policy reforms, Sheikh Hasina has earned a repute of putting the national interest as foremost priority as demonstrated by the construction of Padma Bridge and rolling out of an unprecedented scale of safety nets.</div><div><br></div><div>“When other administrations formulated a budget for development projects, the lion’s share would come from foreign financing. Their fiscal policy was essentially ‘donor-dependent.’ On top of this, public spending capacity was miniscule. I flipped this policy by rejecting foreign-borrowed money that makes us dependent,” the PM told WhiteBoard.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on approaches by her government, she added “My administration accelerated the borrowing from our domestic sources. At least the money will circulate within our own borders. This long-term policy has yielded results. Now you will see that the lion’s share of our public spending comes from our own domestic resources.”</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to the interview, the latest issue of WhiteBoard features an array of insightful articles from experts on wide ranging issues including Bangladesh’s export diversification drive, Sheikh Hasina’s diplomatic doctrine, and way forward to reduce gender disparity.</div><div><br></div><div>Strategy consultant and youth advocate Radwan Mujib Siddiq, a trustee of Center for Research and Information (CRI), who is the editor of WhiteBoard, shared the link to the interview with the comment: “Don’t miss the latest issue of WhiteBoard out now”.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The interview has already been shared widely on social media. ICT Affairs Advisor to PM, Sajeeb Wazed, who has been credited with transforming the country’s digital landscape shared the link on his social media accounts as well. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 10:56:34', '2024-03-20 10:56:34'),
(11658, 11658, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An explosion inside a coal mine in southwest Pakistan killed 12 miners while eight were rescued, an official said Wednesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bodies of the dead were all recovered after the overnight collapse in Harnai, a district in the Baluchistan province, a mine inspector Abdul Rashid said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said investigators were still working to determine the cause of the blast.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement expressed his sorrow over the deaths.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Safety standards are commonly ignored in the coal mining industry in Pakistan, leading to accidents and explosions that kill dozens of mine workers every year. Miners often complain that owners fail to install safety equipment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the danger and low wages, hundreds of miners work in Baluchistan, where unemployment is higher than other parts of the country. Harnai is about 200 kilometers (120 miles) east of Quetta, Baluchistan’s capital city. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 11:08:31', '2024-03-20 11:08:31'),
(11659, 11659, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Canada will halt all arms shipments to Israel, a government official told AFP on Tuesday, a decision that has drawn the ire of Israel as it faces growing international scrutiny over its war in the Gaza Strip.</b></span></div><div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The besieged Palestinian territory is facing a mounting humanitarian crisis, and months of war have pushed hundreds of thousands of Gazans to the brink of famine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canada, a key ally of the United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars a year in military aid, had already reduced its weapons shipments to Israel to non-lethal equipment such as radios following the October 7 Hamas attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The situation on the ground makes it so that we can’t” export any kind of military equipment, the Canadian official told AFP on condition of anonymity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Canada’s foreign minister Melanie Joly told the Toronto Star newspaper on Tuesday that Ottawa would stop future arms exports to Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel slammed the decision, with foreign minister Israel Katz saying it “undermines Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas terrorists.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“History will judge Canada’s current action harshly,” he said in a post on social media platform X.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Senator Bernie Sanders welcomed the move, saying in a post on X: “Given the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, including widespread and growing starvation, the US should not provide another nickel for Netanyahu’s war machine.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has historically been a top receiver of Canadian arms exports, with CAN$21 million worth of military materiel exported to Israel in 2022, according to Radio Canada, following CAN$26 million in shipments in 2021.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That places Israel among the top 10 recipients of Canadian arms exports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ottawa has only exported “non-lethal” shipments such as communications equipment to Israel since the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel triggered a war in the Gaza Strip.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No exports had been sent since January, the government official added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bloodiest-ever Gaza war broke out after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has responded with a relentless offensive against Hamas that has killed at least 31,819 people, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While affirming Israel’s right to defend itself, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken an increasingly critical stance toward Israel as civilian deaths have mounted in Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, the Canadian Parliament passed a nonbinding resolution calling for the international community to work toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The issue of arms deliveries to Israel has triggered legal proceedings in several countries around the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Canada, a coalition of lawyers and citizens of Palestinian origin filed a complaint against the government in early March to suspend arms exports to Israel, accusing it of violating both international and domestic law. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 11:54:43', '2024-03-20 11:54:43');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11660, 11660, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>More than twenty global meetings were held in 1402 Solar year regarding Afghanistan, many of them not attended by any representative of the Islamic Emirate.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The formation of an inclusive government, preventing the use of Afghanistan\'s soil against other countries, combating narcotics, and observing human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, were demands that were consistently raised in these meetings; demands that, according to the Islamic Emirate, are all being observed in Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>The EU-Central Asia meeting in Kazakhstan, the Oslo Forum in Norway, the Shanghai meeting hosted by India, the Astana meeting in Kazakhstan, the Samarkand meeting in Uzbekistan, the Moscow format meeting in Kazan, and the Herat security meeting in Tajikistan were among the important meetings regarding Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>Asif Ali Durani, Pakistan\'s Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated in one of these meetings concerning peace in Afghanistan: \"Pakistan believes that by engaging with the current authorities in Afghanistan, we can help bring peace to this country and tranquility to the people of Afghanistan.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The representative of the Islamic Emirate was present in some of these meetings, including the Moscow format, the Oslo Forum, and Samarkand.</div><div><br></div><div>Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister, said in one of these meetings: \"My country, Afghanistan, after more than four decades of invasions by foreign countries, war, and chaos, as it steps towards security and stability, faces sanctions for employing human rights.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Alongside these meetings, meetings of the political opponents of the Islamic Emirate were also held abroad, where the situation in Afghanistan was discussed in various aspects. The \"Afghanistan between Past and Future\" meeting in Moscow and the Vienna meeting in Austria were among the important meetings of the political opponents of the Islamic Emirate this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The conduct of these meetings was not without reaction. Some officials of the interim government, including Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Political Deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Acting Minister of Defense, called the organization of such meetings abroad biased and a conspiracy against Afghanistan.</div><div><br></div><div>The first Doha meeting on the situation in Afghanistan was held in this year, lasted two days, discussed important issues including human rights in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The second Doha meeting was also held in the month of Dalw (18-19 February 2024). The meeting was supposed to appoint a Special Representative of the United Nations for the implementation of recommendations of the independent assessment by the United Nations Special Coordinator with the goal of reintegrating Afghanistan into the United Nations; however, at the end of this meeting, António Guterres added that they would also consult with the Taliban for appointing this representative; an issue that remains unclear.</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres said at the end of this meeting to reporters: \"We want an Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors, and an Afghanistan that is capable of fulfilling international commitments.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations Security Council also held at least seven meetings on Afghanistan in 1402.</div><div><br></div><div>The Security Council meeting on the independent assessment of the United Nations Special Coordinator in Qaws (December 2023), the Security Council meeting on the outcomes of the Doha meeting and the appointment of a Special Representative in Hoot (March 2024), the Security Council meeting on the United Nations Secretary-General\'s quarterly report in Hoot (March 2024), the subsequent Security Council meeting on the extension of UNAMA\'s mission, the Security Council meeting on the extension of the mandate of the Monitoring Team on sanctions against the Islamic Emirate, the Security Council meeting on children and conflict in Afghanistan, and the Security Council meeting on ISIS and Afghanistan were held during this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Nevertheless, these meetings could not pave the way for addressing the current challenges in Afghanistan. Tolo News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 11:59:53', '2024-03-20 11:59:53'),
(11661, 11661, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Fitr, Bangladesh Bank (BB) will start releasing new notes in the market through banks from March 31.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Common people can exchange new notes till April 9 except on weekends and public holidays.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the central bank, from March 31, new notes will be exchanged among the public through the counters of different branches of the central bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, new notes of Tk 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 will be exchanged in a special arrangement from 80 branches of different commercial banks in Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>A person cannot exchange taka for new notes more than once, said the BB.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 14:04:51', '2024-03-20 14:04:51'),
(11662, 11662, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After becoming captain of the Bangladesh women\'s team, Nigar Sultana has attended countless press conferences. But Wednesday\'s one will surely stand out in her memory for a long time.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She arrived with a broad smile, ready with her team to face the world champions—Australia, in their first-ever full series. The number of attending media personnel was unlike anything she had experienced before. More importantly, none of the questions thrown at her doubted Bangladesh\'s ability to challenge Australia.</div><div><br></div><div>“The biggest thing is, when we played the series against India, the journalists\' questions were different. They were asking whether we could win, what could happen... Today, we are playing against Australia, and no one has asked me that question. They are asking, \'It will be even better if you win.\' This is a big achievement,” Nigar said, her face beaming.</div><div><br></div><div>“Thank you all for that,” she added emotionally.</div><div><br></div><div>This series marks a historic moment for the Bangladesh team, an opportunity to test their mettle against the world champions and showcase their growing strength on the international stage. Under Nigar Sultana\'s leadership, Bangladesh has achieved some big successes in recent years, including an ODI win over South Africa, winning a series against Pakistan, and a tied series against India, which has solidified their rising trajectory in international cricket.</div><div><br></div><div>These achievements have instilled a sense of confidence and belief within the team, making them an opponent for any team in the world who cannot be taken lightly. Their rise hasn\'t gone unnoticed. Australian captain Alyssa Healy acknowledges Bangladesh as a \"real threat\" and praises their inclusion in the ICC Women\'s Championship. This recognition from the world champions is a testament to the hard work of the Bangladeshi players and a sign of their growing respect on the international stage.</div><div><br></div><div>The Australian captain anticipates a lot of spin bowling from Bangladesh, calling it \"challenging for the team that is not from the subcontinent.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana remains confident in her team\'s abilities, both in batting and bowling.</div><div><br></div><div>“From our perspective, our batting looked strong when we recently played in South Africa. When we played against India and Pakistan at home, our bowling seemed strong,” she said. “This is a good sign for the team. Both departments are in a very good place. Now it\'s important to see which department can contribute the most for the team tomorrow.”</div><div><br></div><div>This series against Australia presents a significant opportunity for Bangladesh. It\'s a chance to further demonstrate their progress and test themselves against the best. The invaluable experience will allow them to gauge their strengths and weaknesses against top-level competition. A strong performance against Australia will boost the team\'s confidence and inspire a new generation of young girls in Bangladesh to take up the sport.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite their recent successes, Bangladesh will face a tough challenge against a formidable Australian team. The visitors boast a wealth of experience and talent, though they might struggle to adapt to the conditions.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Alyssa, the Australia captain, accepted the challenge but said they have experience playing in different conditions around the globe, indicating that they are not bothered with the conditions much. Moreover, some players just arrived in Dhaka with the fresh memory of playing in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where they got conditions familiar to the ones in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh captain, however, said the home advantage might be a great strength for them in this series. “W have the home advantage. I think they are quite unfamiliar with the conditions here because they haven\'t played here before,” Nigar said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Whatever the outcome this series may bring, Bangladesh’s encounters with the World Champions Australia will surely draw the attention of many girls to cricket, Nigar believes. - unb</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 14:07:16', '2024-03-20 14:07:16'),
(11663, 11663, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Oil prices continued their downward trend on Wednesday due to market caution ahead of the US Federal Reserve\'s decision on interest rates, a strong US dollar and investor profit-taking.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>International benchmark Brent crude traded at $87.03 per barrel at 10.46 a.m. local time (0746 GMT), a 0.40% decrease from the closing price of $87.38 per barrel in the previous trading session.</div><div><br></div><div>The American benchmark West Texas Intermediate traded at $82.44 per barrel at the same time, a 0.35% fall from the previous session that closed at $82.73 per barrel.</div><div><br></div><div>Oil prices decreased in early trade on Wednesday due to uncertainty over the US Fed\'s upcoming monetary decision that will be announced later in the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Although it is predicted that the Fed will maintain the policy rate, the path that the markets take is anticipated to be influenced by indicators from the policy text and a statement from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.</div><div><br></div><div>According to analysts, the latest macroeconomic data is likely to fuel inflationary concerns. Therefore, clues about how the Fed assesses these statistics will be crucial for determining the course of action to be taken in the near future.</div><div><br></div><div>With the Fed expected to maintain the policy rate for now, oil prices are set to be suppressed as high interest rates boost the value of the US dollar, making oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, the US dollar index increased by 0.56% to 103.54, deterring more expensive oil trade and curtailing price rises on the back of profit-taking from higher prices at the beginning of the week.</div><div><br></div><div>Further price reductions could be restricted if US Energy Information Administration data later on Wednesday shows a stock drawdown below estimates.</div><div><br></div><div>The American Petroleum Institute late Tuesday announced an estimated decrease of 1.5 million barrels in US crude oil inventories, against the market prediction of a build of 77,000 barrels. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 14:24:01', '2024-03-20 14:24:01'),
(11664, 11664, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In an in-depth interview with WhiteBoard, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina outlined the significance of policy research for future governance, emphasizing how the successful implementation of Bangladesh’s 12-year-long Perspective Plan showcased the power of strategic, long-term planning. She attributed the nation’s progress to the diligent execution of this long-term agenda, a stark contrast to the empirical approach lacking in previous administrations.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“When my administration took charge in 2009, we were quick to prepare the plans for different time spans. The 12-year long-term plan we called the Perspective Plan and it served as a future-bound reference tool for shorter-term plans,” said the PM. </div><div><br></div><div>She detailed her administration’s policy design process: “At the onset, we carry out a needs analysis; then, we chart out policies into three timelines: present, mid-term, and long-term.”</div><div><br></div><div>Reflecting on her time in incarceration by the military-controlled government in 2007, Hasina shared, “I used the prison time to devise the next development plan for Bangladesh. I set time-bound targets on indicators like literacy, nutrition, income, and healthcare. The skeleton for a long-term plan was developed during my imprisonment.”</div><div><br></div><div>“This policy design strategy was put to the test because my administration was still around for the next 12 years. By 2021, the policy design had yielded successful results for Bangladesh,” added the premier, pointing out a lesson for future policymakers.</div><div><br></div><div>Future policymakers should understand that Bangladesh has progressed as a result of strategic policy-making. “Its progress is not a miracle. There is a formula that combines local know-how, flexibility, a progressive vision and long-term planning, all backed by policy research,” Sheikh Hasina said in the WhiteBoard interview.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our policymakers have to factor in issues like our strategic location, our topography, our people’s needs, our history, our environment and our resources. A foreign prescription for development never works.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Foreign dependency has been reducing, and this is because of a deliberate approach by my administration. This kind of dependency was deep-rooted and to change this culture we had first to change the mindset. In this effort, you have to start viewing yourself as an equal. These issues need to be tackled in a nuanced way. Political leadership and money play a big role here,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>On how she reduced donor dependency, the Prime Minister said, “When other administrations formulated a budget for development projects, the lion’s share would come from foreign financing. Their fiscal policy was essentially ‘donor-dependent,’ reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“On top of this, public spending capacity was miniscule. I flipped this policy by rejecting foreign-borrowed money that makes us dependent,” she added</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-20 15:26:46', '2024-03-20 15:28:03'),
(11665, 11665, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>This year the minimum Fitra has been fixed at Tk 115 per person while the maximum at Tk 2,970.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Fitra Fixing Committee held on Thursday chaired by the committee\'s head and Baitul Mukarram National Mosque’s Khatib Hafez Maulana Mufti Mohammad Ruhul Amin.</div><div><br></div><div>The rate of Fitra is fixed on the basis of market prices of flour, dates, cheese, raisins and some other essentials.</div><div><br></div><div>Fitra is an obligatory charity distributed to the poor at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>Fitra is paid to the poor before the jamaat (congregation) of Eid-ul-Fitr. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 07:26:32', '2024-03-21 07:26:32'),
(11666, 11666, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Construction work on all roads in the country will be stopped seven days before Eid-ul-Fitr to ensure smooth travel of holidaymakers. It will resume three days after the Eid.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The announcement was made at a preparatory meeting held at the BRTA headquarters on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division, said that construction work will be stopped on all roads during the Eid holidays to ensure smooth traffic.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>All kinds of construction materials will also have to be removed from the roads, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former minister and transport workers’ leader Shahjahan Khan, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, among others were present at the meeting. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 08:01:28', '2024-03-21 08:01:28'),
(11667, 11667, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>U.N. agencies have warned that waste from electronics is piling up worldwide while recycling rates remain low and are likely to fall even further.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agencies were referring to “e-waste,” which is defined as discarded devices with a plug or battery, including cellphones, electronic toys, TVs, microwave ovens, e-cigarettes, laptop computers and solar panels. It does not include waste from electronic vehicles, which fall into a separate category.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a report released Wednesday, the U.N.’s International Telecommunications Union and research arm UNITAR said some 62 million tons of “e-waste” was generated in 2022, enough to fill tractor-trailers that could be lined up bumper to bumper around the globe. It’s on track to reach 82 million tons by 2030.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Metals — including copper, gold and iron — made up half of the 62 million tons, worth a total of some $91 billion, the report said. Plastics accounted for 17 million tons and the remaining 14 million tons include substances like composite materials and glass.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.N. says 22% of the e-waste mass was properly collected and recycled in 2022. It is expected to fall to 20% by the end of the decade because of “staggering growth\" of such waste due to higher consumption, limited repair options, shorter product life cycles, growing “electronification” of society, and inadequate e-waste management infrastructure, the agencies said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They said some of the discarded electronic devices contained hazardous elements like mercury, as well as rare Earth metals coveted by tech industry manufacturers. Currently, only 1% of the demand for the 17 minerals that make up the rare metals is met through recycling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About half of all e-waste is generated in Asia, where few countries have laws on e-waste or collection targets, according to the report. Recycling and collection rates top 40% in Europe, where per-capita waste generation is highest: nearly 18 kilograms (39 pounds).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Africa, which generates the least of any of the five big global regions, recycling and collection rates hover at about 1%, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The latest research shows that the global challenge posed by e-waste is only going to grow,” said Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, head of the ITU telecommunication development bureau. “With less than half of the world implementing and enforcing approaches to manage the problem, this raises the alarm for sound regulations to boost collection and recycling.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For some, e-waste represents a way to earn cash by rummaging through trash in the developing world to find coveted commodities, despite the health risks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the Dandora dumpsite where garbage collected from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi ends up — even though a court declared it full over a generation ago — scavengers try to earn a living by picking through rubbish for e-waste that can be sold to businesses as recycled material.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Steve Okoth hopes the flow continues so he can eke out an income, but he knows the risks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“When the e-waste comes here, it contains some powder which affects my health,\" he said, adding that when electronic devices heat up, they release gases and he “can’t come to work because of chest problems.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Okoth said they don\'t have any other options: \"We are now used to the smoke because if you don’t go to work you will not eat.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recycling plants, like Nairobi’s WEEE center, have collection points across Kenya, where people can safely get rid of old electric equipment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We take inventory of the items,\" said Catherine Wasolia, WEEE\'s chief operating officer, to check for data on submitted devices and wipe them clean. Then they test each to assess if \"it can be reused or repurposed.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">E-waste expert George Masila worries about the impact of electronic waste on soil.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“When you have all this e-waste — either in the dumpsites or mercilessly deposited anywhere else — it could have major effects on the soil,\" Masila said. \"Every year it rains and water flows and attracts all these elements that are deposited into the environment. You have water getting contaminated.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said greater recycling and re-use of such materials, \"are some of the things we should be considering.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Report authors acknowledged that many people in the developing world pay their bills through harvesting such e-waste, and called for them to be trained and equipped to make such work safer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We must try to support these people trying to find their niche,” said Ruediger Kuehr, senior manager of the sustainable cycles program at UNITAR.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 08:12:03', '2024-03-21 08:12:03'),
(11668, 11668, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday callef for the Indian assistance to import electricity from Bhutan using Indian territory.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said this while Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters after the call on.</div><div><br></div><div>“The prime minister has sought support from the Indian side to import  electricity from Bhutan smoothly,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Nazrul mentioned that Bangladesh will import electricity from Bhutan and an agreement in this regard will be signed during the upcoming visit of thr Bhutanese King scheduled on March 25.</div><div><br></div><div>According to informed sources Bangladesh initially plans to import around 1,500MW of electricity from Bhutan with discussion between both sides almost finalised. </div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina also urged the Indian government to remove his country\'s anti-dumping measurers in the import of jute and jute goods from Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that India could modernise the Syedpur Railway Worksop. </div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister told the envoy that Bangladesh has achieved unprecedentef development because of a continuous democratic system in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that after the assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujubur Rahman and until before the 1996 the victor in the national election used to be decided by a \"certain quarter.\"</div><div><br></div><div>That\'s why, Hasina said, despite having public support the Awami League could not win the 1991 election. </div><div><br></div><div>“But in 1996, the same quarter bowed down to the desire of the mass people.  That year Awami League for the first time had won the election breaking the vicious cycle,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>HC Pranay Verma mentioned that last year a total of four projects were implemented in Bangladesh under the Indian Line of Credit (LOC).</div><div><br></div><div>“And two more projects are in the pipeline for the implementation,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He told the PM that some groundbreaking initiatives of the two countries like bilateral trade transactions in Rupee-Taka, digital payment network and Bangabandhu Biopic.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian high commissioner said that India is committed to taking forward the negotiations for Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEPA) aggrenent between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said CEPA would be helpful after Bangladesh graduates to a developing economy in 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that new thinking and discussions are going on to prepare a new framework for the LOC to make it project-based.</div><div><br></div><div>In the power and energy sector India expressed its willingness to establish a high-power grid line among Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal for transmitting power easily to any part the four countries.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that there is a move to extend the diesel pipeline up to Natore from Syedpur to import diesel from India.</div><div><br></div><div>Verma said that world famous defence industries are relocating their factories in India.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that Bangladesh could set up a defence factory in Bangladesh with  Indian joint venture.</div><div><br></div><div>He conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister  Narendra Modi to Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>He invited PM Hasina to visit India after his country\'s national elections and she accepted the invitation, said Nazrul.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian high commissioner mentioned that they are interested to set up an office in Rangpur.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister replied that the government would consider the proposal after examining it.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present at the meeting. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 10:23:19', '2024-03-21 14:13:33'),
(11669, 11669, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Vice Chairman Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Thursday said the great war of independence in 1971 was to establish democratic rights.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But today there is no democracy… no basic rights, freedom of speech and the press. Bangladesh has been turned into a police state,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this after attending a meeting of a BNP committee formed for the upcoming Independence Day celebration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Major (retd) Hafiz said the ruling Awami League (AL) does not want to give any credit to those who fought against the Pakistan army in the battlefield. The political party had contributions; they had the right to hold state power as they won the election. But the Pakistani military rulers did not respect the democratic mandate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said, AL thinks that the independence of Bangladesh had been achieved by the political party alone, denying contributions of the masses including students, youths, workers, farmers and soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seven crore people in the country at the time unitedly participated in the war. But the ruling party is trying to project the Liberation War as a “political party’s war”, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zia’s declaration of independence motivated people from every corner to join the Liberation War, but today, AL portrays him as an agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), he claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The BNP vice chairman said that AL is distorting the history of the Liberation War. “During the war, the number of freedom fighters was 80,000-100,000, but today we’re seeing about 250,000 getting allowance along with other benefits as freedom fighters,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 10:30:16', '2024-03-21 10:30:16'),
(11670, 11670, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney has said Bangladesh will get Ireland as a friend in the European Union (EU) and the two countries are willing to build a “closer and more structured cooperation” in broader areas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“What I would say is that Bangladesh should see Ireland as a friend in the European Union that can raise issues for them, potentially work with them and if they\'re trying to work through some difficult issues with the European Commission,” he told UNB in an exclusive interview before wrapping up his two-day official visit to Dhaka this week.</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish minister said Bangladesh is going to receive a transition period from 2026 to 2029, and then Bangladesh will be looking for GSP plus status, which effectively is sort of preferential status in terms of tariffs and trade opportunities.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, I think the EU is open to that. Of course, there will be some conditions that the EU will want from Bangladesh as well, in relation to, you know, what the EU would regard as important - modernisation around labor laws, workers rights, environmental issues. That\'s normal for the EU. It\'s for every country,” Coveney said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they always try to push environmental improvements and working conditions and labour improvements. \"But I think all of that is very doable.”</div><div><br></div><div>During a meeting with Coveney, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought Ireland\'s support in Bangladesh\'s efforts to enjoy the preferential trade facilities in the EU market until 2032 instead of 2029 during the country\'s post-graduation period.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, the Irish minister said he spoke with the prime minister a little bit about the areas where Ireland and Bangladesh could be partners.</div><div><br></div><div>From a trade perspective, he said, there is certainly opportunity here for Irish companies in areas like technology, aviation, food and nutrition and pharmaceutical.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding his meeting with Prime Minister\'s Private Industries and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman,&nbsp; Coveney said it was a detailed discussion around how they could put structure around this relationship.</div><div><br></div><div>“He (Salman) made it clear that he wanted to visit Ireland with some ministers and businesspeople so that we can try to build partnerships between Ireland and Bangladesh,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Minister Coveney said they have also looked at other ways in which they could potentially make a positive contribution to economic growth here.</div><div><br></div><div>They talked about the strategic economic zones that are being created here for countries to encourage companies to come and provide quality employment and incomes.</div><div><br></div><div>During his two-day visit, Coveney discussed the status of Bangladesh which is essentially moving from a low income country to a higher income country, and how that might change the relationship in terms of tariff-free access to the EU.</div><div><br></div><div>He reiterated Ireland is a country that wanted to be a friend of Bangladesh in the EU, and they could work with them in the future to make sure that the EU understands their perspective.</div><div><br></div><div>“I spoke to the to the deputy head of the EU Embassy here and he would say that the relationship between the EU and Bangladesh has never been better than now,” he said, adding that “I mean, no relationship is perfect. But it\'s a positive, strong relationship today.”</div><div><br></div><div>Climate Change Response&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish minister said Ireland needs to be a strong advocate for a climate change response. “There is very few countries in the world that are as exposed to climate change as Bangladesh - in terms of flooding, monsoons and in terms of tsunamis. This is a country that knows what it means to lose a lot of lives because of extreme weather.”</div><div><br></div><div>So, he said, naturally there is a lot of interest in responding to climate change to try to prevent more extreme weather in the future.</div><div><br></div><div>“Ireland wants to be a leader in that area. We\'re very heavily invested in renewable energy, and in decarbonising our economy. And we\'re very happy to share the technologies that we\'re investing in to do that,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Coveney thinks that the climate change may well be a “strategic area of cooperation” between Bangladesh and Ireland.</div><div><br></div><div>For Bangladesh, it will be not only climate change mitigation, but also climate change adaptation and so Ireland is making a lot more money available now in terms of climate finance internationally.</div><div><br></div><div>“We\'re committed to getting to up to 225 million euros a year of climate finance being funded by Ireland. And most of that money will be going into adaptation, putting in place new infrastructure to help countries be more resilient to the dangers of climate change. And, Bangladesh, I think is a country that we can work with in that regard,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Education Sector Cooperation</div><div><br></div><div>The Irish minister said students in Bangladesh should look at Ireland as a destination of higher studies, particularly for post-grads.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have a very good education system. I\'m glad to say that we\'re an English speaking country. We\'re still part of the European Union. And I think a lot of the Bangladeshi students that come to Ireland enjoy themselves, and they feel like they\'re valued in Ireland, which they are,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said they have 10,000 Indian students in Ireland this year. “So we\'d like see more diversity. And that\'s why students from Bangladesh as well would be very welcome.”</div><div><br></div><div>There are about 17,000 Bangladeshis in Ireland today, he said, adding that, “What I hear is that they have a very positive experience in Ireland. And we want to work hard to keep it that way so that they feel welcome and they get a high quality education and make good connections in terms of future business and employment opportunities.”</div><div><br></div><div>IT Sector</div><div><br></div><div>IT sector is another potential area where one is looking at seriously. The Irish minister said Ireland is, in many ways, referred to as the Silicon Valley of Europe. It’s got nine of the top 10 tech companies in the world have a big presence in Ireland.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said all the big players are in Ireland, and they employ large numbers of people there.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, the Irish tech industry has been driven by multinationals. But there\'re also a lot of Irish technology companies too, in areas like cyber security, digital payment systems and digital banking,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;The Irish minister said there is a lot of research in relation to AI and machine learning and robotics, and artificial intelligence.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, the Irish tech ecosystem is a real mixture of multinationals and Irish companies. So what hopefully we can do is to encourage some of the Irish tech companies to come and look at the opportunities here in Bangladesh, to work with partners here, whether it\'s the banking system, or whether it\'s the service industry, or whatever.”</div><div><br></div><div>Aviation Sector</div><div><br></div><div>“I think there\'re some interesting opportunities in aviation as well. Ireland has a very large aviation industry and about half of the planes in the world are leased out of Ireland,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>There are a lot of Irish companies involved in different elements of aviation - from manufacturing to the entertainment systems to servicing airplanes, to financing airplanes.</div><div><br></div><div>“And we see the Irish aviation industry having playing quite a big part in India, and also in the Gulf states - in places like Saudi Arabia and Dubai. There\'s no reason why they can\'t do the same here,” said Coveney.</div><div><br></div><div>“As the aviation industry here grows, and there will be more and more middle income families in Bangladesh, and that means more people are flying. And you\'re building a new airport, of course here moment or a new terminal. So, we think there are opportunities to partner there with Irish companies,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On Rohingya issue, he said it has been here for a very long time and Ireland had agreed to provide a one and a half million euros extra to support the work through the UNHCR.</div><div><br></div><div>He also spoke about some of the difficult challenges there around security around education and health care.</div><div><br></div><div>“The view in Bangladesh is that they want the Rohingya to be able to return home safely to Myanmar. Of course, that\'s what we want as well. But the conditions perhaps aren\'t there to allow that for now,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, I gave a commitment that Ireland would try to work internationally to help in efforts to put pressure on the authorities in Myanmar to facilitate a safe return.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We will continue to financially support the efforts and supports Irish NGOs that are working to try to ensure that Rohingya refugees are treated as human beings and they\'re supported in their health needs and education needs.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about high-level visit, the Irish minister said there is an open invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Ireland anytime.</div><div><br></div><div>This is the first visit of a senior government minister to Bangladesh and this is the beginning. “And I\'ll certainly be reporting back to my prime minister that there\'s real opportunity here. And also a real very warm welcome, which is important.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a floral wreath at Bangabandhu\'s portrait at Dhanmandi-32 and observed a minute of silence in memory of all those martyred on August 15, 1975.</div><div><br></div><div>He also had a tour of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and signed the Visitor\'s Book.</div><div><br></div><div>“It was a reminder of the sacrifice that her (PM Hasina) family has given for freedom in Bangladesh, and for independence,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the Irish Minister and PM Hasina talked&nbsp; about the parallels between Irish history and the history of Bangladesh in terms of sacrifice and struggles and violence, in order to achieve independence and an economic sovereignty.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about newly appointed honorary consul here, he said Masud Jamil Khan is a very enthusiastic person to make a positive contribution. “So this is the first time that Ireland will have a diplomatic physical presence here.”</div><div><br></div><div>During the visit Coveney inaugurated his country\'s first honorary consulate in Dhaka seen as a milestone in strengthening Bangladesh-Ireland relation. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 10:48:01', '2024-03-21 10:48:01'),
(11671, 11671, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An Indonesian search and rescue ship on Thursday located a capsized wooden boat that had been carrying dozens of Rohingya Muslim refugees, and began pulling survivors who had been standing on its hull to safety.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>An AP photographer aboard the rescue ship said 10 people had been taken aboard local fishing boats and another 59 were being saved by the Indonesian craft.</div><div><br></div><div>Men, women and children, weak and soaked from the night’s rain, wept as the rescue operation got underway and people were taken aboard a rubber dinghy to the rescue boat.</div><div><br></div><div>It was unclear how many refugees were aboard the small craft when it capsized off of Indonesia’s northernmost coast on Wednesday, with six survivors initially rescued by local fishermen estimating between 60 and 100 people.</div><div><br></div><div>It was unclear whether all managed to cling to the capsized craft overnight or whether some had drowned.</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia’s search and rescue team only left Banda Aceh city in the evening Wednesday, many hours after the capsizing, and initially had difficulty locating the boat in the choppy waters off the coast.</div><div><br></div><div>It finally found the boat and the survivors about midday on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Amiruddin, a tribal fishing community leader in Aceh Barat district, said those rescued indicated that the boat was sailing east when it started leaking and then strong currents pushed it toward the west of Aceh. The six said others were still trying to survive on the capsized craft.</div><div><br></div><div>About 740,000 Rohingya were resettled in Bangladesh to escape the brutal counterinsurgency campaign by security forces in their homeland of Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands have been trying to flee overcrowded camps in Bangladesh to neighboring countries with Indonesia seeing a spike in refugee numbers since November which prompted it to call on the international community for help. Rohingya arriving in Aceh face some hostility from some fellow Muslims.</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention outlining their legal protections, and so is not obligated to accept them. However, they have so far provided temporary shelter to refugees in distress.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year, nearly 4,500 Rohingya — two-thirds of them women and children — fled their homeland of Myanmar and the refugee camps in neighboring Bangladesh by boat, the United Nations refugee agency reported. Of those, 569 died or went missing while crossing the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, the highest death toll since 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>Returning safely to Myanmar is virtually impossible because the military that attacked them overthrew Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021. No country has offered them any large-scale resettlement opportunities. According to unb reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 10:54:32', '2024-03-21 10:54:32'),
(11672, 11672, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways on Thursday urged the authorities concerned to allow eight-day holiday for the RMG workers during the Eid-ul-Fitr.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The committee urged the government and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) authorities to take the measure for the sake of safe return of holidaymakers during Eid, said a statement signed by President Shahid Mia and general secretary Ashish Kumar Dey.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the statement, nearly one crore people leave Dhaka during Eid and among them 35 lakh are garment workers.</div><div><br></div><div>The road, rail and water transport sectors do not have the capacity to transport one crore homebound passengers within one week before Eid-ul-Fitr as it causes chaos and public suffering on roads and railways, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>To avoid such chaos, the RMG workers can go to their home village in phases, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 12:59:52', '2024-03-21 12:59:52'),
(11673, 11673, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has instructed the authorities concerned to increase vigilance on the movement of three-wheelers and motorcycles on roads and highways to avoid road accidents during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He gave the directive at a stakeholders\' meeting on the safe and smooth journey of passengers during&nbsp; Eid-ul-Fitr at Sarak Bhaban in the capital’s Banani on Thursday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said, \"We are still worried about accidents. There is no end to these accidents. Reckless driving of three-wheelers and motorcycles are causing accidents. That is why the Safe Roads project has to be implemented quickly. If we remain reluctant, accidents will continue to happen. In this regard, we should not blame others, but rather perform our respective duties.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Three-wheelers and motorcycles are the biggest nuisance on the roads during Eid, he said adding the movement of these vehicles has been banned on 22 highways, but it is not being implemented.</div><div><br></div><div>The capacity of the Highway Police and BRTA needs to be increased here, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>At this time, Quader expressed his anger over the plying of unfit vehicles in Dhaka city.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"There are many factories in this city that manufacture these vehicles. I have seen it myself. They are painting the vehicles. The paint doesn\'t even last for ten days.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said, \"Look at the private cars and buses in Dhaka. These unfit vehicles in Dhaka city are a shame to our development achievements.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the vehicle owners to make their vehicles fit for the road during Eid instead of showing off.</div><div><br></div><div>In the meeting, 155 potential traffic congestion points were identified for Eid. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:05:19', '2024-03-21 14:05:19');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11674, 11674, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>AI fakery is quickly becoming one of the biggest problems confronting us online. Deceptive pictures, videos and audio are proliferating as a result of the rise and misuse of generative artificial intelligence tools.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>With AI deepfakes cropping up almost every day, depicting everyone from Taylor Swift to Donald Trump, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real from what’s not. Video and image generators like DALL-E, Midjourney and OpenAI’s Sora make it easy for people without any technical skills to create deepfakes — just type a request and the system spits it out.</div><div><br></div><div>These fake images might seem harmless. But they can be used to carry out scams and identity theft or propaganda and election manipulation.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is how to avoid being duped by deepfakes:</div><div><br></div><div>HOW TO SPOT A DEEPFAKE</div><div>In the early days of deepfakes, the technology was far from perfect and often left telltale signs of manipulation. Fact-checkers have pointed out images with obvious errors, like hands with six fingers or eyeglasses that have differently shaped lenses.</div><div><br></div><div>But as AI has improved, it has become a lot harder. Some widely shared advice — such as looking for unnatural blinking patterns among people in deepfake videos — no longer holds, said Henry Ajder, founder of consulting firm Latent Space Advisory and a leading expert in generative AI.</div><div><br></div><div>Still, there are some things to look for, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A lot of AI deepfake photos, especially of people, have an electronic sheen to them, “an aesthetic sort of smoothing effect” that leaves skin “looking incredibly polished,” Ajder said.</div><div><br></div><div>He warned, however, that creative prompting can sometimes eliminate this and many other signs of AI manipulation.</div><div><br></div><div>Check the consistency of shadows and lighting. Often the subject is in clear focus and appears convincingly lifelike but elements in the backdrop might not be so realistic or polished.</div><div><br></div><div>LOOK AT THE FACES</div><div>Face-swapping is one of the most common deepfake methods. Experts advise looking closely at the edges of the face. Does the facial skin tone match the rest of the head or the body? Are the edges of the face sharp or blurry?</div><div><br></div><div>If you suspect video of a person speaking has been doctored, look at their mouth. Do their lip movements match the audio perfectly?</div><div><br></div><div>Ajder suggests looking at the teeth. Are they clear, or are they blurry and somehow not consistent with how they look in real life?</div><div><br></div><div>Cybersecurity company Norton says algorithms might not be sophisticated enough yet to generate individual teeth, so a lack of outlines for individual teeth could be a clue.</div><div><br></div><div>THINK ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE</div><div>Sometimes the context matters. Take a beat to consider whether what you’re seeing is plausible.</div><div><br></div><div>The Poynter journalism website advises that if you see a public figure doing something that seems “exaggerated, unrealistic or not in character,” it could be a deepfake.</div><div><br></div><div>For example, would the pope really be wearing a luxury puffer jacket, as depicted by a notorious fake photo? If he did, wouldn’t there be additional photos or videos published by legitimate sources?</div><div><br></div><div>USING AI TO FIND THE FAKES</div><div>Another approach is to use AI to fight AI.</div><div><br></div><div>Microsoft has developed an authenticator tool that can analyze photos or videos to give a confidence score on whether it’s been manipulated. Chipmaker Intel’s FakeCatcher uses algorithms to analyze an image’s pixels to determine if it’s real or fake.</div><div><br></div><div>There are tools online that promise to sniff out fakes if you upload a file or paste a link to the suspicious material. But some, like Microsoft’s authenticator, are only available to selected partners and not the public. That’s because researchers don’t want to tip off bad actors and give them a bigger edge in the deepfake arms race.</div><div><br></div><div>Open access to detection tools could also give people the impression they are “godlike technologies that can outsource the critical thinking for us” when instead we need to be aware of their limitations, Ajder said.</div><div><br></div><div>THE HURDLES TO FINDING FAKES</div><div>All this being said, artificial intelligence has been advancing with breakneck speed and AI models are being trained on internet data to produce increasingly higher-quality content with fewer flaws.</div><div><br></div><div>That means there’s no guarantee this advice will still be valid even a year from now.</div><div><br></div><div>Experts say it might even be dangerous to put the burden on ordinary people to become digital Sherlocks because it could give them a false sense of confidence as it becomes increasingly difficult, even for trained eyes, to spot deepfakes. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:11:39', '2024-03-21 14:11:39'),
(11675, 11675, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two people died in separate road accidents in Rangunia and Boalkhali upazilas of Chattogram on Thursday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were identified as Mohammad Abdul Hannan, 34, a CNG-run autorickshaw driver and Azizur Rahman, 38, a truck driver.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Rangunia, a fish-laden truck collided with a CNG auto-rickshaw on the Chattogram-Kaptai road at 9:00 am killing the autorickshaw driver on the spot and injuring three passengers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police rushed to the spot and took the injured to the local Upazila Health Complex, said Abdullah Al Mamun, sub-inspector of Rangunia Police Station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two vehicles involved in the accident have been seized but the truck driver fled the spot, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Boalkhali, a truck driver died when his truck overturned in a paddy field on Kanungopara Sreepur Bura Masjid road in Boalkhali early Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The truck lost control and fell into the field beside ther road, said Nur-e-Alam, sub-inspector of Boalkhali Police Station, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the body was taken to Patiya, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:17:31', '2024-03-21 14:17:31'),
(11676, 11676, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes his side stands on a good chance to be a good contender in the World Test Championship if they can continue to keep their winning streak at home soil.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Tigers, which finished at 9th position in the last two cycles, had already won a match at home soil, beating New Zealand in the last year. Before that it beat Afghanistan and Ireland in solitary Test match series, which was not the part of Test Championship.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh are now up for the challenger of Sri Lanka and Hathurusingha believes his charges has the ability to pass this stern test in the upcoming two-match Test series against the visitors.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have high expectations from Test cricket in this cycle,” Hathurusingha said. “We have already played a home series against New Zealand. If we can win most matches at home, then we give ourselves a good chance to be in contention in the World Test Championships’ latter stages. Some of the series coming up are away. They are against higher ranked teams so quite challenging.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Sri Lanka is a formidable, very experienced side. This Test series gives us a good challenge but we are up for it.”</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh received a blow when experienced batter Mushfiqur Rahim was ruled out of the test series because of a thumb injury, sustained during the third ODI.</div><div><br></div><div>Towhid Hridoy, who had already cemented his place in Bangladesh’s white-ball cricket, replaced Mushfiqur in the squad.</div><div><br></div><div>Hathurusingha said Mushfiqur’s experience will be greatly missed but they will back the young players to grab the opportunity.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are going to miss Mushy’s (Mushfiqur) experience. He is in good form. It is very hard to replace this kind of experience straightway,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are going to back our young players. Hridoy is coming in. We also have (Shahadat Hossain) Dipu and Shadman (Islam) in the squad. They have been with the test team lately. It is an exciting time for Bangladesh cricket with so many young players. I will ask them to grab every opportunity.”</div><div><br></div><div>The two teams shared the white-ball trophy with Sri Lanka winning the T20 series by 2-1 and Bangladesh securing ODI series at the margin.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka has never lost a Test match on Bangladeshi soil. In 10 matches, they won seven and drew the rest of the three.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh have won just one Test against Sri Lanka in 2017 in Colombo, which was its 100th test match.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva believes they will be able to keep the winning trend in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our target will be winning the test series and we are upbeat for it,” de Silva said, adding that the experience in his side will give them the edge over Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“In any format of cricket experience matters. we have a lot of senior players in our side; Angelo (Mathews), Dimuth (Karunaratne), Dinesh (Chandimal); yeah we have a good side.” According to BSS reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:20:38', '2024-03-21 14:20:38'),
(11677, 11677, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Hollywood icon Will Smith recently shared his profound appreciation for the Quran, describing the Muslim holy book as “crystal clear” and lauding its simplicity.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In a conversation reported by Al Arabiya, Smith recounted his experience of reading the Quran last Ramadan. “I loved the simplicity; the Quran is so clear; it is crystal clear. It is hard to walk away with misunderstanding,” Smith remarked.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He was moved by the spirit of the Quran, which he found to be “so beautiful and clear.”</div><div><br></div><div>Delving deeper into his spiritual journey, Smith revealed that he has explored the holy texts of Judaism and Christianity as well. He expressed amazement at the deep connections between the Quran, Torah, and Bible.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“I was surprised how it is like one story, from the Torah through the Bible and into the Quran. I never totally understood Abraham as the father and then the split with Isaac and Ishmail and it was beautiful to get the completion of that comprehension,” he shared.</div><div><br></div><div>Smith, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, also opened up about his affinity for the Middle Eastern country and its culture during a podcast with MBC, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>With a touch of humor, Smith, who portrayed the Genie in the live-action movie \"Aladdin,\" quipped: “I think I was a Genie in a past life. I am so at home; I love it here.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:24:25', '2024-03-21 14:24:25'),
(11678, 11678, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said forests cannot be destroyed by building roads or any other infrastructure.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Working together, we can all give a beautiful Bangladesh to the future and present generations by conserving forests, wildlife and biodiversity,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Environment and Forest Minister said these as the chief guest at a discussion programme organised by the Forest Department on Thursday on the occasion of the International Forest Day 2024 with the theme \"Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World\".</div><div><br></div><div>The Forest Minister said that afforestation and monitoring activities are being digitised.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Successful forest monitoring and crime prevention is being done in the Sundarbans through the introduction of smart patrolling system, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mobile apps are being prepared to get tickets and other services online for tourists in the Sundarbans and other protected areas, added Saber.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the existing laws, rules and regulations are being updated to achieve various targets.</div><div><br></div><div>Chief Forest Conservator Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury presided over the occasion whereas Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhana Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun; Aranyak Foundation Chairman Professor Dr. A. J. M. Manjur Rashid and SUFAL Project Director Gobinda Roy spoke among others.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Cheques were distributed to the beneficiaries of social forestry and prizes were distributed to the winners of the \'Tree Identification\' competition held on the occasion of International Forest Day. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:33:17', '2024-03-21 14:33:17'),
(11679, 11679, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia on Thursday announced to join the “drone coalition” to provide drones to Ukraine which has been at war with Russia since 2022.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“This is a really important opportunity for us to continue making our contribution to the effort to have Ukraine stay the course and be able to resolve this conflict on its terms,” Defense Minister Richard Marles, alongside his British counterpart Grant Shapps, told a news conference in Canberra.</div><div><br></div><div>Australia and the UK signed a new defense and security pact where Marles announced Canberra’s decision to join the UK and Latvia in providing drones to Kyiv.</div><div><br></div><div>“Drones are a new factor in that war,” Shapps remarked.</div><div><br></div><div>The British defense chief said investments in drones had a “potential to bring huge technological improvements and advances in drone technology to our home markets as well for defense and for civilian purposes.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Australia and the UK have signed a refreshed Defense and Security Cooperation Agreement, reflecting a renewed focus on the defense partnership between our two nations,” Marles said on X.</div><div><br></div><div>“As the world becomes more complex and uncertain, we must modernize our most important partnerships,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Australia and the UK are also part of a trilateral defense pact with the UK – known as AUKUS – under which Canberra is expected to get three nuclear-powered submarines.</div><div><br></div><div>Canberra has also joined the UK and the US in recent air strikes against Yemen’s Houthis in the Red Sea. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-21 14:36:28', '2024-03-21 14:36:28'),
(11680, 11680, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The U.N. Security Council is set to vote on a resolution demanding a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but the United States warned the measure could hurt negotiations to halt Israeli-Hamas hostilities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The resolution, put forward by the 10 elected council members, is backed by Russia and China, who vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution Friday that supported “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The 22-nation Arab Group at the U.N. issued a statement Friday night appealing to all 15 council members “to act with unity and urgency\" and vote for the resolution \"to halt the bloodshed, preserve human lives and avert further human suffering and destruction.”</div><div><br></div><div>“It is long past time for a cease-fire,\" the Arab Group said. Ramadan began March 10 and ends April 9.</div><div><br></div><div>The council is expected to vote on the resolution Monday morning. The vote was earlier scheduled for Saturday morning, but it was delayed early Saturday, according to a U.N. diplomat.</div><div><br></div><div>Many members are hoping that the U.N.’s most powerful body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, will demand an end to the war that began after Gaza\'s Hamas rulers launched a surprise attack into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then, the Security Council has adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, but none has called for a cease-fire.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed during the fighting, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Gaza also faces a dire humanitarian emergency, with a report from an international authority on hunger warning this week that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza and that escalation of the war could push half of the territory’s 2.3 million people to the brink of starvation.</div><div><br></div><div>The brief resolution scheduled for a vote Monday demands an immediate humanitarian cease-fire for Ramadan “leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.” It also demands “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages ” and emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council after Friday’s vote that the resolution’s current text “fails to support sensitive diplomacy in the region. Worse, it could actually give Hamas an excuse to walk away from the deal on the table.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We should not move forward with any resolution that jeopardizes the ongoing negotiations” being carried out by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, she said, warning that if the diplomacy isn\'t supported, \"we may once again find this council deadlocked.”</div><div><br></div><div>“I truly hope that that does not come about,” Thomas-Greenfield said.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States has vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, the most recent an Arab-backed measure. That measure was supported by 13 members with one abstention in a Feb. 20 vote.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution in late October calling for pauses in the fighting to deliver aid, the protection of civilians and a halt to arming Hamas. They said it did not reflect global calls for a cease-fire.</div><div><br></div><div>They again vetoed the U.S. resolution on Friday, calling it ambiguous and saying it was not the direct demand to end the fighting that much of the world seeks.</div><div><br></div><div>A key issue was the unusual language that said the Security Council “determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire.” The phrasing was not a straightforward “demand” or “call” to halt hostilities.</div><div><br></div><div>The vote in the Security Council became another showdown involving world powers that are locked in tense disputes elsewhere, with the United States taking criticism for not being tough enough against its ally Israel, even as tensions between the two countries rise.</div><div><br></div><div>Before the vote, Russia\'s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate cease-fire, but he criticized the diluted language, which he called philosophical wording that does not belong in a U.N. resolution.</div><div><br></div><div>He accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “deliberately misleading the international community” about calling for a cease-fire.</div><div><br></div><div>“This was some kind of an empty rhetorical exercise,” Nebenzia said. “The American product is exceedingly politicized, the sole purpose of which is to help to play to the voters, to throw them a bone in the form of some kind of a mention of a cease-fire in Gaza … and to ensure the impunity of Israel, whose crimes in the draft are not even assessed.”</div><div><br></div><div>China’s U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, said the U.S. proposal set preconditions and fell far short of expectations of council members and the broader international community.</div><div><br></div><div>“If the U.S. was serious about a cease-fire, it wouldn’t have vetoed time and again multiple council resolutions,” he said. “It wouldn’t have taken such a detour and played a game of words while being ambiguous and evasive on critical issues.”</div><div><br></div><div>The vote in the 15-member council was 11 members in favor and three against, including Algeria, the Arab representative on the council. There was one abstention, from Guyana.</div><div><br></div><div>After the vote, Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia and China of vetoing the resolution for “deeply cynical reasons,” saying they could not bring themselves to condemn Hamas’ terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, which the resolution would have done for the first time.</div><div><br></div><div>A second “petty” reason, she said, is that “Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States, because it would rather see us fail than to see this council succeed.” She accused Russia of again putting “politics over progress” and having “the audacity and hypocrisy to throw stones” after launching an unwarranted invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The resolution did reflect a shift by the United States, which has found itself at odds with much of the world as even allies of Israel push for an unconditional end to fighting.</div><div><br></div><div>In previous resolutions, the U.S. has closely intertwined calls for a cease-fire with demands for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. This resolution, using wording that’s open to interpretation, continued to link the two issues, but not as firmly. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 08:21:54', '2024-03-23 08:21:54'),
(11681, 11681, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Following the Princess of Wales\' statement that she had cancer, King Charles said he was \"so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Charles, who was also diagnosed with cancer following a treatment for an enlarged prostate, is still in \"closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law,\" according to Buckingham Palace, reports CNN.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Both Their Majesties will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time,\" said the palace.</div><div><br></div><div>The princess\'s health status was updated following her successful operation on her abdomen on January 16. She stayed in a London hospital for 13 days after the operation and, per the doctor\'s suggestion, has been away from the public eye during her recovery, the report said.</div><div><br></div><div>Kate was seen in public for the first time since January, when she went to a farm store with her husband Prince William last weekend. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 08:45:45', '2024-03-23 08:45:45'),
(11682, 11682, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Eleven people have been detained after gunmen stormed a concert hall in Moscow and opened fire on the crowd, the head of Russia\'s Federal Security Service told President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, according to Russian state news agency Tass.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>At least 93 people were killed in the attack, including three children, Russian authorities said Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Images shared by Russian state media Saturday showed a fleet of emergency vehicles still gathered outside the ruins of Crocus City Hall, a shopping mall and music venue with a capacity of more than 6,000 people in Krasnogorsk, on Moscow\'s western edge.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday\'s attack came just days after President Vladimir Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide. The attack was the deadliest in Russia in years and came as the country\'s fight in Ukraine dragged into a third year.</div><div><br></div><div>Videos posted online showed gunmen in the venue shooting civilians at point-blank range. The roof of the theatre, where crowds had gathered Friday for a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic, collapsed in the early hours of Saturday morning as firefighters spent hours fighting a fire which erupted during the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Four of those detained were directly involved in the attack, Tass said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on affiliated social media channels, although neither the Kremlin nor Russian security services have officially assigned blame for the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, the Islamic State\'s affiliate in Afghanistan said it had attacked a large gathering of \"Christians\" in Krasnogorsk. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the claim.</div><div><br></div><div>However, a U.S. intelligence official told The Associated Press that U.S. intelligence agencies had confirmed that IS was responsible for the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The official said U.S. intelligence agencies had gathered information in recent weeks that the IS branch was planning an attack in Moscow, and that U.S. officials had privately shared the intelligence earlier this month with Russian officials.</div><div><br></div><div>The official was briefed on the matter but was not authorized to publicly discuss the intelligence information and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.</div><div><br></div><div>Messages of outrage, shock and support for those affected have since streamed in from around the world.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, the U.N. Security Council condemned \"the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack\" and underlined the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the terrorist attack \"in the strongest possible terms,\" his spokesman said.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, in Moscow itself, hundreds of people stood in line Saturday morning to donate blood and plasma, Russia\'s health ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin, who extended his grip on Russia for another six years in this week\'s presidential vote after a sweeping crackdown on dissent, had publicly denounced the Western warnings of a potential terrorist attack as an attempt to intimidate Russians. \"All that resembles open blackmail and an attempt to frighten and destabilize our society,\" he said earlier this week.</div><div><br></div><div>In October 2015, a bomb planted by the Islamic State downed a Russian passenger plane over Sinai, killing all 224 people on board, most of them Russian vacation-goers returning from Egypt. The group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, also has claimed several attacks in Russia\'s volatile Caucasus and other regions in the past years. It recruited fighters from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 09:33:08', '2024-03-23 09:33:08'),
(11683, 11683, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure there is safety and security in the Indian ocean, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, said on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch on the hijacked Bangladeshi vessel MV Abdullah and it has been taken to Somalia, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He was speaking on the 100 days of the Indian Navy’s operations for anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, there were 54-55 anti-piracy ships everyday and now it has gone up to 64-65, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Indian Navy is very clear about its job. This is the Indian Ocean, named after us, and if we don\'t take action, then who will?\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 09:40:33', '2024-03-23 09:40:33'),
(11684, 11684, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A chemical warehouse of a shoe factory was gutted in a fire that broke out in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area early Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The fire broke out at the chemical warehouse of a shoe factory named Asia Rubber Industry around 3:30 am and engulfed it, said deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Dhaka division) Saleh Uddin.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, nine firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control around 6 am.</div><div><br></div><div>The firefighting units are working to fully douse the fire.</div><div><br></div><div>“It took time to extinguish the fire as there were plastic materials inside the warehouse. Plastic and adhesive used for making shoes were stocked in the warehouse,” Saleh Uddin said.</div><div><br></div><div>The firefighting units struggled a lot to reach the spot due to narrow roads, he said, adding, “We also faced difficulties in bringing water due to scarcity of water resources in the area.”</div><div><br></div><div>However, the reason behind the fire could not be known immediately and a probe committee will be formed to identify the reason.</div><div><br></div><div>The extent of losses caused by the fire will be known later.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2019, 67 people were killed and 41 were injured in a devastating fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse and raged through four other adjacent buildings in the Chawkbazar area. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 10:00:29', '2024-03-23 10:00:29'),
(11685, 11685, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh has ranked 26th among 30 countries with the highest Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in the World.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to finance website, Insider Monkey, Bangladesh has a per capita GDP of $9.41 thousand based on purchasing power parity. In 2021, the country\'s GDP was little more than $1 trillion. In three years, it has risen to $1.6 trillion, making Bangladesh one of the world\'s fastest-growing economies today. GDP (PPP): $1,573,205,815,650, as per Insider Monkey.</div><div><br></div><div>Top 10 countries with the highest purchasing power parity in the world:</div><div>1 China</div><div>GDP (PPP): $35,102,468,294,640</div><div><br></div><div>2. United States</div><div>GDP (PPP): $28,212,584,701,080</div><div><br></div><div>3. India</div><div>GDP (PPP): $13,837,886,095,650</div><div><br></div><div>4. Japan</div><div>GDP (PPP): $6,693,210,775,800</div><div><br></div><div>5. Germany</div><div>GDP (PPP): $5,737,921,135,920</div><div><br></div><div>6. Russia</div><div>GDP (PPP): $5,180,512,624,880</div><div><br></div><div>7. Indonesia</div><div>GDP (PPP): $4,706,381,666,640</div><div><br></div><div>8. Brazil</div><div>GDP (PPP): $4,533,438,662,610</div><div><br></div><div>9. France</div><div>GDP (PPP): $4,161,339,481,020</div><div><br></div><div>10. United Kingdom</div><div>GDP (PPP): $3,967,703,923,320</div><div><br></div><div>What is PPP?</div><div>Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is a macroeconomic concept used to compare the relative value of currencies between different countries. Value refers to how much purchasing a currency can do compared to different countries. So, to find that out, economists apply PPP, which is the exchange rate at which one country’s currency would be converted into another to purchase an identical basket of goods and services. The PPP metric is usually used to measure economic productivity and standards of living between countries, according to Insider Monkey.</div><div><br></div><div>In other words, utilising purchasing power parity, GDP is translated to a common baseline currency (international dollars), allowing for more realistic comparisons of nations and their worldwide positions.</div><div><br></div><div>Methodology</div><div>For its list of the ‘30 Countries with the Highest Purchasing Power Parity in the World’, Insider Monkey calculated the PPP using the GDP per capita by PPP of the 50 top countries with the largest economies in the world and their population. It then shortlisted the top 30 and compiled the list in ascending order. The base data for GDP per capita and population has been sourced from the International Monetary Fund and the CIA’s database and is accurate to 2024, the finance website said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 10:19:02', '2024-03-23 10:19:02'),
(11686, 11686, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A fire that broke out on the ninth floor of AWR Tower in the capital’s Gulshan was doused on Saturday afternoon.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The fire broke out at Purnima Restaurant on the ninth floor of the 18-storey around 4:35 pm, said Tanha Bin Zasim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Control Room (media).</div><div><br></div><div>Three firefighting units from Tejgaon Fire Station doused the fire at 4:50 pm, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>No casualties were reported in the fire incident, he also said.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 13:11:22', '2024-03-23 13:11:22'),
(11687, 11687, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the main objective of BNP\'s call to boycott Indian products is to destabilise the country\'s market and increase prices of essentials so that people suffer.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said many products in Bangladesh come from India, and some border trade also takes place legally across thousands of kilometres of border.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"You will eat onions that come from India, your leader will wear sarees from India, your field-level female leaders will also wear Indian sarees, you will eat iftar that has beef that comes from India, you will go to India for medical treatment, and you call for boycott of Indian products — these are nothing but hypocrisy. The real objective of BNP is to increase the price of products by destabilising the market in the country,\" Hasan said.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister made the remarks when reporters asked him about the call for a boycott of Indian products by some groups, including BNP.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He spoke as the chief guest at the district development coordination meeting at the Chattogram Circuit House, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said that BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has burnt his shawl along with those who called for a boycott of Indian products. \"Actually, I don\'t know if the shawl was bought from India or from Bangabazar.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>With call to boycott Indian products<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 13:23:40', '2024-03-23 13:23:40'),
(11688, 11688, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Sri Lanka bowled out Bangladesh for 188 runs to take a 92-run lead after the first innings of the first Test in Sylhet on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Vishwa Fernando picked up 4-48 for the tourists while Bangladeshi nightwatchman Taijul Islam top-scored for Bangladesh with 47. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 14:06:11', '2024-03-23 14:06:11'),
(11689, 11689, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>China’s coast guard used water cannons against a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea, badly damaging one of them and injuring its crew, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The skirmish took place days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Manila to reiterate Washington’s “ironclad” support against Chinese influence in the disputed region that Beijing claims almost in its entirety.</div><div><br></div><div>China’s military activity in the resource-rich territory has been increasing over the past few years, with the Chinese regularly encroaching on the Philippine part of the waters, the West Philippine Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>The Unaizah May 4 supply vessel was on its way to Ayungin Shoal — the Filipino name for the Second Thomas Shoal, an outcrop garrisoned by a unit of Philippine troops — when China’s coast guard and maritime militia “executed dangerous maneuvers against the routine RoRe (rotation and resupply) mission” and two Philippine coast guard vessels that came to its rescue, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Their reckless and dangerous actions culminated with the water cannoning of UM4 causing severe damage to the vessel and injuries to Filipinos onboard.”</div><div><br></div><div>The injured personnel were transferred to one of the PCG vessels, which towed the UM4 back to land.</div><div><br></div><div>China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said that the Philippine vessels had forcibly intruded into the area “deliberately disrupting the peace and stability” of the maritime region.</div><div><br></div><div>“Despite multiple warnings and route controls from the Chinese side, the Filipino supply ship forcefully entered the area. The China Coast Guard lawfully and professionally implemented regulation, interception, and expulsion,” Gan said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Philippine vessels have been regularly attacked by Chinese ships in the parts of the South China Sea that are internationally recognized as belonging to the Philippines.</div><div><br></div><div>In a rare announcement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said on Saturday that its chairperson and the national security adviser were going to meet the executive secretary and the National Security Cluster on Monday “for purposes of making recommendations to the President.”</div><div><br></div><div>The latest in a string of maritime clashes between the two countries follows Blinken’s assertion to Philippine authorities that the disputed waterways are critical not only to the security of the Philippines but also the US.</div><div><br></div><div>“That’s why we stand with the Philippines and stand by our ironclad defense commitments, including under the mutual defense treaty,” he told reporters in Manila earlier this week.</div><div><br></div><div>The Philippines is Washington’s key security partner in Asia under a decades-long alliance and the 1951 treaty that obliges the US to defend its ally in the case of external attack.</div><div><br></div><div>In the past two years, the partnership has expanded under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who in February last year permitted American troops to increase their footprint in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>American troops have been patrolling the South China Sea with Philippine forces since November, despite protests from Beijing, which says the US is not a party to the maritime dispute. - Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 14:46:54', '2024-03-23 14:46:54'),
(11690, 11690, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>During Ramadan, a special iftar initiative in West Bengal brings Muslims and Hindus together to restore social cohesion and build mutual trust, where it has been eroded by communal polarization along religious lines.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Muslims make up nearly a third of the state’s 100 million population and have been present in the region since the 13th century, making significant contributions to Bengali socio-linguistic identity, literature and culture.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bengal Sultanate played a dominant role in large parts of the eastern subcontinent between the 14th and 16th centuries, and under Mughal rule until the early 1800s the region became globally recognized for its textile and shipbuilding industries.</div><div><br></div><div>For the past decade, however, the importance of history and Muslim heritage in the state and across India has been undermined, accompanied by tensions and riots ignited by majoritarian policies of the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party, which rose to power in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2017, incidents of communal violence between Hindus and the Muslim minority started to emerge also in West Bengal.</div><div><br></div><div>That was when a group of Muslims and Hindus started the Know Your Neighbor initiative to promote social cohesion in Bengal.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Reyaz, assistant professor at Aliah University in Kolkata and co-convener of KYN, told Arab News that growing religious polarization and prejudices against Muslims were the main reason they got together to address it.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the context of the rising communal polarization this initiative was important,” he told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“I felt, as a citizen, that I should do something to bring understanding between Hindus and Muslims. I joined as a volunteer.”</div><div><br></div><div>KYN members have been curating meetings, discussions and heritage walks helping Hindus and Muslims meet each other. During the month of Ramadan, regular interfaith iftars take the center stage of their program.</div><div><br></div><div>“‘Dosti ki iftari’ is a gesture and initiative where Ramadan becomes a platform where all come together to assert their togetherness,” Reyaz said. “Ramadan becomes an occasion to assert the pluralistic traditions of India.”</div><div><br></div><div>The meaning of the word “dosti” is “is all about trust and kinship,” said Espita Halder, a literature professor at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University who has been a KYN volunteer since its establishment.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think that is what we need now; to create kinship with our neighbors. Without this feeling of kinship the idea of India will fall apart,” she told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“During ‘dosti ki iftari,’ people from different sections of the society come and spend some time together ... it’s a fightback from below against the divisive politics.”</div><div><br></div><div>The KYN iftars are usually gatherings of some 100 people, most of whom are non-Muslims.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are coming from different colleges and institutes, so that they carry the message and spread the message of love, peaceful coexistence, interactive multiculturalism,” said Sabir Ahamed, researcher and fellow at the Pratichi Institute, who is also a main organizer of KYN.</div><div><br></div><div>“We invite our guests, break fast together, and give the message that to reduce disparity, to reduce intolerance, we need to interact more. That is the main purpose of this.”</div><div><br></div><div>It is also a platform to tackle the fear of the other.</div><div><br></div><div>“In life, nothing needs to be feared. It needs to be understood. Islamophobia and all that is growing because people are made to fear the other religion, fear the other community. Once they get exposure this fear goes away,” said Madhuri Katti, educator and writer.</div><div><br></div><div>“We get good people coming and sharing their stories ... Emotional connection between communities is very important. Otherwise, empathy does not come.” - Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 14:49:03', '2024-03-23 14:49:03'),
(11691, 11691, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Oscar winner Cillian Murphy will be reprising his fan-favourite role of crime boss Tom Shelby from \"Peaky Blinders\" in a standalone feature film, show creator Steven Knight has confirmed.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The series, about the titular Peaky Blinders crime gang in the aftermath of the First World War, had ended with its sixth season run in April 2022 but Knight has always maintained that he would like to continue the story \"in another form\".</div><div><br></div><div>At the premiere of his latest BBC drama \"This Town\", Knight told British news outlet Birmingham World that Murphy would \"definitely\" be returning as Shelby for the movie. He also revealed that filming will go on floors the coming September.</div><div><br></div><div>“He [Cillian Murphy] definitely is returning for it. We’re shooting it in September just down the road in Digbeth,” Knight confirmed.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s no surprise that Murphy is returning as the gangster Tommy Shelby for the ‘Peaky Blinders’ movie. Over various occasions in the past, the ‘Oppenheimer’ star has expressed his desire to star in the ‘Peaky Blinders’ film provided that the script meets his standards, because even after the series concluded, he believed that there was more to tell.</div><div><br></div><div>In a conversation with Rolling Stone U.K last year, Murphy talked about the idea of a ‘Peaky Blinders’ movie. He had stated, “If there’s more story there, I’d love to do it. But it has to be right. Steve Knight wrote 36 hours of television, and we left on such a high. I’m really proud of that last series. So, it would have to feel legitimate and justified to do more.”</div><div><br></div><div>As of now, we are not aware of when the movie will be airing. But it’s expected to be screened sometime next year. Other than Murphy, it’s unclear as to whether we will see familiar faces or if new faces would be roped in. But, it’s only a matter of time when we will know.</div><div><br></div><div>Originally premiering on BBC, the popularity of “Peaky Blinders” soared when it landed on Netflix. The series finale aired in April 2022, yet Knight’s intentions to carry on the story in a movie were always transparent. - Agencies</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 15:18:23', '2024-03-23 15:18:23');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11692, 11692, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is scheduled to arrive on Monday on a four-day visit demonstrating the strong relations that Bangladesh and Bhutan have developed steadily since 1971.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the First Lady will receive the king amid gun salute and guard of honor.</div><div><br></div><div>The king is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport 10am on Monday by a special flight, a senior official told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, the king will go to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday afternoon, the Bhutanese King will have a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have tete-a-tete (one-to-one) meeting, too.</div><div><br></div><div>The two sides are likely to sign a number of MoUs after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the king at his place of residence same day before the meeting with the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the king will visit National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.</div><div><br></div><div>Together with the president and prime minister, the king will attend the ceremony at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.</div><div><br></div><div>He will plant a sapling there.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn &amp; Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>He will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and the first lady.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30pm on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and dinner in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, the Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, Queen of Bhutan and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a \"close friend\" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 15:21:59', '2024-03-23 15:21:59'),
(11693, 11693, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A former Filipino congressman accused of masterminding the killings of a provincial governor and several others has been arrested in East Timor and will be deported to the Philippines, Philippine justice officials said on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police arrested Arnolfo Teves Jr. while he was playing at a golf driving range on Thursday in East Timor’s capital of Dili, where he has tried to seek asylum, the Philippine Department of Justice said.&nbsp; His arrest had been sought through an Interpol red notice asking police worldwide to locate and apprehend him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teves is facing murder charges in connection with the killings of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight other people, including some seeking aid at his home in Pamplona town in March last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 17 others, including a doctor and two army soldiers, were wounded in the attack, police</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">said then. At least six men armed with assault rifles and wearing military camouflage and bullet-resistant vests walked calmly into Degamo’s residential compound.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They opened fire in an attack that was captured on security cameras.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shooters fled in three SUVs, and authorities later announced the capture of several suspects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teves denied any involvement in the killing of Degamo and the other victims and said without elaborating that he was set up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The killings refocused attention on the country’s bloody political conflicts, which have been exacerbated by the existence of private armies and large numbers of illegal firearms, especially in the countryside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said then that the attack on Degamo, who backed his presidential candidacy, was “purely political.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marcos commended Philippine law enforcers and their international counterparts for the arrest of Teves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said his administration would work to bring him back to the country and “spare no effort in ensuring that justice will prevail in this case.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Teves’s apprehension “is a testament to the power of international cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It sends a clear message that no terrorist can evade justice and that nations stand united in safeguarding the safety and security of their citizens.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Remulla asked Teves to face trial without conditions and “face the courts squarely.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teves has separately been implicated in the killings of three people in 2019 in Negros Oriental and violations of the country’s gun and explosives law after authorities found assault weapons and ammunition in his family’s residential compound.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Crimes and decades-long insurgencies were some of the daunting problems inherited by Marcos.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In one of the country’s deadliest episodes of political violence, nearly 200 armed followers led by members of a powerful political clan blocked a convoy of a rival political family in southern Maguindanao province ahead of local elections in 2009.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The gunmen then led the 58 victims, including 32 media workers, to a nearby hilltop, where all were gunned down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A court convicted detained key members of the Ampatuan family a decade later, but many suspects in the attack remain at large. - AP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 15:28:07', '2024-03-23 15:28:07'),
(11694, 11694, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Daesh released on Saturday a photo of what it said were the four attackers behind a shooting rampage that killed at least 143 people in a concert hall near Moscow on Friday, the militant group’s Amaq news agency said on Telegram.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“The attack comes within the context of a raging war between Daesh and countries fighting Islam,” Amaq added in a statement citing security sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian authorities said on Saturday they had arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with the attack. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 15:39:15', '2024-03-23 15:39:15'),
(11695, 11695, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that authorities have detained 11 people in the attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people and left the sprawling venue a smoldering ruin.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In an address to the nation, Putin called it “a bloody, barbaric terrorist act” and said all four people who were directly involved had been taken into custody. He suggested they had been trying to cross the border into Ukraine which, he said, tried to create a “window” to help them escape.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine has strongly denied any involvement in the attack. Putin said Saturday that additional security measures have been imposed throughout the country and declared March 24 a day of national mourning.</div><div><br></div><div>The Islamic State group’s Afghanistan branch claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack in a statement posted on affiliated channels on social media. A U.S. intelligence official told The Associated Press that U.S. agencies had confirmed that the group was responsible for the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The attack, which was the deadliest in Russia in years, came just days after Putin cemented his grip on power in a highly orchestrated electoral landslide and as the country’s war in Ukraine dragged into a third year.</div><div><br></div><div>Some Russian lawmakers pointed the finger at Ukraine immediately after the attack. But Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, denied any involvement.</div><div><br></div><div>“Ukraine has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Everything in this war will be decided only on the battlefield.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine’s foreign ministry also denied that the country had any involvement and accused Moscow of using the attack to try to stoke fervor for its war efforts.</div><div><br></div><div>“We consider such accusations to be a planned provocation by the Kremlin to further fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society, create conditions for increased mobilization of Russian citizens to participate in the criminal aggression against our country and discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community,” a ministry said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Images shared by Russian state media Saturday showed a fleet of emergency vehicles still gathered outside the ruins of Crocus City Hall, which had a maximum capacity of more than 6,000 people.</div><div><br></div><div>Videos posted online showed gunmen in the venue shooting civilians at point-blank range. Russian news reports cited authorities and witnesses as saying the attackers threw explosive devices that started the fire. The roof of the theater, where crowds had gathered for a performance by the Russian rock band Picnic, collapsed early Saturday as firefighters spent hours fighting the blaze.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement posted by its Aamaq news agency, the IS\'s Afghanistan affiliate said it had attacked a large gathering of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk. It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the claim.</div><div><br></div><div>A U.S. intelligence official told the AP that American intelligence agencies had gathered information in recent weeks that the IS branch was planning an attack in Moscow, and that U.S. officials had privately shared the intelligence earlier this month with Russian officials.</div><div><br></div><div>The official was briefed on the matter but was not authorized to publicly discuss the intelligence information and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.</div><div><br></div><div>Messages of outrage, shock and support for the victims and their families have streamed in from around the world.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, the U.N. Security Council condemned “the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack” and underlined the need for the perpetrators to be held accountable. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the terrorist attack “in the strongest possible terms,” his spokesman said.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile hundreds of people stood in line on Saturday in Moscow to donate blood and plasma, Russia’s health ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin, who extended his grip on Russia for another six years in this week’s presidential vote after a sweeping crackdown on dissent, had publicly denounced the Western warnings of a potential terrorist attack as an attempt to intimidate Russians. “All that resembles open blackmail and an attempt to frighten and destabilize our society,” he said earlier this week.</div><div><br></div><div>In October 2015, a bomb planted by IS downed a Russian passenger plane over Sinai, killing all 224 people on board, most of them Russian vacation-goers returning from Egypt. The group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, also has claimed several attacks in Russia’s volatile Caucasus and other regions in the past years. It recruited fighters from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-23 15:42:50', '2024-03-23 15:42:50'),
(11696, 11696, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Owner of the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah that was hijacked by Somali pirates on March 12, does not support armed operation to free the ship and its crew.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Mizanul Islam, media adviser of the owner KSRM Group, said that they are not in favour of any armed operation, considering the safety of the sailors.</div><div><br></div><div>Rather, they are in favour of accepting conditions to rescue the crew, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The information that the European Union and the Indian Navy are preparing to free MV Abdullah is not correct, the media adviser informed.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question from UNB’s Chattogram correspondent, Mizanul said that the Somali pirates who hijacked the ship have already contacted them, though they are yet to demand any ransom.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hope to rescue the ship, free 23 sailors, and bring them back home through discussions. We are working on that end. In this case, the company is trying to utilise its previous experience,” he informed.</div><div><br></div><div>He said family members of the crew members are in touch with them.</div><div><br></div><div>Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, director general (DG) of Department of Shipping, said that no one can conduct an operation on the hijacked ship without permission from Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Discussions are underway to free the ship and crew from the pirates and it will take some time, the DG said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also informed that the presence of the EU navy’s ship won’t impact the discussion.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 12, a group of Somali pirates seized control of the Bangladesh-flagged cargo vessel when it was carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE.</div><div><br></div><div>MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines, a sister concern of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 20, the pirates made the first contact with the owner of the vessel. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 08:27:37', '2024-03-24 08:27:37'),
(11697, 11697, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicts rain or thundershower in parts of the country over 24 hours starting from 9:00 am on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a BMD bulletin.</div><div><br></div><div>Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Day and night temperatures may rise by 1-2°C over the country, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Tariful Islam Newaz, meteorologist at the BMD, said they recorded 28 mm rainfall in Dhaka over six hours, from 12 am to 6 am.</div><div><br></div><div>The capital Dhaka may experience rain in the next 24 hours, starting from 9:00 am, he said, adding that the highest 63 mm rainfall was recorded in Kishoreganj’s Nikli over 24 hours, till 6 am today, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>Country’s highest temperature, 33.8 degree Celsius, was recorded in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Khulna’s Mongla respectively on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 08:38:15', '2024-03-24 08:38:15'),
(11698, 11698, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday deplored that the world&nbsp; is watching killings in Gaza by Israeli forces without taking any effective step to stop the tragedy.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister made the comments when visiting Secretary General of the Fateh Movement (Ruling Party) of Palestine Lt. General Jebreel Alrjoub called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters after the call on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nazrul said the prime minister reiterated her unequivocal support for the Palestinians and condemned the killing of thousands in Gaza, including women and children, and attacks on hospitals by the Israeli forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also expressed her condolence for the deaths caused by the Israeli forces in Gaza and demanded an immediate ceasefire there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that Bangladesh sent relief assistance for Palestine people twice through Egypt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I always raise my voice in international forums for the Palestinian people whenever I get a chance,” the PM was quoted as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She recalled the visit of Yasser Arafat in Bangladesh in 1997 during the Awami League regime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister came down heavily on the human rights organisations for their stance to remain mum regarding the attack of Israeli forces in Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This is one kind of hypocrisy,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina urged the Muslim Ummah to remain united in their support for the Palestinians.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This should be done for the sake of protecting the Muslim Ummah and ease the misery of the Palestinians,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection she called for implementation of the UN resolution that states that East Jerusalem will be the capital of the Palestine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fateh Movement leader Lt. General Jebreel Alrjoub thanked the prime minister for her unconditional support to the Palestinians and speaking strongly for them in international forums.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“The war (in Gaza) must be stopped immediately and the International community should take quick steps for this,” he was quoted as telling the PM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that acute crisis of food is prevailing in Gaza and the people are starving.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Food assistance is urgently needed there,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that recognition of Palestine state is the only way for a solution to this crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that there are 400 million people living in Arab countries, but they are not united.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If they become united then the torture and oppression over the Palestinians would be stopped easily. The Arab world has power and resources and just a unity among them is needed to stop the Israeli aggression,” the general said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that regional stability and global peace will never be established if this war is not stopped.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He thanked Bangladesh for expending its support to South Africa\'s application against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning Israel\'s violation of the Genocide Convention regarding the Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also handed over a letter of Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas to the PM Hasina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 09:36:03', '2024-03-24 09:36:03'),
(11699, 11699, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday (March 24, 2024) said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are in discussion to that end,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a burn unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He also briefed about the visit of the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.</div><div><br></div><div>Three new MoUs will be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan while another MoU on cultural exchange will be renewed, said the Foreign Minister.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The King, along with Bhutanese Foreign, Health, Industry and Commerce Ministers and the Bhutanese Queen, is scheduled to arrive on Monday morning on a four-day visit demonstrating the strong relations that Bangladesh and Bhutan have developed steadily since 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan,\" Minister Hasan said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the First Lady will receive the King amid gun salute and guard of honour.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The King is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10 am on Monday by a special flight, a senior official told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, he will go to Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday afternoon, the Bhutanese King will have a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have a one-to-one meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The two sides are likely to sign a number of MoUs after the meeting.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the King at his place of residence the same day before the meeting with the Prime Minister.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the King will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.</div><div><br></div><div>The King will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>He will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and the first lady.</div><div><br></div><div>The King will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and dinner in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, the Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the King will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a \"close friend\" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 09:57:46', '2024-03-24 09:57:46'),
(11700, 11700, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The total population in Bangladesh reached 17,15,90,000 till 1 January this year based on the Population and Housing Census 2022.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Out of the population, 8,73,90,000 are women and 8,42,00,000 are men.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) disclosed the data while officially releasing the “Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023: Key Findings” at the BBS headquarters in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The country’s population rose by 17,61,089, while as per the last national report based on the 2022 census, the population was 16,98,28,911.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 10:10:03', '2024-03-24 10:10:03'),
(11701, 11701, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prayers and songs of remembrance carried across the grassy field where 800 Muscogee warriors, women and children perished in 1814 while defending their homeland from United States forces.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Members of the Muscogee Creek Nation returned to Alabama this weekend for a memorial service on the 210th anniversary of Horseshoe Bend. The battle was the single bloodiest day of conflict for Native Americans with U.S. troops and paved the way for white settler expansion in the Southeast and the tribe\'s eventual forced removal from the region.</div><div><br></div><div>“We don’t come here to celebrate. We come here to commemorate, to remember the lives and stories of those who fought and honor their sacrifice,” David Hill, principal chief of the Muscogee Creek Nation, said at the Saturday ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>One thousand warriors, along with women and children from six tribal towns, had taken refuge on the site, named for the sharp bend of the Tallapoosa River. They were attacked on March 27, 1814, by a force of 3,000 led by future U.S. President Andrew Jackson.</div><div><br></div><div>“They were going to fight to the end. The warriors were going to do what they could do to protect the women and children, protect themselves, protect our freedom, what we had here,” Hill said.</div><div><br></div><div>Leaders of the Muscogee Nation on Saturday placed a wreath on the battle site. The wreath was red, in honor of the warriors who were known as Red Sticks. It was decorated with six eagle feathers in recognition of the six tribal towns that had taken refuge there.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite signing a treaty with the United States, the Muscogee were eventually forcibly removed from the Southeast to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears. Some of their descendants made the journey back to the land their ancestors called home to attend the remembrance ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>“Hearing the wind and the trees and imagining those that came before us, they heard those same things. It wakes something up in your DNA,” Dode Barnett, a member of the Muscogee Nation Tribal Council, said. Barnett said their story is one of survival.</div><div><br></div><div>RaeLynn Butler, the Muscogee Nation’s secretary of culture and humanities, has visited the site multiple times but said it is emotional each time.</div><div><br></div><div>“When you hear the language and you hear the songs, it\'s a feeling that is just overwhelming. Painful. Even though it\'s hard to be here, it\'s important that we share this history,” Butler said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Muscogee Nation has announced plans to try to place a permanent memorial at the site. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 10:23:49', '2024-03-24 10:23:49'),
(11702, 11702, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">More than 130 students abducted by gunmen from a school in Nigeria earlier this month have been released “unharmed” days before a ransom deadline, say officials.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Government spokesman Abdulaziz Abdulaziz told Al Jazeera on Sunday it “took a lot of backchannel engagement” to release the students abducted on March 7 in Kuriga, a dusty town in Kaduna state – the first mass kidnapping in Nigeria since 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>“[All] of them were released and all of them were fine,” he said, giving the official number of freed students at 137 – much lower than the figure of 286 students and one staff member in most media reports. He claimed the media reports were wrong but did not give further details.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Sunday, Uba Sani, governor of the northwestern state of Kaduna, said in a statement the hostages were freed after “security operations” coordinated by the country’s national security adviser.</div><div><br></div><div>“We … thank all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children. This is indeed a day of joy,” the governor said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Nigerian Army also deserves special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements can be degraded and security restored in our communities,” Sani added in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Abductions of students from schools in Nigeria by rampaging armed groups with no ideological affiliation are common. On March 9, 15 students were kidnapped from a school in the village of Gidan Bakuso in Sokoto state while at least 87 people, including women, were taken captives in Kajuru area of Kaduna on March 18.</div><div><br></div><div>In recent years, the abductions have been concentrated in the country’s northwestern and central regions, where dozens of armed groups often target villagers and travellers for ransom, forcing families and communities to sell land, cattle and grain to secure their loved ones’ release – or in some cases, crowdfunding on social media sites.</div><div><br></div><div>The Kaduna gunmen last week demanded a total of 1 billion naira ($680,000) for the release of the children and staff and vowed to kill the victims if the payments were not made within 20 days. But Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said he would “not pay a dime” after the practice was outlawed in 2022 in a bid to clamp down on the attackers. Ransom payers face a 15-year sentence.</div><div><br></div><div>Abductions at Nigerian schools were first carried out by armed group Boko Haram, which seized 276 students from a girls’ school in Chibok in northeastern Borno state in 2014. Some of the girls have never been released, most of them forcefully married to the fighters.</div><div><br></div><div>In another mass kidnapping in July 2021, gunmen took more than 150 students in a raid. The students were reunited months later with their families after they paid ransoms.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of some 1,400 children have been abducted since 2014. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 10:41:40', '2024-03-24 10:41:40'),
(11703, 11703, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian airlines have offered free flights to victims of the attack and their loved ones, as well as relatives of the victims.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to Rosaviation, Aeroflot, North Wind, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, NordStar, Red Wings and Smartavia responded to the tragedy.</div><div><br></div><div>Flights are being offered to Moscow or from the capital. Aeroflot, for example, will issue free tickets based on the list of victims and dead from the Moscow Region Ministry of Health. NordStar, among other things, offered assistance in transporting the dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Aeroexpress said it will compensate the cost of travel on trains and express buses to the families and friends of those killed and injured. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 10:55:23', '2024-03-24 10:55:23'),
(11704, 11704, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank (BB) and Prime Bank PLC have joined hands to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An agreement in this regard was signed between the central bank and Prime Bank at the central bank headquarters recently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under this agreement, the central bank will provide a guarantee against its interest-free refinance of Tk 3,000 crore to encourage small women entrepreneurs. - Bangladesh Bank (BB) and Prime Bank PLC have joined hands to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An agreement in this regard was signed between the central bank and Prime Bank at the central bank headquarters recently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under this agreement, the central bank will provide a guarantee against its interest-free refinance of Tk 3,000 crore to encourage small women entrepreneurs. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 11:34:38', '2024-03-24 11:34:38'),
(11705, 11705, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The average life expectancy and birth rate in the country have declined in a span of a year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) revealed this on Sunday in a report titled ‘Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics-2023’.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the BBSA report, life expectancy at birth in 2023 has decreased statistically, to 72.3 years, which was 72.4 years in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the population growth rate has decreased in a span of a year. The general growth rate of the population in 2023 is 1.33 percent which was 1.40 percent in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The BBS survey revealed that among the top ten causes of death, the first cause of death is cardiac arrest at 1.027 percent and the second cause at 0.64 percent was cerebral brain hemorrhage.</div><div><br></div><div>The average age at first marriage for men is 24.2 years and for women 18.4 years.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of internal migration, the rural arrival rate is 20.4 and the urban arrival rate is 43.4 per thousand population.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, the number of young populations not in education, work or training decreased to 39.88 percent in 2023 compared to 40.67 percent in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The mobile phone user population aged 5 plus increased to 59.9 percent in 2023. However, for 15plus-year-olds, the rate has slightly increased to 74.2 percent compared to 73.8 percent in 2022. 50.1% of Internet users aged 15 plus in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The sex ratio is slightly downward in 2023 standing at 96.37 percent, and the dependency ratio is 53.73 percent. The population density is 1,179 persons per square kilometer. The gross birth rate per thousand population was 19.4 in 2023, which was 19.8 in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time (2023), the obesity mortality rate per thousand population was 6.1, which was 5.8 in 2022. The under-five mortality rate is 33 per thousand and the maternal mortality ratio is 136 per 100,000 live births, compared to 153 in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The number of birth control users in 2023 decreased slightly to 62.1 percent in 2023 compared to 63.3 percent in 2022. Unmet demand for birth control decreased to 15.57 percent in 2023 compared to 16.62 percent in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Household size remained unchanged in 2023 as in 2022 for 4.2 percent. However, the rate of female household heads increased in 2023 compared to 2022. It was 17.4 percent in 2022, which increased to 18.9 percent in 2023. On the other hand, male household head was 82.6 percent in 2022, the rate decreased to 81.17 percent in 2023. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 11:41:01', '2024-03-24 11:41:01'),
(11706, 11706, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The bodies of three Rohingya refugees were found in the sea as the Indonesian authorities ended a search for survivors from a boat that capsized near Aceh province, the provincial search and rescue agency said Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fishers and a search and rescue team rescued 75 people from the boat on Thursday — 44 men, 22 women and nine children — after they huddled on its overturned hull throughout the night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A few were taken to a local hospital for treatment, but most were sent to a temporary shelter in the Aceh Barat district. Several told UNHCR workers they had lost family members on the journey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fishers first spotted the three bodies and reported them to local authorities on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“After we searched the area, the team found three bodies, two adult women and one boy. They are allegedly Rohingya refugees who were the passengers of the capsized and sunken boat,” Al Hussain, chief of Banda Aceh Search and Rescue Agency in a statement on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bodies were immediately taken to the hospital in Calang city in Aceh Jaya district, before local authorities buried them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Faisal Rahman, a UNHCR staff member in Aceh, said that some of the survivors also helped to identify the bodies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have verified as we take one of the refugees to identify and verify that they were together on the boat,” Faisal Rahman, a UNHCR staff member in Aceh, said Saturday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local authorities in Aceh have received several reports about dead bodies floating in nearby waters since Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.N. agencies in a statement on Friday said that about 70 Rohingya refugees are feared missing or dead from a boat that made a grueling sea voyage from Bangladesh and sank off Indonesia’s coast this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About 1 million of the predominately Muslim Rohingya live in Bangladesh as refugees from Myanmar. They include about 740,000 who fled in 2017 to escape a brutal counterinsurgency campaign by Myanmar\'s security forces, who were accused of committing mass rapes and killings and burning thousands of homes. The Rohingya minority in Myanmar faces widespread discrimination and most are denied citizenship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Indonesia, like Thailand and Malaysia, is not a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention, and so is not obligated to accept them. However, the country generally provides temporary shelter to refugees in distress. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 11:51:15', '2024-03-24 11:51:15'),
(11707, 11707, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">&nbsp;A fire broke out at Korail slum in Dhaka’s Banani area on Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire started at the slum around 4:05 pm and engulfed it, said Talha bin Jasim, station officer of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, a firefighting unit reached the spot while seven others were on its way. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 12:47:35', '2024-03-24 12:47:35'),
(11708, 11708, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Türkiye is aware of those supporting Israel and will not yield to the lobbies backing Tel Aviv.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re aware of who supports Israel and the lobbies behind them. We haven\'t yielded to these lobbies until now, and we won\'t in the future,\" said Erdogan during an iftar program in Istanbul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Except for Türkiye and a few other countries, there is hardly any actor raising voice against Israel and its Western supporters,\" he stressed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alongside the Palestinian people, all the innocent people around the world have been witness to Türkiye\'s efforts, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hospitals and health workers, as well as places of worship, are deliberately targeted by occupying forces in Gaza, Erdogan pointed out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We do not take into account those who label our Palestinian brothers resisting oppression as terrorists,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president said Türkiye\'s economy has been showing resilience despite the recent earthquake burden.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan said this year, Türkiye\'s \"export target is $375 billion for goods and services and $60 billion for tourism.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that despite the $104 billion extra burden from the Kahramanmaras earthquake alone, Türkiye\'s \"economy sustained a strong growth rate of 4.5%.\" - Anadolu Agency</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 12:55:22', '2024-03-24 12:55:22');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11709, 11709, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia secured the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh with ease, claiming a comprehensive six-wicket win on Sunday, leaving one match remaining.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the second ODI, Bangladesh batted first, managing only 97 runs in 44.1 overs, with Nahida Akter, batting at number nine, top-scoring with 22 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, Australia chased down the target in just 23.5 overs, with six wickets in hand and 157 balls to spare.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sophie Molineux led Australia\'s bowling attack with three wickets, supported by Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, and Georgia Wareham, who each took two wickets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ellyse Perry anchored the chase of a paltry target with an unbeaten 35.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sultana Khatun and Rabeya Khan claimed one wicket each for Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh failed to prove their mettle in both batting and bowling departments. Their ground fielding was also an area of concern.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ahead of the series, Bangladesh promised a better performance against the World Champions, but that promise did not materialise.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The third and final ODI of the series is scheduled for March 27. Following the ODI series, both teams will contest in a three-match T20I series. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 13:00:29', '2024-03-24 13:00:29'),
(11710, 11710, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow that killed more than 130 people.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a letter sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, she condemned the ‘cowardly’ and ‘senseless’ terrorist attack carried out on Crocus City Hall in Moscow on March 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I am greatly shocked and resentful at the loss of so many innocent lives,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also prayed for the salvation of the departed souls of the victims and extended her heartfelt condolences to their families.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina prayed for the early recovery of those who suffered injuries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said such an act of terrorism is an attack on the whole human civilisation and its values.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, I express our solidarity with the friendly people of Russia and would like to assure you that in this difficult time, we stand by the side of Russia,” reports UNB&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that her government has always followed the principle of zero tolerance against all kinds of terrorism. “I look forward to further strengthening our bilateral cooperation for combatting such heinous terrorism.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 13:06:24', '2024-03-24 13:06:24'),
(11711, 11711, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Senegal began voting Sunday for a new president in an unpredictable race following three years of turmoil and political crisis.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Around 7.3 million voters are registered in the West African nation where two favourites have emerged: the governing coalition\'s former prime minister Amadou Ba and anti-establishment candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye.</div><div><br></div><div>They were both once tax inspectors but now appear to have little in common. Ba, 62, is offering continuity while the 43-year-old Faye promises profound change and left-wing pan-Africanism.</div><div><br></div><div>Both say they will claim a first-round victory -- but a second round looks probable with 15 other candidates in the field, including a sole woman, at a date yet to be decided.</div><div><br></div><div>Former Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall, 68, is considered to have an outside chance.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s a symbolic and historic day for me because it wasn\'t easy to hold these elections, it was gained through a great fight,\" voter Mohamed Bop, 42, told AFP in Dakar.</div><div><br></div><div>\"So, I\'m very relieved and proud,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The eventual winner will be tasked with steering traditionally stable Senegal out of its recent troubles, and managing revenues from oil and gas reserves that are shortly to start production.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting will end at 1800 GMT and provisional results could be known overnight. The first official results are expected during the coming week.</div><div><br></div><div>Senegal has traditionally been considered a beacon of democracy and stability in the coup-hit region, where Russia is strengthening its influence.</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of observers will be out representing civil society, the African Union, the ECOWAS regional group and the European Union.</div><div>A raucous campaign, lasting just two weeks after being shortened, followed a dramatic last-minute delay to the election date, originally scheduled for February 25.</div><div><br></div><div>President Macky Sall\'s intervention to delay the presidential vote sparked unrest that left four people dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Sall, who won praise abroad last year by renouncing a possible third-term bid, said he called off the vote over fears it would not go smoothly.</div><div><br></div><div>After weeks of political crisis, the country\'s top constitutional body stepped in and forced him to reset the date to March 24, despite clashing with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>Sall\'s hand-picked would-be successor Ba has positioned himself as a last bastion against \"bandits\" and urged people to vote \"for experience and competence instead of entrusting the reins of the country to adventurers\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"We don\'t need officials who need two years of apprenticeship,\" Ba said at his final campaign rally on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We need to consolidate what we have. We need to go even faster and further,\" he said, with a vow to create one million jobs in five years.</div><div>But he must also face the darker side of Sall\'s legacy that includes mass arrests, persistent poverty and 20 percent unemployment, and thousands of migrants setting off on the perilous voyage to Europe each year.</div><div><br></div><div>The recent unrest in Senegal was the latest chapter in episodes of violence since 2021, triggered partly by the stand-off between the firebrand opposition figurehead Ousmane Sonko and the state.</div><div>Economic and social tensions, as well as concerns that Sall would run for a third term, also fuelled the unrest that left dozens killed and hundreds arrested.</div><div><br></div><div>The election has also been fired up by a rapidly passed amnesty law that led to the March 14 release from prison of opposition leaders Faye and the charismatic Sonko.</div><div><br></div><div>Although Faye is Sonko\'s deputy, he is only on the ballot because Sonko has been barred from standing and in voters\' eyes, they are a package deal.</div><div><br></div><div>Both have attacked Ba as \"the greatest danger facing Senegal today\".</div><div>They have also questioned where his wealth came from, branding him a \"billionaire civil servant\" who \"will be the president of foreign countries\".</div><div><br></div><div>Faye on Friday pledged to bring \"radical reform\" to Senegal, including renegotiations of mining, oil and gas and defence contracts, while at the same time offering assurances to foreign investors.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Henceforth we will be a sovereign state, independent, which will work with everyone, but in win-win partnerships\", he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The pair are hoping to harness Sonko\'s charisma and popular appeal in a country where half of the population is under 20.</div><div><br></div><div>Sonko has drawn a passionate following with Senegal\'s youth through his rhetoric on sovereignty, as well as attacks on elites, multinationals and colonial ruler France.</div><div><br></div><div>Experts have warned of the potential for tensions to flare on Sunday and after -- particularly if Ba wins in the first round, or Faye fails to reach the second. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 13:51:04', '2024-03-24 13:51:04'),
(11712, 11712, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"text-align: left;\">Two projects\' joint grand launching workshop&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">was held at Kamrul Islam Siddiqui Auditorium in LGED Bhaban. P</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">rojects are- South Chattogram Regional Development Project and Urban Management and Infrastructure Development Project.&nbsp;</span></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Tajul Islam spoke in the workshop\'s opening session as the chief guest.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The first project in Matarbari area of Maheshkhali Upazila in Cox’s Bazar is part of the Big-B development strategy of the Japanese government to develop South and Southeast Asia with Bangladesh at the center. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The objective of the project is to develop basic infrastructure for the residence and civic facilities of the large number of workers who will gather in the area as a result of the extensive development of about 35 projects including power projects, deep sea ports under the \'Maheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Development Initiative\' fast track project.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from this, the project also includes the construction of various infrastructures to deal with the humanitarian crisis caused by Rohingya refugees and local residents due to the sheltering of Rohingya refugees coming to Teknaf, Ukhia from the neighboring country. All these infrastructures will be constructed in Maheshkhali Upazila and Municipality, Chakoria Upazila and Municipality, Teknaf Upazila and Municipality, and Ukhia and Cox\'s Bazar Sadar Upazila. The expenditure for this has been estimated at Tk 3,644 crores of which 68.5% will be completed by JICA ODA loan assistance and 31.5% by Bangladesh Government\'s own financing.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The money will be spent on construction of roads, bridge-culverts, markets, parks, cyclone shelters, township development, installation of deep tubewells for water supply, development of waste management, construction of infrastructure for primary drains and flood control and irrigation facilities, capacity building and development of municipalities and LGEDs.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project received administrative approval in May 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by December 2028. For the infrastructure development of the project, the loan is taken in terms of repayment period of 30 years with 10 years’ grace period under JICA loan facility at 0.7% interest rate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The second project is Urban Management and Infrastructure Development Project. This project will be implemented with the financial support of ADB and donor agency AFD. A planned, inclusive, and sustainable urbanization is the objective of the project. For this, infrastructure development and management efficiency will be increased through \'result based lending\' strategy in 63 municipalities across the country. The operation and maintenance activities of 25 municipalities have also been taken up. The financial cost for this has been estimated at $ 602 million. Out of which Bangladesh government will provide financial assistance of $100 million, ADB $302 million and AFD $200 million.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project received approval on June 20, 2023 and is scheduled to be completed by 30 June 2028. At least 900 km of drains, 1500 km of roads will be constructed under this project. The development of poor settlements will also be ensured through the participation of 50% women in the municipality in the construction work. The work of the project is already progressing. A work order of 800 crores has been given by inviting tenders for works of Tk 1100 crores. The Minister, LGED Chief Engineer and members of the donor agencies expressed their satisfactions over the progress of the project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Special guests from ADB, FDA emphasized on inclusive development. Referring to the construction of infrastructure for the poor in the IUGIP project, they said the sustainable development is not possible by keeping them out of development facilities. Besides, they also mentioned that development of management system and construction of climate tolerant projects are prerequisites for sustainable development.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">JICA representative thanked the LGED Chief Engineer for organizing the event. He said it is an important project. He emphasized on expediting the land acquisition process, high quality of work, regular monitoring and timely completion of projects. The Chief Engineer thanked all the donor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ichiguchi Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office, Dr. Muhammed Sher Ali, Additional Secretary (Development) of Local Government Department spoke as the special guests. Chief Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department Md. Ali Akhtar Hossain presided over the function. Additional Chief Engineer Muzakka Jaher delivered the welcome address on the occasion. Project Director of LGED\'s SCRIDP project Abdus Sattar and Project Director of LGED\'s IUGIP project Abdul Barek also spoke in the workshop. LGED officials, mayors and officials of different municipalities under the project area, LGED officials and project consultants at the field level were present on the occasion.</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-24 14:06:59', '2024-03-24 14:06:59'),
(11713, 11713, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked all to identify and honour the dedicated souls who have been working silently for the welfare of people in different parts of the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are many dedicated souls in different areas – villages and urban areas—of the country. I would like to call upon you to find such dedicated persons who have been working not for themselves but for the welfare of the people.&nbsp; They never can come to the limelight or don’t want to come to limelight,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier made this call while giving out the Independence Award-2024 to 10 distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She handed over the highest civilian award to the recipients or their family members at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said it would be a great thing if all make efforts to find out the persons who are working for the welfare of the people with their own ventures being self-motivated and they can be awarded. “We’ve been trying our best to do so,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She greeted all the awardees who received the Independence Award-2024 for their contribution in different fields.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"I believe that many people will be inspired to work for the welfare of the country and people (after seeing recognition of good works) with conferment of the award,\" said Hasina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM slammed the BNP-Jamaat clique and their accomplices who had distorted the history of the Liberation War after assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the people of several generations were taken to destruction by distortion of the history of the 1971 Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But today new generations want to know and understand the history and build their life with inspiration they get from it. So, it\'s the matter of great optimism for us,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After assuming power, the Awami League let people particularly the new generation know the true history of the Liberation War of 1971, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that Bangladesh will start its journey as the developing country in 2026, she said, \"We have been able to scale up Bangladesh at least one step.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said now they have been working to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and Smart Sonar Bangladesh by 2041 in line with her party\'s 2024 election manifesto.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to arson violence unleashed by the BNP-Jamaat alliance that hampered country\'s journey towards prosperity, she hoped that they would come to their sense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Awami League has proved that a country can prosper if peace and democratic trend continues,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza, saying Bangladedh always supports Palestine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She reiterated Bangladesh\'s stance that the country is always against war. \"We never want war, we want peace,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said Bangladesh even try to solve the Rohingya issue through holding talks with Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Freedom fighter Kazi Abdus Sattar Bir Pratik, Freedom fighter flight sergeant Md Fazlul Haque (posthumous) and Freedom fighter Shaheed Abu Nayem Md Nazib Uddin Khan (Khurram) (posthumous) received the prestigious award for their contributions to Bangladesh\'s independence and the Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Mobarak Ahmad Khan was honoured with the award for his contribution to science and technology, while Dr Harishankar Das for his contribution to medicine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mohammad Rafikuzzaman and Firoza Khatun received the honour for their contribution to culture and sports respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aranya Chiran, freedom fighter Prof Dr Mollah Obaidul Baki and SM Abraham Lincoln were given the award in the social service category.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the awardees, Rafikuzzaman expressed his feelings in the award giving ceremony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain moderated the function and read out the citations with a brief life sketch of the recipients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has been honouring individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of Independence Day on March 26 since 1977. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 08:53:31', '2024-03-25 08:53:31'),
(11714, 11714, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Bhutan on Monday signed three new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance mutual cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The MoUs are: Establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, Setting up a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, and technical cooperation on consumer rights.</div><div><br></div><div>Another MoU on cultural exchange was renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>Health Minister Smanta Lal Sen, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Directorate of National Consumers\' Right Protection Director General (Additional Secretary) A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed signed the MoUs for Bangladesh side.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the MoU signing agreement held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, on his arrival, the Bhutanese King was received by the Prime Minister at her office.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King held a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prior to the MoU signing ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>They will also have a one-to-one meeting. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 09:10:15', '2024-03-25 09:10:15'),
(11715, 11715, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on Monday was accorded a red carpet reception on his arrival here on a four-day state visit to Bangladesh to attend a series of programmes including Independence Day celebrations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is first state visit paid by any foreign dignitary since the formation of the new government after January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and First Lady received the king and his delegation members who arrived at 10am by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>The king was given state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the two countries were played.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, he was headed for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday afternoon, the king will have a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office. They will have a one-to-one meeting too.</div><div><br></div><div>Three new MoUs will be signed between Bangladesh and Bhutan while another MoU on cultural exchange will be renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>The king and the prime minister will witness the signing of the MoUs.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud will meet the king at his place of residence the same day before the meeting with the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the king will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar.</div><div><br></div><div>He will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>The royal guest will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and his wife.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and a dinner reception in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a \"close friend\" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan on Sunday said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are in discussion to that end,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan,\" Hasan said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 09:18:10', '2024-03-25 09:18:10'),
(11716, 11716, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a move to cater to the increasing demand for late-night transportation, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced the extension of metro rail service hours beyond 9 pm, starting from Wednesday, March 27.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During a press briefing scheduled for tomorrow, the Managing Director of DMTCL, M. A. N Siddique, will provide detailed information regarding this significant service extension.</div><div><br></div><div>According to sources from DMTCL, the last train from Motijheel will now depart at 9:40 pm, and from Uttara end at 9:20 pm. This extension will introduce trains running every 12 minutes during the additional service hours, adding 10 more trains to the current schedule.</div><div><br></div><div>Consequently, the total number of daily trips will increase from 184 to 194.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, the Dhaka metro rail operates from 7 am to 8:40 pm, with trains running every 8 minutes during peak hours (7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm) and every 12 minutes during off-peak hours (11 am to 2:30 pm).</div><div><br></div><div>This expansion of metro rail service is aimed at enhancing the commuting experience for Dhaka\'s residents, providing a more flexible and accessible transportation option during the evening hours. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 09:24:51', '2024-03-25 09:24:51'),
(11717, 11717, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thailand delivered its first batch of humanitarian aid to war-torn Myanmar on Monday, in what officials hope will be a continuing effort to ease the plight of millions of people displaced by fighting.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>But critics charge that the aid will benefit only people in areas under the Myanmar military’s control, providing it with a propaganda boost while leaving the vast majority of displaced people in contested areas without access to assistance.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar is wracked by a nationwide armed conflict that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule. The fighting has displaced millions of people and battered the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>Thailand sent ten trucks over the border from the northern province of Tak, carrying some 4,000 packages of aid to three towns in Kayin State, also known as Karen State, where it will be distributed to approximately 20,000 displaced people.</div><div><br></div><div>The parcels contained aid worth around 5 million baht ($138,000), mostly food, instant beverages and other basic items such as toiletries.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 2.8 million people in Myanmar are displaced, according to U.N. agencies, most by fighting that arose after the army’s takeover. They say 18.6 million people, including 6 million children, require humanitarian aid.</div><div><br></div><div>Carl Skau, Chief Operating Officer of the U.N.’s World Food Programme, said earlier this month that one in four of the displaced is at risk of acute food insecurity.</div><div><br></div><div>The initiative for what has been called a humanitarian corridor is being carried out by the Thai Red Cross, with funding from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry and logistical support from the army, which traditionally has played a major role in border activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials from Thailand and Myanmar\'s Kayin State attended a send-off ceremony, which was presided over by Thai Vice Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Myanmar\'s Red Cross will handle distribution of the aid.</div><div><br></div><div>Drivers from Myanmar took the trucks across the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, which crosses the Moei River on the border.</div><div><br></div><div>\"That corridor puts humanitarian aid into the hands of the junta because it goes into the hands of the junta-controlled Myanmar Red Cross,” Tom Andrews, the U.N. independent human rights expert on Myanmar, said last week.</div><div><br></div><div>“So we know that the junta takes these resources, including humanitarian, and weaponizes them, uses them for their own military strategic advantage. The fact of the matter is, is that the reason that humanitarian aid is in such desperate need is precisely because of the junta.”</div><div><br></div><div>Andrews said the areas in desperate need are \"conflict areas in which the junta has absolutely no influence or control whatsoever. So those are the areas we need to focus on.”</div><div><br></div><div>Large areas of the country, especially frontier areas, are now contested or controlled by anti-military resistance forces, including pro-democracy fighters allied with armed ethnic minority organizations that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades.</div><div><br></div><div>Thai officials say the process of distribution will be monitored by the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management to ensure it reaches people fairly and equally.</div><div><br></div><div>Vice Foreign Minister Sihasak said after the ceremony that the aid is expected to be delivered to the three towns the same day, and that Myanmar will send photos as proof it has been delivered.</div><div><br></div><div>“I would like to emphasize that this is truly humanitarian aid and not related to the politics or conflicts in Myanmar. I think, now, people should think about the interests of the Myanmar people as a priority,” he said. “Of course, if the initiative today is carried out smoothly, and meets the objectives that we set, Thailand as a neighbor will see how we can expand the help to other areas.”</div><div><br></div><div>The humanitarian corridor project was initiated by Thailand with support from Myanmar and other fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during an ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in Laos in January.</div><div><br></div><div>Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had said ASEAN needs to actively push to implement what it calls the Five-Points Consensus, which it agreed to just a few months after the army’s 2021 takeover.</div><div><br></div><div>The agreement called for an immediate end to violence, dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties.</div><div><br></div><div>But Myanmar’s generals, despite initially assenting to the consensus, failed to act on it, leaving ASEAN looking powerless.</div><div><br></div><div>Dulyapak Preecharush, a professor of Southeast Asia Studies at Bangkok\'s Thammasat University, said the aid initiative is a good start for Thailand, which has been quiet and inactive” about Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>“The readiness of Thailand to deliver the aid is not an issue, but when the aid is delivered to Myanmar, it will face obstacles from violent fighting and different stakeholders who will have their gains and losses.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sihasak said Thailand hopes the aid will be distributed equally and transparently, and that the delivery of the aid will help create a “good atmosphere” that will contribute to the peace process in Myanmar. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 10:46:40', '2024-03-25 10:46:40'),
(11718, 11718, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Bhutan on Monday signed three new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance mutual cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The two friendly South Asian countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture, education, culture, people to people contact etc, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>The MoUs are: Establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, Setting up a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, and technical cooperation on consumer rights. Another MoU on cultural exchange was renewed.</div><div><br></div><div>Health Minister Smanta Lal Sen, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Directorate of National Consumers\' Right Protection Director General (Additional Secretary) A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed signed the MoUs from Bangladesh side.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutanese Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk, Bhutanese Commerce Secretary Tashi Wangmk and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Choden signed the MoUs on behalf of their country.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the MoUs signing held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Bangladesh offered to increase the number of annual medical seats for Bhutanese students from 22 to 30 while the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh offered two seats for the Bhutanese Foreign Service officers every year for capacity building.&nbsp; Bangladesh will also extend necessary assistance in setting up a Diplomatic Training Institute in Bhutan.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, Bangladesh offered special training to Bhutanese officials in Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) annually for three years.</div><div><br></div><div>As a special gesture of goodwill and friendship, Bangladesh handed over computers and laptops for the capacity building and skills development of the government officials of Bhutan.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, on his arrival, the Bhutanese King was received by the Prime Minister at her office.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King held a delegation-level meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prior to the MoU signing ceremony. They also had a one-to-one meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at his place of residence in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current excellent level of cooperation between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>They agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture, education, culture, people to people contact etc.</div><div><br></div><div>The King also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32. He paid tribute to father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait.</div><div><br></div><div>The King visited different parts of the museum guided by Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Rehana and PM Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed.</div><div><br></div><div>He also signed visitors’ book there.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese King arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning. This is the first state visit by any foreign dignitary since the formation of the new government after the January 7 national election.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and First Lady received the King and his delegation members who arrived by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>The king was given state salute and guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Bangladesh Armed Forces. He inspected the guard of honour, while the national anthems of the two countries were played.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ceremony at the airport, he was headed for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>Programmes Ahead</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, the king will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar. He will also visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.</div><div><br></div><div>The royal guest will visit Bangabhaban where he will be received by the president and his wife.</div><div><br></div><div>The king will have a meeting with the president at 4:30 pm on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The president will host iftar and a dinner reception in honour of the visiting royal.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday morning, Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck and selected Bhutanese delegation members will leave Bangladesh for Bhutan by a special flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s daughter Sheikh Rehana and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will see them off at the airport.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bhutanese king will visit Padma Bridge and Bangladesh Special Economic Zone in Araihazar, Narayanganj.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, the king will visit Kurigram Special Economic Zone.</div><div><br></div><div>He will leave Bangladesh territory for Golakganj, Assam via Sonahat Land Port on Thursday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, state minister for shipping, will see him off there.</div><div><br></div><div>The 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, sent a letter of congratulations to the prime minister recently saying under her dynamic and strong leadership, Bangladesh has enjoyed peace, stability and unprecedented economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>He also termed Bhutan as a \"close friend\" and rejoiced with the people of Bangladesh on this occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan on Sunday said Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are in discussion to that end,\" he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bhutan has a potential of producing 25,000 megawatts of hydropower.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister said Bangladesh will also import hydropower from Nepal and things are settled regarding that initiative.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have multifaceted relations with Bhutan,\" Hasan said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:08:41', '2024-03-25 11:08:41'),
(11719, 11719, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>France raised its terror alert to its highest level on Sunday following a terrorist attack that killed at least 137 people at a Moscow concert hall.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Following the attack in Moscow, a Defense and National Security Council (meeting) was convened this evening at the Elysee by the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron),\" Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said in a statement on X.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group claiming responsibility for the attack \"and the threats weighing on our country, we have decided to raise the Vigipirate posture to its highest level: attack emergency,\" he said, referring to France\'s national security alert system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The death toll from the concert hall shooting on Friday in a Moscow suburb rose to 137, said the country’s federal investigative authority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A statement by Russia’s Investigative Committee said the bodies of 137 people have been found at the site, three of which it said are children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The investigation of the crime scene continues. To date, 62 bodies have been identified. For the remaining victims, genetic tests are being carried out to establish their identities,” the statement said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said more than 500 rounds of ammunition and 28 magazines as well as two Kalashnikov assault rifles were found at the scene.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s Health Ministry says 180 people have been hospitalized and that 142 of them are receiving in-patient treatment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk late Friday as the rock band Picnic was about to perform and a fire later broke out at the building.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Vladimir Putin declared March 24 a national day of mourning for those killed in the attack, with flags lowered to half-mast.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian authorities have arrested 11 people in connection with the attack, including four directly involved, according to the Federal Security Service. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:17:57', '2024-03-25 11:17:57');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11720, 11720, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The grand imam of Egypt\'s Al-Azhar University, the highest seat of learning for Sunni Muslims, said Sunday that the international community\'s reactions to Israel’s war on Gaza have been “disappointing.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb’s remarks came during his reception of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Cairo, according to a statement from Al-Azhar.</div><div><br></div><div>The two men discussed the latest developments in Gaza, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Al-Tayeb said that “what is happening in Gaza threatens to undermine the efforts of communication and rapprochement that we have been undertaking for years and attempts to bridge the gap between East and West.”</div><div><br></div><div>The international community\'s response to the aggression on Gaza has been disappointing and frustrating, unlike that of the people in Western societies, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The grand imam praised the stance of the people, saying “we have seen great fairness from Western and American peoples, and even from some fair-minded Jews who came out to demand an end to the aggression on Gaza.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Egyptian statement quoted Guterres as saying: “I convey our appreciation to Al-Azhar as a strong voice defending and supporting the Palestinian people and our insistence on exerting pressure on the international community to respect the rights of Palestinians and reduce their suffering.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Yesterday, I visited the Rafah crossing to send a message about the necessity of stopping the aggression and for the international community to fulfill its duties with decisions and not just words.</div><div><br></div><div>“I saw on the other side of the Palestinian crossing the Palestinians suffering from severe shortages of food and drink and the spread of various infectious diseases. We all have to highlight and stop this suffering immediately. It is our responsibility,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres emphasized that “Islamophobia has developed significantly and has become one of the most widespread forms of discrimination and hatred, aided by modern technological developments.”</div><div><br></div><div>He cited the situation in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and other parts of Africa, saying “I do not recall a more dangerous period than what we are experiencing now.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also stressed his continued support for justice in Gaza, adding that “no one will be able to silence his voice.”</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres arrived Saturday in the Egyptian city of El-Arish adjacent to the Gaza Strip on his second visit since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza last October and visited wounded Palestinians who were transferred from the Gaza Strip for treatment at the city\'s hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since a cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,200 Palestinians have since been killed and over 74,500 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave\'s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:21:29', '2024-03-25 11:21:29'),
(11721, 11721, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 16 business establishments, mostly wooden furniture shops, were gutted in a devastating fire in Manikganj’s Shibaloy upazila early today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Md Nadir Hossain, warehouse inspector of Shibaloy upazila Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the blaze broke out at one of the furniture shops in Aricha Bandar area around 4 am, and soon spread to other furniture shops, one sawmill and one house.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought it under control around three hours after the fire, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The fire service officer assumed that the fire originated from an electronic short-circuit, causing damages of around Tk 50 lakh. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:45:48', '2024-03-25 11:45:48'),
(11722, 11722, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said India will help Bangladesh to import hydropower from Bhutan the way India helped in importing hydropower from Nepal.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while talking to reporters after his meeting with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.</div><div><br></div><div>The two sides are in discussion to that end but there is no plan to sign any agreement during the ongoing state visit of the Bhutanese King.</div><div><br></div><div>At the meeting with the Bhutanese King, Minister Hasan laid emphasis on people to people contact.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Minister requested the Bhutanese King to join BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) initiative and enhance air connectivity.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, there are only two flights on Dhaka-Thimphu route which needs to be increased, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Bhutan is a very beautiful country. Those who visited Bhutan, want to go again and again,\" he said, adding that they also discussed ways to allow people visit Bhutan by road.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current excellent level of cooperation between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>They agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture,education, culture, people to people contact etc.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 11:58:00', '2024-03-25 11:58:00'),
(11723, 11723, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Sri Lanka emphatically clinched the first Test against Bangladesh, securing a commanding victory by 328 runs at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The visitors demonstrated superior batting and bowling prowess throughout the contest.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka\'s captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, was the standout performer, achieving the rare feat of scoring centuries in both innings (102 and 108). His exceptional performance earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhananjaya\'s partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who also scored two centuries in this match with a superb century in the second innings (164), set the foundation for Sri Lanka\'s dominance. Together, they propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable second-innings total of 418, establishing an insurmountable target of 511 runs for Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s batting faltered throughout the match. In the first innings, they were dismissed for a meager 188, with only Taijul Islam offering some resistance with a score of 47.</div><div><br></div><div>The second innings mirrored their initial collapse, as Bangladesh crumbled for 182. A brief period saw them lose five wickets for just 47 runs. Mominul Haque provided a glimmer of hope with a tenacious 87, but it wasn\'t enough to alter the course of the match.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka\'s relentless pace attack overwhelmed the Bangladeshi batsmen. Kasun Rajitha led the charge, claiming an impressive eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara also bowled with pace and precision, consistently unsettling the Bangladeshi batters and claiming vital wickets.</div><div><br></div><div>This resounding victory underscores Sri Lanka\'s skill and determination. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their batting inconsistencies before the second Test in Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>“Individually, I am very happy. The way I performed helped the team as well, especially away from home. The wicket had something for the fast bowlers, so we talked about playing late and choosing the right shots. It paid off. Kamindu also batted really well on his comeback match,” Dhananjaya, the Sri Lankan captain, said to the broadcaster.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who failed as a batter, gave credit to Dhananjaya and Kamindu for their performance, and said his team need to improve their batting, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“We have a lot of work to do before the next Test, and we will come back with a plan to fight back strongly,” Najmul said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 12:09:20', '2024-03-25 12:09:20'),
(11724, 11724, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said people joined the war against Pakistan army with the aim of building a democratic Bangladesh but the dreams of 1971 are now elusive.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bengali students, youth, farmers, labourers and soldiers joined the Liberation War against Pakistan army with the aim of building democratic Bangladesh where people will have freedom of speech and people’s government and for economic emancipation but it’s a matter of sorrow that the 1971’s dreams are now elusive, said Fakhrul.</div><div><br></div><div>He said this in a rally of freedom fighters organised by BNP on the occasion of the Independence Day in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the ruling Awami League (AL) has established a one-party rule in the country under the cover of democracy, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“They have no constitutional right to rule the people of the country as they formed a government without people’s mandate and by staging one-sided polls on January 7 which was not acceptable to our foreign friends too,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said it in a rally of freedom fighter organised by BNP on the occasion of the Great Independence Day as a chief guest in front of party’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that the government is using modern technology to keep eye on opposition leaders and activists’ daily activities. When people try to stage protest against the ruling party then they use spyware to suppress them.</div><div><br></div><div>“The movement against a fascist regime is not easy but we have been continuing it for 15 years,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 14:34:58', '2024-03-25 14:34:58'),
(11725, 11725, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Several Palestinians were killed and injured on Sunday evening when Israeli warplanes bombed a house in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli army targeted a house in Jenin city in the east of Rafah, belonging to the Issa family, resulting in casualties including children, eyewitnesses told an Anadolu correspondent.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of the injured and killed, including children, were evacuated from the targeted house to hospitals in Rafah by medical teams and civil defense.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said the bombing destroyed the house and caused significant damage to nearby houses and properties.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to a lack of resources, Palestinian Authority teams struggle to clear the rubble from the targeted homes.</div><div><br></div><div>The exact death toll and injuries from the house bombing have yet to be determined.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite warnings from regional and international leaders and organizations, Israel is planning a ground invasion of Rafah, which houses approximately 1.4 million displaced Palestinians who were driven to the area by the Israeli army under the guise of safety, only to launch attacks that resulted in casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\'s office announced in a statement that he approved plans for a military action in Rafah and that the army is preparing to evacuate residents, but did not specify a timeframe for the launch of the offensive.</div><div><br></div><div>Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been conducting a destructive war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties, mostly children and women, leading Israel to face historical charges of \"genocide\" before the International Court of Justice. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 14:50:00', '2024-03-25 14:50:00'),
(11726, 11726, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh is all set to celebrate its 54th Independence Day, also commemorated as the country\'s National Day, on Tuesday with a vow to build the developed, prosperous, and harmonious Smart \'Sonar Bangla\' dreamt of by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh\'s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div><br></div><div>After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people and at the cost of chastity of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>The day is a public holiday.</div><div><br></div><div>Different sociocultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>The day\'s programme will begin with a 31-gun salute before President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pay their tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, foreign diplomats, leaders of different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life will place wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.</div><div><br></div><div>The national flag will be hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places will be illuminated on the auspicious occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>National dailies will bring out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Special prayers will be offered at all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship across the country seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation, four national leaders, martyrs of the War of Liberation and all other patriotic sons of the soil.</div><div><br></div><div>Special meals will be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes and other public institutions to mark the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Different political parties as well as socio-cultural and professional organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and other social and cultural organisations will organize different programmes including cultural programmes, art exhibition, sports, an exhibition of documentary films and posters based on the history and tradition of the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Postal Department will release a commemorative postage stamp marking the Independence and National Day.</div><div><br></div><div>All children\'s parks and museums will be kept open with free entry across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the head of state, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the head of government, have issued separate messages on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>In his message, the President said, \"I recall with deep respect the millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the War of Liberation. I recall with deep reverence our Four National Leaders, heroic freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters, foreign friends and people from all walks of life who made contributions to attain our right to self-determination and freedom movement.”</div><div><br></div><div>“I hope, based on the unprecedented achievements of the government in the country\'s overall development activities and socio-economic indicators in the past years, we will be able to face these challenges in the days to come, InshaAllah,” said the president.</div><div><br></div><div>“To expedite the progress of the country, let the nation embrace the spirit of the liberation war and the ideals of the Father of the Nation and move forward in building ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal)’ dreamt by Bangabandhu--this is my expectation on the great Independence Day,” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In her message, the Prime Minister said, “On this auspicious occasion, I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to all the Bangladeshi citizens living in the country and abroad, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>I remember with the most profound respect the Greatest Bangali of all time, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose firm and far-sighted leadership we achieved independent and sovereign Bangladesh.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The Awami League government believes in the philosophy of upgrading the fate of the people. We are running our government through immediate, short, medium, and long-term plans to uplift the living standard of ordinary people and develop the country. Moreover, we regularly monitor the implementation progress of our election manifesto. Due to these reasons, people\'s trust and strong support for Awami League continues,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“On this very occasion of Independence Day and National Day, being imbued with the spirit of our great Liberation War, let us take the oath to build developed-prosperous non-communal smart \'Sonar Bangla\' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 15:35:39', '2024-03-25 15:35:39'),
(11727, 11727, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Saudi Arabia has announced it will build a theme park based on the famed Japanese animated series Dragon Ball, sparking mixed reactions from fans.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It will feature a 70m (229.6ft) dragon at its centre and at least 30 rides, the firm behind the project says.</div><div><br></div><div>The park would be the world\'s first such attraction based on the popular media franchise.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement was met with some criticism from fans, citing Saudi Arabia\'s human rights record.</div><div><br></div><div>The park will cover more than half a million square metres, according to Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) which is wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government\'s investment fund.</div><div><br></div><div>The plans are part of \"a long-term strategic partnership\" between the QIC and Toei Animation, the Japanese producer of Dragon Ball.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the official Dragon Ball website, the park will include a roller coaster inside the dragon modelled after Shenron, a wish-giving dragon that features in the franchise.</div><div><br></div><div>Qiddiya is a major entertainment and tourism project being built near Saudi Arabia\'s capital Riyadh.</div><div><br></div><div>It is part of the energy-rich nation\'s plans to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>While some Dragon Ball fans have welcomed the plans for the theme park, others on social media have questioned the decision to locate the attraction in Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>The country has been criticised for its human rights record, treatment of women and lack of recognition of LGBTQ+ rights.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement comes just weeks after the death of Dragon Ball\'s creator, Akira Toriyama.</div><div><br></div><div>Toriyama died on 1 March, aged 68. Only his family and very few friends attended his funeral, according to a statement on the Dragon Ball website.</div><div><br></div><div>Fans around the world paid tribute to Toriyama for creating characters that have become a part of their lives.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dragon Ball comic series debuted in 1984. It follows a boy named Son Goku in his quest to collect magical dragon balls that can give him super powers.</div><div><br></div><div>It is one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time. According to BBC reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>theme park&nbsp;<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 15:57:53', '2024-03-25 15:57:53'),
(11728, 11728, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called upon the people to take the country&nbsp; forward overcoming all evil tricks and conspiracies.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“On the 54th Independence Day, let’s come forward in unison and take the development and progress of Bangladesh forward,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made this call at her televised address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day.</div><div><br></div><div>The speech was broadcast at 7:30 pm simultaneously by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and some private television channels, radio stations and online platforms.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said she has tirelessly been trying to put a smile on the faces of the common people by improving their fortunes with support and cooperation from all.</div><div><br></div><div>On this 53rd anniversary of independence, she unequivocally said that her government has successfully been able to fulfill the expectations of the countrymen to a large extent.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is not a hollow rhetorical claim. Today Bangladesh is a shining example in the developing world for socio-economic development,” said Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government proved that a country can be taken forward with political will and proper plans amid limited resources.</div><div><br></div><div>But it is an unpleasant truth that the conspiracy to undermine the independence and sovereignty of the country and to thwart the desire for economic emancipation has not stopped even today, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The conspirators are still lurking to figure out how to stop the ongoing progress of Bangladesh,” said PM Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the forces who suffered defeat in 1971 and the killers of the 1975 massacre and also their collaborators are still hell-bent on avenging their defeat.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister alerted the people that the conspirators will strike whenever they get the chance.</div><div><br></div><div>“The only obstacle on their way is Awami League. If AL can be annihilated or weakened by any trick, the rise of the defeated forces is inevitable. So, be careful,” she urged.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said the AL government runs the country following “Friendship to all malice towards none,’ the foreign policy dictum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve no master rather we’ve friends,” she said, adding that the Bengali nation will never be browbeaten by any one.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that AL formed the government for the fourth time in a row by gaining an absolute majority in the January 7 parliamentary elections, the AL president extended her thanks and gratitude to the people for keeping confidence in her party.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our goal is to establish Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous Smart Bangladesh by 2041 carrying forth the development and progress what we’ve so far attained,” she said adding that Bangladesh will be the hunger-poverty-free non-communal golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Awami League has been governing the country for the past 15 years with the mandate of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>But this 15-year journey was not entirely a bed of roses, she said, citing different natural and manmade disasters and wars including Covid-19 pandemic, arson violence, Russia-Ukraine war, and high global inflation.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on the strong position of the country in different economic and socio-economic indexes and the agricultural sector, she said Bangladesh is now the 35th largest economy in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>She said different completed infrastructures including Padma Bridge, Dhaka Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River in Chittagong, Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and highways with four or more lanes which connected Divisional cities with Dhaka have brought a revolutionary change in the communication sector.</div><div><br></div><div>About the commodity prices during Ramadan, she said the government has stockpiled several goods such as sugar, chickpea, pulse, and edible oil alongside giving permission to import 50,000 metric tonnes of onion and the same amount of potatoes.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, fish, meat, egg and milk are being sold at affordable prices for the marginalised people at 25 points in the capital since the beginning of Ramadan, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The TCB sells rice, pulse, edible oil, sugar, and chickpea at cheaper prices among one crore cardholder families across the country, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>On the occasion of the Eid-ul Fitr, the government has given a special allocation of 100,628 metric tonnes of rice for one crore families and each family will get 10km rice at free of cost, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>At the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the prices of some commodities including dates, imported fruits, lemons, watermelons, onions were slightly higher.&nbsp; But the prices of these items have come down to normal and affordable levels within a few days, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>“When the price of goods increases, the common man, especially the people with limited income, suffer. We’re trying our best to ease people\'s suffering,” said PM Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 16:11:34', '2024-03-25 16:11:34'),
(11729, 11729, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Former British royal spokesman Paddy Harverson has urged the public to allow the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, the necessary time and space to recuperate following Catherine\'s recent cancer diagnosis.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Harverson, who had worked for the couple, defended how Kensington Palace handled the news, reports BBC.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is not just an institution, it\'s a family... you also have to remember they\'re human beings,\" he said while speaking on the BBC\'s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.</div><div><br></div><div>Catherine, 42, disclosed her cancer diagnosis on Friday, revealing that treatment had commenced subsequent to abdominal surgery. While specifics about her condition remain undisclosed, Kensington Palace has expressed confidence in her full recovery.</div><div><br></div><div>The revelation followed a period of intense speculation surrounding Catherine\'s health, compounded by her absence from official events since Christmas. Speculation peaked following a photograph released on Mother\'s Day, which triggered social media frenzy due to perceived inconsistencies.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing concerns about the timing of the announcement, Victoria Newton, editor of The Sun, explained that Catherine had strategically chosen to disclose her diagnosis on the last day of her children\'s school term to shield them from unwanted attention, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Harverson defended the royal family\'s handling of the situation, denouncing the incessant speculation propagated by social media platforms. He emphasized the need for understanding and support during this challenging time, dismissing notions of the family\'s fragility in light of recent health issues.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement prompted an outpouring of support from well-wishers, with a Kensington Palace spokesman expressing gratitude for the understanding of the couple\'s request for privacy. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly reached out to offer their support to William and Catherine, the report also said.</div><div><br></div><div>As the royal family navigates Catherine\'s diagnosis, Buckingham Palace remains hopeful that King Charles will join them for Easter Sunday service, underscoring the monarch\'s pride in his daughter-in-law and the family\'s close-knit bond during this trying period. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-25 16:15:20', '2024-03-25 16:15:20'),
(11730, 11730, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck have paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>They paid their homage by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar this morning, marking Independence and National Day.</div><div><br></div><div>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck first placed their wreaths at the altar of the memorial followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>After placing the wreaths, the President, the Bhutanese King and the Prime Minister stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion, while the bugles played the last post.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, flanked by senior Awami League leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also chief of the ruling party, laid another wreath at the altar of the memorial.</div><div><br></div><div>The President, the Bhutanese King and the Prime Minister also signed on the visitors book.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh\'s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div><br></div><div>After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people, Bangladesh achieved its independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>The day is a public holiday. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 07:50:43', '2024-03-26 07:50:43'),
(11731, 11731, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Bangladeshi cattle trader was shot dead by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in Naogaon and another was injured in Lalmonirhat on Tuesday.Al Amin, 38, fell victim to gunfire by the BSF near the Nitpur border area of the Pashur upazila of the district.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident happened approximately two kilometers inside the Indian territory adjacent to the Malda district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lt Col Mohammad Sadikur Rahman, commanding officer of 16th Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said that Al Amin was a resident of the Kallanipara village of the Nitpur area.According to reports, on Monday night, a group of Bangladeshi nationals, including Al Amin, attempted to smuggle cattle from India into Bangladesh through the Malda border area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When they were returning to Bangladesh on early Tuesday, members of the 159th BSF Battalion stationed in the Tokkapara camp opened fire, resulting in Al Amin being fatally shot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the incident, the BSF took custody of Al Amin\'s body for further procedures.Similarly, in Lalmonirhat\'s Aditmari upazila, a Bangladeshi national was injured in gunfire by the BSF near the Durgapur border area early Tuesday .</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The injured Liton Mia, 19, was detained by the BSF.According to locals, Liton, along with a group of four others, attempted to smuggle cattle by crossing the border pillar 923 in the Durgapur border area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Upon detecting their illegal entry, the BSF personnel from the 75th Battalion stationed at the Rathar camp fired shots at them. While others managed to escape, Liton was wounded by gunfire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lt Col Mofazzal Hossain Akand, CO of 15th Battalion of BGB in Lalmonirhat, said he has initiated inquiries to ascertain the facts and has also sent a protest letter regarding the matter. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 08:54:52', '2024-03-26 08:54:52'),
(11732, 11732, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Independence Day on March 26.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the United States of America, Blinken extended warm wishes to all Bangladeshis on this special day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US looks forward to enhancing the partnership and people-to-people ties between the two countries in the year ahead, Blinken said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The United States is proud to partner with Bangladesh on many of today’s most pressing issues, including combating climate change, advancing economic development, responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis, supporting peacekeeping operations worldwide, and addressing global health challenges,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken said the partnership plays an important role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As Bangladesh celebrates another year of independence, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening democratic governance and protecting human rights – efforts which will increase Bangladesh’s prosperity,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 09:09:07', '2024-03-26 09:09:07'),
(11733, 11733, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman this morning, on the occasion of Independence and National Day.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her return from the National Memorial in Savar, the Prime Minister paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After placing the wreath, she stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh\'s independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina stayed at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum for some time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flanked by central leaders of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, president of the party, laid another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of AL.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh\'s independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people, Bangladesh achieved its independence on December 16, 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 09:18:25', '2024-03-26 09:18:25'),
(11734, 11734, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On Independence Day, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, levied serious allegations against the current administration, claiming that extensive development projects have been marred by rampant corruption and large-scale money laundering activities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to Dr. Moyeen, hundreds of thousands of crore taka have been illicitly transferred abroad, casting a shadow over the country\'s developmental achievements.</div><div><br></div><div>At the National Memorial in Savar, where the BNP leader paid his respects, he voiced a question: “Hundreds of thousands of people of the country have sacrificed their lives. Today, after 53 years of independence, a question has emerged in the minds of 18 crore people: Where is democracy?”</div><div><br></div><div>He criticised the ruling Awami League, arguing that despite their proclamations, they have effectively established a one-party rule. He detailed the government\'s alleged repressive measures, including filing one lakh cases against opposition leaders and activists and imprisoning 50,000 opponents, as evidence of this autocratic shift.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader further challenged the authenticity of the Awami League\'s narrative of the independence struggle, questioning their departure from the battlefield on March 25, 1971, amidst the Pakistan military\'s crackdown. Contrarily, he highlighted BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in defiantly declaring Bangladesh\'s independence and actively engaging in the Liberation War. According to UNB repots </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 09:23:32', '2024-03-26 09:47:39'),
(11735, 11735, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume direct flights to Italy’s Rome from Tuesday night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We are all set to resume the flight. As per our market analysis, the Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka route will be another popular one, like our London (UK), Toronto (Canada), and Narita (Japan) routes,\" said Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka direct flight is resuming after nine years prompting by large number of expatriate Bangladeshi community residing in Italy.</div><div><br></div><div>Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Faruk Khan will inaugurate the flight as the chief guest along with Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro at 9:30 pm at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).</div><div><br></div><div>The inaugural flight is schedule to depart Dhaka at 3:30am.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision to resume the flight was thoroughly assessed from a commercial standpoint while Bangladeshi expatriates in Rome have increased sevenfold since 2009, said the Biman CEO. </div><div><br></div><div>\"The planning of Biman\'s route expansion to different cities in Europe is a reflection of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s commitment to the expatriate Bangladeshis,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dhaka to Rome flight will be Biman\'s third European destination, as currently the national flag carrier is operating flights to London and Manchester.</div><div><br></div><div>After announcement of the Rome flight the visa applications to Italy has increased three folds, the Biman CEO said referring to the Italian Embassy in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Azim said he is also planning to use Rome as a stopover for Biman\'s Dhaka-Toronto-Dhaka flight, as currently the state-owned carrier is using Istanbul for refuelling its Canada-bound flight.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Biman initially began operating flights to Rome on April 2, 1981 and stopped on April 6, 2015, facing financial losses due to massive fuel consumption by the then DC-10 carrier.</div><div><br></div><div>Between March 27 and March 31, flight BG-355 will depart Dhaka every Monday,Tuesday, and Thursday at 2:00 a.m. local time and reach Rome at 7:00 a.m. local time.</div><div><br></div><div>From April 1, the flight will take off from Dhaka every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 3:00am as per the summer schedule and arrive at the capital of Italy at 9:10am.</div><div><br></div><div>The flight will leave Rome at 10:45 a.m. and land in Dhaka at 11:45 p.m.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 10:35:18', '2024-03-26 10:35:32'),
(11736, 11736, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 14-year-old school student died after his bicycle collided with a tolly van in Kushtia Sadar Upazila.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The incident happened at the Harishankarpur area of the city on Tuesday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>The deceased was identified as Ali, a student of Saota High School of Kumarkhali Upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Eyewitnesses reported that the student, riding his bicycle from his own home to the city during the rush hour, was hit. The collision caused him to fall under the van, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>After being informed, police recovered the body, and sent it to Kushtia General Hospital Morgue for autopsy, said Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Sohel Rana of Kushtia Model Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 10:46:12', '2024-03-26 10:46:12'),
(11737, 11737, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chinese President Xi Jinping has said Bangladesh and China enjoy \"solid and profound\" political trust, and \"fruitful practical cooperation\" in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two nations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping noted that over the past 53 years, Bangladesh has steadfastly upheld its independence, strived to develop its economy and improve people\'s livelihood, and made remarkable achievements, laying a solid foundation for realising the dream of “Sonar Bangla”.</div><div><br></div><div>He sent a letter of congratulation to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin on the occasion of Independence Day.</div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbours, and the friendship between the two countries has grown from strength to strength.</div><div><br></div><div>He emphasised that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh relations and stands ready to work with President Mohammed Shahabuddin to further advance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation and deepen China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent messages of congratulation separately to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud respectively. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 10:56:47', '2024-03-26 10:56:47'),
(11738, 11738, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>On Independence Day, Sajeeb Wazed, ICT Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, and the gallant freedom fighters who played pivotal roles in Bangladesh\'s Liberation War.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a heartfelt post on his verified Facebook page, Wazed recounted the historical night of March 26, over five decades ago, when Bangabandhu made the decisive declaration of independence moments before his arrest by the Pakistani military. “26 March, our Independence Day. On this day 53 years back, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared our independence just before he was arrested and taken away by the Pak Army in the middle of the night,\" Wazed wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>Echoing Bangabandhu\'s powerful wireless message from that fateful night, Wazed shared, “\'This may be my last message: from today Bangladesh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangladesh, wherever you might be and with whatever you have, to resist the occupation army. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh and final victory is achieved.’”</div><div><br></div><div>The resolve and bravery of Bangladesh\'s sons and daughters, who took Bangabandhu\'s call to heart, were highlighted by Wazed as he commemorated their triumph in the Liberation War, achieved in just nine months. “Then the bravest sons of this soil retaliated, fought and won the Liberation War in just 9 months. I remember Bangabandhu and our valiant freedom fighters on this day,” Wazed emphasized.</div><div><br></div><div>Concluding his tribute, Wazed extended a message of pride and remembrance to all, “Happy Independence Day to all!”</div><div><br></div><div>This Independence Day, the nation collectively reflects on the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of Bangabandhu and the freedom fighters, whose actions forever changed the course of Bangladesh\'s history. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 11:25:55', '2024-03-26 11:25:55');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11739, 11739, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A cease-fire in the Gaza Strip must be “substantive, not symbolic” to end the “darkest chapters” of humanity, a UNICEF official said on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Gaza has shattered humanity\'s records for its darkest chapters. Humanity must now urgently write a different chapter,\" UNICEF spokesman James Elder said at a UN press briefing in Geneva.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The hostages must go home, the people of Gaza must be allowed to live,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the challenges that UNICEF as well as other partners face while trying to reach the north to deliver aid, he said that if the existing Erez crossing point, which is \"10 minutes from where those people are putting their hands to their mouth pleading for food,\" could be used in the north, the humanitarian crisis could be \"turned around in a matter of days\" but efforts to provide aid are being \"hampered.\"</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Palestinian territory since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,300 Palestinians have since been killed and over 74,694 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli war, now in its 172nd day, has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave\'s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>Gaza, particularly residents in the north, is on the verge of starvation as a UN-backed report warned of an imminent famine.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 11:56:45', '2024-03-26 11:56:45'),
(11740, 11740, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two Palestinian brothers in the Swedish city of Malmo have begun producing a soft drink named Palestine Cola, with an aim to donate any profits to Palestinians.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, where it has so far killed more than 32,200 Palestinians, prompted mass protests around the world and boycotts of many international brands, including top beverage and coffee companies and fast-food chains.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the worldwide campaign to boycott Western producers that profit from Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank or support Israel in any way, Mohamed and Ahmad Hassoun saw a market gap due to high demand for substitutes for larger brands.</div><div><br></div><div>Their company, Palestine Drinks, was launched in February, Mohamed Kiswani, the press officer for Safad Food AB, the Swedish firm behind it, told Anadolu.</div><div><br></div><div>Palestine Cola represents “a symbol of unity and purpose,” according to the company.</div><div><br></div><div>The Hassoun family comes from the large Palestinian town of Safad, from where they were driven out during the British mandate in 1948.</div><div><br></div><div>They were forced to live in refugee camps in the south of Lebanon, before eventually relocating to Sweden.</div><div><br></div><div>On a cold November day in Malmo, the two brothers sat down to try and come up with a project to help Palestinians, who are facing what many around the world say is a genocide being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>This is when Palestine Drinks began to take shape, with experts and consultants helping the family, which owns a successful car and property company in Sweden but had no previous experience in the food and beverage industry.</div><div><br></div><div>“The market, restaurants, stores and people wanted alternatives to the larger brands, so we thought why not make it a charity project and call it Palestine Drinks, for people to remember the name and to be proud of the brand. So that’s the main reason why this idea came to life,” Kiswani said between back-to-back meetings.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have launched an alternative brand for everyone who wants … a company that supports Palestinians.”</div><div><br></div><div>Overwhelming response</div><div><br></div><div>Proud of its role as a project to help fellow Palestinians, the brothers initially saw it as a small initiative targeting only the Swedish market.</div><div><br></div><div>When the drinks hit the shelves, however, the public response was overwhelming and totally unexpected.</div><div><br></div><div>“As soon as we pushed out a million cans, they just immediately sold out, as this brand markets itself,” said Kiswani, adding that a key factor is that people are confident that it is for a good cause.</div><div><br></div><div>The drinks are currently sold in Sweden, Denmark and Norway, but orders keep coming in from other parts of Europe, the US, Australia, Japan, Arab countries, parts of Asia and even Latin America.</div><div><br></div><div>The company feels the sky is the limit for this brand and is currently in the process of expanding beyond Scandinavia, with plans to have it available in other countries within the next two or three months.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, we have about 900 orders from companies all over the world wanting to be our distributor. We have not had time to answer all the emails yet,” Kiswani said.</div><div><br></div><div>The company’s drinks are designed to appeal to all taste buds “regardless of preference,” available in original, sugar-free, orange and lemonade flavors, as well as an energy drink variant.</div><div><br></div><div>“We decided to go with the cola flavor, which we thought tasted better than other alternatives on the market today,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The can’s logo features an olive tree, a Palestinian symbol since ancient times, and a bottom pattern that represents the Palestinian keffiyeh, a historic emblem of Palestinian nationalism.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, the main idea here is to reach all of the world, to keep everyone remembering that Palestine exists in the memory of this family and in the memory of every Palestinian family,” said Kiswani. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 12:08:29', '2024-03-26 12:08:29'),
(11741, 11741, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President of China Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin  congratulated President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina respectively on the occasion of Independence Day 26 March. </b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping noted that over the past 53 years, Bangladesh has steadfastly upheld its independence, strived to develop its economy and improve people\'s livelihood, and made remarkable achievements, laying a solid foundation for realizing the dream of “Sonar Bangla”.</div><div><br></div><div>Chinese President pointed out that China and Bangladesh are traditional friendly neighbors, and the friendship between the two countries has grown from strength to strength. In recent years, our two countries have enjoyed solid and profound political trust, and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.</div><div><br></div><div>Xi Jinping emphasized that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Bangladesh relations and stands ready to work together to further advance high-quality Belt and Road Cooperation and deepen China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi sent messages of congratulations separately to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in his letter to Sheikh Hasina said, \'On behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation and on my own behalf, please accept congratulations on the occasion of the national holiday of the People\'s Republic of Bangladesh - the Independence Day.\'</div><div><br></div><div>He observed with satisfaction that the Russia-Bangladesh relations have been developing in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect and that trade and economic cooperation is gradually advancing, and perspective joint projects are being realised. </div><div><br></div><div>\'I am convinced that active work between the governments will contribute to strengthening the entire gamut of practical interaction. This fully corresponds with the interests of the Russian Federation and the People\'s Republic of Bangladesh\' said the premier.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian PM wished Sheikh Hasina, sound health, well-being and new achievements in her responsible work and to the friendly Bangladeshi people - happiness and prosperity.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/r/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 13:05:05', '2024-03-26 13:29:03'),
(11742, 11742, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda urged the land officials to work towards building a smart Bangladesh by implementing sustainable, people-friendly land services, inspired by the spirit of independence.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The land minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled \'Leadership and Development Thoughts of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman\' on the occasion of the Great Independence and National Day 2024 at Bhumi Bhaban on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chairman of Land Appeal Board AKM Shamimul Haque, Chairman of Land Reform Board Md Abdus Sabur Mandal, Director General of Land Records and Survey Directorate Anis Mahmud were also present as discussants in the meeting held under the chairmanship of Land Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman. Public officials of the Ministry of Land and its affiliated offices/agencies were present at the discussion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The land minister said, after our independence, Bangabandhu had given importance to the proper and sustainable use of land and the just rights of the people over land in building the country and nation. After the independence of Bangladesh, he took various landmark decisions. His worthy daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in the same continuation, took land management reforms seriously and made it a part of Smart Bangladesh and Delta Plan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Narayon Chandra Chanda also addressed the land officials, stating that just as heroic freedom fighters once plunged into the historic struggle for the national liberation of our country and its people at the call of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; minister also said that, in the same manner, in this independent Bangladesh as called by the Prime Minister, we as the people\'s representatives and the public servants should work diligently to change the economic fate of the country and the people by implementing Smart Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister further stated that land is directly and indirectly related to the interests of every citizen of the country. The lack of efficient and proper land management is a hindrance to national development. To ensure a smart Bangladesh, efficient and proper land management must be ensured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The secretary said Bangabandhu was the leader of the soil and the people. He inspired the entire nation under one umbrella. As public servants, we all have much to learn from his unprecedented leadership. At this time, the secretary reiterated the commitment of all working under the Ministry of Land to work with the spirit of independence and said, collectively, we will endeavor in our respective fields to implement the Prime Minister\'s vision of Smart Bangladesh to the best of our abilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The speakers discussed the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the emergence of Bangladesh. The discussants highlighted Bangabandhu\'s leadership and role in every democratic and independence movement conducted for the liberation and rights of the Bangalis, including the anti-colonial movement from 1944, the All Party State Language Action Council in 1948, the Language Movement of 52, the United Front election of 54, the movement against military rule of 58, the 6-point movement of 66, the mass uprising of 69, the election of 70, and the great liberation war of 1971 and nation building after the victory in the Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/r/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 13:36:48', '2024-03-26 13:49:29'),
(11743, 11743, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two people have so far been rescued from the freezing Baltimore waters after a huge container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Footage showed the moment the 1.6 mile long bridge fell into the water just before 1.30am local time this morning after the Singapore-flagged Dali ship slammed into one of the bridge’s pillars.</div><div><br></div><div>Multiple cars were crossing over the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer.</div><div><br></div><div>Baltimore Police said in a press briefing that a desperate search is currently under way for at least seven people missing in the water.</div><div><br></div><div>Just two people have been pulled from the water five hours on from the incident, one of whom is currently fighting for their life in hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Sonar has detected multiple vehicles still in the water.</div><div><br></div><div>Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency and the White House is monitoring the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Marine Traffic website, the ship was bound for Colombo Port in Sri Lanka at the time. - yahoo news</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 13:57:30', '2024-03-26 13:57:30'),
(11744, 11744, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin and his wife Dr. Rebeka Sultana today hosted a reception at Bangabhaban marking the country\'s 54th Independence and National Day - 2024, where visiting Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were present.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bhutanese King is now on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh at the special invitation of Bangladesh President Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the 54th Independence Day celebrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He along with his spouse Queen Jetsun Pema joined the reception on the lawn of the Bangabhaban at about 5:00 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As many as 2600 guests were invited in the Independence and National Day reception.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu\'s daughter and Prime Minister\'s sister Sheikh Rehana, President\'s spouse Dr Rebeka Sultan, South East Asian Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) and PM\'s daughter Saima Wazed, attended the reception.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the invitees, cabinet members, advisers, state ministers, Bhutanese delegation members, foreign diplomats, Supreme Court judges, senior officials of the three services, members of parliament, senior political leaders, academics, business community leaders, artistes, valiant Freedom Fighters and family members of Birshreshtha gallantry award recipients and distinguished citizens attended the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Media personalities including, editors and journalist leaders also attended the reception alongside top civil and military officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the occasion, President Shahabuddin, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with President\'s wife Dr Rebeka Sultana and Bhutanese Queen cut a cake placed at the VVIP Enclosure on the eastern side of the green field.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also exchanged greetings among each other and attended a photo session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, they exchanged greetings with the injured freedom fighters and other dignitaries and guests at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the reception was followed by an iftar and dinner party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prior to it, a special munajat was offered seeking divine blessings for continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pesh Imam of Bangabhaban Jame Mosque Maulana M Saiful Kabir conducted the munajat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every year, the March 26 brings the most tragic reminiscence of the history\'s blackest episode that heralded a nine-month bloody ordeal from the night of March 25, 1971, achieving the long-cherished independence on December 16 the same year at the cost of a sea of blood.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the wake of the military crackdown by the then Pakistan occupation force, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed the Independence of Bangladesh through the then EPR (East Pakistan Rifles) wireless at 00-30 hours on March 26 (the night following March 25) in 1971 at his historic Road-32 residence at Dhanmondi here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is very auspicious and precious to the Bengali nation. - BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-26 14:32:11', '2024-03-26 14:32:11'),
(11745, 11745, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a significant move to enhance late-night transportation options, the Dhaka Metro Rail has announced an extension of its operating hours. Starting today (March 27, 2024), the service will run an additional hour past its previous closing time, now concluding at 9:40 pm.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This decision, as explained by MAN Siddique, the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), is a direct response to the increasing public demand for extended metro service hours. The announcement was made on March 25, marking a pivotal change in the metro\'s schedule to accommodate the needs of late-evening commuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the new timetable, the final train from the Motijheel station is scheduled to leave at 9:40 pm, while the last departure from the Uttara terminal will be at 9:20 pm. This adjustment will see the introduction of trains departing every 12 minutes during the newly added service hour, integrating an additional 10 trains into the daily rotation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this extension, the total number of daily metro trips will rise from 184 to 194, reflecting the DMTCL\'s commitment to improving public transportation accessibility and convenience.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prior to this change, Dhaka Metro Rail\'s operation hours spanned from 7 am to 8:40 pm. The service frequency included trains running every 8 minutes during peak hours—from 7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm—and every 12 minutes during off-peak periods, between 11 am and 2:30 pm. This schedule adjustment is anticipated to significantly benefit the city\'s metro users by providing more flexible travel options during the evening. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 06:43:30', '2024-03-27 06:43:30'),
(11746, 11746, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a significant move to enhance late-night transportation options, the Dhaka Metro Rail has announced an extension of its operating hours. Starting today (March 27, 2024), the service will run an additional hour past its previous closing time, now concluding at 9:40 pm.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>This decision, as explained by MAN Siddique, the Managing Director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), is a direct response to the increasing public demand for extended metro service hours. The announcement was made on March 25, marking a pivotal change in the metro\'s schedule to accommodate the needs of late-evening commuters.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the new timetable, the final train from the Motijheel station is scheduled to leave at 9:40 pm, while the last departure from the Uttara terminal will be at 9:20 pm. This adjustment will see the introduction of trains departing every 12 minutes during the newly added service hour, integrating an additional 10 trains into the daily rotation.</div><div><br></div><div>With this extension, the total number of daily metro trips will rise from 184 to 194, reflecting the DMTCL\'s commitment to improving public transportation accessibility and convenience.</div><div><br></div><div>Prior to this change, Dhaka Metro Rail\'s operation hours spanned from 7 am to 8:40 pm. The service frequency included trains running every 8 minutes during peak hours—from 7 am to 11:30 am and 2 pm to 8 pm—and every 12 minutes during off-peak periods, between 11 am and 2:30 pm. This schedule adjustment is anticipated to significantly benefit the city\'s metro users by providing more flexible travel options during the evening. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 07:30:44', '2024-03-27 07:30:44'),
(11747, 11747, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Nobel laureate Professor Yunus has visited Venice and Milan to finalise the partnership between&nbsp; &nbsp;Milan Cortina Winter Olympic and Yunus Sports Hub.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his visit to Venice on March 18, Prof Yunus was the honorary host of the launch event of Impact 2026, the social procurement programme delivered as a partnership between Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 (organizer of the 2026 winter Olympic and Paralympic Games), Yunus Sports Hub and Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aim of the programme is to make sure that social businesses benefit from the economic opportunities of the 2026 Games.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He opened the event with a keynote speech promoting the concept of social business and the world of three zeros in sports.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event was hosted by the&nbsp; Ca’Foscari University of Venice, the Veneto region and the City of Venice, said a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The&nbsp; Ca’Foscari University of Venice established a&nbsp; Yunus Social Business Centre five years back during Professor Yunus\'s&nbsp; visit to the university at the invitaion of the university, dedicating the Centre for implementation of social business in the academic curriculum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Faculty members of several other Yunus Social Business Centres in different parts of Italy also arrived in Venice to participate in&nbsp; the launching ceremony and meet Professor Yunus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 19, Prof Yunus addressed the students of the university of Bocconi , the topmost Italian management school.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prof Yunus expounded his vision about a world of three zeros, social business, and its link with sports . The event was organized within the framework of the launch of the Executive Master in Events, launched in partnership between University of Bocconi and Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his visit to Milan Professor Yunus received the Italian rapper, singer, songwriter, social media personality and businessman, superstar Fedez.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fedez expressed his interest in partnering with him in the movement towards building a World of Three Zeros.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When&nbsp; Fedze expressed his desire to create a social business in Europe jointly with Professor Yunus, he accepted the offer and invited him to visit Bangladesh to finalise the partnership. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 08:19:53', '2024-03-27 08:19:53'),
(11748, 11748, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A senior Indian opposition politician will run the capital from his prison cell, a senior aide said Tuesday, facing down growing calls by rivals demanding he resign.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of New Delhi and a key leader in an opposition alliance formed to compete against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in upcoming elections, was arrested on Thursday in connection with a long-running corruption probe.</div><div><br></div><div>Atishi Marlena Singh, New Delhi’s education minister and fellow member of Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man Party, AAP), said “statutory and constitutional provisions” allowed him to remain in his post while behind bars.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are very clear that Arvind Kejriwal will remain the chief minister of Delhi,” Singh, 42, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“If he were to resign when there’s been no trial and no conviction, it opens up the route for other opposition chief ministers to be removed,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>India’s main financial investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which arrested Kejriwal, has launched probes into at least four other state chief ministers or their family members.</div><div><br></div><div>All the investigations involve political opponents of Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).</div><div><br></div><div>While Modi enjoys high levels of support among his backers, critics accuse him of using law enforcement agencies to intimidate opposition leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>Kejriwal, 55, denies the charges against him.</div><div><br></div><div>His supporters, who held a rally in the city on Tuesday demanding his release, say charges against him are politically motivated and aimed at sidelining challengers of Modi ahead of the polls.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi’s political opponents and international rights groups have long sounded the alarm on India’s shrinking democratic space.</div><div><br></div><div>“All the center has to do is file some fake cases, and then the ED goes and arrests them,” according to Singh.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly a billion Indians will vote to elect a new government in six-week-long parliamentary elections starting on April 19, the largest democratic exercise in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Many analysts see Modi’s re-election as a foregone conclusion, partly due to the resonance of his assertive Hindu-nationalist politics with members of the country’s majority faith.</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of BJP loyalists held a rival march through New Delhi on Tuesday, chanting support for Modi and demanding Kejriwal resign.</div><div>“You can run a gang from jail but not a government,” BJP lawmaker Manoj Tiwari told the crowd. “A government cannot be run from prison.”</div><div><br></div><div>In February, Jharkhand state’s chief minister Hemant Soren was arrested and jailed on corruption charges.</div><div><br></div><div>Soren, who denies all charges, resigned and handed power to a colleague. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 08:51:57', '2024-03-27 08:51:57'),
(11749, 11749, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian officials persisted Tuesday in saying Ukraine and the West had a role in last week’s deadly Moscow concert hall attack despite vehement denials of involvement by Kyiv and a claim of responsibility by an affiliate of the Daesh group.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Without offering any evidence, Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, followed similar allegations by President Vladimir Putin, who linked the attack to Ukraine even as he acknowledged that the suspects who were arrested were “terrorists.”</div><div>The Daesh affiliate claimed it carried out the attack, and US intelligence said it had information confirming the group was responsible. French President Emmanuel Macron said France also has intelligence pointing to “an Daesh entity” as responsible for the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>But despite the signs pointing to Daesh, Putin insisted on alleged Ukrainian involvement — something that President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected, accusing the Kremlin leader of trying to drum up fervor as his forces fight in Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Bortnikov alleged that Western spy agencies also could have been involved in the deadliest terror attack on Russian soil in two decades, even as he acknowledged receiving a US tip about the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>“We believe that terrorists prepared the action, while Western special services have assisted it and Ukrainian special services had a direct part in it,” Bortnikov said without giving details.</div><div><br></div><div>He repeated Putin’s claim that the four gunmen were trying to escape to Ukraine when they were arrested. casting it as a proof of alleged involvement by Kyiv.</div><div><br></div><div>But that assertion was undercut slightly by Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. who said Tuesday the suspects were headed for Ukraine because they feared tight controls on the Belarus border.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia is still reeling from the attack Friday in which gunmen killed 139 people in the Crocus City Hall, a concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow. Health officials said about 90 people remain hospitalized, with 22 of them, including two children, in grave condition.</div><div><br></div><div>The four men accused of carrying out the attack appeared in a Moscow court on Sunday on terrorism charges and showed signs of severe beatings. One appeared to be barely conscious during the hearing.</div><div><br></div><div>The men are citizens of Tajikistan, authorities said, and were identified as Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, 32; Saidakrami Rachabalizoda, 30; Shamsidin Fariduni, 25; and Mukhammadsobir Faizov, 19. They were charged with committing a terrorist attack resulting in death, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.</div><div><br></div><div>A senior Turkish security official confirmed Tuesday that two of them spent a “short amount of time” in Turkiye before traveling together to Russia on March 2.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the suspects, Fariduni, entered Turkiye on Feb. 20, checked into a hotel in Istanbul’s Fatih district the next day, and checked out Feb. 27, the official said. The other, Rachabalizoda, checked into a hotel in the same district on Jan. 5, checking out on Jan. 21.</div><div><br></div><div>The official said Turkish authorities believe the two “became radicalized in Russia” because they were not in Turkiye for long. There was no warrant for their arrest so they were allowed to travel freely between Russia and Turkiye, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements.</div><div><br></div><div>The Daesh group, which lost much of its ground after Russia’s military action in Syria, has long targeted Russia. In October 2015, a bomb planted by Daesh downed a Russian jetliner over the Sinai desert, killing all 224 people aboard, most of them Russian vacationers returning from Egypt.</div><div><br></div><div>The group, which operates mainly in Syria and Iraq but also in Afghanistan and Africa, also has claimed several attacks in Russia’s volatile Caucasus and other regions in the past years. It recruited fighters from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, Putin warned that more attacks could follow, alleging possible Western involvement. He didn’t mention the warning about a possible imminent terrorist attack that the US shared confidentially with Moscow two weeks before the raid.</div><div><br></div><div>Three days before the attack, Putin denounced the US Embassy’s March 7 notice urging Americans to avoid crowds in Moscow, including concerts, calling it an attempt to frighten Russians and “blackmail” the Kremlin ahead of the presidential election.</div><div><br></div><div>Bortnikov said Russia was thankful for the warning but described it as very general.</div><div><br></div><div>“The information about preparations for terror attacks in large gatherings of people was of a general nature,” he said. “Of course, we reacted to that information and took corresponding measures to prevent such incidents.”</div><div><br></div><div>He added that the FSB acted on the tip, targeting a group of suspects he didn’t identify but which eventually proved false. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>“We are thankful, of course, but we would like to see more specifics,” Bortnikov said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 10:29:32', '2024-03-27 10:29:32'),
(11750, 11750, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A consignment of 300 tonnes of potatoes, imported from India, made their way into the country through Benapole land port recently. This rounds up the total shipment of 1000 tonnes of potatoes during the month of Ramadan.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A total of 32 trucks with potatoes arrived at the land port between March 13 and March 24, said Mizanur Rahman, revenue officer of Benapole Checkpost and Cargo Department, on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Integrated Food and Beverage imported the potatoes from India.</div><div><br></div><div>Masum Billah, representative of Transmarine Logistic Limited C&amp;F Agent, said the last consignment of potatoes will be unloaded today.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole port, said 700 metric tonnes of potatoes have been released from the port. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 10:37:00', '2024-03-27 10:37:00'),
(11751, 11751, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russia on Wednesday said it sent over 29 tons of humanitarian aid for the besieged Gaza Strip, where more than 32,400 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 74,800 injured since Oct. 7 last year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A statement by Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said on Telegram that a special flight it dispatched earlier in the day has delivered the 20th batch of humanitarian aid to representatives of the Egyptian Red Crescent in the city of El-Arish, who will then redirect the aid to Gaza residents.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry said earlier that the humanitarian aid consists of cereals, flour, sugar, and other long-term storage products, as well as personal hygiene products, most of which were collected at the initiative of authorities from the Russian Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia.</div><div><br></div><div>“In total, since the beginning of the humanitarian mission, 20 flights of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations have delivered more than 480 tons of cargo,” it further said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Palestinian territories since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed around 1,200 people.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 32,400 Palestinians have since been killed and nearly 74,800 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave\'s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.​​​​​​​ - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:05:40', '2024-03-27 11:05:40'),
(11752, 11752, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday once again questioned Ziaur Rahman’s loyalty during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh.</b></div><div><br></div><div>“(Mirza) Aslam Beg (who was an army officer at that time in Bangladesh) wrote a letter to Ziaur Rahman during the Liberation War expressing satisfaction of his activities,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>This raised the question whether Zia had fought for Bangladesh or Pakistan, she said while addressing a discussion meeting at Awami League office in city’s Tejgaon, organised by the AL on the occasion of the&nbsp; Independence&nbsp; and National Day celebrated on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>In that letter, she claimed, Mirza Aslam Beg also said that wife and sons of Ziaur Rahman were fine in Dhaka Cantonment.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The question is if the person had proclaimed the independence then why the Pakistanis took care of the wife and sons of that person in cantonment, and wrote a letter stating satisfaction over his job,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The ruling Awami League chief said that the war was fought in the eleven sectors of the country during the Liberation War, but the sector led by Zia saw the most killings of the freedom fighters.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The most casualties were in there,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that during any operation&nbsp; Ziaur Rahman used to keep himself in a safe place pushing the freedom fighters to the action field which caused huge casualties as he could not take decision based on ground reality.</div><div><br></div><div>“The casualties happened due to the lack of proper leadership by him (Ziaur Rahman),” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that the successful operation in any battle means attaining desired goal through fewer casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>“Zia could not do that, as a result Aslam Baig expressed satisfaction,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>General Beg served as the third Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army from 1988 until his retirement in 1991. His appointment as chief of army staff came when his predecessor, President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, died in an air crash on August 17, 1988.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the proclamation of the Independence on the night of March 25 (early of March 26), she said that Bangabandhu’s proclamation was relayed through wireless, But after the assassination of the Father of the Nation, the history was distorted.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the distorted history it was said that one major standing on a drum blew the whistle and Bangladesh got independence. A country can not attain independence&nbsp; this way. If this could be done then the history of Bangladesh would have written differently,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that nowadays BNP leaders are searching for democracy, and one BNP leader claimed that on March 25 Awami League leaders fled from Bangladesh. If that is true who then fought the fight and who brought the victory.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the elected public representatives of the 1970 elections formed the first ever government of independent Bangladesh with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the president and Syed Nazrul Islam the vice-president and Tajuddin Ahmed as the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>After forming this government on April 17 of 1971 they took oath at Meherpur and carried out the Liberation War, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that Ziaur Rahman was a sector commander of that government as a salaried person under the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (BNP leaders) must not forget this fact. They must not forget that after the Independence Ziaur Rahman was promoted from Major to Major General. These ungrateful persons forget that also.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina ridiculed a BNP leader’s act of&nbsp; burning his shawl calling for boycott of Indian goods.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked BNP leaders to search the indian sarees under the possession of their wives and burn those and also stop using indian species in their kitchen.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that people rejected BNP for their arson terrorism and killing of people.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who were rejected by people, could not win election in democratic system, now they are searching for democracy,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League Advisory Council Members Amir Hossain Amu, Presidium Members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Abdur Razzaque, and Shajahan Khan, Health Affairs Secretary and State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana, Dhaka District President Benzir Ahmed, Dhaka City South General Secretary Humayun Kabir, and Dhaka City North General Secretary SM Mannan Kochi.</div><div><br></div><div>AL publicity and publication secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and his deputy Syed Abdul Awal Shameem moderated the discussion. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:28:11', '2024-03-27 11:28:11');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(11753, 11753, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Despite repeated efforts by the Power Division, no progress has been made in bringing the distressing overhead internet and satellite TV cables underground although power utilities are implementing their project in this regard.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has even not possible to make the operators of internet and satellite TV cables agreed to join the ongoing underground cabling projects of the power utility bodies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) has been implementing its first project in the Dhanmondi area to take its all overhead transmission lines underground.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But despite repeated calls by the DPDC, no internet or TV cable operator agreed to join the project. They were even offered free of cost to join the scheme. But no response was received,”&nbsp; a top official of the Power Division told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In such a frustrating situation, recently the Power Division reconstituted its previous committee and also convened a meeting to find a solution to it. But finally the meeting was not held for unknown reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Member secretary of the reconstituted committee and director of the Power Cell Md. Salim Ullah Khan informed that the power Division’s efforts will continue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But the other departments and agencies are not interested in cooperating with the Power Division’s efforts in this regard,” he told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sources at the Power Division blamed the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) and internet service providers (ISPs) for the horrible situation of the overhead cables.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a number of meetings, the previous committee of the Power Division found it difficult to address the problem without their cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to its report submitted to Power Division, Summit Communications Limited (SCL) and Fiber@Home (FAH) have been working as NTTN in the city and they laid underground cables for operating their main internet network in the city while some 1734 legal and some 5,000 illegal internet service providing (ISP) companies have been operating as local ones to provide internet connections to homes and offices through overhead cables.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the system, the ISPs are supposed to take connections from SCL and FAH to take internet service to homes and offices from the main network. Recently, Bahon Limited, another NTTN company, also joined the network.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But NTTN companies alleged that the ISPs are not taking connections from Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) or Access Point (AP) installed by NTTN as it will cost them financially, says the report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the report reveals, the IPS companies alleged that they do not prefer taking connections from LDP or AP as they do not get required and instant solutions from the NTTN companies if any problem takes place in any internet service connection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the NTTN are charging excessively in providing connections to the ISP companies from their LDP and AP, the report mentions quoting the ISP companies.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the circumstances, the ISP companies are hanging overhead cables indiscriminately and giving connections to homes and offices without following any rule or regulation, the report says, adding that only the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) can step in and resolve the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, the committee adopted an 11-point recommendation to have a solution and take all overhead cables underground through coordination with electricity distribution companies —DPDC and Desco.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee found that the haphazardly hanged internet, security and satellite&nbsp; TV cables are not only posing a great threat to the power distribution system, but also creating a major obstacle to the government’s move for the beautification of the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rashed Amin Biduyt, an official of the Bahon Limited, said they are not joining the DPDC underground cabling project due to technical reasons as it will not fulfill its requirements to facilitate connections to ISPN, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But we\'re laying our own cables underground with the permission of the South City Corporation,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:48:34', '2024-03-27 11:48:34'),
(11754, 11754, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Another injured victim, who lost five of her family members due to electrocution caused by a torn wire of Palli Bidyut in Juri upazila of Moulvibazar district, died at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka on Tuesday night.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was identified as Sonia, 12, daughter of Foyzur Rahman of East Goalbari village in Juri upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on Tuesday, five members of&nbsp; her family- father Foyzur Rahman, 52, a van puller, mother Shiri Begum, 45, and two sisters-- Samia Begum, 15, Sabina Begum, 13 and brother Sayem Mia, 8 died from electrocution as a live electric wire of local Palli Bidyut Samity fell on their house that also caused fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sonia, who received burn injuries, was first taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital and from there she was taken to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka where she succumbed to her injuries at night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local people also condemned the negligence on the part of Palli Bidyut Samity and demanded that the electric line be replaced immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a three-member probe body was formed to look into the death of six people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Commissioner of Moulvibazar Urme Binte Salam provided Tk 50,000 to the family members of the deceased. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 11:58:17', '2024-03-27 11:58:17'),
(11755, 11755, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh will import 50,000 metric tons of onion from India.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in a meeting on Wednesday approved in principle a proposal of the Commerce Ministry in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali presided over the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the proposal, state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), a subordinate body of the Commerce Ministry, will import the onion from Indian National Cooperative Export Limited on G-to-G basis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the price of the onion was not disclosed in the meeting as the proposal will again come to the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase for approval, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“At that time, the rate of the onion might be disclosed,” said an additional secretary of the Cabinet Division who briefed reporters about the decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 12:01:48', '2024-03-27 12:01:48'),
(11756, 11756, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>All events centering Pahela Baishakh including those at Ramna park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, and Rabindra Sarobar, must conclude by 6 </b>pm.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The decision was taken at a meeting on law and order during celebration of Pahela Baishakh at a conference held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Other decisions taken at the meeting include those who are attempting to spread misinformation about the celebration of Bangla New Year via social media platforms like Facebook will be brought under law.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, fireworks and lanterns will remain prohibited to ensure public safety during the upcoming Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla new year celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>District administrations, district police, and event organisers will ensure security by coordinating arrangements for nationwide celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>Special security measures will be taken at important locations such as Ramna Botomul, Ramna park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Hatirjheel, and Rabindra Sarobar. Law enforcement forces and intelligence agencies will be vigilant during these events.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangla Academy will ensure necessary security measures during the Pahela Baisakh fair.</div><div><br></div><div>Personal security arrangements need to be in place alongside law enforcement agencies during the celebration programmes. Volunteers and law enforcement agencies will collaborate to ensure security, said the Home Ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Special security arrangements will be made for diplomatic zones and establishments.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Fire service teams, including fire trucks and ambulances, will be present at significant points in Dhaka and throughout the country during celebrations. Medical teams will also be available, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mobile courts and law enforcement units will be deployed to prevent any incidents of harassment, vandalism, pickpocketing, or other undesirable activities during the celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>Playing banned instruments like vuvzela horn will be prohibited during the celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>High-quality food will be served in prisons across the country during the New Year, and cultural events will be organised, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>Measures will be taken to prevent drug abuse during the Bangla New Year celebrations.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:00:17', '2024-03-27 13:00:17'),
(11757, 11757, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Workers of all sectors including readymade garments will get their salary and festival bonus before starting the government holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr, State Minister for Labour and Employment Nazrul Islam Chowdhury said on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the announcement while talking to reporters during the 77th meeting of the Tripartite Consultative Council (TCC) of the Ministry of Labour and Employment at the Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>The state minister further said that based on discussion and agreement between the employers and workers, the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays will be coordinated with public holidays so that holidaymakers can reach their destinations conveniently.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, no workers can be laid off before Eid, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Among others, Secretary of Ministry of Labor and Employment Md Mahbub Hossain, Director General of Labor Directorate Md Tariqul Alam, President of Bangladesh Employers Federation Ardashir Kabir, President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association Faruque Hasan, Acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Mukta Sramik Federation Md Shahidullah Badal, Bangladesh Trade Union Center General Secretary Dr Wazedul Islam Khan were also present. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:20:40', '2024-03-27 13:20:40'),
(11758, 11758, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said BNP leaders should unconditionally apologise to the nation for their undemocratic activities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“BNP is the main obstacle to the implementation of democratic ideals in this country,” he said in a statement sent to the media.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, alleged that BNP which had been born in the womb of dictatorship, continues its ill-attempt to undermine the ideals and values of the great Liberation War and democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP leaders should seek unconditional apology before the nation for their undemocratic activities. But, instead of doing that, they are giving ill-motivated statements as always,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>When the killers of democracy talk about democracy today, that means they have different intentions. “It is nothing but their crocodile tears for democracy,” he said adding that BNP has no responsibility towards democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL general secretary said their cry for democracy is mainly to take the country back to the misrule of era of Tarique Rahman who is the mastermind of the August 1 grenade attack, the master of Hawa Bhaban, Khwab Bhaban, the son of corruption, terrorism and corruption.</div><div><br></div><div>He said some 21,000 Awami League leaders and activists were killed during the BNP-Jamaat alliance regime after 2001, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“The democratic and patriotic civil society of this country is united today against this evil force of darkness,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL leader protested and condemned the falsehood and ill-motivated statements delivered by BNP leader.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:26:17', '2024-03-27 13:26:17'),
(11759, 11759, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">ironment Programme\'s Food Waste Index Report, published Wednesday, tracks the progress of countries to halve food waste by 2030.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The U.N. said the number of countries reporting for the index nearly doubled from the first report in 2021. The 2021 report estimated that 17% of the food produced globally in 2019, or 931 million metric tons (1.03 billion tons), was wasted, but authors warned against direct comparisons because of the lack of sufficient data from many countries.</div><div><br></div><div>The report is co-authored by UNEP and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), an international charity.</div><div><br></div><div>Researchers analyzed country data on households, food service and retailers. They found that each person wastes about 79 kilograms (about 174 pounds) of food annually, equal to at least 1 billion meals wasted worldwide daily.</div><div><br></div><div>Most of the waste — 60% — came in households. About 28% came from food service, or restaurants, with about 12% from retailers.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is a travesty,” said co-author Clementine O’Connor, the focal point for food waste at UNEP. “It doesn’t make any sense, and it is a complicated problem, but through collaboration and systemic action, it is one that can be tackled.”</div><div><br></div><div>The report comes at a time when 783 million people around the world face chronic hunger and many places facing deepening food crises.</div><div><br></div><div>Food waste is also a global concern because of the environmental toll of production, including the land and water required to raise crops and animals and the greenhouse gas emissions it produces, including methane, a powerful gas that has accounted for about 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times.</div><div><br></div><div>Food loss and waste generates 8 to 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. If it were a country, it would rank third after China and the U.S.</div><div><br></div><div>Fadila Jumare, a Nigeria-based project associate at Busara Center for Behavioral Economics who has studied prevention of food waste in Kenya and Nigeria, said the problem further disadvantages many people who are already food insecure and cannot afford healthy diets.</div><div><br></div><div>“For humanity, food waste means that less food is available to the poorest population,” said Jumare, who wasn\'t involved in the report.</div><div><br></div><div>Brian Roe, a food waste researcher at Ohio State University who wasn\'t involved with the report, said the index is important to tackling food waste.</div><div><br></div><div>“The key takeaway is that reducing the amount of food that is wasted is an avenue that can lead to many desirable outcomes — resource conservation, fewer environmental damages, greater food security, and more land for uses other than as landfills and food production,” said Roe, who wasn’t involved in the report.</div><div><br></div><div>The report showed notable growth in coverage of food waste in low- and middle-income countries, the authors said. But it may fall to wealthier nations to lead in international cooperation and policy development to reduce food waste, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The report said many governments, regional and industry groups are using public-private partnerships to reduce food waste and its contributions to climate and water stress. Governments and municipalities collaborate with businesses in the food supply chain, whereby businesses commit to measure food waste.</div><div><br></div><div>The report said food redistribution — including donating surplus food to food banks and charities — is significant in tackling food waste among retailers.</div><div><br></div><div>One group doing that is Food Banking Kenya, a nonprofit that gets surplus food from farms, markets, supermarkets and packing houses and redistributes it to schoolchildren and vulnerable populations. Food waste is an increasing concern in Kenya, where an estimated 4.45 million tons of food is wasted every year.</div><div><br></div><div>“We positively impact the society by providing nutritious food and also positively impact the environment by reducing the emission of harmful gases,” said John Mukuhi, the group\'s co-founder and executive director.</div><div><br></div><div>The report’s authors said they found that the differences in per capita household food waste between high-income and lower-income countries were surprisingly small, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Richard Swannel, a co-author and director of Impact Growth at WRAP, said that shows food waste “is not a rich world problem. It\'s a global problem.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The data is really clear on this point: that here is a problem right around the world and one that we could all tackle tomorrow to save ourselves money and reduce environmental impact,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:36:39', '2024-03-27 13:36:39'),
(11760, 11760, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b style=\"\">Admission test results of all units of Dhaka University\'s undergraduate progamme of the academic year 2023-2024&nbsp; will be published at 3.30 pm on March 28.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>DU vice-chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal will reveal the results from the Abdul Motin Chowdhury virtual classroom.</div><div><br></div><div>By providing information, applicants will be able to check their results at admission.eis.du.ac.bd website or use the short message service (SMS) available on any mobile operator.</div><div><br></div><div>A press release issued by DU public relations office confirmed the information.</div><div><br></div><div>The admission test for Arts, Law and Social Science unit was held on February 23; for the Business Education unit on February 24, and the test for the Science unit was on March 1, reports unb</div><div><br></div><div>The test (Drawing and MCQ) for the Fine Arts unit was held on March 9.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 13:45:28', '2024-03-27 13:45:28'),
(11761, 11761, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday called upon the people, especially the youth, to strengthen their fight for establishing democracy and voting rights.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this at a discussion meeting organised by BNP on the occasion of the Independence Day at the Engineers Institute auditorium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that the only duty of BNP is now to make people aware of their rights and mobilise them in the struggle for establishing democracy in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirza Fakhrul said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multi-party democracy in the country, while the party’s current chairperson Khaleda Zia fought against an autocratic regime for nine years and established democracy in the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">He said we have been fighting against a fascist regime for the last 15 years, and during this period about 22 BNP leaders and activists killed, 60,000 were charged with false cases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The opposition leader said the ruling AL has established not only a fascist regime but apartheid too in the country. They have demolished houses of BNP leaders and activists who are now fleeing from one place to another. They destroyed the businesses of BNP leaders and activists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul also alleged that many young people are not getting government jobs as they are being identified as children of BNP leaders and activists.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He accused the AL government of creating divisions among the people along the political lines. To them some belong to BNP and some others to AL, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ruling AL is distorting the history of the country’s independence as part of a deep-rooted conspiracy. AL has always acted against democracy though they speak loudly in the favor of democracy.&nbsp; AL had established one-party BaKSAL (The Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League) in the country, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AL is once again going to establish one-party rule in the country following same way by destroying all democratic institutions, he alleged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those who fought against Pakistan in 1971 had only one motto to establishe democracy in the country, Fakhrul said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After independence AL had destroyed the nation’s dream by forming BaKSAL and now they are also doing same thing, Fakhrul said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the AL government did little for the country’s economic development in the last 15 years. They have rather used the electoral system to ascend to power denying people’s right to vote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said AL government uses the state apparatus to stifle the voices of democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is not a single institution which has not been destroyed by AL. They made it through appointing AL people everywhere, he claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirza Fakhrul said there is no alternative to struggle for establishing democracy in the country, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He urged the BNP leaders and activists to fight against the autocrats for bringintg back democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP standing committee members, senior leaders and other associate bodies’ leaders also spoke on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-27 14:07:15', '2024-03-27 14:07:15'),
(11762, 11762, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government of Bangladesh has no complete list of public services against which it levies fees or charges.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are thousands of public services against which the government levies fees or charges, but there is no complete list of such fees and charges and when those were imposed,” according to an official document of the Finance Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According the official document titled ‘Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26)’ of the Finance Division of the Finance Ministry, the government has partially set up an online database of all non tax revenue (NTR) items with the fees, charges or prices and their dates of imposition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This partial database has opened scope with the hope of increasing NTR income manifolds from administrative fees,” it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the government is not only focusing on enhanced revenue mobilisation from NTR by raising fees or charges, but also putting its best effort to ensure efficient and satisfactory service delivery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has taken numerous initiatives to make service delivery systems paperless and to minimise human deployment in this system. This is one of the key features to building Smart Bangladesh by 2041, the document said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has multiplied public investment during the last one and a half decade, of which the SOEs/Autonomous Bodies (ABs) have enjoyed capital support either in the form of loans or equities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Loans are registered under government accounts through Subsidiary Loan Agreements (SLAs) and thereby interest is charged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“However, there is no consolidated database for equity investments of the government and therefore there is no precise estimate for dividend income,” the official document said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has taken the initiative to create an exhaustive database for equity investments in the SOEs/ABs as well as establish a Financial Reporting Council for setting standard financial statements to ensure proper assessment of these organisations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the ‘Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26)’, With the economic advancement of the country the scope and volumes of public services have evolved and expanded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Government organisations are engaged in delivering various new services in new forms to the public.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has taken initiatives to explore such novel and voluminous services against which fees/charges may be collected through organising stakeholders’ consultation workshops, seminars, etc.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">As per the Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26) of the Finance Division, some Tk 5343 billion will come from tax revenue sector in the 2024-25 fiscal year and Tk 6463 billion in 2025-26 fiscal year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the next two fiscal years, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will provide Tk 5095 billion and Tk 6171 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the Income Tax wing, the collection will be Tk 1753 billion for the next fiscal while Tk 2123 billion for 2025-26 fiscal, and the collection from import duties will be Tk 1511 billion and Tk 1830 billion respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the VAT and supplementary Duties, the revenue collection will be Tk 1831 billion and Tk 2218 billion respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The non-NBR tax for the 2024-25 fiscal and 2025-26 fiscal will be Tk 248 billion and Tk 292 billion respectively with non-tax revenue collection will be Tk 529 billion and Tk 634 billion respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The target for running 2023-24 fiscal is Tk 5000 billion with Tk 4500 billion from tax revenue. Of the total amount, Tk 4300 billion will come from NBR through Tk 1480 billion from income tax, Tk 1275 billion from import duties, Tk 1545 billion from VAT and supplementary duties. Some Tk 200 billion will be collected from the non-NBR sector while Tk 500 billion from the non-tax revenue sector. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 07:35:47', '2024-03-28 07:35:47'),
(11763, 11763, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, has highly appreciated the contributions of the Bangladeshi Americans in building the foundation of bilateral relations between the two nations.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lu was addressing, as the guest of honour, a reception hosted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Tuesday evening on the occasion of Independence and National Day of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran delivered the welcome address at the function held at Bangabandhu Auditorium of the Mission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Assistant Secretary of State said that there are huge number of Bangladeshi Americans in the United States and it is their strength and tremendous hard work that builds the foundation of the excellent relations between the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are so proud of the work of the Bangladeshi Americans, what they do to support the relations between our two great nations,” Bangladesh Embassy in Washington quoted Lu as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, Lu referred to Bangladeshi-American entrepreneurs who have excelled in different fields with their unique and innovative ideas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Assistant Secretary of State concluded his remarks by saying, “Happy Birthday Bangladesh and Joy Bangla.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his welcome remarks, Bangladesh Ambassador Muhammad Imran extended heartfelt greetings to all Bangladeshis living at home and abroad on the occasion of Independence and National Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also paid deep homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and three million martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Imran said Bangladesh attaches high importance to its long-standing partnership with the United States. Ever since the establishment of the two countries’ relations, excellent understanding and collaboration with the United States have played a positive role in Bangladesh’s development journey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that Bangladesh also shares with the United States a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We sincerely believe that two countries will be able to strengthen and advance the relationship further and explore new areas of cooperation,\" Ambassador Imran said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh looks forward to the support and cooperation from all its friends to realise the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to transform Bangladesh into “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal), a hunger-and poverty-free prosperous Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the US Assistant Secretary of State and the Bangladesh Ambassador jointly cut a cake in the presence of the guests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the reception began with the playing of the national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States. It was followed by a screening of a documentary on the Liberation War and development of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ambassador Rebecca Gonzales, Director, Office of Foreign Missions, US State Department; ambassadors and diplomats of different countries, senior officials of the State Department, and representatives from the US Government, USAID, USTR, NDI, IRI and other organisations were present at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event was also attended by Ambassador Muhammad Ziauddin, Ambassador at Large of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and former Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA, Dr. Ahmed Kaikaus, ex-Alternate Executive Director of World Bank Group and Principal Secretary to Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Saddam Selim, a Bangladeshi American elected a State Senator from Virginia and Dr. Siddiqur Rahman, the President of the US chapter of Bangladesh Awami League, and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To celebrate Independence and National Day, the Bangladesh Embassy arranged daylong programs that included hoisting of the National Flag, placing a floral wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, screening of a documentary and holding a discussion session and a special prayer. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 07:50:56', '2024-03-28 07:50:56'),
(11764, 11764, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who won a Nobel Prize in economics for his insights into how ingrained neurological biases influence decision making, died Wednesday at the age of 90.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman and his longtime collaborator Amos Tversky reshaped the field of economics, which prior to their work mostly assumed that people were “rational actors” capable of clearly evaluating choices such as which car to buy or which job to take. The pair\'s research — which Kahneman described for lay audiences in his best-selling 2011 book “Thinking, Fast and Slow” — focused on how much decision-making is shaped by subterranean quirks and mental shortcuts that can distort our thoughts in irrational yet predictable ways.</div><div><br></div><div>Take, for instance, false confidence in predictions. In an excerpt from his book, Kahneman described a “leaderless group” challenge used by the Israeli army\'s Psychology Branch to assess future leadership potential. Eight candidates, all unknowns to one another, had to cross a six-foot wall together using only a long log — without touching the wall or the ground with the log, or touching the wall themselves.</div><div><br></div><div>Observers of the test — including Kahneman himself, who was born in Tel Aviv and did his Israeli national service in the 1950s — confidently identified leaders-in-the-making from these challenges, only to learn later that their assessments bore little relation to how the same soldiers performed at officer training school. The kicker: This fact didn\'t dent the group\'s confidence in its own judgments, which seemed intuitively obvious — and yet also continued to fail at predicting leadership potential.</div><div><br></div><div>“It was the first cognitive illusion I discovered,” Kahneman later wrote. He coined the phrase “ the illusion of validity ” to describe the phenomenon.</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman’s partner, Barbara Tversky — the widow of Amos Tversky — confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Tversky, herself a Stanford University emerita professor of psychology, said the family is not disclosing the location or cause of death.</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman\'s decades-long partnership with Tversky began in 1969 when the two collaborated on a paper analyzing researcher intuitions about statistical methods in their work. “The experience was magical,” Kahneman later wrote in his Nobel autobiography. “Amos was often described by people who knew him as the smartest person they knew. He was also very funny ... and the result was that we could spend hours of solid work in continuous mirth.”</div><div><br></div><div>The two worked together so closely that they flipped a coin to determine which of them would be the lead author on their first paper, and thereafter simply alternated that honor for decades.</div><div><br></div><div>“Amos and I shared the wonder of together owning a goose that could lay golden eggs -– a joint mind that was better than our separate minds,” Kahneman wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman and Tversky began studying decision making in 1974 and quickly hit upon the central insight that people react far more intensely to losses than to equivalent gains. This is the now-common notion of “loss aversion,” which among other things helps explain why many people prefer status quo choices when making decisions. Combined with other findings, the pair developed a theory of risky choice they eventually named “prospect theory.”</div><div><br></div><div>Kahneman received the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for these and other contributions that ended up underpinning the discipline now known as behavioral economics. Economists say Tversky would certainly have shared the prize had he not died in 1996. The Nobel is not awarded posthumously. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"37\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 08:18:19', '2024-03-28 08:18:19'),
(11765, 11765, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a momentous sale that has captivated movie buffs and collectors alike, the infamous piece of wooden debris that kept “Titanic” movie’s Rose afloat — and arguably led to Jack\'s demise — has sold for a staggering $718,750 at auction, reports the BBC.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>This piece of film history has been the center of a long-standing debate since the movie\'s release in 1997: could it have supported both Rose and Jack, potentially saving them both from the icy grip of the Atlantic?</div><div><br></div><div>The prop, which has ignited discussions among fans for over two decades, was a highlight at an auction featuring items and costumes from Planet Hollywood\'s extensive collection. The scene in question features Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, insisting the makeshift raft was only big enough for Rose, played by Kate Winslet, leading to his tragic end in the cold ocean waters.</div><div><br></div><div>The debate over the scene reached such heights that even \"Titanic\" director James Cameron addressed it in a 2012 \"Mythbusters\" episode. Amidst criticism of Rose\'s perceived selfishness and Jack\'s decision-making, Cameron asserted that the script necessitated Jack\'s death, humorously noting that perhaps the prop should have been made smaller to avoid doubt. \"The dude\'s going down,\" Cameron stated, putting a script-driven end to the speculation.</div><div><br></div><div>Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale, revealed the item, often mistaken for an actual door, was based on a piece of the ill-fated 1912 voyage\'s debris. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 08:29:43', '2024-03-28 08:29:43'),
(11766, 11766, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said that there has been progress in the government’s efforts to free the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean along with 23 sailors on board.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Our aim is to rescue the sailors unharmed and at the same time rescue the ship. I just want to say that we have advanced much,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan Mahmud said they are in contact and are making multifaceted efforts to rescue the crew members.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the reported food shortage on the ship, he said food shortage has never happened in the past when ships have been hijacked. “Hopefully it won’t happen in this case either.”</div><div><br></div><div>After 9 days of taking the Bangladeshi ship and holding 23 sailors hostage, Somali pirates contacted the owners. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 08:50:20', '2024-03-28 13:29:24'),
(11767, 11767, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>r<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Around hundreds of houses were damaged while a number of trees were uprooted during a nor’wester in Faridpur district early Thursday (March 28, 2024).</span></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twenty villages under Pachuria and Bana unions in Alfadanga upazila of the district were battered by the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Residents of the 20 villages – Sirgram, Garania, Pakuria, Taboni, Tonapara, Sialdi Charpara, Joydebpur, Aushir haat, Kutharakandi, Majpara, Arpara in Bana union; Jugibarat, Bhatpara, Chandra, Pachuria, Deuli, Charnarandia, Dhuljuri and Charbhatpara in Pachuria union – remained in darkness as many electric wires were also snapped during the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A vast track of cropslands were also damaged while trees were uprooted, halting road communications in different parts of the upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AKM Zahidul Hasan Zahid, chairman of Alfadanga upazila, said the storm started sweeping through the upazila around 1 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many people have taken shelter under the open sky as their thatched houses were blown away during the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional General Manager of Alfadanga Sub-zonal officer of Palli Bidyut Samity, said some electric poles were uprooted while some wires got snapped, disrupting power connection, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Work is going on to resume power supply, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quamrul Ahsan Talukdar, deputy commissioner of Faridpur, said directives have been given to provide all-out support to those affected in the storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-03-28 09:15:05', '2024-03-28 09:15:05');
