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(5783, 5783, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A business delegation of Vietnamese led by Pham Viet Chien, Ambassador of Vietnam to Bangladesh, today called on Faruque Hassan, President of the BGMEA to discuss business opportunities and potential partnerships to promote mutual trade growth.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>Other members of the delegation were-Do Quoc Hung, Deputy Director-General, Asia -Africa Market Department, Do Van Trong, Executive Board, Pham Anh Dong, Managing Director, Viet Giang Garment Jsc, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, Director, Vietnam Textile &amp; Garment Sustainable Development Solutions Ltd. Co, Ms. Pham Thi Phuong Hoa, Director, Hung Yen Garment Corporation - Joint Stock Company and Le Phuc Tien, Director, Bac Giang LGG Garment Corporation Jsc.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>BGMEA Director Rajiv Chowdhury and Urmi Group Chairman Ashfaque Ahmed were also present at the meeting, said a press release.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The visit was a step towards promoting business-to-business connection and cooperation in the garment sector in order to tap into trade potential between two the South Asian countries.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The discussions covered a range of topics including global apparel business trends, current challenges and potential of trade and investment.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>They also discussed opportunities that have been created in the global apparel market and avenues of working together to make use of them.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said, “Bangladesh and Vietnam are two major players in the global apparel market, and the scope is huge for us to complement each other for deriving two-way trade benefits.”</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“We can share our knowledge and expertise and intensify collaboration that will help both sides to develop and grow together,” he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“To do so, it’s very important to connect businesses of two countries so that they can explore trade opportunities and seize them,” he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Both sides expressed willingness to arrange more visits and meetings between businesses of Bangladesh and Vietnam to strengthen trade ties in the coming days. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-15 12:23:17', '2023-03-15 12:23:17'),
(5784, 5784, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon youths to engage in nursing education and service on a large scale.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>\"I will call on the youth folk to come forward to take nursing education and engage them in nursing service. It will not only create employment at home but also abroad,\" she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The premier said this while addressing as the chief guest the second graduation ceremony of the Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Nursing College at its campus here.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She said she believed that today\'s graduate nurses will apply their acquired knowledge in the workplace.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"Bangladesh is moving ahead in every field and we will also move ahead in this (nursing) field, and I want this,\" she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Sheikh Hasina, also the chair of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, said they will establish a medical college from the trust alongside this hospital and nursing college.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialized Hospital and Nursing College (SFMMKPJSH&amp;NC) is named after Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib and was established by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the function, Chief Executive Officer of SFMMKPJSH&amp;NC Mohd Taufik Bin Ismail delivered the welcome address, while graduate student of the second batch Anamul Huq also spoke.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>KPJ Healthcare Berhad President Norhaizam Binti Mohammad spoke as graduation speaker.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and Chairman of the Governing Body of SFMMKPJSH&amp;NC Major General (Retd) Abdul Hafiz Mallick were present.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the ceremony, the prime minister distributed certificates among 210 graduates of the college.</div><div><br></div><div>She also handed over the Prime Minister\'s Award to six graduate students for their outstanding academic records.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>A documentary on Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Memorial KPJ Nursing College was screened at the ceremony.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The premier also inaugurated website, hospital management software and medical journal of the hospital.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Professor Deen Md. Noorul Haque, former Director General of Health Services, handed over an issue of KPJ Dhaka Journal of Medical Science to the prime minister.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Besides, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) Commissioner Sheikh Shamsuddin Ahmed handed over the dummy of a Slit Lamp and Operative microscope to Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said her government is always dignifying the nursing profession and giving priority on it along with working for its development.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established nursing related institutes and took various steps to increase the dignity of nursing profession, development of nursing services and technology.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Hasina said that they have upgraded the nursing profession into second class.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>During the Awami League (AL) government from 1996-2001 and from 2009 to till now, she said they have appointed around 38,000 nurses.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the same time, development and recruitment of midwives in the health sector to prevent maternal and child mortality is a significant achievement of the AL government, she added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The premier said at present, importance and reputation of nursing profession is increasing all over the world.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>According to Gallup, an analytical organization in the United States, nursing has been named the most trustworthy profession in 2022 as in 2021.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"The role of nurses in people\'s services along with doctors during the Covid-19 pandemic will be remembered forever,\" she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She mentioned that there is huge demand for nurses in different countries across the world, while it has also demand largely in the country as each district and upazila has hospital, clinic and community clinic as well as maternity service center.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The prime minister said many of this nursing profession could explore jobs abroad learning the targeted country\'s language.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She, however, said that at first the necessity of the country has to be met before going overseas.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Sheikh Hasina briefly highlighted different initiatives of her government for the development of the health and nursing sectors.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>As part of the initiatives of Awami League government, the old 23 nursing institutes have been upgraded to Nursing Colleges where 4-year B.Sc in Nursing courses and Post Basic courses are being conducted.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Besides, another 16 nursing institutes are in the process of being upgraded to nursing colleges.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Currently 69 nursing and midwifery institutes are running Diploma, BSc Basic and Post Basic as well as Masters courses at the government level.</div><div><br></div><div>The National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research (NIENER) for higher education and research in the field of nursing has been established.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Besides, the Awami League government has established 23 new medical colleges in the last 14 years. It has plans to establish medical universities in each division and has already set up medical universities in four divisions.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The prime minister said that her government always serves the people and takes required measures to this end.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"We can take the credit that we have been able to change Bangladesh during 2009 to 2023 period,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said her government has increased education rate, reduced maternal and child mortality rate, provided electricity in each house, brought health service at people\'s door step and is providing medicine through community clinic free of cost.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>She said her government has taken decision to give insulin free of cost to the diabetes patients of the country through community clinics.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>\"We have decided that we will include insulin in the free medicines of the community clinics across the country for the diabetes patients,\" she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Currently, the government is providing 30 types of medicines through the community clinics, reports BSS</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;\"We will give away insulin free of cost so that the diabetes patients can get relief,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-15 13:32:48', '2023-03-15 13:32:48'),
(5785, 5785, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Wednesday urged businessmen to make marginal profit during the month of Ramadan considering people’s sufferings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The minister advised the common people to cross-check and shop without stepping into the trap of lucrative advertisements.</div><div><br></div><div>Munshi said this while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting organised by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) on the occasion of \'World Consumer Rights Day 2023\' at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Agargaon&nbsp; on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Taking into account the suffering of the people, the Commerce Minister asked the businessmen, \"There are various discount systems in different countries of the world during various festivals. They make little (profit).”</div><div><br></div><div>“In Bangladesh the situation is different, the holy month of Ramadan is ahead. Be a bit more moderate. Keep prices reasonable in this month, less profit margin less,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister also said: “Consumer rights are human rights. When we can inform consumers about all their rights, half of our work will be done. Consumer awareness is very important.”</div><div><br></div><div>The government is working on this, he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Munshi urged people not to buy products in a rush during Ramadan. “Once you buy a product a plenty, it affects the market, and then the traders take it as an opportunity to hike price abnormally.”</div><div><br></div><div>The President of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh Golam Rahman in his speech called for strengthening the government\'s steps to reduce the unequal competition in the market as well as the necessary reform of the legal framework and to be proactive in its implementation.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior commerce secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, FBCCI vice president Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, DG of DNCRP AHM Shafiquzzaman, TCB Chairman Ariful Hasan, First Director General of Consumer Affairs, Department Abul Hossain Mia, Competition Commission Chairperson Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty, among others, were present at the function.</div><div><br></div><div>Munshi also distributed prizes among the winners of the Essay Competition organised on the National Consumer Rights Day.</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-15 15:15:36', '2023-03-15 15:15:36'),
(5786, 5786, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said Police is ready to maintain the law and order situation in the country by facing any challenges related to security.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks responding to a question of journalist after the inauguration of Bangabandhu Corner and Memorial Library at District Superintendent of Police office here.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Police successfully tamed militancy and terrorism, as militancy and terrorism were rampant in the country. The Prime Minister declared \'zero tolerance policy\' against militancy. To implement the policy, we have worked together with mass people, public representatives, administration, media, other law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies,\" he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have an enviable track record in countering militancy and terrorism. Today, Bangladesh has been recognized as a role model in the world in fighting terrorism,\" he added.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He inaugurated the upward expansion of the Divisional Police Hospital and the Blood Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, Mamun joined a view-exchange meeting with various levels of officials working in Barisal Range and Metropolitan. Additional IGP of Tourist Police Habibur Rahman and Commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police Md Saiful Islam were special guests in the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Barisal Range DIG SM Aktaruzzaman presided over the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Barisal District Superintendent of Police Wahidul Islam, Barisal Range, Barisal Metropolitan Police, RRF, APBn, District Police and senior officers were present in the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP visited Metropolitan Police Lines and the Tourist Police office at Kuakata. According to BSS reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-15 15:20:32', '2023-03-15 15:20:32'),
(5787, 5787, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">He has dressed celebrity royalty around the world from Beyonce and Deepika Padukone to Zendaya and Cardi B but for years few of Mohammed Ashi\'s clients knew he was Saudi Arabia\'s first big-name designer.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"In the 90s I was the only designer from Saudi. But I never said I was Saudi. I wanted the clothes to be out front, not me,\" Ashi told AFP in a rare interview at his Paris studio.</div><div><br></div><div>It is partly shyness -- he still prefers not to be photographed himself -- but also the fact that Western fashion was largely taboo in public, certainly for women, when he was growing up in Saudi Arabia in the 1980s.</div><div><br></div><div>Ashi made his career abroad, training in the United States and working for Givenchy and Lebanese couturier Elie Saab before settling in France.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, with Saudi Arabia going through momentous social changes, he has been welcomed home as a mentor for its Fashion Commission, set up in 2020 to help build a homegrown industry.</div><div><br></div><div>\"A few months ago, I was invited publicly to talk in Saudi for the first time, and so many people came up to me afterwards. I\'m getting recognition from the younger generation that I never expected,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They\'re giving scholarships to people for something that was prohibited when I was growing up. It\'s an iconic moment,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>- Fashion capital? -</div><div><br></div><div>Critics of the country\'s de facto ruler, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, see the easing of social restrictions as a PR campaign designed to distract from continued human rights abuses.</div><div><br></div><div>But there is no doubting the opportunities it has opened up for young creatives, such as 27-year-old Reem Alsabhan, whose outfits now grace local events.</div><div><br></div><div>\"From the beginning of my studies, I kept repeating a sentence I really believed, even if it surprised people: Riyadh will become one of the most important fashion capitals,\" she told AFP at her Riyadh workshop.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Now the signs of this future are beginning to appear.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Previously unthinkable public events -- concerts, galas, the new Red Sea Film Festival -- mean Saudi Arabia now has red carpets on which to show off Alsabhan\'s designs.</div><div><br></div><div>Nonetheless, the foundations of the industry were laid much further back, said Burak Cakmak, head of the Saudi Fashion Commission.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Many local creatives have built fashion businesses in the past 20, 30 years for the local market but didn\'t feel the need to tell their stories abroad -- or dare to do so,\" he told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>\"That allowed the system to build up in a controlled way... and now people can see there are hundreds of brands, very connected to their culture but also inspired by the rest of the world.\"</div><div><br></div><div>- \'A journey\' -</div><div><br></div><div>For Ashi, it makes sense that Saudi Arabia should become a fashion hub since, he says, its oil wealth has been keeping European labels afloat for decades.</div><div><br></div><div>Saudi Arabia takes \"60 or 70 percent of French couture\", especially wedding dresses, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Most of the big French houses rely on this but they don\'t like to talk about it because they don\'t want to be seen as just tailors -- they want to be a \'brand\'.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Ashi\'s diary is a hectic whirl of client fittings and preparations for the next haute couture week.</div><div><br></div><div>His outfits show up on red carpets from the Oscars to Cannes. A highlight was seeing Beyonce in his extravagantly ruffed fuchsia gown at a memorial show for Nelson Mandela.</div><div><br></div><div>Though proud of being a role model for young Saudi designers, he still prefers to see himself as \"a citizen of the world\".</div><div><br></div><div>Stopping to show the detail of an elaborate lace couture dress, he said: \"The pattern was done in London, the fabric in Italy, the embroidery in India and it was assembled here in Paris.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It\'s a journey for these clothes to happen, just like me.\" - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-15 16:18:21', '2023-03-15 16:18:21'),
(5788, 5788, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the Awami League of rigging votes in Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections and branded the ruling party as a \'pathological thief\'.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said, “Their (AL’s) only aim is to indulge in theft. We usually call them vote thieves. They rig votes in the national elections and even in Union Parishad polls. “Now they rigged votes in the Supreme Court and Dhaka Bars. In fact, they are pathological thieves,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a discussion programme, the BNP leader also said Awami League does nothing, but steal.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“They make their living by stealing and it is their profession and addiction…They also depleted the country’s resources through theft.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also alleged that the ruling party destroyed the country\'s power sector by indulging in widespread stealing.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the SCBA polls, Fakhrul said there was a ruckus in the Supreme Court after false and stamped ballot papers were found there on Tuesday night, the night before the election.&nbsp; “They (pro-AL lawyers) assaulted our seven-time elected Supreme Court Bar Secretary (Mahbubuddin Khokon) and wounded him. “</div><div><br></div><div>He also said a case was filed against 1,000 pro-BNP lawyers, including Khokon, over the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>“What country do we live in now? Where have we brought this country to?&nbsp; Awami League has to answer the people for this. They have taken this country to extreme destruction.&nbsp; They have destroyed all our culture, traditions and democratic values.&nbsp; They have destroyed all our democratic institutions…” the BNP leader bemoaned.</div><div><br></div><div>The two-day voting in SCBA elections started around 10 am on Wednesday, but it was suspended immediately when some pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstrations demanding the formation of an election conducting committee led by a neutral person.</div><div><br></div><div>The discussion programme was arranged at the Jatiya Press Club marking the launching of the book titled “Amar Rajnitir Rojnamcha” written by BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-15 16:47:22', '2023-03-15 16:47:22'),
(5789, 5789, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia said on Wednesday that it would try to retrieve the remnants of a US drone that crashed into the Black Sea.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The large MQ-9 Reaper drone plunged into the water on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US said it brought down the damaged drone after it became \"unflyable\" when a Russian jet clipped its propeller - but Moscow has denied these claims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking on state television, Russian security council secretary Nikolai Patrushev confirmed Moscow was attempting to find the aircraft.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I don\'t know whether we\'ll be able to retrieve it or not but it has to be done,\" Mr Patrushev said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that the drone\'s presence in the Black Sea was \"confirmation\" that the US was directly involved in the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior Washington official John Kirby said the US was also searching for the aircraft, but stressed that if Russia beat them to it, \"their ability to exploit useful intelligence will be highly minimised\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That message was reiterated by General Mark Milley, America\'s top military general, who said the US has taken \"mitigating measures\" to ensure there was nothing of value on the downed drone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said it would be challenging to retrieve the drone, noting the water where it crashed was anywhere between 4,000ft to 5,000ft (1,200m to 1,500m) deep.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US military officials said the incident happened on Tuesday morning and the confrontation lasted around 30-40 minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement, the US said Russian jets dumped fuel on the drone several times before the collision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pentagon spokesman Brig Gen Pat Ryder told reporters the drone was \"unflyable and uncontrollable\", adding the collision also likely damaged the Russian aircraft.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia has denied its two Su-27 fighter jets made any contact with the US drone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s defence ministry said the drone crashed after a \"sharp manoeuvre\", and that it was flying with its transponders (communication devices) turned off.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, confirmed he had spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, the day after the drone was downed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement released after the phonecall, Russia\'s defence ministry said Mr Shoigu blamed the incident on \"increased reconnaissance activities against the interests of the Russian Federation\". It also called US drone flights off the coast of Crimea \"provocative\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US and UK have previously gone to extraordinary lengths to recover their technology after crashes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They retrieved the wreckage of their stealth fighter jet, the F-35 from the bottom of the South China Sea after it sank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But on the face of it, the Pentagon seems more relaxed about losing a Reaper drone. It\'s older technology and numerous have been lost before.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And trying to recover a downed drone in deep waters, next to a war zone, with Russian ships and submarines patrolling, could present even greater risks of escalation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions have risen over the Black Sea ever since Russia\'s annexation of nearby Crimea in 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And since Russia\'s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US and the UK have stepped up surveillance flights, though always operating in international airspace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lost Reaper may have been carrying a surveillance pod able to suck up electronic data such as radar emissions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Department of Defense said in a press release that the surveillance trips are used to gather information which helps improve security for Europe and supports \"allied partners\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US has reportedly shared intelligence with Ukraine previously, including to help it sink a Russian ship in the Black Sea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s foreign minister told BBC reporter James Landale that incidents such as the downing of a US drone over the Black Sea are inevitable until Russia leaves Crimea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Describing it as a \"routine incident\", Dmytro Kuleba said: \"As long as Russia controls Crimea, these kinds of incidents will be inevitable and the Black Sea will not be a safe place.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, but the vast majority of countries still recognise it as part of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC asked Mr Kuleba if, following the drone incident, the US and other allies might become more cautious.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If the West wants to demonstrate its weakness, it should certainly demonstrate its cautiousness after an incident like this, but I don\'t have a feeling that this is the mood in capitals,\" he replied.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The mood is not to escalate but nor is the mood to lean under the pressure - the physical or rhetorical pressure - of Russia.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin vowed the military would \"continue to fly and operate\" wherever international law allows. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 02:46:11', '2023-03-16 02:46:11'),
(5790, 5790, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Credit Suisse said on Thursday that it will borrow up to 50bn francs ($54bn; £44.5bn) from the Swiss central bank to shore up its finances.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lender said it was \"taking decisive action to pre-emptively strengthen its liquidity\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regulators had said they were ready to step in to help the troubled banking giant if necessary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fears of weakness at such a big international player has intensified fears about a broader bank crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Problems in the sector surfaced in the US last week with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the country\'s 16th-largest bank, followed two days later by the collapse of Signature Bank</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse shares plunged by 24% to a record low on Wednesday after it said it had found \"weakness\" in its financial reporting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This prompted major investor the Saudi National Bank to say it would not inject further funds into the Swiss lender.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The worries spread across financial markets with all major indexes falling sharply.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The problems in Credit Suisse once more raise the question whether this is the beginning of a global crisis or just another \'idiosyncratic\' case,\" wrote Andrew Kenningham of Capital Economics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse said its borrowing measures \"demonstrate decisive action to strengthen Credit Suisse as we continue our strategic transformation to deliver value to our clients and other stakeholders\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"My team and I are resolved to move forward rapidly to deliver a simpler and more focused bank built around client needs,\" Credit Suisse\'s chief executive Ulrich Koerner said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Swiss National Bank, which is Switzerland\'s central bank, and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority sought to calm investor fears, saying they were ready to help Credit Suisse if necessary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Strict rules apply to Swiss financial institutions to \"ensure their stability\" and Credit Suisse meets the requirements for banks considered systemically important, the regulators said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are no indications of a direct risk of contagion for Swiss institutions due to the current turmoil in the US banking market,\" they said in a joint statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC understands that the Bank of England has been in touch with Credit Suisse and the Swiss authorities to monitor the situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse, founded in 1856, has faced a string of scandals in recent years, including money laundering charges and other issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It lost money in 2021 and again in 2022 - its worst year since the financial crisis of 2008 - and has warned it does not expect to be profitable until 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shares in the firm had already been severely hit before this week - their value falling by roughly two-thirds last year - as customers pulled funds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bank\'s disclosure on Tuesday of \"material weakness\" in its financial reporting controls renewed investor concerns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These were intensified when the chairman of the Saudi National Bank, Credit Suisse\'s largest shareholder, said it would not buy more shares in the Swiss bank on regulatory grounds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At that time, Credit Suisse insisted its financial position was not a concern. But shares in the lender ended Wednesday down 24%, as other banks rushed to reduce their exposure to the firm and prime ministers in Spain and France spoke out in an attempt to ease fears.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This comes after Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) - which specialised in lending to technology companies - was shut down on Friday by US regulators in what was the largest failure of a US bank since 2008. SVB\'s UK arm was snapped up for £1 by HSBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the wake of the SVB collapse, New York-based Signature Bank also went bust, with the US regulators guaranteeing all deposits at both.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, fears have persisted that other banks could face similar troubles, and trading in bank shares has been volatile this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Stoxx Europe banking share index tumbled 7% on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the US, shares in both small and large banks were hit, helping to push the Dow down almost 0.9%, while the S&amp;P 500 fell 0.7%</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK\'s FTSE 100 fell by 3.8% or 293 points - the biggest one-day drop since the early days of the pandemic in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This banking crisis came from America. And now people are watching how the whole thing could also cause problems in Europe,\" said Robert Halver, head of capital markets at Germany\'s Baader Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If a bank has had even the remotest problem in the past, if major investors say we don\'t want to invest any more and don\'t want to let new money flow into this bank, then of course a story is being told where many investors say we want to get out.\" BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 02:59:51', '2023-03-16 02:59:51'),
(5791, 5791, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in a display of military might Thursday just hours before the leaders of South Korea and Japan were to meet at a Tokyo summit expected to be overshadowed by North Korean nuclear threats.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The launch, the North\'s first ICBM test in a month and third weapons testing this week, also comes as South Korean and U.S. troops continue joint military exercises that Pyongyang considers a rehearsal to invade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s military said the North Korean ICBM flew toward the Korean Peninsula\'s eastern waters after being launched from North Korea\'s capital, Pyongyang, around 7:10 a.m. The statement said the ICBM launched on a steep angle flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It wasn\'t immediately known which ICBM was launched, but North Korea\'s long-range missiles are designed mainly to strike the U.S. Previous launches have shown North Korea\'s weapons have the range to reach all of the U.S. mainland, but some foreign experts still doubt the North has mastered the technologies to build warheads small enough to be placed on those missiles and protect the warheads during atmospheric reentry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before heading Tokyo for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said, \"North Korea\'s reckless provocations will pay the clear price.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During an emergency security meeting on the North Korean launch, Yoon instructed the South Korean military to thoroughly proceed with its ongoing exercises with U.S. forces, conduct some of the planned joint drills in an intensive manner and strengthen Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security cooperation, according to Yoon\'s office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it will maintain firm readiness based on the military ability to \"overwhelmingly\" respond to any provocation by North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Tokyo, Kishida said: \"We must further strengthen cooperation among the allies and like-minded countries.\" He declined to comment on North Korea\'s possible intentions of the launch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile likely landed in the waters outside Japan\'s exclusive economic zone after about an hour-long flight. The landing site is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) off the western island of Oshimaoshima, which is close to where other North Korean ICBMs fell in recent months after test-flights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North\'s ongoing aggressive run of weapons tests has been widely expected; leader Kim Jong Un last week ordered his military to be ready to repel what he called \"frantic war preparations moves\" by his country\'s rivals, referring to large ongoing drills between the U.S. and South Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has long argued that U.S.-South Korean military drills are proof of their hostile policies against North Korea, though Washington and Seoul say they have no intentions of invading the North. Many experts say North Korea use its rivals\' drills as a pretext to boost its nuclear capability to pressure the United States to make concessions like the relaxing of international sanctions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After conducting a record number of missile tests last year, North Korea has extended its testing activities this year, including the Feb. 18 launch of its Hwasong-15 ICBM. After that ICBM launch, North Korea said the test was meant to further bolster its \"fatal\" nuclear attack capacity against its rivals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hwasong-15 is one of the North\'s three ICBMs, which all use liquid propellants that require pre-launch injections. Kim Jong has vowed to build solid-propellant missiles, which are more mobile and harder to detect before their launches because their fuels are already loaded inside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s military said the missile was launched from Pyongyang\'s Sunan neighborhood, home to its international airport. It is a major testing site where the North has launched most of its ICBMs in recent years, all flown on a high angle to avoid the territory of neighbors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pyongyang also this week fired cruise missiles from a submarine and sent short-range ballistic missiles across its territory into its eastern sea. Last week, North Korea also fired at least six short-range ballistic missiles from a western coastal area in an exercise supervised by Kim Jong Un, an event state media described as a simulated attack on an unspecified South Korean airfield.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ongoing U.S.-South Korean drills that began Monday and are scheduled to continue until March 23 include computer simulations and live-fire field exercises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The South Korean-Japan summit was arranged after Yoon\'s government last week took a major step toward repairing bilateral ties strained by Japan\'s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The South Korean plan — to use local funds to compensate Koreans forced into industrial slave labor during the colonial rule without contributions from Japanese companies that employed them — has met fierce domestic opposition, but it reflects Yoon\'s resolve to improve ties with Japan and boost Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under Kishida, Tokyo has also made a major break from its post-World War II principle of self-defense only, adopting a new national security strategy in December that includes the goals of acquiring preemptive strike capabilities and cruise missiles to counter growing threats from North Korea, China and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s pursuit of expanded nuclear and missile arsenals have pushed South Korea and Japan to mend their fraught ties and solidify a trilateral security cooperation involving the United States. Both South Korea and Japan are within striking distance of North Korean nuclear-capable missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last October, North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile over northern Japan, forcing communities there to issue evacuation alerts and halt trains. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 03:07:48', '2023-03-16 03:07:48');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5792, 5792, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Inter Milan take on fierce rivals Juventus on a high from their dramatic passage to the Champions League quarter-finals on a bumper Serie A Sunday in which the Rome derby will also have a say on the top-four race.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Simone Inzaghi\'s side cap off the weekend\'s matches with the \'Derby d\'Italia\', a fiery fixture between Italy\'s traditionally biggest two clubs which is as hotly contested and far more poisonous than Inter\'s battle for local bragging rights with AC Milan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It could be key in a tight tussle for next year\'s edition of Europe\'s top club competition in which five clubs are fighting for three places, league leaders Napoli off in the distance and seemingly cruising to the title.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inter sit 18 points behind Napoli in second and are separated by just three points from fifth-placed Roma, who are two points and two places behind Lazio ahead of an intriguing capital city clash which tees up Sunday\'s main event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defeat at Spezia on Friday looked certain to damage Inter\'s top-four hopes but all of their rivals then dropped points, including Atalanta who are six points away from the Champions League places and host Empoli on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inter have been inconsistent this season but have shown up in the biggest games, as in Wednesday\'s battling goalless draw at Porto which secured them a place in the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 1-0 aggregate win over the Portuguese temporarily silenced the critics who after the Spezia loss had suggested Inzaghi\'s time at Inter would be up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'ve been in football a long time and I know both where the criticism comes from and whom I should listen to,\" said Inzaghi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Sunday we have an important match but right now I want to enjoy the moment, we deserve it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Juventus come into the clash at the San Siro in the uncharacteristically low position of seventh and 10 points behind Milan, who sit fourth and travel to Udinese on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However they would be ahead of Inter in second were it not for the 15-point penalty inflicted in January by the Italian Football Federation for illicit transfer activity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Juve are hoping to overturn the ruling but will have to wait weeks until they know their fate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the meantime have been slowly climbing up the table with five wins in their last six league matches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri has repeatedly cited the number of points his team have earned \"on the pitch\", a phrase used often by fans when talking about the number of league titles they have won. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officially Juve have 36 but supporters believe the two taken away in the aftermath of the infamous \'Calciopoli\' match-fixing scandal should be counted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Allegri is again without Paul Pogba due to the injury, the France midfielder having played just 35 minutes since returning from Manchester United last summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Player to watch: Paulo Dybala</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The clearest demonstration of how important Paulo Dybala has become to Roma came last weekend, when the Argentina forward came on at half-time with his team down a man and two goals to Sassuolo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He pulled a goal back with a fabulous first-time strike and went ever so close to levelling the scores with a delicate long range chip which was just under hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roma ended up losing 4-3 but everything good about their play went through him, and if they are to win their derby and boost their top-four hopes they will need their star player on top form.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Key stats</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">3 - the number of points separating second and fifth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">10 - The points distance between Juve and the top four.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fixtures (times GMT)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Friday</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sassuolo v Spezia (1730), Atalanta v Empoli (1945)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saturday</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monza v Cremonese (1400), Salernitana v Bologna (1700), Udinese v AC Milan (1945)</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunday</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sampdoria v Verona (1130), Fiorentina v Lecce, Torino v Napoli (both 1400), Lazio v Roma (1700), Inter Milan v Juventus (1945). AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 03:24:40', '2023-03-16 03:24:40'),
(5793, 5793, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning (Thursday).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 175 at 8:49 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked third in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s Delhi and Mumbai occupied the first and second spots, with AQI scores of 214 and 188.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘’very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 03:51:00', '2023-03-16 03:51:00'),
(5794, 5794, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Karim Benzema struck for Real Madrid to clinch a 1-0 win over Liverpool and qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday 6-2 on aggregate.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the wild last 16 first leg clash at Anfield in February left Madrid sitting pretty with a three-goal advantage, Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp said his side only had a one percent chance of turning the tie around.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They stemmed the bleeding at the Santiago Bernabeu but never looked like mounting a stirring comeback of the type they managed against Barcelona in 2019, or AC Milan in the 2005 final.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid have now knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League in three consecutive seasons, including beating them in last year\'s final.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was a complicated game but from the start we showed we wanted to go through, and we are in the quarter-finals,\" Benzema told Movistar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Suffering is part of today\'s football. Everyone wants more, but sometimes you have to suffer in a game -- the most important thing is to win and go through.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 14-time record winners showed the nous to keep Liverpool at arm\'s length, with defenders Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger determined to shut out the visitors, along with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reigning champions Madrid could have significantly stretched their lead, save for a series of superb stops by Liverpool stopper Alisson Becker and some unusually profligate finishing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the first leg, Madrid were lethal, with Vinicius Junior and Benzema netting twice each -- neither were as decisive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet eventually they combined for Madrid\'s winner after 78 minutes, with Vinicius slipping as he tried to shoot, but hooking the ball into Benzema\'s path for a simple tap-in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid\'s only worry was seeing their captain limp off after his goal amid an injury-hit season -- Benzema said it was only a blow on the shin and Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he would be fit to face Barcelona in the Clasico on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Madrid were in control of the whole game, Ali had to make two sensational saves to keep us in the game,\" Klopp told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Madrid were outstanding and that\'s why the better team went through to the next round.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- No magic -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liverpool, deeply inconsistent in this campaign, took heart from their 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United in the Premier League, but could not produce the same magic under the Bernabeu lights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Klopp started with Diogo Jota alongside his usual attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, deploying as much firepower as he could to try and mount a comeback.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first chance of the game fell to Nunez but Courtois thwarted the Uruguayan, who was fed by Salah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the other end Madrid sliced open Liverpool on various occasions, and Alisson made a stunning save to deny Vinicius from point-blank range.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eduardo Camavinga crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar, with Alisson getting his fingertips to it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Brazilian goalkeeper made further saves from Vinicius, Fede Valverde and Benzema as Madrid controlled the game.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Camavinga impressed in midfield and eventually helped create Benzema\'s goal, with a driven pass forward in the build-up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I told him a few small details, like how I know that the two Liverpool centre-backs play open, there\'s space in the middle, and that\'s how we scored the goal,\" added Benzema.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The striker has now scored seven times in the Champions League against Liverpool, more than any other player.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benzema is key to Madrid\'s bid to lift the trophy for a sixth time in 10 seasons, if he can stay fit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid played classic Liverpool anthem \"You\'ll Never Walk Alone\" at the end of the game, at once a classy touch but also showing Liverpool never made them truly uncomfortable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ancelotti said Madrid were full of belief after their remarkable run to the final last season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have a lot more confidence, because of what happened last year, it gave us a lot of confidence,\" said the Italian.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We saw that in this tie, against a strong team, we did well in the two games.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But later, with confidence alone, we don\'t reach the semi-finals. We have to play surprising football ... as always, the Champions League is very complicated and we have to compete until the end.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 03:59:32', '2023-03-16 16:26:18'),
(5795, 5795, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to his Russian counterpart on Wednesday about the destruction of a U.S. drone over the Black Sea after an encounter with Russian fighter jets, which brought the two countries closest to direct conflict since Moscow\'s invasion of Ukraine a year ago.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was the first call between Austin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu since October. And Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had a similar call with his Russian counterpart, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We take any potential for escalation very seriously. And that\'s why I believe it\'s important to keep the lines of communication open,\" Austin said at a Pentagon press briefing. \"I think it\'s really key that we\'re able to pick up the phone and engage each other. And I think that that will help to prevent miscalculation going forward.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. military said it ditched the Air Force MQ-9 Reaper in the sea after a Russian fighter jet poured fuel on the surveillance drone and then struck its propeller while it was flying in international airspace. Russia has denied that it caused the accident. The U.S. has said it was working on declassifying surveillance footage from the drone that would show Tuesday\'s crash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That the top U.S. and Russian defense and military leaders were talking so soon after the incident underscored the seriousness of the encounter over the Black Sea and that both sides recognized the need to tamp down the risks of escalation. Since Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine, contact between U.S. and Russian military leaders has been limited, with Russian officials refusing to take U.S. military calls in the early months of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are still questions as to whether Russia meant to down the drone, even though the moments that led up to its crash were \"intentional,\" said Milley, who stood alongside Austin at the briefing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We know that the intercept was intentional. We know that the aggressive behavior was intentional,\" Milley said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, he told reporters that it was still unclear whether the collision itself was intentional. And he pushed back against Russia\'s contention that the fighter jets did not come in contact with the drone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have absolute evidence of the contact,\" Milley said. \"It\'s very aggressive. ... We have video evidence and all that.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milley and Austin also left open the possibility that the U.S. could try to recover portions of the downed $32 million drone, which Milley said crashed into waters that were 4,000 to 5,000 feet (1,200 to 1,500 meters) deep.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other U.S. officials said the U.S. doesn\'t have military ships in the region, and won\'t likely seek to recover wreckage. The Black Sea has been closed since early 2022 to military vessels that do not have a home port along its shores.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public, said Russia has already sent ships to the area and attempted to recover pieces of the drone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milley downplayed the significance of any potential recovery by Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It probably broke up. There\'s probably not a lot to recover,\" he said. \"As far as the loss of anything of sensitive intelligence, etc. ... we would take — and we did take — mitigating measures. So we\'re quite confident that whatever was of value is no longer of value.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. officials have refused to detail what steps were taken to protect sensitive technology on the drone or the video it collected during its surveillance mission. But officials have long acknowledged that the U.S. can remotely remove sensitive information from high-tech drones and make systems inoperable so they aren\'t of much value.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milley and Austin also said the incident would not stop the U.S. from flying wherever international law allows.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Details of Milley\'s call with Gerasimov would be kept private, Joint Staff spokesman Army Col. Dave Butler said in a statement. Gerasimov was named the new commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine in January and its previous commander demoted in an apparent sign of Russian President Vladimir Putin\'s dissatisfaction with the state of the war, which has been stalemated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If the call between Austin and Shoigu was de-escalatory in private, it was not apparent from Russia\'s public statements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters earlier Wednesday that Russia has declared certain areas of the Black Sea off-limits to any aerial traffic during the conflict and suggested the U.S. was trying to provoke an escalation through the flights. The drone crashed near Ukraine\'s Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014 and illegally annexed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Any incidents that could provoke confrontation between the two great powers, the two largest nuclear powers, raise very serious risks,\" Lavrov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu, in the call with Austin, noted that the flights of U.S. drones near Crimea were \"provocative\" and risked escalating tensions in the Black Sea. He said Russia would respond \"in kind to all provocations\" in the future, but also noted that the two nuclear powers must act responsibly and maintain channels of communication.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about the call, Austin declined to provide any details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Austin and Shoigu first spoke about Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine in May 2022. At the time it was the highest level U.S.-Russian contact of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In October, they spoke twice in three days as the threat of an escalation was high. Shoigu had accused Ukraine of planning to use a dirty bomb, a claim that was strongly rejected by U.S. and Western allies, who accused Russia of seeking a false pretext to justify further escalation, potentially including the use of a tactical nuclear weapon. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 04:03:59', '2023-03-16 04:03:59'),
(5796, 5796, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Malawi\'s president appealed Wednesday for global support to tackle \"a national tragedy\" after Cyclone Freddy pummelled the southeast African nation, causing flooding and mudslides that have killed hundreds.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The storm returned to the African coast at the weekend for a second time in less than three weeks, leaving a trail of death and destruction, but it had largely spared Malawi the first time around.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The level of devastation we are dealing with here is greater than the resources we have at our disposal,\" President Lazarus Chakwera said in declaring two weeks of national mourning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has promised 1.6 billion kwacha ($1.5 million) to assist the tens of thousands of Malawians affected by the storm, which authorities say has killed at least 225 in the country and wounded hundreds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rescuers scrambled to reach survivors in southern parts of Malawi, mostly around the commercial capital of Blantyre, after Freddy smashed into the country and neighbouring Mozambique, triggering floods and landslides that have killed nearly 290 people in both countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cyclone began to fade Wednesday after travelling 8,000 kilometres (5,000 miles) across the Indian Ocean, before looping back over ocean and then reversing course to strike Africa a second time, setting an unofficial record as the world\'s longest tropical storm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chakwera said Freddy was the third storm to \"assault\" Malawi in 13 months, calling it \"a testament to the realities of climate change\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After visiting some of the affected areas, he said the damage and the plight of the victims were \"far worse than the images and footage we have been seeing\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president also attended a funeral ceremony for some of the victims in the Blantyre township of Chilobwe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is a national tragedy,\" Chakwera, wearing a raincoat and rubber boots, told mourners at a service held at a primary school where 21 coffins, some decked with little more than simple wreaths, were lined up under a tent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a national address, he said the sight of the coffins \"laid side-by-side, including several from the same family, was nothing short of heartbreaking\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'You can\'t even mourn\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weather conditions were expected to improve as the storm dissipated after days of torrential rains, but localised thunderstorms would persist, Malawian forecasters said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flood levels remained high in several areas, hampering emergency efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Mozambique, the storm led to 63 deaths and displaced 49,000 people according to official statistics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Filipe Nyusi appealed for aid to rebuild destroyed infrastructure, in an address to the nation Wednesday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Malawi, the army and police were leading search and rescue operations, which are set to continue for at least two more days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many people perished in landslides that swept away flimsy homes built on slopes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Four people from my family are still missing as they are buried in the mud,\" Alabu Wiseman, 24, said from a Blantyre school serving as a temporary shelter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Across the country, more than 88,000 people have been displaced, with many sheltering in 165 temporary camps.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some people complained that government assistance had been slow in coming.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We feel abandoned,\" said Fadila Njolomole, 19. \"My best friend, her brother, sister and mother, went with the mudslide and their bodies have not been found. It\'s devastating. You can\'t even mourn.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The impoverished country is already grappling with the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history, which has killed more than 1,600 people since last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Record breaker -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The storm has unofficially broken the World Meteorological Organization\'s benchmark as the longest tropical cyclone on record, set in 1994 for a 31-day storm named John.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Freddy became a named storm on February 6, making landfall in Madagascar on February 21 and sweeping over the island before reaching Mozambique on February 24.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It then returned to the Indian Ocean and gathered new force over the warm waters, then reversed course to come back much more powerful, packing wind gusts of up to 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cyclones tracking across the entire Indian Ocean are very infrequent, meteorologists say, with the last occurring in 2000. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 04:09:26', '2023-03-16 04:09:26'),
(5797, 5797, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Around 50,000 teachers in New Zealand went on strike on Thursday, after union talks with the Ministry of Education aimed at improving salaries and conditions stalled.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teachers demanding better pay waved placards declaring \"can\'t afford the dentist\" and \"too poor to print good signs\" as the one-day strike forced kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools to close across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trade unions argued that the government\'s latest pay offer did not match inflation and that the education sector is at a \"crisis point\" due to teacher shortages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A quality education is a fundamental human right,\" Chris Abercrombie from the Post Primary Teachers\' Association said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Tragically, as teachers we are seeing that right being slowly, and surely, undermined.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Improvements to teacher salaries and working conditions are essential to keep experienced staff and recruit graduates, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teachers \"want to send a message to the government about how serious we are about needing change\", said Mark Potter, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We all want the best for our students but without changes to the system we can\'t give it to them.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Education Minister Jan Tinetti said she was disappointed to see teachers strike and wanted the dispute resolved quickly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cost of living has become a major political issue in New Zealand, as the government struggles to keep a lid on inflation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recent figures have suggested that New Zealand\'s economy is shrinking, fuelling fears of a looming recession. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 04:47:38', '2023-03-16 04:47:38'),
(5798, 5798, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The nation is set to celebrate the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children\'s Day-2023 on Friday in a befitting manner.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the vivacious leader of the Bangalee nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bangalee of all times, was born in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of Gopalganj sub-division, now district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was the third among four daughters and two sons of his parents - Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Saira Khatun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The nation will celebrate the day through extensive programmes with fanfare and gaiety.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh missions abroad have also chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In observance of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will issue separate messages this afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marking the birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day, the national flag will be hoisted atop all buildings of government, semi government, autonomous and private organizations as well educational institutions and Bangladesh missions abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to Father of the Nation by placing wreath at Bangabandhu\'s mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To mark the day, a national children\'s rally and a three-day book fair will be organized. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to join the children\'s rally to be organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different political, social and cultural organizations have also drawn elaborate programmes marking the birth anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day in the life of Bangalees. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 05:16:39', '2023-03-16 05:16:39'),
(5799, 5799, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday inaugurated 50 model mosques along with Islamic cultural centres in the third phase in parts of the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She joined the inauguration event virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These model mosques include separate places for aju (ablution) and namaj along with air-conditioned system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, there will be registration and training arrangements for hajj pilgrims, Imam training centre, research centre and Islamic library, autism corner, rituals before burial, car parking facility, hifzakhana, pre-primary education and Quran learning arrangement, conference room for Islamic cultural activities and Islamic dawat, Islamic books sale centre, boarding facility for local and foreign guests along with the mosques.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on June 10, 2021 and January 16, 2023, the prime minister inaugurated 100 model mosques in the first and second phases simultaneously across the country, aimed at spreading the true messages of Islam for removing misconceptions about religion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 564 such mosques are being built in the country under the project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The purpose of the project is promotion of Islamic brotherhood and its values as well as disseminating the essence of Islam against extremism and militancy as the religion never supports those.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under category A, some 69 four-storey mosques having the elevator facility and a floor space of 2,360.09 square metres each are being constructed in 64 districts and city corporation areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under category B, 475 mosques are being built with a floor space of 1680.14 square metres each, while 16 mosques under C category in coastal areas will have a floor space of 2,052.12 square metres each. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 05:29:50', '2023-03-16 05:29:50'),
(5800, 5800, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Actor Kangana Ranaut issued a statement after alleging that Wikipedia ‘warped\' information about her, including her birthday and background. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Thursday, Kangana clarified that her birthday is on March 23 and not March 20. She also added that Wikipedia is \'totally wrong and misleading\'.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kangana wrote, \"Wikipedia is totally hijacked by leftists, most of the information about me like my birthday or my height or background is totally wrong ... no matter how much we try to rectify it, it\'s warped again...Anyway many radio channels, fans clubs, and well wishers start to send birthday greetings on 20th March….\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said, \"I don\'t mind but honestly many are confused because Wikipedia says my birthday is on 20th March and I celebrate on 23rd March, my birthday is on 23rd March ... please don\'t go back Wikipedia it\'s totally wrong and misleading information there, thanks (folded hands emoji).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kangana will celebrate her 36th birthday next week. Last year, the actor gave her fans glimpses inside her 35th birthday. Taking to Instagram, Kangana said that she visited the Vaishno Devi Temple. The actor visited the holy shrine with her sister Rangoli Chandel. She also shared some pictures after taking blessings from the deity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She captioned the post, \"Today on the occasion of my birthday day …. Visited Bhagwati Shri Vaishnodevi ji… with her and my parents blessings looking forward to this year. Thank you everyone for your love and blessings.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fans will see Kangana in the upcoming movie Chandramukhi 2 opposite Raghava Lawrence. Helmed by P Vasu, Chandramukhi 2 is the sequel to the blockbuster hit Tamil horror comedy film Chandramukhi which starred Rajinikanth and Jyothika in the lead roles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from this, Kangana will also be seen in the upcoming period drama film Emergency which also marks her first solo directorial film. Apart from Kangana, the film stars Anupam Kher, Mahima Chaudhry, Vishak Nair, and Shreyas Talpade in prominent roles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She will also be seen in Tejas in which she will be seen portraying the role of an Indian Air Force pilot. In the upcoming months, audience will also see Kangana in Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda, and The Incarnation: Sita in the pipeline. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 06:40:47', '2023-03-16 06:40:47'),
(5801, 5801, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The holy month of Ramadan is upon us and this year it is expected to begin on March 22 and end on April 21. Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated either on April 22 or 23 depending on the sighting of the moon. Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is the time of spiritual reflection and self-improvement, and Muslims all over the world fast from dawn till sunset. The 12-14 hours of fasting during Ramadan is a form of intermittent fasting and is also an opportunity for people to reset their digestive system, boost metabolism and lose weight. </b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recent scientific research has proved the benefits of intermittent fasting like weight management and blood sugar management. It is one of the best ways to keep a person on calorie deficit, but people must be cautious about what they are eating when not fasting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Ramadan fast is broken with dates, one of the most nutritious dry fruit. So, it is always advised to eat protein-rich and fibre-rich diet which keeps one full for longer period of time to avoid dehydration and gastric issues,\" says Shweta Gupta, Unit Head – Dietetics - Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Intermittent Fasting (IF) is practiced in different ways for e g. 5:2 method, 16/8 time restricted diet, alternate day fasting and some other ways. Ramadan fasting too is one type of intermittent fasting, however, during rozas there is complete cessation of water and food for more than 12-14 hours. This leads to depletion of liver glycogen stores,\" says Dr Meghana Pasi, Nutrition Consultant at MyThali, Arogya World.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>BENEFITS OF RAMADAN</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Pasi further elaborates on the benefits of IF during Ramadan:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">1. Supports weight loss and improves health: A calorie deficit diet along with the eating pattern can help in weight loss along with lowering blood pressure, improve blood sugar and protect brain health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">2. Detoxifies the body: Our digestive system is better able to remove toxins as during fasting hours the system gets enough rest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">3. Damaged cells are removed by a self-cleansing process and the gut feels happy and healthy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">4. Metabolic rate increases and our immune system is strengthened. However, one can only benefit from the Ramadan fast, if during the feast period one eats healthy. Like in any other IF how one focuses on when to eat and does not give importance to what to eat, even during Ramadan not following a healthy diet regime can negatively affect health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Anurag Saxena, HOD- Internal Medicine, Primus Hospital, New Delhi further elaborates on the health benefits of intermittent fasting during Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">5. Focus and mental clarity are improved: Due to the shift in eating habits and the stress placed on spiritual practices, some people claim that Ramadan makes them feel more focused and alert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">6. Improved digestive health: It has been demonstrated that fasting enhances digestive health by enabling the digestive system to rest and recover. Fasting benefits are generally contingent on the length and timing of the fast. Allowing three hours between meals allows the migrating motor complex to complete a full cycle in which residual undigested material is swept through the digestive system. As a result, even a few hours of fasting may help digestion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr Pasi suggests healthy fasting tips to follow during the month of Ramdan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Do not overload with food while breaking the fast. Your body needs more fluid first. Hence, break your fast with lemon juice or coconut water for hydration. Avoid caffeine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Eating a high calorie, sugary and oily meal can lead to indigestion and gastric issues. Try and avoid sweets, mithais, sugary drinks and bakery products.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Your Iftar meal should contain a source of complex carbohydrates which provides enough energy along with fibre and minerals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Fill half your plate with colourful vegetables as they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibre and provide nutrients with very little calories.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Eat good amount of proteins like dals, whole legumes, lean meat, fish, milk products and eggs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Prefer a fruit, handful of nuts, or salads as snacks. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. Fiber not just keeps our bowels healthy but also regulates blood glucose levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Few healthy food options: Broccoli-egg fritters, hummus dip with olive oil and homemade pita bread, black beans and avocado on toast, lentil soup, low fat yogurts, fruit smoothies, grilled kebabs, baked snacks in place of fried snacks like samosas and cutlets, dates-oats kheer, cut fruits, sauteed vegetables, millets khichdi, curd rice, sprouts salad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you plan your meals in advance and be mindful about the portion sizes, you can definitely benefit from Ramadan’s Intermittent Fasting regime and gain maximum nutritional benefits. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 06:47:40', '2023-03-16 16:21:26');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5802, 5802, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today termed food adulteration, stockpiling, black marketing and ill attempt of creating crises of the daily commodities ahead of the holy Ramadan very contemptible, calling upon all to remain cautious against those. </b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I call upon all to stay alert as none can adulterate and stockpile food and create crises of daily essentials ahead of the Ramadan,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while inaugurating 50 more model mosques across the country joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also requested the Alems and Imams to inform people about those social menaces through the khutbas (sermons) in the mosques to decrease the tendency of charging additional prices. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Ramadan is ahead. Some unscrupulous businessmen are trying to increase the price of commodities. It is a very abominable task,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is unnecessary to give people pain after increasing the prices of essentials when they will be busy with observing Ramadan and offering prayers,\" she added. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With opening 50 mosques in the third phase, the premier so far inaugurated 150 mosques out of 564 being built at a cost of Taka 9435 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She earlier opened 50 mosques each in the first phase on June 10 in 2021 and in the second phase on January 16 in 2023. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The construction of the rest of the mosques is scheduled to be completed by June 2024. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The model mosques and Islamic cultural centres include separate places for aju (ablution) and namaj along with air-conditioned systems. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, there will be registration and training arrangements for Hajj pilgrims, Imam training centre, research centre and Islamic library, autism corner, ritual systems before burial, car parking facility, hifzakhana, pre-primary education and Quran learning arrangement, conference room for Islamic cultural activities and Islamic dawat, Islamic books sale centre, boarding facility for local and foreign guests along with the mosques. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan and its Secretary Kazi Enamul Hassan spoke at the function from the Osmani Smriti Auditorium here. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM\'s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah moderated the programme. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 07:06:05', '2023-03-16 16:22:32'),
(5803, 5803, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pro-BNP lawyers today highlighted yesterday’s incidents over the Supreme Court Bar Association election to Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seven other judges of the Appellate Division were also present at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the chief justice asked the BNP-backed Bar Association president candidate Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon and secretary candidate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol to go to his “khas kamra” at 11 am. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin, the chief legal officer of the state, may also be summoned at the time, if necessary, the chief justice said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the morning, when the court proceedings started, former Attorney General AJ Mohammad Ali, a leader of the BNP forum, first presented the statement in front of the chief justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“An unprecedented incident took place at the Supreme Court premises yesterday. It’s still going on. Even today, there are police stationed in front of many of the lawyers’ rooms. Why today?” – he asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have to see if outsiders are behind this incident… They also tortured senior members of the association. We want protection,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol, the secretary candidate of the association, said, “As a member of the association, we want to share our pain and sorrow with you, as a guardian. The Bar Association election is always festive. But what happened this time is unprecedented. I still can’t go into my room. I was attacked yesterday and my robe was torn. Today I borrowed an old robe and put it on. Thousands of police have been deployed. Lawyers were beaten up by the police and thrown out of the polling station. Why can’t I be present at the polling station?” – he asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“An election steering committee was formed with Justice Mansurul Haque Chowdhury as the head. He also performed his duties in the afternoon of March 13. But he resigned in the evening. What happened to him suddenly?” – Kajal asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Later, he called me and told me that the current president and secretary had forced him to resign. Even if he resigns, a new body will have to be formed after taking everyone’s opinion into consideration. But without doing so, they started voting,” Kajal said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Later in the night, a case was filed. Many people, including me and the president candidate, have been accused. Then a second case was filed. Six current leaders of the association have also been accused,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, the candidate for the post of president of the association, also presented his statement. He said, “Three to four hundred policemen entered the polling station and started pushing.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Police were kicking us. I can’t stand properly due to the pain. Many lawyers were injured. Journalists were also injured,” he added. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 08:23:46', '2023-03-16 08:23:46'),
(5804, 5804, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Thursday granted permanent bail to Amatullah Bushra, a 3rd year student of East West University, in a case over the death of her friend and Buet student Fardin Noor Parash.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shanto Islam Mallik passed the order, said lawyer Sabbir Ahmed Sajib.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 6, Inspector Yeasin Shikdar of DB police submitted the final report seeking exemption of Bushra from the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fardin’s father submitted a naraji (no-confidence) petition over the DB’s final report and the court fixed April 16 for hearing the petition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 8, a Dhaka court granted bail to Bushra in the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bushra was in jail for almost two months in the case after the death of Fardin in November last, despite investigation agencies failing to find any evidence connecting her to her friend\'s death.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police submitted a report on December 15 saying that Bushra has no connection with the death of Fardin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bushra was arrested from her Banasree home in Dhaka on November 10, 2022 as Fardin’s father filed a case on November 9 after recovery of his son’s body from the Shitalakhkhya River.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a long 38-day investigation, the Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Harunur Rashid on December 14 said that Fardin roamed alone in different areas of Dhaka before he went missing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Fardin was not murdered, he committed suicide by jumping into the river from Sultana Kamal Bridge On November 4 out of desperation,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fardin was a 3rd year student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s civil engineering department and a resident of Qutubpur area in Narayanganj\'s Fatullah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police recovered Fardin’s body from the Shitalakhkhya River, behind a cotton mill at Siddhirganj, on November 7, three days after he went missing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Farhad, a physician at Narayanganj General Hospital where the autopsy was done, said there were several injury marks on Fardin’s head and body.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kazi Nuruddin Rana, Fardin’s father, filed a case in connection with his son’s killing with Rampura Police Station on the same day and the case was later transferred to Detective Branch (DB) Police. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 08:38:15', '2023-03-16 08:38:15'),
(5805, 5805, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Flash floods killed at least 14 people living in tents and container housing across Turkey\'s quake-hit region on Wednesday, piling more pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of crunch elections.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Several more people were swept away by the rushing water, which turned streets into muddy rivers in areas hit by last month\'s 7.8-magnitude quake, officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 48,000 people died in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in Syria in the February 6 disaster, the region\'s deadliest in modern times.</div><div>Hundreds of thousands of Turkish quake survivors have been moved into tents and container homes across the disaster region, which covers 11 provinces across Turkey\'s southeast.</div><div><br></div><div>Torrential rains hit the area on Tuesday and the weather service expects them to last until late Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish officials said the floods killed 12 people in Sanliurfa, about 30 miles (50 kilometres) north of the Syrian border.</div><div><br></div><div>Two people, including a one-year-old, also died in nearby Adiyaman, where five remain unaccounted for.</div><div><br></div><div>Images showed the waters sweeping away cars and flooding temporary housing set up for earthquake victims.</div><div><br></div><div>In one viral video, a man dressed in a beige suit and tie reaches out for help while floating down a surging stream alongside a piece of furniture. His fate remains unknown.</div><div>Other images showed people pulling victims out of the water with branches and rope.</div><div><br></div><div>The Sanliurfa governor\'s office said the flooding also reached the ground floor of one of the region\'s main hospitals.</div><div><br></div><div>- Pressure on Erdogan -</div><div><br></div><div>Facing a difficult re-election on May 14, Erdogan is confronting a furious public backlash over his government\'s stuttering response to the biggest natural disaster of his two-decade rule.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan has issued several public apologies while also stressing that no nation could have dealt quickly with a disaster of such scale.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan has spent the past few weeks touring the region, meeting survivors and promising to rebuild the entire area within a year.</div><div><br></div><div>\"By the end of next year, we will build 319,000 houses,\" Erdogan told his ruling party members on Wednesday in a parliamentary address.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Beyond the search and rescue, emergency aid and temporary shelter we have provided so far, we have a promise to our nation to restore the cities destroyed in the earthquake within a year,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan dispatched his interior minister to the flooded region to oversee the government\'s response.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Currently, we have 10 teams composed of 163 people doing search and rescue work across a 25-kilometre stretch,\" Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters, reports AFP </div><div><br></div><div>\"We also have divers. But the weather conditions are not allowing us to do much,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 09:47:31', '2023-03-16 16:23:32'),
(5806, 5806, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>One year after Russia-Ukraine conflicts, the surge in global food prices that the war triggered has subsided but there are still reasons for worry- prices remain elevated, and new shocks could send them soaring again, according to the World Bank (WB).</b></span><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>It said food prices shot up when Russian forces blockaded Ukraine\'s Black Sea ports, halting shipments of cereals from one of the world\'s biggest exporters. Many countries reacted by curbing or stopping food or fertilizer exports in an effort to protect domestic food supplies,\" it added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Those measures were counterproductive and only drove prices higher, briefly threatening a food crisis in developing countries that depend on imports of food,\" said the global development partner.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Now, many of those measures have lapsed and high prices are mainly a reflection of broader global inflation, said the WB, adding that in January, the average price of corn was 31 percent higher compared with January 2021, and the price of wheat was 14 percent higher. Rice prices were two percent lower, it said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Nevertheless, it said the number of remaining restrictions is troubling. One year after the outbreak of war on February 24 last year, 101 export restrictions -- including quotas, licenses, and outright bans - remain in place, suggesting that, contrary to WTO principles, the limits have not all been temporary.</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>\"Those restrictions cover more than 11 percent of 2022 food trade. Export bans alone cover up to 3.8 percent of global food trade,\" it said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The WB said in the first half of 2022, bans imposed by Russia -- which supplies almost a third of the world\'s wheat -- and other exporters covered 34.5 percent of global wheat shipments and accounted for a quarter of the 52.7 percent increase in prices.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Bans on exports of corn covered 5.2 percent of global shipments and accounted for more than three quarters of the overall 16.7 percent increase, it added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The picture has improved since the middle of last year, it said, adding that on July 22, an agreement involving Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and United Nations enabled grain shipments from three Ukrainian ports to resume. Russia and other key producers removed export restrictions, and good summer harvests helped damp prices, it said adding that the European Union and Australia have increased shipments, making up for lower Canadian exports.</div><div><br></div><div>The US Department of Agriculture forecasts a 5 percent increase in world food trade in the 12 months ending on June 30, 2-22. One the other hand, the USDA predicts a 4.5 percent contraction in shipments of rice, another key staple, as reduced exports from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, and the United States more than offset an increase from India.</div><div><br></div><div>Nevertheless, further trade policy measures could alarm commodity markets, generating bigger price increases, said the WB.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It said in September 2022, India banned exports of broken rice - used primarily as animal feed -- and imposed a 20 percent duty on exports of other grades of rice to boost supplies and damp local prices following below-average rainfall in key producing areas.</div><div><br></div><div>\"India\'s ban covers 5 percent of global exports of rice and is expected to increase global prices by 2 percent, while bans imposed by other exporters could raise prices by another 2.3 percent. Further restrictions by India could raise world prices of rice by between 4.3 percent and 12.1 percent. Should exporters such as Thailand and Vietnam respond by banning exports, that could result in a multiplier effect that pushes up prices by up to 20 percent,\" said the global lender.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Similarly, it said a ban by one the top three exporters of corn or wheat could drive up prices by 44 percent and 8 percent, respectively.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Further increases in prices of key staples will hurt low and lower-middle income countries that are highly dependent on imports,\" it said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 10:08:36', '2023-03-16 10:08:36'),
(5807, 5807, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Four Bangladeshi nationals, all hailing from Faridpur, have been&nbsp; missing since the deadly shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea on Sunday, causing&nbsp; extreme anxiety and worry to their families.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The missing Bangladeshi nationals are -Al Amin Matubbar, 20, son of Mostafa Matubbar, Mahfuz Molla, 22, son of Sobahan Molla, Nazmul Molla 23, son of Esken Molla and Akramul Bepari, 27, son of Seken Bepari- all are resident of Nagarkanda upazila of the district, said their families.</div><div><br></div><div>All the youths left the country to go to Italy illegally spending Tk 8 to 10 lakh&nbsp; through brokers, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>Thirty people feared drowned after a boat from Libya capsized in bad weather on Sunday. A total 17 others were rescued in the shipwreck incident and brought ashore by the Italian authorities on Monday, reports Reuters.</div><div><br></div><div>Those rescued, who were originally from Bangladesh&nbsp; were taken to the Sicilian town of Pozzallo, Italian newswire ANSA reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Chameli Begum, 38, mother of missing Al-Amin Matubbar, said that her son left the country two months ago to go to Italy. He boarded a trawler from Libya on Thursday after travelling many countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals alleged&nbsp; Murad Fakir and four others- Farhad Fakir of Mashaujan village, Liton Sardar and Abul Hossain of Bilgobindapur village and Quader Matubbar of Basagari area, are involved in human trafficking.</div><div><br></div><div>Kazi Abul Kalam, Dangi Union Parishad chairman, said that Murad is a human trafficker who has sent at least 200 youths abroad illegally.</div><div><br></div><div>Miraj Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Nagarkanda Police Station, said that no complaint has been lodged yet regarding this matter, according to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 10:21:39', '2023-03-16 10:21:39'),
(5808, 5808, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">No decision has been taken yet to reduce the price of Hajj packages, said Motiul Islam, additional secretary to the Ministry of Religious Affairs today.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“We are yet to receive a copy of the court\'s order. If there is a new decision, I will tell you later,” he told reporters at the ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>The registration for Hajj under the existing packages is ending today, he said adding that the intending pilgrims have to deposit money in banks within this time.</div><div><br></div><div>It has not yet been decided whether the registration time will be extended, said Motiul.</div><div><br></div><div>As of March 15, 9,569 people have registered for Hajj under government management and 91,246 under private management.</div><div><br></div><div>There are still 25,480 empty quota for registration, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The High Court on Wednesday asked Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to take initiative to reduce the Hajj package cost.</div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali gave the order after hearing the Ministry of Religion\'s explanation regarding the high Hajj cost this year.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday the court questioned how common people will perform hajj at the cost of the package set by the government.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It questioned “Why doesn\'t the government allocate budgets for the hajj like other countries in the world?”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with this observation while hearing a writ petition over revising the hajj package offered by the government this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on February 1, the Ministry of Religious Affairs announced the hajj package for 2023 in a memorandum. According to the package, a person has to pay a hefty amount of Tk 6.83 lakh to perform hajj this year - up from Tk 5.22 lakh in 2022. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 10:55:55', '2023-03-16 10:55:55'),
(5809, 5809, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Police introduced the first female police dog handler team - comprising members of the female Airport Armed Police Battalion - to make the operational activities more dynamic.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Seven female APBN members have been included in the police dog handler team after getting training from the K9 dog handler course.</div><div><br></div><div>They received training from professional dog squad trainer Tony Brison (UK) and Melin Broadweek (New Zealand). The US embassy and Airport Armed Police jointly organised the training.</div><div><br></div><div>Commanding Officer of Airport Armed Police Battalion-13, Tofail Ahmed, handed over the certificates to them after the conclusion of the training course today.</div><div><br></div><div>Airport Armed Police Battalion started the K9 Dog Squad unit with two labradors, two German shepherds and four malinios dogs in 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>The dog squad unit has been used for checking passengers and screening luggage.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Ziaul Haque, additional superintendent of police (media) of Airport Armed Police Battalion, said the government has taken a step to upgrade the number of dogs to 66 in the dog squad group by 2025.</div><div><br></div><div>The government took the steps considering the operations of the third terminal of the airport, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fifteen more dogs will be attached to the dog squad in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>A full-fledged dog squad can play an important role in preventing sabotage, drug smuggling and currency smuggling, said speakers at the programme. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 11:12:12', '2023-03-16 11:12:12'),
(5810, 5810, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Daraz has announced its Ramadan Bazar Campaign yesterday with a range of offers to provide customers with ‘affordable’ shopping experience ahead of Ramadan.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The week-long campaign will run from March 15 to March 22.</div><div><br></div><div>Talat Rahim, Chief Marketing Officer of Daraz Bangladesh said, \"We are excited to launch our Ramadan Bazar Campaign and provide our consumers with a unique shopping experience that is both rewarding and affordable. We are confident that our consumers will consider the offers made throughout the campaign to be unmatched, and they will use this opportunity to shop for their Ramadan essentials.\"</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the campaign, the country’s leading online marketplace will offer 45% discount on 200,000 deals and up to Tk 600 vouchers.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, customers can also enjoy free shipping, seller vouchers, and up to 65% off on Home and Living products, according to a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>Both local and global brands such as Bata, Lotto, Marico (Studio X), Nestle (Maggi), Realme, Dettol, Lifebuoy, Infinix, Bajaj Electricals, Fabrilife, Godrej, Nescafe, Manfare, Marico, Motion View, Stone Rose, Swapon\'s World, and Dove have partnered with Daraz for this campaign.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, bKash, Nagad, City Bank, Eastern Bank Limited, HSBC, Prime Bank Limited, Community Bank Bangladesh Limited, Southeast Bank Limited, LankaBangla Finance Limited, and United Commercial Bank are also part of this campaign as payment partners. According to&nbsp; UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 11:55:49', '2023-03-16 11:55:49'),
(5811, 5811, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid glowing tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking his 103rd birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"On the occasion of the 103rd birth anniversary of the greatest Bangalee of all time, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I pay my deepest respect to his (Bangabandhu\'s) memory,\" the premier said in a message on the eve of the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, on the occasion of the \'National Children\'s Day-2023\', she extended her best wishes to all the children of the country and the countrymen.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think this year\'s National Children\'s Day theme - \'Bangabandhu\'s birthday in the dream of a smart Bangladesh, children\'s eyes colored in the dream of prosperity (Smart Bangladesh er Shopney Bangabandhur Jonmodin, Shishuder Chokh Sommriddhir Shopney Rongin) \' is timely,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Recalling the memories of Bangabandhu, the premier said that the main goal of the long political life of this world-renowned leader with a keen memory and far-sightedness was to liberate the Bengali nation from the chains of subjugation.</div><div><br></div><div>Gradually, he became the last refuge of the oppressed people of Bengal, she said, adding that this Bengali, the best of a thousand years, led the fight to establish the status of the Bengali language.</div><div><br></div><div>In 1948, \'Rashtra Bhasha Sangram Parishad\' was formed under his proposal with the help of Chhatra League, \'Tamaddun Majlis\' and other student organizations, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 11 in 1948, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was arrested during holding a \'Sadharan Dharmakhat\' demanding the recognition of Bengali as the state language, she said, adding that he was repeatedly imprisoned from 1948 to 1952.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sometimes from jail and sometimes from outside the jail, he led the language movement, Sheikh Hasina said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In the final movement of people-students on February 21, 1952, he gave guidance from prison, she mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>In continuation of this, the Jukto Front elections of 1954, Ayub Khan\'s anti-military rule movement of 1958, the anti-Education Commission movement of 1962, the six-point of 1966, the Agartala conspiracy case of 1968, the \'69\'s Mass uprising\', the elections of \'70 and the War of Liberation of \'71 were conducted under the undisputed leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, the premier continued.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib\'s compassion for children was immense, she said he believed that the children of today are the future of tomorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>She went on saying that the children will build the golden Bangladesh of his dream.</div><div><br></div><div>From the idea \'Children\'s future must be ensured first\', he formulated the Children\'s Act in 1974, 15 years before the United Nations Children\'s Charter (The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child), she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier further said that Bangabandhu nationalized the primary education to ensure development of child-education.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"Bangabandhu always wanted children to grow up as creative and free-spirited ones. That is why Awami League (AL) formed the government in 1996 and declared March 17 as \'National Children\'s Day\' by dedicating his birthday to children,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League-led government is committed to make the country a safe abode for children, she said, adding:\" We have formulated an up-to-date \'National Child Policy\' for the welfare of children.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She further said that students are being provided free textbooks at the beginning of the year and almost cent percent of children are going to school today.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have published books on the life and works of the Father of the Nation for children and presented the real history of the Liberation War in text books,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Along with paying tribute to the Father of the Nation on National Children\'s Day, the main goal of the government is to make the children of this country worthy citizens by following the life and ideals of the great leader, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our children will be the charioteer to fulfill the dream of Smart Bangladesh by 2041. We all, irrespective of caste, creed and religions, need to work together to instill patriotism in children, build their personality, develop creativity and raise or boost their self-confidence,\" the premier continued.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina wished a bright future for tomorrow\'s children and youth.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Let us dedicate our present time to the beautiful future and welfare of the children and together build the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the father of the nation,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier wished all the programmes taken on the occasion of the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and \'National Children\'s Day-2023\' a success. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 12:09:57', '2023-03-16 12:09:57'),
(5812, 5812, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP on Thursday chalked out a 10-day day programme to celebrate the Independence Day on March 26.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programmes at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office after a joint meeting of leaders of the party and its associate bodies.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the programmes, Fakhrul Islam together with party leaders and activists will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum, Savar at 7am on the day.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, they will place wreaths at the mazar of late BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital to mark the day. A doa mahfil will be held there to be arranged by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the party will hoist national and party flags atop its all offices, including the central one, in the morning</div><div><br></div><div>BNP will also take steps to publish supplements in the national newspapers to celebrate the day.</div><div><br></div><div>The party will arrange a discussion on the day either at Mohanagar Natya Mancha or in front of its Nayapaltan central office on March 25.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 27, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters\' wing of BNP, will organise a mass \"gathering of freedom fighters\" in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s all district, upazila and municipality units across the country and the party’s all associate bodies will also mark the day with different programmes.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at the press conference, Fakhrul said the Independence is much more important this time as the country lacks democracy. “The Independence Day is now more relevant and it reminds us more of the Liberation War,” reports UNB,</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul Islam said their party will observe the day with due respect amid various programmes for 10 days and take a fresh vow for restoring democracy and protecting the independence of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>He also demanded the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other political prisoners before the Independence Day. </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 12:54:58', '2023-03-16 16:20:26'),
(5813, 5813, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The High Court (HC) declared illegal the decision to give performance bonuses to employees of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) in the 2020-2021 fiscal year.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A HC division bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo pronounced the judgment, declaring a rule issued earlier in this regard, \'absolute-in-part\'.</div><div><br></div><div>Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua took part in the hearing for a writ petition, while Deputy Attorney General Arbinda Kumar Roy and Assistant Attorney General Samsun Nahar Laili stood for the state.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on August 16, the High Court had issued a stay on the decision to give performance bonus to its employees, equal to three and a half basic salaries each. The court on that day had issued the rule, asking authorities concerned to explain as to why it shall not declare illegal the decision, which is against the provisions of the Dhaka WASA Act. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 13:17:26', '2023-03-16 13:17:26'),
(5814, 5814, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least one person has been killed and two injured in a fire at a building used by Russia\'s Federal Security Service (FSB) in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russian media say.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Dramatic footage on social media shows a large blaze, with smoke visible all over the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Rostov\'s regional governor said a short circuit appeared to have caused the fire, which ignited fuel tanks.</div><div><br></div><div>The street where the building is located has been cordoned off.</div><div><br></div><div>The blaze occurred at a building belonging to the FSB\'s regional border patrol section in a built-up area of the city.</div><div><br></div><div>The FSB is Russia\'s internal security service and is responsible for counter-intelligence, border security and counter-terrorism.</div><div><br></div><div>Rostov Governor Vassily Golubev said the fire had spread over 800 sq m, causing two walls to collapse.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there was no threat that the fire would spread but that residents of nearby blocks of flats were being evacuated as a precaution.</div><div><br></div><div>RIA news agency said quoting emergency services that the area on fire was a two-storey building used for garages and storage.</div><div><br></div><div>Rostov-on-Don is the capital of a southern Russian region bordering on the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, currently the scene of intense fighting in the war.</div><div><br></div><div>There have been a spate of arson attacks on government buildings in Russia, such as enlistment and conscription offices, since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to BBC reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 14:24:27', '2023-03-16 14:24:27'),
(5815, 5815, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>‘Covid-19 Telehealth Centre’ of the a2i has won prestigious World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Award 2023 of the United Nations (UN) for its remarkable contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Bangladesh.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>a2i Project Director Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir and Chief of e-Governance Strategist, Digital Service Accelerator of a2i Forhad Zahid Shaikh received the award on Wednesday at a grand ceremony at the headquarters of international Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland, said a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>‘Covid-19 Telehealth Centre’ has been recognised as the Champion under the category of ‘ICT Application: Benefits in all Aspects of Life.</div><div><br></div><div>The WSIS award of the UN is considered as the highest recognition in the information and technology sector.</div><div><br></div><div>The a2i in association with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘Covid-19 Telehealth Centre’ on June 13 in 2020 to deal with the Covid-19 patients over telephone to combat the coronavirus pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>The centre rendered the healthcare service through the number 09666777222.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It has been able to give treatment to 99 percent of the patients keeping them at their homes while only five percent patient was referred to hospitals.</div><div><br></div><div>The telehealth centre provided 15,61,068 kinds of health services to 7,04,890 patients from its inception to November 2021 during the pandemic period.</div><div><br></div><div>Like the ‘Covid-19 Telehealth Centre’, a number of digital innovations of the a2i have got the prestigious WSIS award in the recent years.</div><div><br></div><div>Of them, Digital Centre won the award in 2014, National Portal in 2015, \'Service Process Simplification\' (SPS), Online Clearance of Department of Environment (DOE), Shikkhak Batayan and Krishaker Janala in 2016, Multimedia Talking Book, Telemedicine Project of Dhaka University, Use of Social Media in Citizen-centric Innovation and e-Nothi in 2017, ‘Muktapaath’ and Police Clearance Certificate Management System in 2018, Shikkhak Batayan and Mobile Based Age Verification and Marriage Registration Project in 2019; and ‘ekShop’ under the e-business category and skills, employment and entrepreneurship based integrated intelligence platform got the award under the e-Employment category in 2020. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 14:36:43', '2023-03-16 14:36:43'),
(5816, 5816, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Cricketer Sakib al Hasan and content creator Hero Alam who participated in the inauguration of Arav Jewellers in Dubai may be questioned for the sake of investigation, said a senior Detective Branch official on Thursday.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Shakib was informed by police about the murder involving gold shop owner Arav Khan. But why did he go to Dubai? It\'s sad”, said the Chief of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Harun-Or-Rashid.</div><div><br></div><div>The chief made the statement while responding to a question from a journalist at his office on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Arav Khan alias Rabiul Islam is a murderer. He killed an intelligent police officer. Despite information from the media and others, Sakib and other celebrities went to Dubai in response to a call of a murder accused”, said Harun-Or-Rashid.</div><div><br></div><div>The DB chief also said that they would take legal steps to bring Rabiul back home after discussion with the senior officials with the help of Interpol, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>There are 12 warrants against the accused so far, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 15:15:05', '2023-03-16 15:15:05'),
(5817, 5817, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday warned that Bangladesh may turn into a tightly “regimented authoritarian” state like North Korea if their 10-point movement fails.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a discussion, he also alleged that the Awami League government is completely destroying the main pillars of the state by introducing its own rules, regulations, and constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve to make a decision whether we want to see the existence of Bangladesh and the restoration of democracy here. Otherwise, it’ll become a completely regimented authoritarian country like North Korea,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the ongoing 10-point movement is only not an agitation of the BNP or any alliance. \"This movement is a struggle for the survival of all 18 crore people of the country. So, let’s take to the streets to make it a success\"</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said their party’s 17 leaders and activists have already lost their lives in the movement that began on August 22 last year.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let\'s involve more people with our movement to establish a government and parliament of people through a credible election under a caretaker government and a neutral election commission by ousting the current regime,” he said urging the political parties.</div><div><br></div><div>The 12-party alliance arranged the discussion titled “The Importance and Necessity of the 27-Point Proposal in Building Future Bangladesh” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul alleged that a serious scandalous incident took place over the annual elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the government broke the election system of the apex court lawyers’ body.</div><div><br></div><div>“The lawyers of the apex court of the country are called officers of the court. Holding the annual election of those who work in that court or cooperate in the judicial system is a tradition and everyone respect it.&nbsp; But what happened yesterday (Wednesday) in that election is a most stigmatised and disgraceful incident for the nation and the judicial system of the country,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the untoward incident over the SCBA election has exposed there is no democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh. “I also doubt whether there is any government in the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the SCBA polls had long been held in a fair and cordial atmosphere conducted by the lawyers. \"But they (AL) broke this system yesterday (Wednesday). They also broke the election system of the Jatiya Press Club. It means that the Awami League whose only goal now is to completely break the main pillars of the state…they have already broken it. They have introduced their own rules, regulations, constitution.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul slammed the government for its plan to reduce the width of the Jamuna River to 6.5 kilometres from 15 kilometres.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Jamuna River has been flowing for thousands of years in our country. Rivers cause problems like floods and inundation…But how will you justify the idea of narrowing this river and a Tk12,000 crore project in this regard?” he said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that the government is taking such a project as it has become completely shameless.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul bemoaned that some intellectuals and professionals speak in support of the current governing system of Awami League and its president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“They extremely indulge in flattery. I feel bad thinking about for what type of country we had fought (in 1971). Now we scream that we did not want such a country.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the freedom fighters liberated the country with an aim to establish democracy, ensure freedom of expression, equality, people’s dignity and their right to vote and the rule of law.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also said people are going through a very tough time due to the unusual hikes in all the essential commodities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said there are two things--terrorism and theft—in Awami League’s body chemistry. “They want to do everything by force and indulge in theft in every case.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul alleged that Information Minister Hasan Mahmud like Goebbels said BNP is trying to destroy stability and it is preparing for arson violence. “It’s you (AL) who have introduced arson violence in the country…It was you who brought the provisions of the caretaker government by enforcing hartals for 173 days along with the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jatiya Party,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He recalled that the Awami League killed 11 people by setting a bus on fire with gunpowder in the capital during their hartal demanding the introduction of the caretaker government system. “People were beaten to death with oars and logs. They (AL) now say it (caretaker system) is not there in any civilised country.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that a caretaker government system is necessary for Bangladesh as those who are now in power are not civilized. They have destroyed the electoral system.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 16:14:08', '2023-03-16 16:14:08');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5818, 5818, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A high-profile evacuation to the UK of Afghan female footballers fleeing the Taliban included a number of women who were not the top-tier players that it was claimed, a BBC investigation has been told.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thirty-five women and their families - 130 people in total - were flown to the UK from Pakistan in November 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>Women footballers were seen to be at risk from the Taliban, and some feared they would be punished for participating in a sport the new regime viewed as un-Islamic.</div><div><br></div><div>They were granted visas by the Home Office. However, Newsnight has had access to the list of evacuees that was submitted to the British authorities in order to obtain entry to the UK.</div><div><br></div><div>While the names and other identity details are genuine, the description of the principal applicants as national players or members of a regional team - in some cases - appears to be false.</div><div><br></div><div>The BBC spoke to a number of former Afghan players, coaches and officials who identified 13 individuals who they believed were not members of the teams listed.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of the evacuees were described as members of the Herat Youth Team. But Newsnight tracked down the team\'s former coach, Najibullah Nowroozi, who now works in women\'s football in Italy.</div><div><br></div><div>He says that when he saw the list of people who were evacuated, he wondered if some of them had ever visited the Herat football ground, let alone played for the national team: \"I have seen people in the list who have not even worn a football strip in Herat.\"</div><div><br></div><div>There is resentment among genuine players now living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, that others appear to have got out with false credentials.</div><div><br></div><div>One, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells Newsnight: \"The Taliban have banned sports for women and girls... we are left behind in Afghanistan with no future. It just makes me feel very neglected and very sad because we are the real players and not some of those that got evacuated.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Sabriah Nawrouzi is a former captain of the Herat Youth Team who was evacuated along with her team-mates Narges Mayeli, Sahar Chamran and Fatemah Baratean.</div><div><br></div><div>She now plays football in the north of England. While staying in a Pakistan hotel en route for the UK, she says she met some women for the first time, who claimed to be part of her team.</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Nawrouzi says that once in England, she had to split the evacuees into two teams, because \"because one team couldn\'t play football\".</div><div><br></div><div>We tried to put the allegations to those football players who our sources claimed were not genuine, but only three responded. They all insisted they were footballers, although two of the women said they had never claimed to be national players.</div><div><br></div><div>The football evacuation took place in the months following the fall of Kabul and was personally championed by Priti Patel, the home secretary at that time.</div><div><br></div><div>The Home Office says the move demonstrated the UK\'s commitment to helping at-risk Afghans resettle in the UK: \"Their love of football put these women and girls at risk from the Taliban. We are proud that members of the Afghan Girls Development Squad and their family members were brought to safety in the UK.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Siu Anne Gill ran the Rokit Foundation charity which was involved in bringing the footballers to the UK. She says the Home Office failed to check the credentials of the women footballers on the flight, relying instead on names provided by former Afghan international player and campaigner Khalida Popal.</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Gill said: \"Khalida Popal personally had been including more names and more names and more names. We asked Khalida, \'Did you check that these are footballers?\' She said \'Yes, they\'re definitely footballers.\'\"</div><div><br></div><div>Ms Popal runs a non-profit organisation called Girl Power which works to empower women through sport. She says she didn\'t knowingly help non-footballers to claim asylum through the scheme, and told us that the Rokit Foundation had also removed and added others to the list.</div><div><br></div><div>Rokit accept that they added some names to the list, and that this was agreed between them and Ms Popal.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement Ms Popal told Newsnight: \"I categorically deny the allegations directed at me. I have repeatedly provided extensive evidence and explanations about why any suggestion that I had any formal role in verification and/or knowingly misled anyone about the identities of those evacuated is wrong.\"</div><div><br></div><div>A Home Office spokesman says: \"We worked with a number of organisations who identified and referred the group to us, undertaking security checks as part of the process. Should there be evidence that the information provided was incorrect, the Home Office will investigate.\" - BBC</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-16 16:30:30', '2023-03-16 16:30:30'),
(5819, 5819, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking his 103rd birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day-2023.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the state programme, the Premier paid homage by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu, the greatest Bangalee of all times, in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the country\'s founding father.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave an honour guard on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A munajat was also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs of the August 15 carnage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, flanked by senior Awami League (AL) leaders, Sheikh Hasina, also AL President, placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Premier later started journey for Tungipara by road after placing wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She will pay rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the mausoleum at Tungipara on Bangabandhu\'s 103rd birth anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The birthday of Bangabandhu is being observed across the country as the National Children\'s Day for many years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the vivacious leader of the Bangali nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bangalee of all times, came off in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of Gopalganj sub-division, now district. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 05:43:42', '2023-03-17 05:43:42'),
(5820, 5820, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Poland said Thursday it plans to give Ukraine about a dozen MiG-29 fighter jets, which would make it the first NATO member to fulfill Kyiv\'s increasingly urgent requests for warplanes to defend itself against the Russian invasion.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Warsaw will hand over four of the Soviet-made warplanes \"within the next few days,\" President Andrzej Duda said, and the rest needed servicing but would be supplied later. The Polish word he used to describe the total number can mean between 11 and 19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They are in the last years of their functioning, but they are in good working condition,\" Duda said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He did not say whether other countries would follow suit, although Slovakia has said it would send its own disused MiGs to Ukraine. Poland also was the first NATO nation to provide Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 tanks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said some other countries also had pledged MiGs to Kyiv, but did not identify them. Both Poland and Slovakia had indicated they were ready to hand over their planes, but only as part of a wider international coalition doing the same.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government in neighboring NATO member Germany appeared caught off guard by Duda\'s announcement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So far, everyone has agreed that it\'s not the time to send fighter jets,\" German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters. \"I don\'t have any confirmation from Poland yet that this has happened.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House called Poland\'s move a sovereign decision and lauded the Poles for continuing to \"punch above their weight\" in assisting Kyiv, but it stressed the move would have no bearing on President Joe Biden, who has resisted calls to provide U.S. F-16s to Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There\'s no change in our view with respect to fighter aircraft at this time,\" White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. \"That is our sovereign decision. That is where we are, other nations can speak to their own\" decisions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House said Poland notified the U.S. of its decision to provide MiGs before Duda announced the move.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before Russia\'s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine had several dozen MiG-29s it inherited in the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, but it\'s unclear how many remain in service after more than a year of fighting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The debate over whether to provide non-NATO member Ukraine with fighter jets started last year, but NATO allies expressed concern about escalating the alliance\'s role in the war. The hesitation continued even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made increasingly vocal pleas for Western supporters to share their warplanes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duda made the announcement during a joint news conference in Warsaw with the visiting Czech President Petr Pavel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Duda said Poland\'s air force would replace the planes it gives to Ukraine with South Korea-made FA-50 fighters and American-made F-35s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poland has provided Ukraine with crucial support during the war. It is hosting thousands of American troops and has taken in more Ukrainians than any other nation during the refugee exodus sparked by the Russian invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The central European nation experienced Russian invasions and occupations for centuries and still fears Russia despite being a NATO member. AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 05:48:50', '2023-03-17 05:48:50'),
(5821, 5821, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter, personally oversaw the recent test-firing of the country\'s most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile, state media images showed Friday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The launch on Thursday -- Pyongyang\'s second ICBM test this year -- involved a Hwasong-17 missile, the official Korean Central News Agency reported, adding that it was fired in response to \"frantic\" US-South Korea joint military drills.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Photographs in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper showed Kim watching the black-and-white Hwasong-17 -- dubbed a \"monster missile\" by analysts -- blast off into the sky.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the images showed him watching the launch with his daughter -- never named by state media but identified as his second child Ju Ae by South Korean intelligence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State media also released images showing the Earth from space, purportedly taken by a camera mounted on the ICBM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">KCNA said the launch \"confirmed the war readiness of the ICBM unit\", adding that it \"had no negative impact on the security\" of neighbouring countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea had previously said the missile was fired on a lofted trajectory -- up instead of out, typically done to avoid overflying neighbouring countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, North Korea declared itself an \"irreversible\" nuclear power, and Kim recently called for an \"exponential\" increase in weapons production, including tactical nukes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Overseeing the Thursday launch, Kim said North Korea would \"react to nuclear weapons with nukes\" and called for \"irreversibly bolstering up the nuclear war deterrent\", according to KCNA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also highlighted the country\'s \"rapid response posture... to cope with any armed conflict and war\", KCNA said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- ICBM threat -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In theory, the Hwasong-17 ICBM can reach the continental United States, and with this latest launch, North Korea is trying to emphasise the advanced level of its weaponry, analysts said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"With the photos of the Earth, Pyongyang seems to be trying to show that it can accurately hit any target the regime wants with its ICBM,\" Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The next step will likely be North Korea firing the missile \"at a normal angle\", he said, which would demonstrate it can survive reentry into the atmosphere.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Thursday launch -- Pyongyang\'s third show of force this week -- came as Tokyo and Seoul sought to thaw long-frozen ties to counter an increasingly aggressive North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol flew to Japan Thursday to meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first such summit in 12 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea fired two cruise missiles from a submarine on Sunday, followed by two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, as South Korea and the United States staged major military drills.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The allies have ramped up defence cooperation in the face of growing military and nuclear threats from North Korea, which has conducted a series of increasingly provocative banned weapons tests in recent months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The fact (that) North Korea has almost normalised ICBM tests over the last year is a concern,\" Joseph Dempsey, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Soo Kim, a former CIA Korea analyst, said that Kim\'s regime \"has essentially desensitised the international community to its weapons tests,\" she told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve reached a point where an ICBM test draws no greater attention than a short-range missile test,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ll continue to see North Korea advancing and expanding its suite of weapons capabilities in the days to come.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 05:55:04', '2023-03-17 05:55:04'),
(5822, 5822, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The nation is celebrating the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children\'s Day-2023 in a befitting manner.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the vivacious leader of the Bangalee nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bangalee of all times, was born in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of Gopalganj sub-division, now district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was the third among four daughters and two sons of his parents - Sheikh Lutfur Rahman and Saira Khatun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The nation is celebrating the day through extensive programmes with fanfare and gaiety.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Bangladesh missions abroad have also chalked out elaborate programmes to celebrate the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;In observance of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Thursday afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marking the birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day, the national flag is hoisted atop all buildings of government, semi government, autonomous and private organizations as well educational institutions and Bangladesh missions abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at Bangabandhu\'s mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To mark the day, a national children\'s rally and a three-day book fair will be organized. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to join the children\'s rally to be organized by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as the chief guest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different political, social and cultural organizations have also drawn elaborate programmes marking the birth anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and other private TV channels and radio stations are airing special programmes highlighting the significance of the day in the life of Bangalees. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 06:00:14', '2023-03-17 06:00:14'),
(5823, 5823, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>King Harald V of Norway has appreciated the role of the government of Bangladesh in poverty alleviation and socio-economic development of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Embassy said Friday.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He made the remark as Mehdi Hasan, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Bangladesh to Norway, presented his credentials to him at the Royal Palace.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Before the day of the presentation of credentials, the ambassador had courtesy meetings with the deputy secretary general, chief of protocol and other high officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On the day of the presentation of credentials, the ambassador called on Anniken Huitfeldt, minister of foreign affairs in the morning.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Later, the ambassador was escorted to the Royal Palace by transport of the foreign ministry, where the high officials of the Royal Palace greeted the Ambassadors in a simple ceremony and a guard of honour was provided by the military guards.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Then, the ambassador was received by King Herald V for a formal audience, where he accepted the letter of credence of Mehdi as the new Bangladesh ambassador to Norway.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ambassador conveyed the greetings of the president and prime minister of Bangladesh to the king and people of Norway.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In response, the king conveyed the greetings of the people of Norway to the president and prime minister of Bangladesh.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He expressed satisfaction with the bilateral relations between the two countries and was curious to know about the development of Bangladesh.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ambassador briefed him about the socio-economic development that happened in Bangladesh during the last decades.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He highlighted the priorities of the Bangladesh government in line with Vision 2041 to become a developed and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ambassador also highlighted different aspects of the bilateral relationship with a particular focus on trade, investment, IT, technology transfer, climate change, green transition, etc.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He also briefed the King about the Rohingya issue in Bangladesh and requested the cooperation of Norway for their safe, sustainable and dignified return to their homeland Myanmar. UNB</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 06:18:31', '2023-03-17 06:18:31'),
(5824, 5824, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">New Zealand lawmakers and other workers inside the nation\'s Parliament will be banned from having the TikTok app on their government phones, officials said Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ban, which takes effect at the end of the month, follows similar moves in many other countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, New Zealand\'s ban will apply only to about 500 people in the parliamentary complex, not to all government workers like bans in the U.S. and Britain. Other New Zealand agencies could decide later to impose their own bans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Global concern about the app comes after warnings by the FBI and other agencies that TikTok\'s Chinese parent company ByteDance could share TikTok user data — such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers — with China’s authoritarian government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he didn\'t have TikTok on his phone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I\'m not that hip and trendy,” he told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The New Zealand move came on the advice of government cybersecurity experts, said Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the app would be removed from all devices with access to the parliamentary network, although officials could make special arrangements for anybody who needed TikTok to perform their democratic duties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This decision has been made based on our own experts’ analysis and following discussion with our colleagues across government and internationally,\" Gonzalez-Montero said in a statement. \"Based on this information, the service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand parliamentary environment.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hipkins said cybersecurity advice came from New Zealand\'s intelligence agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau. He said New Zealand didn\'t take a blanket approach to all government workers, and it would be up to each department or agency to make cybersecurity decisions. AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 06:25:34', '2023-03-17 06:25:34'),
(5825, 5825, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning (March 17, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 156 at 9.25 am, the capital ranked eighth in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered \"unhealthy,\" 201 and 300 \"very unhealthy,\" and 301 to 400 is considered \"hazardous,\" posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s Delhi, Nepal’s Kathmandu and Myanmar’s Yangon occupied the first, second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 215, 178 and 175, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person\'s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 06:30:05', '2023-03-17 06:30:05'),
(5826, 5826, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The death toll from the explosion in a building in busy Science Lab area has increased to five after another person succumed to burn injuries.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zahoor Ali (52), passed away at 7:20pm yesterday while undergoing treatment at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, a hospital doctor said on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With this, the death toll from the March 5 blast in Shirin Mansion on Mirpur Road rose to five.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zahoor, who was a clerk of Phoenix Insurance Company, had 44 percent burn injuries on his body, said SM Ayub Hossain, resident surgeon of the Institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His village is in Faridpur’s Alfadanga upazila. He lived with his family at Paikpara in Mirpur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier four people died and 11 others were injured when the three-storey building partially collapsed due to the explosion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the deceased, Tushar and Shafikuzzaman were computer operators, and Abdul Mannan was an office assistant of a company that has its office on the building’s second floor. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 08:13:36', '2023-03-17 08:13:36'),
(5827, 5827, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the children to grow as smart citizens following the ideals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Father of the Nation Bangabandu sheikh Mujib is no longer with us, but he left his ideals for us to follow,\" she told a National Children\'s Day programme here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said the country\'s children must grow up with human virtues and groom themselves smartly through sports and physical exercises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Every child will have to engage in sports and physical exercises, remain neat and clean, obey teachers and guardians, follow these rules, and must have human virtues,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM was addressing a discussion and cultural programme at Tungipara in Gopalganj, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the programme under the management of Gopalganj district administration. This year the theme of the day is \"Smart Bangladesher Swapne Bangabandhur Janmadin, Shishuder Chokh Somridhir Swapne Rangin (the birthday of Bangabandhu in the dream for Smart Bangladesh, Children need to be engrossed with dream for prosperity).”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM asked the children to be sympathetic towards the people with special needs or differently able persons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting the children as the future of the nation, she said her government’s goal is to develop them as the abled citizens of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quoting from a poem of poet Sukanta Bhattacharya she said her government will build a Bangladesh where no child will go hungry and all will have education and housing in a country suitable for their living.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM thanked the Women and Children Affairs Ministry for picking this year\'s theme, adding that her government wants to transform the country into a smart Bangladesh by 2041.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Today’s children will be the smart community in future who will build Bangladesh properly,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira spoke on the occasion, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md. Hasanuzzaman Kallol delivered the welcome speech in the function, presided over by a child Sniha Islam.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md. Khalilur Rahman and Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mahbubul Alam were on the stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Swapnil Biswas, on behalf of the children also spoke at the event, jointly moderated by two children Rubaba Toha Jaman and A.L. Sharfuddin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A documentary titled ‘Bangabandhu and Children Rights’ was screened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the event, the premier unveiled the cover of an illustrated book titled “Shishuder Sheikh Mujib,” which was composed by Director General of Special Security Force (SSF) Major General Md. Majibur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinet members, members of parliament, political leaders and high officials were present in the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The district administration arranged a competition among the children under several categories – painting, quiz on Bangabandhu’s books ‘The Unfinished Memoirs’ and ‘the Prison Diaries,’ as well as recitation on the Bagabandhu’s historic 7th march speech on the occasion of the Children Day-2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thirty winners of the competition received crests from the premier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, 100 insolvent students received Tk 2,500 as financial donation on the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s birthday and the Children’s Day. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 08:18:24', '2023-03-17 08:18:24'),
(5828, 5828, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Friday paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking his 103rd birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day-2023.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She paid homage by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu, the greatest Bangalee of all times, in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 in the capital this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the country\'s founding father.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, she offered doa seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 08:39:35', '2023-03-17 08:39:35'),
(5829, 5829, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people, including two high school students, were killed and another was critically injured as a speeding bus crashed into a three-wheeler, locally known as Borak, on the Bhola-Char Fasson road in Doulatkhan upazila on Friday morning, police said.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were identified as Rima Akter, 17, Shikha, and Md Abdul Kalam, 55, from Joynahar union of the upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rima and Shikha were second-year students of Halima Khatun Mahila College.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accident occurred around 9.15am when the Char Fasson-bound bus of Shyamoli Paribahan hit the three-wheeler in the Uttar Uddin area, killing three people on the spot and leaving the vehicle\'s driver critically injured, Md Jakir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Doulatkhan police station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The driver was rushed to Bhola Sadar Hospital; he is still not out of the woods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bus driver and his assistant were detained in connection with the accident, Jakir said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 08:45:19', '2023-03-17 08:45:19'),
(5830, 5830, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said the poisonous tree of communal forces must be uprooted for building the \'Sonar Bangla\' of Bangabandhu’s dream.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The poisonous tree of communal forces must be uprooted from the path of building \'Sonar Bangla\' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said this after paying rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi Road No. 32 here this morning, marking the late leader’s 103rd birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the elections, Quader said Awami League wants the elections to be held as per the constitution and keeping the constitutional provisions intact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whenever BNP assumed power, it repeatedly defamed the constitution, he said, adding that Awami League will protect the dignity of the constitution and hold the next election accordingly. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 08:52:41', '2023-03-17 08:52:41'),
(5831, 5831, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Gianni Infantino has been re-elected as president of FIFA until 2027 after standing unopposed at the congress of world football\'s governing body on Thursday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 52-year-old Swiss lawyer, who succeeded the disgraced Sepp Blatter in 2016, was waved in for a third term by acclamation, just as he was four years ago, by delegates from the 211 member federations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To all those who love me, and I know there are so many, and also those who hate me, I know there are a few: I love you all,\" Infantino told delegates in the Rwandan capital, where the voting system did not register the number of dissident voices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While FIFA statutes currently limit a president to a maximum three four-year terms, Infantino has already prepared the ground to stay until 2031, declaring in December that his first three years at the helm did not count as a full term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Infantino, who staunchly defended Qatar\'s hosting of last year\'s World Cup as the Gulf state\'s treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community came under the spotlight, has overseen the expansion of the men\'s and women\'s World Cups and huge increases in FIFA revenues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness had said she would not support Infantino and tabled a proposal to discuss at the congress \"FIFA\'s responsibilities to remedy human rights abuses\" in relation to the Qatar World Cup and future tournaments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Norwegian and Swedish representatives in Kigali displayed their opposition by not joining the delegates who rose to applaud.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, German FA president Bernd Neuendorf said he would not back Infantino, citing a lack of transparency from FIFA and insufficient explanations of \"why certain decisions are made and who was involved in them\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Infantino\'s opponents were not able to put forward a candidate to stand against the man who was once Michel Platini\'s number two at UEFA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Infantino himself took aim at media who have criticised him and world football\'s governing body, saying: \"I don\'t understand why some of you are so mean. I don\'t get it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Today I was re-elected after receiving more than 200 letters of endorsement, and a standing ovation, so an overwhelming majority has the feeling that I am doing a pretty good job, including in Europe,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Inspired\' by Rwanda -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His re-election followed a long speech in which he triumphantly listed his achievements, alternating smoothly between English, French, Spanish and German.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That was after he told audience members a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which commemorates the 1994 Rwandan genocide, had inspired him to persist during his first campaign for election in 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"What this country has suffered, how this country came back up, is inspiring to the entire world, so I certainly couldn\'t give up,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is a lot to be looking forward to,\" Infantino added as he turned thoughts to the next four years and declared the 2026 World Cup, the first edition to feature 48 teams, will be \"the most inclusive ever\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Expanded World Cups -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">FIFA earlier announced that the tournament in North America will feature 104 matches, a huge increase from 64 at the 2022 World Cup, as it will start with 12 groups of four teams.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The upcoming Women\'s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year will be the first to feature 32 teams, up from 24 at the last edition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It will also see overall prize money for participating teams increased to $150 million, up sharply from $50 million in 2019 and a huge rise on the $15 million in 2015.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Infantino is also planning to introduce a new, expanded Club World Cup to be played every four years starting in 2025 and featuring 32 teams.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We need more, not fewer, competitions worldwide,\" he told delegates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Infantino has also announced projected income of $11 billion in the four years to 2026, compared to $7.5 billion over the last four years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he said that figure did not include revenues generated by the Club World Cup, suggesting the final amount will be even greater.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those improved financial results allow FIFA to keep on increasing the amount of money it provides in subsidies to federations, in turn helping ensure many of them will continue to back Infantino.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In order to make football \"truly global\", as Infantino says, at a time when leading European clubs are able to hoard talent and wealth, FIFA distributes money evenly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That means the likes of Trinidad and Tobago and Papua New Guinea receive the same amount as Brazil, and each has one vote at the congress. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 09:12:19', '2023-03-17 09:12:19');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5832, 5832, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman here on his 103rd birth anniversary and the National Children\'s Day-2023.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The President and the Prime Minister in person paid their homage by placing wreaths at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj at about 10:30 am.</div><div><br></div><div>President Hamid first laid a wreath at Bangabandhu\'s mazar followed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>After placing the wreaths, they stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation.</div><div><br></div><div>A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave an honour guard on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Flanked by senior leaders of her party, Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, placed another wreath at the mazar of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party.</div><div><br></div><div>President\'s wife Rashida Khanam along with her son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq, MP, and the Prime Minister along with her family members also separately paid rich tributes to Bangabandhu by pacing floral wreaths.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdul Hamid and Sheikh Hasina offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.</div><div><br></div><div>Cabinet members, PM\'s advisers, parliament members and senior leaders of Bangladesh Awami League were present.</div><div><br></div><div>The President also signed the visitor\'s book kept on the mausoleum premises.</div><div><br></div><div>On his arrival on the mausoleum premises, President Abdul Hamid was received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>The Premier earlier reached Tungipara at 10 in the morning by road. She started journey for Tungipara after placing wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum on Dhanmondi Road No 32 in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>The birthday of Bangabandhu is being observed across the country as the National Children\'s Day for many years.</div><div><br></div><div>On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu, the vivacious leader of the Bangali nation, the architect of independent Bangladesh and the greatest Bangali of all times, came off in a respected Muslim family at Tungipara village of Gopalganj sub-division, now district. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 10:16:38', '2023-03-17 10:16:38'),
(5833, 5833, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Six people, including four women, died after inhaling smoke following a major fire in a multi-storey commercial complex in Secunderabad here, officials said on Friday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The six were found in an unconscious condition by firemen on Thursday in a room on the fifth floor of the ‘Swapnalok Complex\' building and were rushed to a state-run hospital, they said.&nbsp; All six were brought dead to the hospital, a doctor said.</div><div><br></div><div>A senior police official said the cause of death would be known after investigation but, most likely, inhaling smoke could be the reason.&nbsp; Legal action would be initiated, the official said.</div><div><br></div><div>Twelve people were rescued from the building using a hydraulic platform and six, who suffered asphyxiation, were admitted to different hospitals, officials said. Some of those, who were trapped inside the building flashed cell phone lights seeking help.</div><div><br></div><div>The victims belong to Warangal, Mahabubabad and Khammam districts of Telangana. They were employed in a marketing company which had an office in the complex, officials said. The deceased were aged under 25 and had joined the company recently.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a witness, the fire started at around 7.30pm in the complex that houses several private offices, garments and electronic shops.</div><div><br></div><div>Ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot as huge flames leapt out from one of floors of the eight-storey building and smoke emanated from the premises earlier.</div><div><br></div><div>The fire was brought under control after midnight on Thursday, another official supervising the rescue operation said. The fire is suspected to have started from the fifth floor of the building and a preliminary investigation suggested short-circuit to be the reason behind the blaze, said the official. Source: PTI&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 10:40:40', '2023-03-17 10:40:40'),
(5834, 5834, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a madrassa in the Afghan capital, rows of teenage girls rock back and forth reciting verses of the Quran under the watchful eye of a religious scholar.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The number of Islamic schools has grown across Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, with teenage girls increasingly attending classes after they were banned from secondary schools.</div><div><br></div><div>“We were depressed because we were denied an education,” said 16-year-old Farah, a veil covering her face and hair.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s then that my family decided I should at least come here. The only open place for us now is a madrassa.”</div><div><br></div><div>Instead of maths and literature, the girls focus on rote-learning the Quran in Arabic — a language most of them don’t understand.</div><div><br></div><div>Those who want to learn the meaning of the verses study separately, where a teacher translates and explains the text in their local language.</div><div><br></div><div>AFP visited three madrassas in Kabul and in the southern city of Kandahar, where scholars said the number of girl students has doubled since last year.</div><div><br></div><div>For Farah, her ambition of becoming a lawyer was dashed when Taliban authorities blocked girls from secondary school — and months later banned women from attending university.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everyone’s dreams are lost,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Still, Farah — whose real name has been changed to protect her identity like other students AFP interviewed for this story — counts herself lucky in that her parents allowed her to attend classes at all.</div><div><br></div><div>Education deadlock</div><div>The Taliban government adheres to an austere interpretation of Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>Rulings are passed down by the reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and his inner circle of religious advisers, who are against education for girls and women, some officials say.</div><div><br></div><div>Akhundzada has ordered hundreds of new madrassas to be built as he establishes his Islamic Emirate based on sharia.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities in Kabul have given several excuses for the closure of girls’ schools — including the need for segregated classrooms and Islamic uniforms, which were largely already in place.</div><div><br></div><div>The government insists schools will eventually reopen.</div><div><br></div><div>Education is the main sticking point behind a deadlock with the international community, which has condemned the stripping away of freedoms for women and girls.</div><div><br></div><div>No country has recognised the Taliban government, which is battling to keep afloat an economy where more than half the population face starvation, according to aid agencies.</div><div><br></div><div>Hosna, a former university student studying medicine, now teaches at a madrassa in Kandahar, reading verses of the Quran to a class of more than 30 girls who repeat the words back to her.</div><div><br></div><div>“Studying in universities helps to build a future, makes us aware of our rights,” she said. “But there is no future in madrassas. They are studying here because they are helpless.”</div><div><br></div><div>The madrassa, located in an old building, has small classrooms with no electricity.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the financial constraints faced by the management of the school, dozens of students attend classes for free.</div><div><br></div><div>Friendship and distraction</div><div><br></div><div>The educational value of madrassas is subject to fierce debate, with experts saying they do not provide the necessary skills for gainful employment as adults.</div><div><br></div><div>“Given the present conditions, the need for modern education is a priority,” said Abdul Bari Madani, a scholar who frequently appears on local TV to discuss religious affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>“Efforts need to be taken so that the Islamic world is not left behind… letting go of modern education is like betraying the nation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Around the world, some madrassas have been associated with militancy.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of the Taliban’s leaders were educated at the Darul Uloom Haqqania madrassa in Pakistan, which earned the nickname “University of Jihad”.</div><div><br></div><div>Niamatullah Ulfat, head of Islamic Studies at Kandahar province’s education department, said the government is “thinking day and night on how to increase madrassas”.</div><div><br></div><div>“The idea is that we can bring the new generation of this country into the world with good training, good teachings and good ethics,” he told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>Yalda, whose father is an engineer and mother was a teacher under the ousted US-backed regime, was top of her class at her old school, but still shines at the madrassa and has memorised the Quran within 15 months.</div><div><br></div><div>“A madrassa cannot help me in becoming a doctor… But it’s still good. It’s good for expanding our religious knowledge,” the 16-year-old said.</div><div><br></div><div>The madrassa, on the outskirts of Kabul, is divided into two blocks – one for girls and the other for boys.</div><div><br></div><div>Still, classes are held at different times to ensure there is no interaction at all between the two genders.</div><div><br></div><div>Several girls told AFP that attending a madrassa does provide some stimulation — and the chance to be with friends.</div><div><br></div><div>“I tell myself that someday the schools might open and my education will resume,” said Sara.</div><div><br></div><div>If not, she is determined to learn one way or the other, reports AFP </div><div><br></div><div>“Now that there are smartphones and the internet… schools are not the only way to get an education,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 11:12:25', '2023-03-17 11:14:46'),
(5835, 5835, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine retired from cricket with little fanfare on Friday, bowing out after playing an inter-state match in Tasmania.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Paine led Australia between 2018 and 2021 after Steve Smith was stripped of the captaincy in the wake of the \"Sandpaper-gate\" ball-tampering incident against South Africa.</div><div><br></div><div>He skippered the team in 23 Tests -- winning 11, losing eight and drawing four -- and was credited with helping rebuild Australian cricket\'s reputation.</div><div><br></div><div>Paine was forced to stand down after it was revealed he had sent lewd messages to a female colleague in 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>As the scandal took its toll, he stepped away from cricket for the \"foreseeable future\", returning to the game almost a year later in October 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The wicketkeeper-batsman, 38, played his final first-class game for state side Tasmania in a domestic fixture against Queensland on Friday, walking off through a guard of honour formed by players.</div><div><br></div><div>\"An inspiring captain, one of our finest glovesman and a legend of Tasmanian and Australian cricket,\" the Tasmanian Tigers said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Congratulations Tim Paine on a truly wonderful career.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Paine played 35 Tests for Australia, with a top score of 92 and an average of 32.63. He also played 35 ODIs.</div><div><br></div><div>Australia regained the Ashes in England in 2019 under Paine\'s leadership, in what was otherwise a turbulent period for the Test side.</div><div><br></div><div>Current Test skipper Pat Cummins took over from Paine in November 2021, describing him at the time as a \"well-loved and respected figure of our team\". - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 11:24:49', '2023-03-17 11:24:49'),
(5836, 5836, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said a smart population is needed to build ‘Smart Bangladesh’, urging the children to be groomed properly with human qualities as today’s children will be the smart community of future Bangladesh.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I would like to tell the children that every child will have to engage in sports and physical exercises, remain neat and clean, obey teachers and guardians, follow the rules, and must have human qualities,” she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The premier said this while addressing a function here as chief guest marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children\'s Day-2023.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Mentioning the children as the future of the nation, she said her government’s goal is to develop them as the able citizens of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today’s children will be the smart community in future who will build Bangladesh properly,” she said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Prime Minister thanked the Women and Children Affairs Ministry for picking this year’s theme of the day, adding that her government wants to transform the country into ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs arranged the programme with the theme \"Smart Bangladesher Swapne Bangabandhu’r Janmadin, Shishuder Chokh Somridhir Swapne Rangin (The birthday of Bangabandhu in the dream for Smart Bangladesh, Children are dreaming for prosperity)” under the management of Gopalganj district administration.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, MP, spoke at the ceremony as special guest, while secretary of the ministry Md. Hasanuzzaman Kallol delivered welcome address. Little Swapnil Bishwas also spoke on behalf of the children.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>With children representative Sneha Islam in the chair, two children --Rubaba Toha Zaman and A L Sharfuddin-- conducted the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>At the outset, a documentary titled “Bangabandhu and Children Rights”&nbsp; was screened.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The premier distributed crests among the winners of a painting competition, quiz on Oshomapto Attojiboni (The Unfinished Memoirs) and Karagarer Rojnamcha (The Prison Diaries) as well as the historic 7th March Speech and recitation competition organized by the district administration.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>In the event, she also unveiled the cover of an illustrated book titled “Shishuder Sheikh Mujib (Sheikh Mujib of Children)” composed by Special Security Force (SSF) Director General (DG) Major General Md Majibur Rahman.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Besides, the best art work selected from a painting competition where special children participated was given to the Prime Minister as memento at the function.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;In addition, 100 insolvent students received Taka 2,500 each as financial donation on the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s birthday and the children’s day.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Cabinet members, members of parliament, political leaders and high officials were present in the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md. Khalilur Rahman and Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Kazi Mahbubul Alam were on the stage.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister said that her government is giving new books to the children so that they can concentrate on studies.</div><div><br></div><div>“In addition to this, we’ve also laid emphasis on computer education as a smart population is required to build a smart Bangladesh and that is why we’ve taken this measure so that children can learn it from their childhood,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>She further said that they have incorporated computer coding system in the curriculum at the primary level alongside taking the initiative of improving the skill of teachers applying a blending approach.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“I will tell our children that we want to build digital Bangladesh and ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041, and today’s children will be the smart population who will build the future Bangladesh,” she continued.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Sheikh Hasina said no child will be deprived of the light of education in the ‘Smart Bangladesh’. “In the Smart Bangladesh, no person will be homeless. None will suffer with the hardship of poverty. We will build Bangladesh by fulfilling the basic needs of every human being.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is no more among us today, but we have his ideology. We will pull the country ahead following his ideology. The Bangladesh of the future will be a Smart Bangladesh, a prosperous Bangladesh,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;The Prime Minister said that all the children have to be imbued human qualities by grooming up properly through sports and physical exercises.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;She asked the children to be sympathetic towards the persons with special needs or differently able persons.</div><div><br></div><div>“We give them (differently able persons) allowances and separate stipends. Everyone is a part of this society, everyone is the part of this world,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The head of government mentioned that Father of the Nation loved children very much and he had high compassion for them, and that is why the government has declared his birthday as the National Children’s Day, considering that children are the future and they would get the chance to develop as perfect citizens of the country. According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 11:49:35', '2023-03-17 11:49:35'),
(5837, 5837, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The national cricketers who are in Sylhet to play the three-match ODI series against Ireland celebrated the 103rd birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by cutting a cake at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After their training session, ahead of the first match against the Irish on Saturday, all of the players and coaching staff of Bangladesh cut the cake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The birthday of the Father of the Nation is being celebrated as \'National Children\'s Day\'.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\'Today the nation remembers you with humble respect. In our endless love, you will forever be immortal,’--- was written on the cake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Happy 103rd Birthday to the Greatest Bengali of All Time, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Your contributions to our nation\'s independence and progress will never be forgotten,” ace allrounder Shakib Al Hasan posted on his facebook.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed wrote, \"Happy 103rd birthday to the architect of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - your vision, courage and unwavering commitment to the Bengali people continue to inspire us today.\" BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 12:57:16', '2023-03-17 12:57:16'),
(5838, 5838, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The nation honors its Father on the occasion of his 103rd birthday, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Born in Tungipara, Gopalganj, on March 17, 1920, he later rose to prominence as the chief architect of Bangladesh\'s independence.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He led the struggle for independence from Pakistan and finally achieved it on December 16, 1971.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu is the \"Father of the Nation\" - just as a father nurtures and protects his children, Bangabandhu worked tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of his fellow Bangladeshis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu spent his entire life advancing the interests of the Bangladeshi people. He was a bold leader who stood up for the rights of his people and helped create an independent, flourishing Bangladesh. A generation of Bangladeshis was motivated to rebel against tyranny and injustice by his unrelenting dedication to democracy, freedom, and social justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He became involved in politics during his student days and joined the All India Muslim Students Federation in 1940. In 1943, he became the joint secretary of the Islamia College Students\' Union in Kolkata and played an active role in organizing student protests against British colonial rule. In 1946, Bangabandhu joined the Bengal Provincial Muslim League and was elected as a member of its Working Committee. In 1949, he became the general secretary of the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, which later became the Awami League. He was elected as a member of the East Pakistan Legislative Assembly in 1955. His political career saw many ups and downs, but he never lost sight of his goal of securing independence for Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was a \"beacon of hope\" for the people of Bangladesh - even in the darkest days of oppression and tyranny, Bangabandhu\'s unwavering commitment to freedom and justice shone bright, inspiring millions to rise up against their oppressors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As we commemorate his birthday, we recall his well-known address on March 7, 1971, in which he urged his fellow Bangladeshis to rebel against the Pakistani government\'s oppression. He stated: \"The struggle this time is for our emancipation, the struggle this time is for our independence.\" The Bangladesh Liberation War, which finally resulted in the creation of Bangladesh, was sparked by this speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu\'s life story is one of great sacrifice and struggle. From a young age, he was inspired by the idea of a free and independent Bangladesh, and he spent much of his life working towards that goal. He was a vocal advocate for the rights of Bengalis, who were often marginalized and oppressed under the ruling Pakistani government. He was arrested multiple times for his activism, and spent a total of 4,682 days in prison.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1966, he formed the Six Points demand for greater autonomy for East Pakistan. He led the Awami League to victory in the first general elections in Pakistan in 1970.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On March 26, 1971, Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight, which aimed to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan. Bangabandhu was arrested and taken to West Pakistan, where he was kept in solitary confinement for months. However, his unwavering determination and leadership inspired the Bengali people to continue their struggle for independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu was a \"fierce lion\" - just as a lion defends its territory and its pride, Bangabandhu fearlessly fought for the rights of his people, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. Despite being imprisoned and persecuted by the Pakistani authorities, he never lost faith in his vision of a free and democratic Bangladesh. He believed that the people of Bangladesh deserved to live in a country that respected their rights and freedoms, and he worked tirelessly to achieve this goal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu was not only a great leader but also a writer and a philosopher. His writings and speeches reflected his deep love for his country and his people. His quotation \"I am void and have nothing to offer but love\" is still evergreen in the heart of the people of Bangladesh. It represents the pride and dignity of the Bengali language and culture.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was a \"guiding light\" for the Bengali people - his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to democracy and social justice lit the way for a new Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu was a visionary leader who fought tirelessly for the rights of the Bengali people. His political career began in the early 1950s when he joined the Awami League, a political party dedicated to the cause of Bengali nationalism. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the party\'s president in 1966.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Throughout his life, Bangabandhu worked with many international leaders to improve the position of Bangladesh in the world. He played a key role in establishing diplomatic relations with countries like China, Japan, and the United States. He also served as the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1973 to 1974, which gave Bangladesh a prominent voice on the global stage.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu\'s leadership and vision were recognized by international leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with whom he signed the historic India-Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace on March 19, 1972. He also addressed the United Nations General Assembly on September 25, 1974, and his speech on the need for global peace and cooperation is still remembered today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1972, he worked to establish diplomatic relations with other countries and secure aid for the reconstruction of the war-torn nation. He promulgated the new Constitution of Bangladesh, which established a parliamentary democracy in 1973. He led the Bangladesh delegation to the 29th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he called for the recognition of Bangladesh\'s sovereignty and independence in 1974. In 1975 he led efforts to promote regional cooperation through the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite his achievements, Bangabandhu\'s life was tragically cut short by the assassination on August 15, 1975. However, his legacy lives on and continues to inspire generations of Bangladeshis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu\'s legacy is not limited to his contributions to the independence movement. He also played a pivotal role in shaping the new nation of Bangladesh. As the first President and later Prime Minister of Bangladesh, he worked tirelessly to rebuild the country and create a new political, social, and economic order. His policies focused on improving the lives of the people, particularly the poor and disadvantaged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his book, \"The Unfinished Memoirs,\" Bangabandhu wrote, \"I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a father to my nation.\" He lived up to this ambition and remains a beloved figure in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On his 103rd birthday anniversary, Bangladesh pays tribute to Bangabandhu and his contributions to the nation. His vision and leadership continue to inspire generations of Bangladeshis and serve as a reminder of the values that define our nation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangabandhu was not just a man, he was a movement. His name will forever be synonymous with the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. He was, and will always remain, the heart and soul of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'Nirodh Kumar Barman', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-17 13:37:43', '2023-03-17 13:37:43'),
(5839, 5839, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Actress Mahia Mahi has been arrested from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital in a case filed under Digital Security Act, say media reports.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Confirming the news on Saturday noon, Gazipur Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner (media) Ibrahim Khan said she (the actress) has been taken to the office of Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her husband Rakib Sarkar, a businessman, has remained absconding, the police officer said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sub Inspector of Basan Police Station of Gazipur city Mohammad Rokon Mia filed the case on Friday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Early Friday the couple alleged on their Facebook pages that miscreants led by Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner attacked their car showroom to occupy it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 07:58:15', '2023-03-18 07:58:15'),
(5840, 5840, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week highlighted China’s aspirations for a greater role on the world stage. But they also revealed the perils of global diplomacy: Hours after Friday\'s announcement of the trip, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin on war crimes charges, taking at least some wind out of the sails of China\'s big reveal.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The flurry of developments — which followed China\'s brokering of an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations and its release of what it calls a “peace plan” for Ukraine — came as the Biden administration watches warily Beijing\'s moves to assert itself more forcefully in international affairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday he believes the decision by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to charge Putin was “justified.” Speaking to reporters as he left the White House for his Delaware home, he said Putin “clearly committed war crimes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the U.S. does not recognize the court, Biden said it “makes a very strong point” to call out the Russian leader for his actions in ordering the invasion of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other U.S. officials privately expressed satisfaction that an international body had agreed with Washington’s assessment that Russia has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about the Xi-Putin meeting, Biden said, “Well, we’ll see when that meeting takes place.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Biden administration believes China\'s desire to be seen as a broker for peace between Russia and Ukraine may be viewed more critically now that Putin is officially a war crime suspect, according to two U.S. officials. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the matter publicly, said the administration hopes the warrants will help mobilize heretofore neutral countries to weigh in on the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A look at the Xi-Putin meeting and how it may be affected by the warrant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF XI MEETING WITH PUTIN?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit to Russia will be Xi\'s first foreign trip since being elected to an unprecedented third term as China\'s president. It comes as Beijing and Moscow have intensified ties in steps that began shortly before Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine with a meeting between the two leaders in Beijing during last year\'s Winter Olympics at which they declared a “no limits” partnership.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since then, China has repeatedly sided with Russia in blocking international action against Moscow for the Ukraine conflict and, U.S. officials say, is considering supplying Russia with weapons to support the war. But it has also tried to cast itself in a more neutral role, offering a peace plan that was essentially ignored.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting in Moscow is likely to see the two sides recommit to their partnership, which both see as critical to countering what they consider undue and undeserved influence exerted by the U.S. and its Western allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ICC ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR PUTIN?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the immediate term, the ICC\'s warrant for Putin and one of his aides is unlikely to have a major impact on the meeting or China\'s position toward Russia. Neither China nor Russia — nor the United States or Ukraine — has ratified the ICC\'s founding treaty. The U.S., beginning with the Clinton administration, has refused to join the court, fearing that its broad mandate could result in the prosecution of American troops or officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That means that none of the four countries formally recognizes the court\'s jurisdiction or is bound by its orders, although Ukraine has consented to allowing some ICC probes of crimes on its territory and the U.S. has cooperated with ICC investigations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, it is highly unlikely that Putin would travel to a country that would be bound by obligations to the ICC. If he did, it is questionable whether that country would actually arrest him. There is precedent for those previously indicted, notably former Sudanese President Omar Bashir, to have visited ICC members without being detained.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the stain of the arrest warrant could well work against China and Russia in the court of public opinion and Putin\'s international status may take a hit unless the charges are withdrawn or he is acquitted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT IS THE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. officials have not minced words when it comes to Xi\'s planned visit to Moscow. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called Beijing’s push for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine a “ratification of Russian conquest” and warned that Russians could use a cease-fire to regroup their positions “so that they can restart attacks on Ukraine at a time of their choosing.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We do not believe that this is a step towards a just, durable peace,” he said. Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan this week called on Xi to also speak with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian leader has also expressed interest in talks with Xi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT IS THE VIEW FROM KYIV?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking before the ICC warrant was unveiled, Ukrainian analysts cautioned against falling into a potential trap ahead of the Xi-Putin meeting. “We need to be aware that such peace talks are a trap for Ukraine and its diplomatic corps,” said Yurii Poita, who heads the Asia section at the Kyiv-based New Geopolitics Research Network.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Under such conditions, these peace talks won’t be directed toward peace,” said Nataliia Butyrska, a Ukrainian analyst on politics related to Eastern Asia. She said the visit reflects not so much China\'s desire for peace but its desire to play a major role in whatever post-conflict settlement may be reached.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“China does not clearly distinguish between who is the aggressor and who is the victim. And when a country begins its peacekeeping activities or at least seeks to help the parties, not distinguishing this will affect objectivity,” Butyrska said. “From my perspective, China seeks to freeze the conflict.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT IS THE VIEW FROM MOSCOW?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even if China stops short of providing military assistance to Russia as the U.S. and its allies fear, Moscow sees Xi\'s visit as a powerful signal of Chinese backing that challenges Western efforts to isolate Russia and deal crippling blows to its economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov noted that Putin and Xi have “very special friendly and trusting personal ties” and hailed Beijing’s peace plan. “We highly appreciate the restrained, well-balanced position of the Chinese leadership on this issue,” Ushakov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Observers say that despite China’s posturing as a mediator, its refusal to condemn the Russian action leaves no doubt about where Beijing’s sympathy lies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Chinese peace plan is a fig leaf to push back against some Western criticism on support for Russia,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “The optics that it creates is that China has a peace plan, both parties of war endorsed it and were ready to explore the opportunities and then it was killed by the hostile West.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT IS THE VIEW FROM BEIJING?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chinese officials have been boasting about their new-found clout in the international arena as their country\'s foreign policy has become increasingly assertive under Xi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In announcing the Xi visit, China\'s foreign ministry said Beijing\'s ties with Moscow are a significant world force. “As the world enters a new period of turbulence and change, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and an important power, the significance and influence of China-Russia relations go far beyond the bilateral scope,” it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It called the visit “a journey of friendship, further deepening mutual trust and understanding between China and Russia, and consolidating the political foundation and public opinion foundation of friendship between the two peoples for generations.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 08:10:17', '2023-03-18 08:10:17'),
(5841, 5841, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Former President Donald Trump has returned to Facebook after a more than two-year ban.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I’M BACK!” Trump posted on the site weeks after his personal account was reactivated. Trump, who is running his third campaign for the White House, also shared an old video clip in which he said: “Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He posted the same clip on YouTube, which announced Friday that it, too, was welcoming him back.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Facebook parent Meta had said in January that it would be restoring Trump ’s personal account in the coming weeks, ending the suspension it imposed in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection, when Trump\'s supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to halt the peaceful transition of power.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His access was restored to Facebook and Instagram on Feb. 9, the company confirmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying — the good, the bad and the ugly — so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s vice president of global affairs, wrote at the time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company also said it would be adding “new guardrails” to ensure there are no “repeat offenders” who violate its rules, even if they are political candidates or world leaders.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Facebook, the world’s largest social media site, had been both a publicly tool and a crucial source of fundraising revenue for both of Trump\'s previous campaigns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">YouTube, in a tweet, announced earlier Friday that, “Starting today, the Donald J. Trump channel is no longer restricted and can upload new content.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We carefully evaluated the continued risk of real-world violence, while balancing the chance for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run up to an election,” they wrote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter also reinstated Trump\'s account last year after Elon Musk took over the company, but the former president has thus far chosen not to tweet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instead, he has been posting frequently on his own Truth Social site, which he launched after the suspensions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Trump campaign spokesman and Meta representative both declined to comment. AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 08:13:55', '2023-03-18 08:13:55'),
(5842, 5842, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two people were killed and at least 20 others were injured as a bus carrying a group of picnic-goers overturned at Manikchari area of Rangamati on Friday evening.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The identities of the two deceased couldn\'t be known immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the injured, 4 were admitted to Rangamati Sadar Hospital as their condition was critical. The rest were released after primary treatment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Locals said that a group of brick kiln workers from Chattogram’s Bhatiari area came to Rangamati this morning. After visiting various tourist spots of Rangamati, the bus was returning to Bhatiari when its driver lost control over the steering and overturned, leaving two dead on the spot and more than 20 injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kotwali Police Station Second Officer Md Akhtar said that the accident occurred when a tourist bus, returning to Chattogram, overturned at Manikchari area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two people are buried under the bus at the scene, said the officer, adding that the Fire Service team is working to rescue them. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 08:22:56', '2023-03-18 08:22:56');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5843, 5843, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 40-year old man was killed and 9 people were injured in an explosion that triggered a fire at a warehouse in Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj Saturday morning.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Awlad Hossain succumbed to his&nbsp; injuries at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital, Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Narayanganj Sadar police station, confirmed.&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The rest burned injured are undergoing treatment there, he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the fire broke out in the two-story building around 9 am following an explosion.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A portion of the building collapsed after the explosion, he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control around one and an half hours after the incident.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">However, what caused the explosion and the subsequent fire could not be known immediately, he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Fakhruddin, an assistant deputy director of Narayanganj fire service, said the building was declared risky as it may collapse any time.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Abdul Kadir, president of Nitaiganj Multilateral Cooperative Society, said former president of the district’s flour mills owners’ association Illias Dewan is the owner of the building which was used as warehouse of pulse, rice, salt and other products.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The first floor of around 100-year-old building was declared abandoned around 10 years back, he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Golam Mostafa Russell, superintendent of police in the district, said onlookers were removed from the spot after the building was declared risky. UNB</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 09:05:07', '2023-03-18 09:05:07'),
(5844, 5844, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ended months of diplomatically charged delays on Friday and asked parliament to quickly back Finland\'s bid to join NATO.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A simultaneous decision by fellow holdout Hungary to schedule a Finnish ratification vote for March 27 means the US-led defence alliance will likely grow to 31 nations within a few months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NATO\'s expansion into a country with a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia will roughly double the length of the bloc\'s current frontier with its Cold War-era foe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finland had initially aimed to join together with fellow NATO aspirant Sweden -- a Nordic power facing a litany of disputes with Turkey that ultimately sunk its chance to join the bloc before an alliance summit in July.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Helsinki and Stockholm ended decades of military non-alignment and decided to join the world\'s most powerful defence alliance in the wake of Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their applications were accepted at a June NATO summit that signalled the Western world\'s desire to stand up to Russia in the face of Europe\'s gravest conflict since World War II.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the bids still needed to be ratified by all 30 of the alliance members\' parliaments -- a process that got hung up once it reached Turkey and Hungary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Friday\'s breakthrough followed months of tense negotiations between Ankara and the Nordic neighbours that threatened to collapse several times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan told Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that Helsinki had shown a strong commitment to addressing Ankara\'s security concerns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We decided to start the protocol of Finland\'s accession to NATO in our parliament,\" Erdogan told reporters after the talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan added that he \"hoped\" that parliament will approve the application before Turkey\'s crucial general election in May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Turkish parliament is expected to end its current session in mid-April.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Not complete without Sweden\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Turkey\'s decision while stressing the importance of Sweden also joining \"as soon as possible\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The most important thing is that both Finland and Sweden become full members of NATO quickly, not whether they join at exactly the same time,\" Stoltenberg said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House echoed the NATO chief\'s position. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the United States urged Hungary to conclude its ratification process both for Sweden and Finland \"without delay\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And France\'s foreign ministry called Turkey\'s announcement about Finland \"an important signal\" while reiterating support for Sweden\'s bid as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan had accused the Nordic neighbours of breaking the terms of a separate deal they reached in June 2022 under which Turkey agreed to approve the bids.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey has sought the extradition of dozens of Kurdish and other suspects it accuses of ties to outlawed militants and a failed 2016 coup attempt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan\'s demands became more urgent as he neared a May election in which he will need a strong turnout from nationalist supporters to extend his two-decade rule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Turkish leader voiced particular displeasure with Sweden -- a country with a larger Kurdish diaspora and a longer history of disputes with Ankara.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finland and Sweden had initially resisted the idea of breaking up their bids.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson -- who made NATO membership a priority after assuming office in October -- acknowledged on Tuesday that the likelihood of Finland joining the bloc on its own had \"increased\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Finnish president called Erdogan\'s decision Friday \"very important for the whole of Finland\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he added: \"Finland\'s application is not complete without Sweden.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Swedish regret -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sweden expressed disappointment at being excluded from this round of NATO expansion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is a development that we did not want, but that we were prepared for,\" Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told reporters in Stockholm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The talks in Ankara put more pressure on Hungary\'s parliament to end its own ratification delays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban enjoys a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has numerous disputes with both NATO and the European Union.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hungarian parliament began debating the two NATO bids at the beginning of the month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the vote\'s timing was complicated by a separate dispute Budapest had with Brussels over blocked EU funding and Hungary\'s commitment to the rule of law and fighting corruption.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said Orban\'s ruling Fidesz party</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"supports Finland\'s NATO accession\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The parliamentary vote will take place on March 27,\" Kovacs said in a Twitter message.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Orban\'s parliamentary group leader Mate Kocsis said Fidesz \"will decide on the case of Sweden later\". AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 09:27:50', '2023-03-18 09:27:50'),
(5845, 5845, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Police in Pakistan stormed former Prime Minister Imran Khan\'s residence in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday and arrested 30 people amid tear gas shelling after someone opened fire from the roof of the building, officials said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior police officer Suhail Sukhera, who is leading the operation in a Lahore upscale neighborhood, said police moved to remove encroachments and blockade erected by Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party and his defiant supporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said baton-wielding Khan supporters attempted to resist police by throwing stones and petrol bombs, but the officers moved on until a man on the roof of Khan’s residence opened fire. No one was hurt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sukhera said that police broke open the main door of Khan’s residence and found masks, petrol-filled bottles, iron rods and batons used in attacks on police during the week. Sukhera said that inside the sprawling residence, illegal structures were erected to shelter those who have been involved in attacks on police that have injured dozens of officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Witnesses said police attempted to disperse Khan supporters by firing tear gas and chased them to several homes in the upscale neighborhood of Zaman Park. Khan was expected to appear in an Islamabad court on Saturday after a top court Friday suspended his arrest warrant, giving him a reprieve to travel to Islamabad and face charges in a graft case without being detained.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan has been holed up at his home in Lahore since Tuesday, after failing to appear at an earlier hearing in the case. His supporters hurled stones and clashed with baton-wielding police for two days to protect the former premier from arrest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan, during his road trip to Islamabad, said in a video message that the government had planned his arrest despite his travel to a hearing. He said police had broken into his residence in Lahore while his wife was alone at the home. He condemned the action and demanded those responsible are punished under law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan, now in the opposition, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament last April. He is accused of selling state gifts while in office and concealing assets. It’s one in a string of cases that the former cricket star turned Islamist politician has been facing since his ouster.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 70-year-old opposition leader has also claimed that his removal from power was part of a conspiracy by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the United States. Both Washington and Sharif’s government have denied the allegations. AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 10:53:15', '2023-03-18 10:53:15'),
(5846, 5846, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline will play a pivotal role in ensuring fuel security in Bangladesh while many countries across the globe are facing serious fuel crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“When many countries across the country are at the verge of fuel crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war at that time this pipeline will play a vital role in ensuring fuel security of our people,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the 131.57-km cross-border \'Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline\' as part of energy sector cooperation between the two neighbouring countries through which Bangladesh will import petroleum, especially diesel from India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the newly built pipeline.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina was connected from her official residence Ganabhaban while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was connected from his office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that both Bangladesh and India have materialised many possibilities in the recent past regarding the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have settled all our bilateral problems one by one,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that both the neighbouring countries are working together for their development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are getting cooperation for our development from India,” she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that Bangladesh will be benefited variously due to the inauguration of the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The time and expenditure for importing diesel from India will be reduced significantly by this pipeline,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also mentioned that the supply of diesel in 16 districts in the northern region of the country will remain stable. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 12:53:02', '2023-03-18 12:53:02'),
(5847, 5847, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Gazipur court granted bail to actor Mahiya Mahi on Saturday,&nbsp; a few hours after sending her to jail in two cases.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court of Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Md Iqbal Hossain passed the order.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The same court ordered her to be sent to jail earlier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Advocate Anwar Sadat, Advocate Ripon Chandra Sarkar and Advocate Nabijul Islam stood for Mahi in the bail hearing.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Advocate Anwar Sadat said that bail has been granted in both the cases filed against her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police arrested her at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 11:45am on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 12:57:19', '2023-03-18 12:57:19'),
(5848, 5848, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the threat of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other BNP leaders to topple the government has become a joke to the people.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP started hatching conspiracy to oust our government just one month after its formation in 2009. They made repeated attempts to topple the government but they couldn\'t do it, rather they have become isolated and have been defeated,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said these while replying to a query of journalists after inaugurating a road construction project in the city\'s Mousumi residential area this afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasan said as part of the party\'s conspiracy, the BNP played a role in the BDR mutiny from behind the scene. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia had involvement with the conspiracy of BDR mutiny, he mentioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said Khaleda Zia had left her cantonment house in the early morning on the day of the BDR mutiny and she talked with Tarique Rahman for many times. \"We have those records,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasan said the people of Bangladesh are the deciders whether the government will remain in power or not, whether it will discharge the duty of running the country or not.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Through the last general elections, the people of Bangladesh gave the responsibility to AL and its President Sheikh Hasina to run the country till the next election, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That is why Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is running the country,\" he said. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about Mirza Fakhrul\'s allegation that AL committed forgery and robbery in the Supreme Court Bar Association elections, the minister said all the shameful incidents which took place in the history of the Supreme Court were done by BNP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the past, they kicked the door of Chief Justice office room and this time they snatched away ballot papers to thwart the election process.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"After their defeat in the Dhaka Bar Association elections, they sensed their sure defeat in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) polls. That is why initially they announced boycotting election and later they snatched ballot papers and vandalized election pandal and all structures,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said in 2014 national elections, BNP torched election centers and they carried out such terrorist acts in the Supreme Court. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They should be brought to justice for this reason, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, while inaugurating the road construction project, Hasan, also lawmaker from Chattogram-7, said Bangabandhu\'s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave allocation of around $1.2 billion dollars to remove the water-logging in the port city. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project work is underway and hopefully the city will not face water-logging in next season like before, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> Noting that 75 lakh people are living in port city, Hasan said it will never be possible for the four thousand workers of the City Corporation to keep it clean, if all the city dwellers make it dirty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If we don\'t throw polythene and house wastes, drainage system will work properly,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Councilor of Ward No-70 Mohammad Shahidul Alam presided over the function while City Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, councilor of reserved women\'s seat Shaheen Akhter Rozi, among others, addressed it as special guests. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 13:01:19', '2023-03-18 13:01:48'),
(5849, 5849, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistan\'s former prime minister Imran Khan said on Saturday he expected to be arrested as he headed to court on graft charges, after days of legal wrangling and pitched battles between his supporters and police.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 70-year-old former cricket star has been tangled in a slew of court cases, a frequent hazard for opposition figures in Pakistan\'s mudslinging politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan was ousted in a no-confidence motion last year and has been pressuring the fragile coalition government which replaced him to hold early elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am going to the Islamabad court right now. I want to tell you all that they have made a plan to arrest me,\" he said in a video message from the motorway, claiming he was the target of a plot to stop him from standing in elections due by October.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The point of their attack on my house was not to present me before the Islamabad court. The purpose was to put me in jail.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 4,000 security officials including elite police commandos, anti-terrorism squads and paramilitary rangers have been deployed around Islamabad with hospitals put on high alert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police fired tear gas at supporters who had gathered at the court in anticipation of Khan\'s arrival, chanting and pelting stones and bricks at officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this week Khan\'s supporters fought pitched battles with police sent to arrest him in the eastern city of Lahore after he failed to appear in court, citing security concerns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities were later stood down after a flurry of court hearings and Khan\'s promise to appear in the capital on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police meanwhile raided his house in a plush Lahore neighbourhood after blocking nearby roads and suspending mobile services in the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case has been brought by the Election Commission of Pakistan which has accused Khan of not declaring gifts received during his time as premier, or the profit made from selling them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan\'s courts are often used to tie up lawmakers in lengthy proceedings that rights monitors criticise for stifling political opposition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the political drama unfolds, Pakistan is in the grip of a stark economic downturn, risking default if help cannot be secured from the International Monetary Fund.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The security situation is also deteriorating with a spate of deadly attacks on police, linked to the Pakistan Taliban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan has been pressuring the coalition government that replaced him, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with popular rallies and daily addresses broadcast on social media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year Khan was shot in the leg during a political rally, an assassination bid he blamed on Sharif. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 13:06:09', '2023-03-18 13:06:09'),
(5850, 5850, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">From the largest aviary in Asia they went, sitting in buckets filled with ice to keep them cool while transported in air-conditioned vans.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A quick 30km (19-mile) drive later, the three king penguins and three Humboldt penguins had arrived at a clinic in Singapore\'s east.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There, a five-person veterinary team were waiting to perform a delicate eye procedure, thought to be a world first for penguins.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The sextet underwent the removal of the cloudy lenses caused by cataracts - a common age-related condition that develops in geriatric animals and hinders their vision - before receiving custom-made intraocular lens implants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lenses were manufactured in Germany to fit each penguin\'s eye, based on precise measurements, and took about two months to make, said the Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG). The group manages some 21,000 animals, comprising almost 1,000 species, across four wildlife parks in Singapore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We noticed the cloudiness in their lens and [that they were] moving about like they were having difficulty seeing things in front of them,\" said MWG veterinarian Dr Ellen Rasidi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the immediate aftermath, the penguins had to stay out of water and in a separate den from the rest of their colony. Eye drops were also administered twice daily.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But almost three months after the procedure, which took up to 2.5 hours for each penguin, the aquatic flightless birds can see clearly now, with a noticeable increase in responsiveness and activity levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MWG has carried out cataract surgeries on other geriatric animals like sea lions and orangutans in the past. It has also adopted innovations such as printing 3D protective shoes for birds of prey, in order to treat a potentially fatal foot disease.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">But Dr Gladys Boo, a veterinary ophthalmologist who led the procedure, reckons that it is likely the first time penguins have successfully received intraocular lens implants, marking a \"milestone\" in veterinary medicine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As a larger species, the king penguins have eyes large and stable enough to hold the custom lenses in place, so we decided to pursue this world-first procedure,\" said Dr Boo, who is one of only three individuals in South-East Asia certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, a renowned vet institution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The surgery was complicated by the unique characteristics of penguins, such as a third eyelid, which protects their eyes underwater but had a tendency to close during the surgery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MWG declined to reveal the cost of the surgery, but said it was undertaken to improve the penguins\' quality of life.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The penguins were first diagnosed by Dr Boo during check-ups conducted last August as part of the MWG\'s senior animal care plan, which has been providing specialised care for elderly animals since 2017.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It involves more frequent health checks and specialised diets for 361 geriatric animals, as well as specific adjustments to their exhibits. Examples include putting perches for geriatric birds on lower levels for easier access, and adding extra padding or bedding in preferred rest areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The penguins reside at Singapore\'s Jurong Bird Park, a popular tourist attraction which houses some 5,000 birds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">King penguins hail from the South Atlantic and the South Indian Ocean and are the second-largest of their kind in the world, while Humboldt penguins come from South America. The former can live up to 40 years in captivity, and the latter typically live for 15-20 years. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 14:19:15', '2023-03-18 14:19:15'),
(5851, 5851, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday said actress Mahiya Mahi was arrested on the basis of specific allegations.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that the allegation (of bribery) made by the actress against police will also be investigated, and it would come out whether it is right or not after the investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Home Minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters in a food distribution programme at a orphanage at Tejgaon in the capital. The food distribution programme was organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Home Minister said that a case was filed against her as she made some statements on Facebook live against Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I don\'t know everything, I heard. I have to know the matter well before I say something,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that Mahi\'s complaint of vandalism and grabbing her husband\'s showroom against the police will also be investigated. \'When a complaint comes, an investigation has to be done. Everything will come out in the investigation.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gazipur Metropolitan Police arrested Mahi from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after her arrival from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, but her husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, in response to another question, the Home Minister said that efforts were underway to bring Arav Khan alias Rabiul Islam, the fugitive accused in the police officer murder case, to the country through the international police agency Interpol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said, \"All efforts are being made to bring him back with the help of Interpol.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Interpol\'s cooperation has already been sought to arrest him. We have heard many things. Action will be taken after scrutinising the information that we have already received,” he said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 14:23:00', '2023-03-18 14:23:00'),
(5853, 5853, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The \'Made in Bangladesh\' tag will be used for all RMG products manufactured in Bangladesh in their label in Bengali from January 1, 2024, said BGMEA President Faruque Hassan.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that they are working on putting the \"Bangladesh-e Toiri\" tag in Bengali in the export products along with the existing \"Made in Bangladesh\" tag.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also wants a change to the Bangladesh EPZ Labour Act in order to guarantee trade union and other rights of the workers, which are also a major demand of the US and European Union (EU) authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The apex body for the garment industry also believes that all sectors should have rights that are equal, and BGMEA is dedicated to upholding workers due diligence and human rights.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BGMEA President Faruque Hassan revealed it while responding to questions from the journalists at a press conference held today at its office in the capital.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We believe that workers have rights to form trade union in everywhere, but problem is the foreign investors, who invest in the Export Promotion Zones (EPZs), they don\'t want this,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding the minimum wage board, he said that they\'ve already submitted three names to the labor ministry in response to their requirement. Once the ministry forms it, apparel manufacturers would voluntarily embrace the new pay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response to a question, Faruque said that Bangladesh would continue to benefit from Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) treatment from the EU, the UK, and other nations until 2029 due to its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category (LDCs).&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the top body is aiming to extend it, at least through 2032, and the government is supporting their initiative as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They already have held meeting with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, the EU\'s senior officials, and the UK\'s appropriate authority in this regard.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our objective is clear. After LDC graduation, we do not want to take punishment (impose responsibility) due to development trap. We might easily enter the global market as competitors if we can keep the GSP till 2032,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have two logics to expand facilities. First, we are facing economic crisis due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which was their (US, EU) problem. The Second issue is, Bangladesh accepted 1.3 million Rohingyas, one of the highest ever refugee acceptances in the world,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So, the global communities should increase the GSP tenure for Bangladesh considering these issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response to another question, he said that businesses are not doing so well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Our export to the US market has been dropped, though we have tremendous growth in the new markets such as India, Japan and South Korea,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that the rise in the gas price, electricity price is impacting the sector.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moreover, global economic turmoil, inflationary pressures have curtailed the purchasing capacity and the buyers have changed their sourcing pattern.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Currently, they place orders in small slots which are hampering the production planning,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BGMEA president said that Bangladesh has a huge potentiality in the circular economy, especially recycle textile waste. \"BGMEA is looking for foreign investors in the area, and that is why they are seeking government policy support,\"&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BGMEA Vice-President Md Nasir Uddin, Sparrow Group Managing Shovon Isalm, JFK Fashion Managing Director M Kafil Uddin Ahmed were also present at the press conference. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 15:05:38', '2023-03-18 15:05:38'),
(5854, 5854, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that if the state power goes to BNP, the country will become a safe haven for communal forces.&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP is the resort of communalism. If the state power goes to the corrupt people like them (BNP-men), killing, money laundering and unrest will begin again,\" he said while addressing a discussion in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka City South AL organized the discussion in the city\'s Dholaikhal area, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children\'s Day 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that BNP has two characteristics- corruption and killing people, Quader said, \"BNP became champion in corruption for five consecutive times. Speaking against corruption doesn\'t suit with BNP leaders and activists. It is ridicules. They have no shame\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina saved the country from being stolen, made the politics corruption-free and driven it into the democratic trend, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is apparently a gentleman, but his mind is filled with hatred. He can tell lie so much. (He is) the best pathological liar,\" the AL general secretary said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said as the people are suffering due to the ongoing crisis, Sheikh Hasina is buying the essentials at high prices and giving those to the people at low cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Food security has been increased so that there is no hardship during the Ramadan, the minister said, adding that not a single person will remain homeless.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Urging the BNP to come to the polls, Quader said you should prove your existence if you have soil under your feet.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL presidium members Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Advocate Qamrul Islam, Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, Central Working Committee Member Sanjida Khanam, Dhaka City South AL General Secretary Humayun Kabir and Manirul Islam Manu spoke at the event, among others, with Dhaka City South AL President Abu Ahmed Mannafi in the chair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Dhaka City North AL also organized a discussion at Bhasantek in the city\'s Mirpur area in the afternoon, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children\'s Day 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL Presidium Member and Deputy Leader in Parliament Begum Matia Chowdhury, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, AL Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin and Dhaka City North AL General Secretary SM Mannan Kachi spoke at the discussion, among others, with Dhaka City North AL President Sheikh Bazlur Rahman in the chair. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-18 15:15:15', '2023-03-18 15:15:15'),
(5855, 5855, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Boris Johnson will publish evidence in his defence ahead of MPs grilling him over whether he misled Parliament about Covid rule-breaking parties.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former prime minister faces a crucial televised evidence session in front of the Commons Privileges Committee on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee is yet to publish its final verdict - but its initial update earlier this month said Mr Johnson may have misled Parliament multiple times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Johnson denies misleading MPs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wednesday\'s session, which could last up to five hours, will be a key chance for Mr Johnson to persuade the seven cross-party MPs who make up the committee that he did not mislead MPs in December 2021 - including when he told the Commons that he had \"been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party and that no Covid rules were broken\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sources close to Mr Johnson claim he will publish a \"compelling dossier\" that will provide evidence and arguments that he did not knowingly mislead parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In May last year, an inquiry by senior civil servant Sue Gray found widespread rule-breaking had taken place, and Mr Johnson was among 83 people fined by police for attending law-breaking events.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If he fails to convince the committee and is found guilty, he could be suspended from the Commons, and even faces a recall petition, which would trigger a by-election, if that suspension is for more than 10 days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Crucially, though, MPs would have to approve any sanction on Mr Johnson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sunday Times, Observer and Sunday Telegraph report thatMr Johnson\'s \"dossier\" will include advice he claims he was given at the time by No 10 aides, advising him that Covid rules were not broken.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Sunday Times quotes one source saying the messages show \"in black and white\" that what Mr Johnson told Parliament was what he had been advised to say by officials and his No 10 team, claiming he was forced to rely on advice because he was not at some of the events.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The newspapers also report that his defence may repeat allegations of bias levelled at the former top civil servant Sue Gray, whose inquiry found widespread rule-breaking had taken place in Whitehall during Covid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sue Gray has since resigned and has been offered a job as Sir Keir Starmer\'s chief of staff, which caused anger among allies of Boris Johnson including his former cabinet colleagues Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and Nadine Dorries MP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Labour Party has said it will give all the information related to its approach to her to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) - the government\'s appointments watchdog.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But minister Jeremy Quin has said her proposed move may have breached Whitehall\'s rules, as approval must be obtained prior to a job offer being announced. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 02:49:17', '2023-03-19 02:49:17');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5856, 5856, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Last month, Cyclone Gabrielle smashed into New Zealand\'s North Island - killing 11 people and displacing at least 10,000 more. It\'s triggered a national debate about climate change and whether vulnerable homes should be rebuilt or written off.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I don\'t want to go back there,\" said Amy Bowkett.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mother of two lived in the Hawkes Bay area, one of the regions worst hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. When the Category 3 storm hit with wind speeds of up to 159km/h (99mph), her home was completely destroyed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Along with 50 of her neighbours she spent a terrifying 48 hours trapped without power, water or phone signal.  </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eventually she was able to make a call and a friend organised a helicopter rescue from a neighbour\'s backyard.    </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I feel like if we get flooded a third time, it would be our fault,\" she told the BBC from her mother\'s home in the nearby city of Napier. \"Unless we put our house on stilts, I\'d be terrified every time it rained.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She\'s not alone in fearing to return. Many of the victims of New Zealand\'s recent floods lost all of their possessions in the disaster and believe the area their homes are built on has become too dangerous for them to go back.  </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The damage caused by the cyclone is forecast to cost NZD$13.5bn ($8.4bn; £6.9bn), similar to the financial impact of the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 - the costliest natural disaster in New Zealand\'s history.  Last month\'s event prompted a nationwide state of emergency that only ended on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cyclone Gabrielle also struck within weeks of unprecedented flooding in New Zealand\'s biggest city, Auckland, when an entire summer\'s worth of rain fell in a single day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New Zealand\'s climate change minister, James Shaw, attributed the scale of the disaster to climate change, exacerbated by global temperature increases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There will be people who say it\'s too soon to talk about these things… but we are standing in it right now. This is a climate change-related event,\" he said in a speech to parliament last month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to the BBC, Mr Shaw said that while many homeowners have taken out a \"total replacement\" insurance policy, which compensates them if their house is destroyed or made uninhabitable, it only covers the cost of the property - not the value of the land it\'s built on.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This means people feel \"they have to rebuild on the current land and of course, they\'re really frightened\", he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country is likely to experience more extreme rainfall events and regional cyclones are likely to become more frequent by 2100, according to New Zealand\'s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. During warm months days are already hotter, drier and windier, increasing the risk of bushfires.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 55,000 homes in Auckland are prone to flooding, according to government data. Another 76,000 homes across the country are in coastal areas, vulnerable to erosion and sea level rise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"[When] people are sleeping with lifejackets by the door, you know it\'s bad,\" said displaced West Auckland resident Morgan Allen. \"The anxiety has reached peak levels.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the cyclone hit, the infrastructure designed to stop the main rivers from flooding collapsed, completely burying his orchard in mud and potentially toxic silt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was just a disaster zone and pretty shocking really,\" said Brydon, who couldn\'t reach his property until three days after the disaster. \"Everything was ruined. The water went up around three to four metres in the house.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brydon, who represents fruit growers in Hawkes Bay, estimates up to half of the region\'s fruit orchards have been hit, some of them totally wiped out. Farmers are desperate to salvage what they can.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re all pretty resilient. I\'ve still had plenty of cries and hugs with my wife and different people. But we need to remain positive and have hope.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"When we made the decision to try and save this orchard, that actually brought hope,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We thought, we want these trees to bloom again, we don\'t want them to die.\" BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 02:58:17', '2023-03-19 02:58:17'),
(5857, 5857, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Switzerland\'s biggest bank, UBS, is reported to be in advanced talks to buy all or part of its troubled rival Credit Suisse.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shares in Credit Suisse have fallen sharply in recent days after it said it had found \"material weakness\" in its financial reporting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An emergency $54bn (£44.5bn) lifeline from the Swiss National Bank has not resolved the issue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regulators are trying to facilitate a deal before markets reopen on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are concerns that Credit Suisse shares could continue to plummet, after they fell 24% on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This prompted a general sell-off on European markets, and fears of a wider financial crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Swiss government held an emergency meeting on Saturday night, but so far there has been no official statement on the progress of the negotiations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UBS is said to have asked the Swiss government to cover about $6bn (£4.9bn) in costs if it were to buy Credit Suisse, according to sources quoted by Reuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Any deal may also result in significant job losses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The problems have coincided with the failure of two lenders in the US - Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank - raising fears over the health of the banking system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse, which was founded in 1856, has faced a string of scandals in recent years, including money laundering charges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bank reported a loss of 7.3bn Swiss francs ($7.9bn; £6.5bn) in 2022 - its worst year since the financial crisis of 2008 - and has warned it does not expect to be profitable until 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UBS however made a profit of $7.6bn in 2022. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 03:17:56', '2023-03-19 03:17:56'),
(5858, 5858, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 14 people were killed, several were wounded and buildings were damaged in a powerful earthquake that shook Peru and Ecuador Saturday, authorities said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Destroyed buildings, crushed vehicles and debris could be seen in cities such as Machala and Cuenca in Ecuador, as rescue officials rushed to lend aid and panicked residents ran into the streets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The quake, which the United States Geological Survey (USGS) put at a magnitude of 6.8 and a depth of nearly 41 miles (66 kilometers), struck at 12:12 local time (1712 GMT).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Its epicenter was in the Ecuadoran municipality of Balao, near the border with Peru, authorities said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I went out into the street because I saw people starting to run in panic, getting out of their cars,\" Magaly Escandon, a sewing supplies saleswoman in Cuenca, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ecuador\'s presidency reported 13 dead -- 11 in the province of El Oro and two in the province of Azuay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Peruvian city of Tumbes on the border with Ecuador, a four-year-old girl died after a brick hit her on the head, according to an official report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There where the pool of blood is, I was playing with my... niece and a brick fell on her,\" her uncle David Alvarado told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tremor was also strongly felt in other cities including Guayaquil, Quito, Manabi and Manta, social media reports said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ecuador\'s presidency reported that \"there are injured people who are being treated promptly in hospitals,\" but did not provide any figures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Remain \'calm\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Guillermo Lasso traveled to El Oro, where he visited the wounded in a hospital, and will next head to Azuay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I have just finished visiting the city of Machala... I have ratified government support, the availability of resources,\" he said in a video posted on Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the day he urged people to remain \"calm and to be informed through official channels\" about damage to buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Quito\'s Risk Management Office, the facade of a house collapsed on a vehicle and left \"a deceased person\" in Cuenca. AFP journalists in the city also reported that old houses in the historic center had been damaged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roads near Cuenca were additionally blocked by landsides.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nearby, in the province of El Oro, three people were reported dead when a tower toppled and fatally crushed them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The earthquake shook the north and central coasts of Peru with less intensity. In Tumbes, it damaged 12 homes, according to an official report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is a relatively high magnitude for what we have in the country,\" said Mario Ruiz, director of the Ecuadorian Geophysical Institute in an interview with FM Mundo radio.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Peruvian seismological authorities initially reported a magnitude of 7.0, but hours later downgraded the magnitude to 6.7.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A first aftershock of magnitude 4.8 was recorded in Balao, Ecuador. The Ecuadoran navy said there was no tsunami threat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2016, a quake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit Ecuador\'s western provinces of Manabi and Esmeraldas, killing 673 people and causing an estimated $3 billion in damage. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 03:21:57', '2023-03-19 03:21:57'),
(5859, 5859, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Antoine Griezmann pulled the strings for Atletico Madrid as they shredded Ruben Baraja\'s helpless Valencia 3-0 in La Liga on Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The French forward opened the scoring for the hosts at the Metropolitano and continued his own superb form with another fine display at the heart of Diego Simeone\'s side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yannick Carrasco doubled Atletico\'s lead early in the second half and Thomas Lemar sealed the win, with the Rojiblancos, third, moving six points clear of fourth-placed Real Sociedad, having played a game more.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The defeat leaves the troubled Los Che 17th, level on 26 points with Getafe, 18th, who host Sevilla on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Atletico recorded a fifth win in six La Liga games and tightened their hold on third place with a confident display, the kind they could not find in the first half of the campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Before the World Cup nothing was going for us, and now everything is,\" Atletico midfielder Marcos Llorente told DAZN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The team is happy, and looking forward to keep on winning games, and the objective is to finish as high as we can.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We know all we have left is La Liga so we will try to climb ranks. Above us we have big teams, why not try and catch them up?\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Memphis Depay missed two good chances for Atletico early on before Griezmann broke the deadlock after 23 minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Llorente burst forward and fed the striker, and while there was a stroke of luck about his first touch, which appeared to bounce off his foot and set the ball up nicely, the second was a neat finish for his ninth league goal of the season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Valencia thought they had responded through Hugo Duro but his strike was ruled out by VAR for a foul at the other end of the pitch by Dimitri Foulquier.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Atletico stroll -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first half was intense and fairly even, but Atletico strolled to victory in the second after Carrasco tucked home from close range soon after the break.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Griezmann threaded a fine pass through for Alvaro Morata, who left Valencia defender Eray Comert in the dust and crossed for Lemar to head home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The team is doing very well, when the group is good and the team competes in the way it\'s competing, it\'s a difficult one (to face),\" Simeone told DAZN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We could have been better in our finishing, we were generating chances, but didn\'t have the decisiveness to kill off the game. In the second half the goals came.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re happy with how the team is growing.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Samuel Lino hit the post for Valencia late on but they could not even manage a consolation strike on another deeply worrying away day for Baraja\'s side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re really down, we didn\'t have a good game,\" Valencia captain Jose Gaya told DAZN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The disallowed goal affected us. (The ref) didn\'t think it was a foul and with VAR, he changed the decision.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The defeat was Baraja\'s third in five games since taking over the side he used to play for in February.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are very disappointed. Since I\'ve been here this is the game where we\'ve been the least recognisable (as Valencia),\" Baraja said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Penalty pitfall -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rayo Vallecano were held to a 2-2 draw by Girona after missing a penalty which Oscar Trejo attempted to pass to Isi Palazon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trejo saw a first spot-kick saved by Paulo Gazzaniga, but was allowed to take it again for encroachment by Girona.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On his second attempt he laid the ball off to the onrushing Palazon, who fired over.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2016 Barcelona successfully executed the move in La Liga, with Lionel Messi passing a penalty to Luis Suarez, who scored against Celta Vigo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trejo and Palazon\'s miss brought back memories of Arsenal attempting the same move against Manchester City in the Premier League in 2005, when Robert Pires attempted to pass to Thierry Henry but bungled the move.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The draw leaves Rayo provisionally eighth while Girona sit 12th.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Celta Vigo won 3-1 at Espanyol with talented midfielder Gabri Veiga scoring a fine goal to continue his good form. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 03:51:39', '2023-03-19 03:51:39'),
(5860, 5860, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the oldest goalscorer in the history of Serie A on Saturday but couldn\'t stop AC Milan from falling to a 3-1 defeat at Udinese.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ibrahimovic, 41, was in Milan\'s starting line-up for the first time since January last year and smashed home a penalty at the second attempt in first-half stoppage time to make the score 1-1 following Roberto Pereyra\'s ninth-minute opener.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it wasn\'t enough to stop fourth-placed Milan from losing their fourth match away from home in their last five and miss the chance to move provisionally second in Italy\'s top flight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stefano Pioli\'s team stay fourth, two points behind local rivals Inter Milan in second in the race for the Champions League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They will drop out of the top four if Roma win the Rome derby with Lazio on Sunday evening while Inter face fierce rivals Juventus hoping to steal a march on their rivals for Europe\'s top club competition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"When a team plays like this it means the coach hasn\'t done his job. We played way below our standard,\" Pioli told Sky.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We not in a good position in the league and getting into the top four is so important for us... We\'ve not done enough over the last few weeks.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wearing the captain\'s armband Ibrahimovic missed his first spot-kick but was given a second chance when Beto was penalised for encroachment, and thumped his shot down the middle of the goal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At 41 years and 166 days old Ibrahimovic overtook former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta -- who also netted against Udinese in 2007 aged 41 -- as the oldest scorer in Italy\'s top flight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had previously made three substitute appearances this season after being sidelined since May last year, following reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Udinese coach Andrea Sottil was sent off for his protests at the decision to award the penalty for a Jaka Bijol handball and then allow Ibrahimovic to retake following Marco Silvestri\'s brilliant save.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Sottil\'s side were ahead at the break as Beto made up for his earlier error by finishing off Isaac Success\' low cross on the stroke of half-time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And Kingsley Ehizibue made sure of Udinese\'s second win in as many league matches, just their third since early October, stealing in at the back post to poke in Destiny Udogie\'s mishit shot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Udinese\'s first home win since mid-September moves them up to eighth, level on 38 points with Juve and a point ahead of Bologna who drew 2-2 at Salernitana earlier on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a great win, we were in a difficult period but we worked hard and we deserved this win,\" said Pereyra to Sky.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re going in the right direction and we need to keep going, we know what our qualities are.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'ve got 11 matches left and we\'ll give it a go with everyone.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monza drew 1-1 with struggling Cremonese in the day\'s first match. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 04:02:17', '2023-03-19 04:02:17'),
(5861, 5861, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian strikes killed two people and wounded 10 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Saturday, a regional governor said, accusing Moscow of using cluster bombs in the attack.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of Donetsk region -- where Kramatorsk is located -- said on his official Telegram channel that Russian forces had targeted a park and damaged \"a dozen residential buildings\", and fired \"cluster munitions\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"They purposefully hit the city, trying to kill as many of its civilians as possible,\" Kyrylenko said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">AFP journalists on the ground heard around 10 explosions go off nearly simultaneously just before 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) and saw smoke above a park in the southern part of the city.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A woman died at the scene from her wounds, they saw.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Soon after, another round of explosions was heard in a neighbourhood two kilometres (one mile) away.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A taxi driver was seriously wounded in that blast.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"She came to see me briefly. I told her goodbye, closed the door and a few seconds later, I heard the explosions,\" said Lena, 46. \"I was lucky to be inside with my daughter when all this happened.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Goncharenko confirmed that two people had been killed by cluster bombs.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Russia continues to spread terror,\" he wrote in a Facebook post.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A UN treaty backed by most Western countries bans the use and transfer of cluster bombs, which spread dozens of tiny explosives, often posing a threat long after a conflict ends.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Russia and Ukraine have not signed the treaty and the United Nations has voiced alarm over Moscow\'s alleged use of cluster munitions in populated areas since it invaded Ukraine last year.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The strikes marked the second time Kramatorsk was targeted in a week. On Tuesday, one person died and three people were wounded after a strike on residential buildings.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Kramatorsk is located in the eastern industrial region of Donetsk, parts of which, including its largest city, have been controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists since 2014.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In April 2022, a missile strike killed around 60 people at the Kramatorsk train station, in one of the deadliest attacks targeting civilians.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Moscow has been seeking to capture the entire region after declaring it part of Russia last year. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 04:59:41', '2023-03-19 04:59:41'),
(5862, 5862, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday, Yonhap news agency reported, the latest launch to come as South Korea and the United States stage major military drills.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"North Korea fires ballistic missile towards the East Sea,\" Yonhap reported, citing Seoul\'s Joint Chiefs of Staff and referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After a record-breaking year of weapons tests and growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington have ramped up security cooperation, and on March 13 kicked off their largest joint military drills in five years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Known as Freedom Shield, the drills run for 10 days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea views all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and has repeatedly warned it would take \"overwhelming\" action in response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunday\'s launch also comes just days after Pyongyang test-fired its largest and most powerful missile, a Hwasong-17 -- its second ICBM test this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North\'s state media described the ICBM launch as a response to the ongoing, \"frantic\" US-South Korea drills.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just hours after the ICMB was fired Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in Japan to thaw long-frozen ties and boost cooperation in the face of an increasingly aggressive Pyongyang.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, North Korea declared itself an \"irreversible\" nuclear power, and leader Kim Jong Un recently called for an \"exponential\" increase in weapons production, including tactical nukes. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 05:04:24', '2023-03-19 05:04:24'),
(5863, 5863, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday visited Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the peninsula\'s annexation, a day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over the Ukraine conflict.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey announced the extension of a deal that has allowed Ukraine to export grain following Russia\'s offensive, but Kyiv and Moscow disagreed over the length of the extension.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin\'s surprise visit to Crimea was his first to the peninsula since he sent troops to Ukraine on February 24 last year, apart from when he drove across the bridge linking the territory to mainland Russia last December.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian state TV showed him visiting the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol, accompanied by the local Moscow-appointed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Razvozhayev said on the messaging app Telegram that Putin had been expected to take part in the opening of a children\'s art school by video link.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But Vladimir Vladimirovich came in person. Himself. Behind the wheel. Because on such a historic day, the president is always with Sevastopol and the people of Sevastopol,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 following a referendum that was not recognised by Kyiv and the international community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at the Davos forum in January, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine aimed to take back Crimea, \"our land\". Moscow has refused to include it in possible peace talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Void\' ICC warrant -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin\'s visit came a day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over the \"deportation\" of Ukrainian children.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv says more than 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the start of the conflict last year, many of them placed in institutions and foster homes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ICC prosecutor Karim Khan told AFP Friday that Putin was now liable for arrest if he set foot in any of the court\'s more than 120 member states.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 70-year-old Russian leader has yet to publicly comment on the warrant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the Kremlin dismissed the legal validity of the warrant, arguing that since Russia did not recognise the ICC\'s jurisdiction, it was \"void\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hague-based court\'s decision came ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping\'s visit to Moscow next week to sign accords ushering in a new era of ties. Xi will be in Russia from Monday to Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China, a major Russian ally, has sought to position itself as a neutral party, urging Moscow and Kyiv to resolve the conflict through negotiations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Western leaders have repeatedly criticised Beijing for failing to condemn Russia\'s offensive, accusing it of providing Moscow with diplomatic cover for its campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Grain deal extended -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the two sides had agreed to extend the deal that has allowed Ukraine, a major grain exporter, to resume shipments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But there was disagreement over the terms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s infrastructure minister said the deal had been extended for 120 days, but a spokeswoman for Russia\'s foreign ministry said Moscow had agreed to a 60-day extension.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s Black Sea ports were blocked by warships after Russia sent in troops last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 -- and signed by Kyiv and Moscow -- had allowed for the safe passage of exports. It was extended for 120 days in November.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fighting on the ground is concentrated in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, particularly the city of Bakhmut.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian strikes hit the nearby city of Kramatorsk on Saturday, killing two people and wounding 10, said regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, who accused Moscow of using cluster bombs in the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the Russian forces had targeted a park and damaged \"a dozen residential buildings\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AFP journalists in Kramatorsk heard around 10 explosions go off nearly simultaneously just before 4:00 pm local time (1400 GMT) and saw smoke rise above a park in the southern part of the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A woman died at the scene from her wounds, they saw. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 05:31:21', '2023-03-19 05:31:21'),
(5864, 5864, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 20 people were killed and 30 others injured as a bus fell into a ditch in Kutubpur of Shibchar upazila of Madaripur on Sunday morning.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identities of the deceased could not be known yet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accident took place near Pachchar area of the approach road to Padma Bridge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abu Naim Mofazzal Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shibchar Highway police station, confirmed the news.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 05:46:01', '2023-03-19 07:38:37'),
(5865, 5865, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">As Dhaka once again topped the list of cities worldwide with the most polluted air, light rain brought some relief for the city dwellers this morning (March 19, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Khulna and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places in Dhaka, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with hails in isolated places over the country in 24 hours till 6 pm today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rain or thunder showers may continue for the next two days and temperature may rise within the next five days, the BMD said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A mild heat wave had been sweeping over the country for the last few days. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 06:08:31', '2023-03-19 06:08:31'),
(5866, 5866, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to play an effective role in maintaining peace, security and stability to smoothen Bangladesh\'s journey towards a developed and prosperous country by 2026.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have to forward as developed country. We have time as we will start journey as a developed country by 2026. We\'re preparing from now on. So, we have to maintain peace, security and stability in the country,\" she said</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier also asked the law enforcement agencies particularly the RAB to be vigilant as none can stockpile food and make its adulteration on Ramadan alongside focusing robustly on eliminating drug abuse, teen-gang culture and cyber crime from the society.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was addressing a programme as the chief guest marking the 19th founding anniversary of RAB at its headquarters in the city\'s Kurmitola area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister highly appreciated the RAB\'s activities in successfully tackling the terrorism, militancy and piracy in the Bangladesh\'s most important place the Sundarban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said: \"I believe, the force will play role likewise the past with due dutifulness, effectiveness and activeness to maintain peace and stability of the country.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Director General (DG) of RAB M Khurshid Hossain also spoke at the function.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM\'s Security Affairs Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Md Aminul Islam Khan and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were present on the dais.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video documentary on the activities of the RAB was also screened at the function. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 06:59:49', '2023-03-19 06:59:49'),
(5867, 5867, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Benefits of fasting covers various angles in a person’s life. Fasting has been practiced by different people of different religions as a means of healing strategy spiritually and physically. However, intentions of fasting differ from religion to religion and person to person.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some people are fasting to be healthy while some are fasting to be pious and get near to Allah. In this article, we will talk about its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, and also, we will ponder on the benefits of fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>What is Fasting?</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fasting is abstaining from food and drinking from dawn to sunset. There are various types of fasting, including:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Wet and dry fasting:&nbsp;</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>&lt;&gt;</b>A person abstains from all kinds of foods and drinks during a period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>&lt;&gt;</b>Wet fasting: A person abstains from all food and drinks except water, black coffee, and tea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>&lt;&gt;</b>Partially fasting: A person decides to fast for a short period during the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Benefits of Fasting</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fasting has several physical, mental and spiritual benefits, but we will focus in this article on the important factors for each of them below.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Physical Benefits of Fasting</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are a number of physical benefits of fasting, including the following:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>1- Helps in Weight Loss&nbsp;</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fasting for several days helps in preventing obesity and weight loss. It helps in protecting against the hazard of a fat and sugar-rich diet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>2- Enhances Heart Health</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the Mayo Clinic, “Researchers aren’t sure why, but it seems that regularly fasting — severely restricting food and drink for 24 hours on one to two days a week — can potentially improve your risk factors related to heart health.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>3- Defeats Cancer</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the research on curing cancer, there is evidence that fasting can fight against cancer. Researchers from USC states that evidence shows short-term fast starves cancer cells and facilitates the chemo drug therapies to better target cancer. Specific to the new study, the researchers found a fasted diet, particularly when used with chemotherapy drugs. This raises the levels of bone marrow cells that generate immune system cells that infiltrate tumors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>4- Enhancing blood sugar level, lowers bad cholesterol and prevents chronic diseases</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fasting improves the levels of proteins providing insulin resistance. It lowers blood cholesterol and prevents heart attacks, strokes, and other disorders. If a healthy diet is maintained after fasting, the body will retain the newly reduced cholesterol level.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Based on a report published in the BMJ, shows that fasting may be a safe alternative to insulin. More specifically, the report shows fasting reversed insulin resistance, which resulted in the ending of insulin therapy while maintaining control of blood sugars.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>5- Improved digestive system</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fasting positively impacts the digestive system. The human body naturally detoxifies after a month of flushing out the toxins in the body. Further, it balances the heat generation and acidity levels in the human stomach.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Mental Benefits of Fasting</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are many benefits of fasting that provides imposing advantages to mental health and are as follows.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>1- Helps in protecting from Alzheimer’s Disease</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a study published in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, fasting protects against Alzheimer’s disease and relieves its symptoms. Fasting is a therapy option that is rapidly gaining traction outside of the domain of pharmaceuticals and treatments.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>2- Helps in the improvement of Memory and Intellect</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Evidence shows that fasting improves brain functions and structures in mice. Because higher glucose levels result in poorer cognitive performance, especially among individuals with pre-diabetes levels.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>3- Boosts the Mood</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the research conducted in the Current Neuropharmacology, fasting shows to boost moving and sleep quality. Additional findings suggest fasting markedly reduces negative emotions, including tension, and depressive feelings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 07:20:30', '2023-03-19 07:20:30');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5868, 5868, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistani police stormed former Prime Minister Imran Khan\'s residence in the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday and arrested 61 people amid tear gas and clashes between Khan\'s supporters and police, officials said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior police officer Suhail Sukhera, who led the operation in an upscale Lahore neighborhood, said police acted to remove a barricade erected by members of Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party and his defiant supporters. He said they blocked the lanes around Khan\'s residence with concrete blocks, felled trees, tents and a parked truck.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan was not in the home, having traveled to Islamabad to appear before a judge to face charges he sold state gifts while in office and hid his assets. The judge postponed that hearing until March 30.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sukhera said baton-wielding Khan supporters attempted to resist police by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails and a man on the roof of Khan\'s residence opened fire. At least three police officers were injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sukhera said police broke open the main door of Khan’s residence and found automatic weapons, Molotov cocktails, iron rods and batons used in attacks on police during the week. Sukhera said that inside the sprawling residence, illegal structures had been erected to shelter people involved in attacks on police that have injured dozens of officers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Khan, now the opposition leader, was ousted in a no-confidence vote in Parliament last April. He is accused of selling state gifts while in office and concealing assets, charges he denies. It’s one in a string of cases that the former cricket star turned Islamist politician has been facing since his ouster.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 70-year-old Khan, who has called for early elections in Parliament, has claimed that his removal from power was part of a conspiracy by his successor, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and the United States. Both Washington and Sharif’s government have denied the allegation. AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 07:40:42', '2023-03-19 07:40:42'),
(5869, 5869, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, has crossed ₹100 crore nett at the domestic box office. The quirky romcom is directed by Luv Ranjan and has attained the feat in 11 days of its release. It is both Ranbir and Shraddha\'s sixth film to cross the ₹100 crore mark in India.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sharing the news, film trade analyst Joginder Tuteja tweeted on Sunday, “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar has entered the ₹100 Crore Club. Accomplishes the feat in 11 days. This is also Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor’s sixth ₹100 crores film each. Do you know which are their other five?”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the worldwide box office, the film has already crossed ₹122 crore. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is produced by Luv Films and Ankur Garg and presented by Gulshan Kumar and Bhushan Kumar of T-Series. The movie also features Dimple Kapadia, Boney Kapoor and stand-up artist Anubhav Singh Bassi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar is Ranbir\'s second consecutive hit after his last blockbuster Brahmastra – Part One: Shiva, which went on to be the highest grossing Bollywood film of 2022. It collected ₹257 crore at the domestic box office. Besides the two films, Ranbir has four more over ₹100 crore films including Sanju, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Barfi. He recently wrapped up shooting for Animal, which also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before this, Shraddha too has delivered five over ₹100 crore films including Ek Villain, ABCD 2, Stree, Saaho and Chhichhore. Last year, Shraddha was seen in Bhediya, opposite Varun Dhawan, but it failed to reach the mark. She will now be working on Stree 2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shraddha found her role in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar ‘refreshing’. She told PTI in an interview, “It\'s such a different character from what I\'ve played in Aashiqui 2 and other films after that. She is a girl who is more in charge, she is on the front foot and is confident. For me, it was refreshing to play a character who says what she feels. She is a girl-next-door with some \'tadka (spice)\'. It was a first for me.” HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 08:13:03', '2023-03-19 08:13:03'),
(5870, 5870, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">River police arrested 28 fishermen on Saturday for violating a two-month govt ban on catching Hilsa in the Padma-Meghna river sanctuary area of Chandpur to increase the production of mother Hilsa and protect Jatka.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The arrested fishermen were from Haimchar and Sadar upazilas of Chandpur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the arrested fishermen, 28 were sentenced to one month\'s imprisonment, said Md Kamruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Chandpur River Police Station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mobile court fined and cautioned five minors and released them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">River police seized about 12,50,000 meters of current nets, 3 fishing boats, and 117 kg of ‘Jatka’ from the fishermen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The seized 117 kg of jatka were distributed among the local poor and orphans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government imposed a two-month ban on catching jatka to increase the production of hilsa in the Padma-Meghna sanctuary under Chandpur, Shariatpur, Lakshmipur, Barishal, and Bhola districts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seventy kilometers sanctuary of Meghna in Sadar, Haimchar, Matlab North, and Matlab South upazilas of the Chandpur district are also under restriction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those who violate the ban are subjected to a maximum of two years imprisonment, a fine of Tk 5,000, or both. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 08:51:28', '2023-03-19 08:51:28'),
(5871, 5871, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said traders have agreed to reduce the prices of sugar by Tk 5 per kg after the reduction in import duty on both raw and refined sugar last month.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“As the import duty has been slashed, the prices of sugar can be reduced by Tk 4.5. However, we have requested the traders to reduce it by Tk 5 per kg and they agreed,” he told reporters a&nbsp; press briefing after the 6th meeting of the task force committee on&nbsp; commodity prices and market situation at the secretariat on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister hoped that the price of sugar would come down by Tk 5 per kg within the first week of Ramadan, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “We will start monitoring from tomorrow. Currently, we’re assessing the impact of import duty reduction on sugar.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also assured that traders have enough stocks of oil and sugar.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 10:04:39', '2023-03-19 10:04:39'),
(5872, 5872, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least five suspected criminals and two soldiers were killed in a shootout after gunmen ambushed a military unit in southwest Mexico, authorities reported on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The confrontation occurred Friday afternoon in the community of El Pescado, in a mountainous area of the state of Guerrero that is difficult to access and the scene of conflicts between criminal groups.</div><div><br></div><div>A military unit \"was the target of an attack by approximately 18 armed civilians aboard two vehicles,\" after which a shootout broke out, according to an army report.</div><div><br></div><div>Five gunmen and two soldiers were killed while two people suffered gunshot wounds.</div><div><br></div><div>According to local authorities, the attackers were likely members of La Familia Michoacana, which was formerly one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico but lost much of its influence after the capture of its leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>The cartel has been regrouping and has been involved in various violent incidents.</div><div><br></div><div>According to authorities, La Familia Michoacana is battling the Los Tequileros criminal group for control of the area where they engage in drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping.</div><div><br></div><div>Guerrero, one of Mexico\'s poorest states, has endured years of violence linked to turf wars between drug cartels fighting for control of marijuana and opium production and drug trafficking.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 350,000 people have been killed across Mexico in a spiral of bloodshed since the government deployed the army to fight drug cartels in 2006, according to official figures. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 10:43:05', '2023-03-19 10:43:05'),
(5873, 5873, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for enhancing regional connectivity for boosting trade and commerce, offering India to use Chattogram and Sylhet ports for mutual benefits.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"India can use our Chattogram and Sylhet ports if they want,\" she said when Member of the Governing Council of India Foundation Ram Madhav called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s Deputy Press Secretary K M Shakhawat Moon briefed the reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina mentioned that increased connectivity in the regions will help enhance people to people contacts.</div><div><br></div><div>She conveyed her greetings to the Indian Prime Minister through Ram Madhav.</div><div><br></div><div>Ram Madhav highly appreciated the socioeconomic advancement in Bangladesh under the unparallel leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying, \"Bangladesh and India have excellent friendship as neighbouring countries and hope that this relation will continue in future.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M. Shahriar Alam and PM\'s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, were present at the meeting. According to BSS reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 11:42:03', '2023-03-19 11:42:03'),
(5874, 5874, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Potato export from farmers, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), continues to grow, as producers came together today to celebrate another year of success.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Four producer co-operatives joined the fourth annual potato export inauguration in Rangpur - the country\'s main potato growing region, a FAO press release said.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year, Bangladesh produced 11 million metric tonnes - making it the third largest producer in Asia, after China and India - of which it exported nearly 0.8 million tonnes. More than a third of potato exports went to Malaysia, a fourth went to Nepal and a fifth went to Sri Lanka.</div><div><br></div><div>Other countries that imported potatoes from Bangladesh included Myanmar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and Lebanon. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture are looking to start exports to Russia, Fiji and Viet Nam.</div><div><br></div><div>Potatoes are an important cash crop with the potential to transform the lives of those who produce them. For the last four years, potato producer organisations in Rangpur have been producing export-quality potatoes by employing \'good agricultural practices\' - a collection of principles for safe and healthy farming and processing - with training from FAO.</div><div><br></div><div>Rangpur produces a quarter of the nation\'s potatoes. One of the best performing districts for export-quality potato production was Thakurgaon Sadar. This year, potato growers are expecting a good harvest and they already have a contract with the Bangladesh Potato Exporters\' Association (BPEA).</div><div><br></div><div>Farmers started to grow a new potato variety called \'Sunshine\', intended specifically for export. It is quick-growing and achieves high yields.</div><div><br></div><div>The success of the export initiative is due to a partnership between the Sara Bangla Krishak Society (SBKS), a national network of farmers\' organizations, and FAO under its \'Missing Middle Initiative\' project.</div><div><br></div><div>Together, they worked with the Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), and BPEA.</div><div>The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), and BADC have been supporting potato producers to increase exports since 2019.</div><div><br></div><div>Robert D. Simpson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, who attended the event, stressed that potato production is part of an agricultural export strategy but that it is also important to invest in value addition.</div><div><br></div><div>\"FAO is working with the government to increase exports of key crops, including potatoes, as part of a long-term vision to transform the country\'s agriculture sector. With the right support, Bangladeshi potato producers are able to meet growing international demand in a competitive market. This is a successful model for other crops,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But we also need to consider other potato varieties and invest in processing - this will keep value addition in Bangladesh and meet growing national demand for potato-based products such as chips.\"</div><div><br></div><div>A business session was held at a potato farmer\'s field with participants from FAO, government, potato producer organizations, and farmers.</div><div><br></div><div>At a side event, farmers displayed local and improved varieties of potatoes. There was also a meeting with regional agricultural extension officers and research agencies.</div><div><br></div><div>Wahida Akter, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, was the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Speakers at a business discussion included Abdullah Sazzad, Chairman and Additional Secretary, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC); Badal Chandra Biswas, Director-General, DAE; Md Aftab Hossain, Additional Director, DAE, Rangpur; Salma Rahman,Managing Director, Agronomy Export-Import Ltd; Zakir Hossain, General-Secretary, Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association (BPEA); and Salma Akhter, potato grower, Dhantola Potato Producer Cooperative.</div><div><br></div><div>An important part of the export success has been the linkages made between farmers and exporters. FAO has facilitated this in the spirit of its Hand-in-Hand initiative which aims to accelerate the market-based transformation of agrifood systems through a robust partnership-building approach.</div><div><br></div><div>Secretary Wahida Akter praised the collaboration, saying that it was \'paying off\' in terms of competitive potato exports.</div><div><br></div><div>The MMI National Project Coordinator, Imanun Nabi Khan, said: \"We link farmers with exporters - this Matchmaking creates a win-win business relationship. Potato growers get a fair price and exporters take the opportunity to inspect quality and ensure transport from the farm to the port. This business model, based on FAO\'s Hand-in-Hand initiative, is effective and scalable,\" According to BSS reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 12:11:19', '2023-03-19 12:11:19'),
(5875, 5875, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">This year, the consumers will have to spend more money than usual in case of purchasing dates and other fruits—two essential items in iftar during Ramadan, due to importers\' difficulty in opening letters of credit (LCs) on time.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Price hike is a most common phenomenon ahead of the month of Ramadan in Bangladesh, and this year even more&nbsp; due to the LC opening crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>Already, the price of dates has doubled in the wholesale and retail markets and it will be dearer ahead of Ramadan, said some businessmen.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of all types of dates has increased in the markets ranging from Tk 40 to Tk 160 per kg while different fruits range from Tk 30 to Tk 100 per kg.</div><div><br></div><div>Some traders said the prices of these essential iftar items will increase further during the month of Ramadan as they are facing difficulties in opening LCs which will push up the prices of dates and fruits.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the sources at Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price of dates increased by 20% compared to the last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Milton, a shop owner in the Baridhara area, said “The price of dates went dearer in the past month ahead of Ramadan and I was able to purchase a limited amount of dates due to the soaring price of it. Last year, a cartoon, weighing 5 kg dates of Farida variety was being sold at Tk 750 to Tk 800 but now it is available at Tk 1500. Already it goes beyond the capacity of the consumers.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also feared that the price of dates would be increased further in the month of Ramadan.</div><div><br></div><div>Habibur Rahman, a fruit trader said the price of every fruit has increased.</div><div><br></div><div>During a recent visit at Gulshan kitchen market, this UNB correspondent found that one kg apple is being sold at Tk 250-350 which was Tk 180-260 last year and different varieties of orange are being sold at Tk 250-280.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, ajwa variety of dates is being sold at Tk 750-800 which was available at Tk 600-700 last year. Mariam variety of dates is being sold at Tk 800-850 while the premium variety of dates is being sold at Tk 1000-1200 per kg.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the statistics of Bangladesh Bank, the import of dates has fallen by almost half compared to the demands of it but during Ramadan the demand for dates is about 50,000 tonnes.</div><div><br></div><div>In the past three months, only 22,000 tonnes of dates were imported which is 46% less than the last year. However, the authorities concerned related to import dates have opened LC of 29,000 tonnes dates in January, said sources at Bangladesh Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Sirajul Islam, president of Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, said the demand for dates increases three to four times during the month of Ramadan. Besides, there is a demand of 50,000-70,000 dates in the country in a year while 40,000-50,000 is needed in Ramadan alone, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the opening of LC, Sirajul said “This year the traders faced difficulties in opening LCs in time as they had to open it by paying 100% cash margin while it was 5%. The small traders are the worst sufferers in opening LCs.”</div><div><br></div><div>The dates are being imported from the Middle East and Africa and dates were being stocked five-six months before the Ramadan, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that the price of dates may increase 30% in Ramadan due to the dollar crisis and transport cost caused by the fuel price hike.</div><div><br></div><div>If the government will take steps in unloading dates in ports on a priority basis, then there will be no instability in the market, said Sirajul.</div><div><br></div><div>Contacted, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, said “We’ll take necessary steps so that the consumers can purchase dates, the most essential items in iftar, at a tolerable price.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also assured of keeping monitoring the market to prevent volatile price hikes of dates.</div><div><br></div><div>Issuing a warning, the minister also said strict action will be taken against those involved in increasing the price of dates after creating an artificial crisis. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 13:54:04', '2023-03-19 13:54:04'),
(5876, 5876, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Commuters in Dhaka remained stuck for hours in unusual traffic jam on Sunday morning after light rain lashed the capital.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Commuters who usually use Abdullahpur-Khilkhet and Airport-Mohakhali roads are the worst sufferers.</div><div><br></div><div>Students and office-goers suffered immensely due to traffic chaos at several points in Dhaka, including Tongi, Uttara, Airport, Mohakhali, Bijoy Sarani and Bangla Motor areas. Vehicles were seen stranded for hours on these roads in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the rain, VVIP movement and construction work of a foot over bridge in front of Jamuna Future Park in the city caused the traffic gridlock, a senior traffic officer (north division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) told UNB preferring anonymity.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they are working to ease the traffic movement .</div><div><br></div><div>Shakawat Hossain Shipon, a private service holder, said he went out of his Gazipur residence to go to Noakhali in the early morning but could not reach Abdullahpur bus stand even after around two and a half hours.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“I don’t know when I will be able to reach home as vehicles remained stranded on the road for hours,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Like him, many commuters suffered immensely on gridlocked roads today. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 14:03:50', '2023-03-19 14:03:50'),
(5877, 5877, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Accusing the government of setting the old trap again to hold a stage-managed national election, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said no plot will work this time as people have woken up to establish their voting rights.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a discussion, he also alleged that Awami League cannot tolerate the dissidents as the party has a feudalistic characteristic.</div><div><br></div><div>“They (govt) are devising an evil plan to play games with the election and stage a farce so that they can get elected again. But the people of Bangladesh won’t fall into that trap anymore. You have been fooling people repeatedly, but you won’t succeed this time,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the programme titled “No Alternative to Holding Election under a Non-Partisan Neutral Government to Establish Democracy” at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said their party wants the caretaker government system not to go to power, but to restore people’s voting and other rights. “We want every people to exercise their right and cast their own vote for whoever they want and thus an elected parliament will be formed.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that the government has been deceiving people as they think the country’s people do not understand anything. “We’re coming out of this situation. We’re sacrificing lives. Already, we’ve sacrificed 17 lives while our several thousand leaders and activists have been arrested and jailed.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon people from all walks of life to wake up more to intensify the current movement and realise their rights and force the government to accept the demand for holding the next election under a caretaker government, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Mirza Fakhrul Islam observed. “We have a very short time in our hands as they (govt) are conspiring to put on a show in the name of election to dodge the global community, they’re now not obstructing us from holding meeting like before. This is their trick.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-19 15:22:46', '2023-03-19 15:22:46'),
(5878, 5878, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Iran says Saudi Arabia has invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for an official visit - just over a week since the countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The invitation is said to have come in a letter from King Salman, but has not yet been confirmed by the Saudis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Middle East\'s recent history has been dominated by hostility between the two nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China brokered the thaw, which could reshape the region\'s geopolitics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A senior Iranian official, Mohammad Jamshidi, tweeted about the invitation to visit the Saudi capital, Riyadh, saying Mr Raisi had welcomed it and \"stressed Iran\'s readiness to expand co-operation\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Separately, Iran\'s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told reporters that the two countries had agreed to hold a meeting at foreign minister level, and that three possible locations had been proposed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He did not name the locations, nor say when the meeting might take place.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BBC\'s Middle East Editor, Sebastian Usher, says the recent improvement in bilateral relations, which came unexpectedly following days of talks brokered by China, appears to be building serious momentum.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both have announced they will reopen embassies within two months and re-establish trade and security relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This development was cautiously welcomed by many, including the US and the United Nations, after previous attempts at reconciliation were unsuccessful.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saudi Arabia cut ties in January 2016 after demonstrators stormed its embassy in Tehran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That was after Riyadh had executed the prominent Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was convicted of terror-related offences.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since then, tensions between the Sunni- and Shia-led neighbours have often been high, with each regarding the other as a threatening power seeking regional dominance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They have been on opposing sides of several regional conflicts, including the civil wars in Syria and Yemen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Amir-Abdollahian also said that Iran hoped steps would be made to improve ties with Bahrain, a close Saudi ally that followed Riyadh in severing diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We hope that some obstacles between Iran and Bahrain will be removed and we will take basic steps to reopen the embassies,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bahrain has not responded to the comments, but earlier welcomed the Iran-Saudi agreement to restore diplomatic ties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran has also expressed a willingness to resume or improve relations with other regional Arab rivals, including Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 02:57:47', '2023-03-20 02:57:47'),
(5879, 5879, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chinese President Xi Jinping is embarking on his first trip to Russia since the country invaded Ukraine last year, and is set to sit down for talks with President Vladimir Putin.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our Russia editor Steve Rosenberg and China correspondent Stephen McDonell have been considering what each side seeks to gain from the talks, and what we know about the relationship between the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">You\'ve started a war that hasn\'t gone to plan; you\'re up to your eyeballs in sanctions; and now the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for war crimes with your name on it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It\'s at times like these you need a friend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Enter Xi Jinping.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Xi once called President Putin his \"best friend\". The two have much in common: they are both authoritarian leaders, and both embrace the idea of a \"multi-polar world\" devoid of US domination.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Moscow they\'re expected to sign an agreement on \"deepening the comprehensive partnership\" between their two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese president\'s state visit is a clear sign of support for Russia - and its president - at a time when the Kremlin is under intense international pressure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And Russia\'s relationship with China is fundamental to withstanding that.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Putin is building his own bloc. He doesn\'t trust the West anymore - and he never will again,\" believes journalist Dmitry Muratov, a former Nobel Peace Prize laureate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So, Putin\'s looking for allies and trying to make Russia part of a common fortress with China, as well as with India, some parts of Latin America and Africa. Putin is building his anti-Western world.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this \"anti-Western world\", Moscow is heavily reliant on Beijing - now more than ever, as the war rages in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"War has become the organising principle of Russian domestic politics, foreign policy and economic policy. There is an obsession with destroying Ukraine,\" concludes Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For that you need arms, money and an economic lifeline. China provides Russia with, at least, components for arms, and civilian technology that can be used for military purposes. It definitely provides money.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To counter Western sanctions, and to shore up the Russian economy, Russia has been boosting trade with China, primarily in the energy sector. Expect oil, gas and energy pipelines to be on the agenda at the Putin-Xi talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But, once again, imagine you\'re Putin. One year ago you and Xi proclaimed that your partnership has \"no limits\". If that\'s really the case, might you expect China now to help you out in Ukraine, by supplying Russia with lethal aid and facilitating a military victory for Moscow? The US claims that China is considering doing just that. Beijing denies it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As they say in Russia, \"there\'s no harm wishing for something\" - but it doesn\'t mean it\'s going to happen. If there\'s one thing the last year has shown it is that the \"no-limits partnership\" does have limits. Up to this point Beijing has apparently been reluctant to provide direct military assistance to Moscow, for fear of triggering secondary sanctions in the West against Chinese companies. As far as Beijing is concerned: sorry Russia… it\'s China first.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That very point was made very bluntly recently on a Russian state TV talk show.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Ahead of President Xi\'s visit to Moscow, some experts here have been overexcited, elated even,\" noted military pundit Mikhail Khodarenok.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But China can have only one ally: China itself. China can only have one set of interests: pro-Chinese ones. Chinese foreign policy is utterly devoid of altruism.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officially Xi Jinping\'s visit to Russia is to promote bilateral ties between two neighbours and certainly these governments say they are becoming ever closer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are agreements to be signed, meals to be had, photo opportunities to be staged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All governments have such visits, so why all the attention on this one?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Well, for one, this is the leader of one of the world\'s two great superpowers visiting an ally - who happens to be the person who has unleashed a bloody invasion of another country in Europe - in 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many analysts have pondered what China might do if it looks like Russia is facing a clear, humiliating defeat on the battlefield.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese government says it is neutral. Would it just step back and let that happen, or start pumping in weapons to give the Russian army a better edge?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After Xi arrives in Moscow, he and his Russian counterpart may speak about other things, but all the attention will be on the Ukraine crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His signals to Vladimir Putin can only go three ways:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">1. Time to consider pulling back with some face-saving compromise</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">2. Green light to keep going or even go in harder</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">3. Nothing either way from China\'s leader</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China is coming off the back of brokering a deal in which Iran and Saudi Arabia have re-established diplomatic relations. It is becoming ever more prepared to inject itself into matters way beyond its shores. This would seem to make option three unlikely.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With option one, if it involves Beijing again being able to claim the mantle of global peacemaker following the Iran-Saudi deal, this would be quite a neat feather in Xi\'s cap.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main problem with that option is the extent to which it would also benefit China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bleakest of options is number two, but there is a reading whereby Russia\'s war with Ukraine plays into Beijing\'s geopolitical strategy. The Kremlin is taking on the West, eating up Nato resources and, the longer the war goes on, the more it tests the appetite of the Western public for yet more conflict if the People\'s Liberation Army should move to take Taiwan by force.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The calculation from Beijing could be that, the longer the war continues, the fewer people are going to want to get involved in another one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese government\'s claim to neutrality also does not match the state-controlled news reporting here. The evening TV bulletins run the Kremlin line and devote a huge proportion of their coverage to blaming the \"the West\" for the \"conflict\". It doesn\'t speak about a \"war\" and would never dream of referring to an \"invasion\" of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Publicly, China says the sovereignty of all nations should be respected (ie Ukraine\'s), but so should the \"legitimate security concerns\" of other countries (ie Russia).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet it is not Kyiv where Xi Jinping is visiting. It\'s Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So, when Xi leaves Moscow in a few days, Putin will either be worried about wavering Chinese support or buoyed by the backing of one of the two most powerful people on the planet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The smart money seems to be on the latter. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 03:07:57', '2023-03-20 03:07:57'),
(5880, 5880, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">There is no scope to reduce the fare of hajj flights this year, said Managing Director of national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines Shafiul Azim on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have been working for the past three months over Hajj flight management of Biman. Our first proposal about fare was Tk 2.10 lakh. Later, it was reduced to Tk 1.98 lakh and the National Executive Committee fixed the fare. The reason behind the hike in hajj fare is increased tax, high dollar rate and jet fuel price. We don’t have hands in it,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CEO of the national carrier said this while speaking at a press briefing held at the Balaka office in Kurmitola.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Replying to a question, he said, “The hajj fare which was fixed for this year is the lowest and we have reduced it as much as possible.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year, the government has fixed the cost of performing hajj at Tk 6,83,018 for each pilgrim under the government management while Tk 6,72,618 under the private management. It fixed Tk 1,98,000 as Biman flight fare.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The High Court on March 14 questioned how common people will perform hajj at the cost of the package set by the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It questioned, “Why doesn\'t the government allocate budgets for the hajj like other countries in the world?”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with this observation while hearing a writ petition over revising the hajj package offered by the government this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ashraf-uz-Zaman sent a legal notice to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, requesting it to reduce the cost of hajj pilgrims and bring it under Tk 4 lakh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, he filed a writ on March 12 as the concerned authority failed to respond to the legal notice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hajj-2023 will be held on 9th day of Zilhaj (June 28) depending on moon sighting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As of March 15, a total of 9,569 people have registered for hajj under government management and another 91,246 people under private management.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are still 25,480 empty quotas for registration. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 03:17:10', '2023-03-20 03:17:10');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5881, 5881, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Banking giant UBS is buying troubled rival Credit Suisse for almost $3.25 billion, in a deal orchestrated by regulators in an effort to avoid further market-shaking turmoil in the global banking system.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Swiss authorities pushed for UBS to take over its smaller rival after a plan for Credit Suisse to borrow up to 50 billion francs ($54 billion) failed to reassure investors and the bank’s customers. Shares of Credit Suisse and other banks plunged this week after the failure of two banks in the U.S. sparked concerns about other potentially shaky institutions in the global financial system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse is among the 30 financial institutions known as globally systemically important banks, and authorities worried about the fallout if it were to fail.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deal was “one of great breadth for the stability of international finance,” said Swiss President Alain Berset as he announced it Sunday night. “An uncontrolled collapse of Credit Suisse would lead to incalculable consequences for the country and the international financial system.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Switzerland’s executive branch, a seven-member governing body that includes Berset, passed an emergency ordinance allowing the merger to go through without shareholder approval.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse Chairman Axel Lehmann called the sale “a clear turning point.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is a historic, sad and very challenging day for Credit Suisse, for Switzerland and for the global financial markets,” Lehmann said, adding that the focus is now on the future and in particular on the 50,000 Credit Suisse employees, 17,000 of whom are in Switzerland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following news of the Swiss deal, the world’s central banks announced coordinated financial moves to stabilize banks in the coming week. This includes daily access to a lending facility for banks looking to borrow U.S. dollars if they need them, a practice which widely used during the 2008 financial crisis. Three months after Lehman Brothers collapsed in September of 2008, such swap lines had been tapped for $580 billion. Added swap lines were also rolled out during market turmoil in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Today is one of the most significant days in European banking since 2008, with far-reaching repercussions for the industry,” said Max Georgiou, an analyst at Third Bridge. “These events could alter the course of not only European banking but also the wealth management industry more generally.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Colm Kelleher, the UBS chairman, hailed the “enormous opportunities” that emerge from the takeover, and highlighted his bank’s “conservative risk culture” — a subtle swipe at Credit Suisse’s reputation for more swashbuckling, aggressive gambles in search of bigger returns. He said the combined group would create a wealth manager with over $5 trillion in total invested assets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the council “regrets that the bank, which was once a model institution in Switzerland and part of our strong location, was able to get into this situation at all.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The combination of the two biggest and best-known Swiss banks, each with storied histories dating to the mid-19th century, amounts to a thunderclap for Switzerland’s reputation as a global financial center — leaving it on the cusp of having a single national champion in banking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deal follows the collapse of two large U.S. banks last week that spurred a frantic, broad response from the U.S. government to prevent any further panic. Still, global financial markets have been on edge since Credit Suisse’s share price began plummeting this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde lauded the “swift action” by Swiss officials, saying they were “instrumental for restoring orderly market conditions and ensuring financial stability.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the banks “are in a completely different position from 2008” during the financial crisis, partly because of stricter government regulation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UBS officials said they plan to sell off parts of Credit Suisse or reduce the bank’s size in the coming months and years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Swiss government is providing more than 100 billion francs in aid and financial backstops to make the deal go through.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the deal, approximately 16 billion francs ($17.3 billion) in Credit Suisse bonds will be wiped out. European bank regulators use a special type of bond designed to provide a capital cushion to banks in times of distress. But these bonds are designed to be wiped out if a bank’s capital falls below a certain level, which was triggered as part of this government-brokered deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Berset said the Federal Council had already been discussing a long-troubled situation at Credit Suisse since the beginning of the year and held urgent meetings in the last four days amid spiraling concerns about its financial health that caused major swoons in its stock price and raised the specter of the 2007-08 financial crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Investors and banking industry analysts were still digesting the deal, but at least one analyst was sour on the news because it could damage Switzerland’s global banking image.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A country-wide reputation with prudent financial management, sound regulatory oversight, and, frankly, for being somewhat dour and boring regarding investments, has been wiped away,” said Octavio Marenzi, CEO of consulting firm Opimas LLC, in an email.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credit Suisse is designated by the Financial Stability Board, an international body that monitors the global financial system, as one of the world’s important banks. This means regulators believe its uncontrolled failure would lead to ripples throughout the financial system not unlike the collapse of Lehman Brothers 15 years ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Credit Suisse parent bank is not part of European Union supervision, but it has entities in several European countries that are. Lagarde reiterated what she said last week after the central bank raised interest rates — that the European banking sector is resilient, with strong financial reserves and plenty of ready cash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many of Credit Suisse’s problems are unique and do not overlap with the weaknesses that brought down Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, whose failures led to a significant rescue effort by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Federal Reserve. As a result, their downfall does not necessarily signal the start of a financial crisis similar to what occurred in 2008.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deal caps a highly volatile week for Credit Suisse, most notably on Wednesday when its shares plunged to a record low after its largest investor, the Saudi National Bank, said it wouldn’t invest any more money into the bank to avoid tripping regulations that would kick in if its stake rose about 10%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday, shares dropped 8% to close at 1.86 francs ($2) on the Swiss exchange. The stock has seen a long downward slide: It traded at more than 80 francs in 2007.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Its current troubles began after Credit Suisse reported on Tuesday that managers had identified “material weaknesses” in the bank’s internal controls on financial reporting as of the end of last year. That fanned fears that Credit Suisse would be the next domino to fall.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While smaller than its Swiss rival UBS, Credit Suisse still wields considerable influence, with $1.4 trillion assets under management. The firm has significant trading desks around the world, caters to the rich and wealthy through its wealth management business, and is a major advisor for global companies in mergers and acquisitions. Notably, Credit Suisse did not need government assistance in 2008 during the financial crisis, while UBS did.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Swiss bank has been pushing to raise money from investors and roll out a new strategy to overcome an array of troubles, including bad bets on hedge funds, repeated shake-ups of its top management and a spying scandal involving UBS. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 03:22:31', '2023-03-20 03:22:31'),
(5882, 5882, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhallywood actor Shakib Khan went to the Detective Branch (DB) office of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Sunday eveing and filed a written complaint with DB against film producer Rahmat Ullah who brought a rape allegation against him.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DB’s additional commissioner Harun or Rashid assured that he would bring the fraudster under the law, Shakib said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“He listened to everything and saw all the evidence taking enough time. He also saw all the claims of that scammer,” said Shakib Khan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shakib said that he is very confident after hearing the DB chief’s words. “I believe DB will catch the criminal quickly as they solve other cases quickly and catch other criminals quickly”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I have filed a written complaint and he has taken my complaint”, said the Dhallywood actor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Wednesday (15 March), Rahmat Ullah, a producer, filed a written complaint against the actor in the Bangladesh Film Artists Association accusing him of sexual misconduct and raping an Australian woman, a co-producer of the film \"Operation Agneepath\". UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 03:46:34', '2023-03-20 03:46:34'),
(5883, 5883, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Senior Republicans Sunday echoed Donald Trump\'s claim that a looming indictment in a hush-money case would amount to political \"persecution,\" while Democrats warned his call for protests could trigger a repeat of chaos his supporters unleashed at the US Capitol.</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an explosive announcement Saturday, the former president said he expected to be arrested Tuesday in connection with a grand jury inquiry into a 2016 payment to a porn star, allegedly to keep her from revealing a past affair with Trump.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Sunday, he blasted the possible move as a \"witch hunt\" on his Truth Social platform, lashing out at the Manhattan prosecutor for \"using the power of his office to persecute, indict, and prosecute a former president of the United States of America -- for no crime!\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even potential Republican rivals in the still-evolving 2024 presidential race reacted sharply.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'m taken aback at the idea of indicting a former president of the United States at a time when there\'s a crime wave in New York City,\" Trump\'s former vice president Mike Pence said on ABC\'s \"This Week.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It just feels like a politically charged prosecution here,\" said Pence. \"I just feel like it\'s just not what the American people want to see.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Manhattan District Attorney\'s office has not confirmed any plans for an indictment, though multiple signs -- including the recent appearances before the grand jury of Trump\'s former fixer Michael Cohen and the porn star known as Stormy Daniels -- point to a quick conclusion.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump has denied any untoward involvement with Daniels. But law enforcement agencies are preparing for a possible indictment, with chaotic scenes outside the Manhattan Criminal Court a near-certainty if it does happen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Building \'sympathy\' for Trump? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The stunning possibility of a former president being arrested -- a historic first -- has fanned passions and injected considerable uncertainty into the 2024 campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a vocal supporter of the former president, called a possible indictment \"an effort that\'s ongoing, never-ending to destroy Donald Trump, everything around Donald Trump.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, an outspoken Trump critic and a potential rival for the 2024 nomination, suggested an indictment could generate a powerful backlash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think it\'s building a lot of sympathy for the former president,\" he told CNN\'s \"State of the Union.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It does drastically change the paradigm, as we go into the \'24 election,\" he said, adding of a possible indictment: \"It\'s going to be a circus.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trump\'s call on Truth Social for his backers to \"Protest! Protest! Protest!\" and \"Take our nation back!\" was seen by Democrats as a worrying echo of his language ahead of the January 6, 2021, rioting by his supporters at the US Capitol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pence, Sununu and other Republicans defended the right to protest any legal action against Trump, so long as people do so peacefully.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Pence\'s former chief of staff, Marc Short, told CNN that \"trying to encourage protests in the shadow of January 6th is reckless.\"&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Fear of \'violence\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Democrats said they feared Trump\'s call could provoke violence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nancy Pelosi, the former House of Representatives speaker, on Saturday called Trump\'s announcement \"reckless,\" saying he was trying to \"foment unrest among his supporters.\"&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Democrat Mark Kelly recalled being in the Senate chamber when the January 6 riots forced him and other lawmakers to seek shelter, and expressed concern that Trump urging protests could spark a repeat of life-threatening unrest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think it\'s going to be important for law enforcement to pay attention to protests and make sure it doesn\'t rise to the level of violence\" seen at the Capitol two years ago, Kelly said on CNN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Short suggested Trump might be drawing attention to the Manhattan case to plant the notion that other state and federal inquiries into his past actions, seen as legally more serious, are \"all politically based.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The current House speaker, Republican Kevin McCarthy, on Saturday said Trump\'s arrest would be \"an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA,\" adding he would direct congressional committees to investigate whether federal funds are \"being used to subvert our democracy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some saw that as a thinly veiled threat to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is leading the hush-money inquiry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As security agencies prepared for possible protests outside his courthouse, Bragg told staff Saturday in an internal message that intimidation or threats against them would not be tolerated, NBC reported. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 03:51:25', '2023-03-20 03:51:25'),
(5884, 5884, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">This year\'s Ramadan is still a couple of days away, but a segment of traders already appears eager to increase profit margins by raising the prices of different commodities.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government however claims to be on to them, and has taken various initiatives to keep the market stable during the holy month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed officials to increase surveillance across the country so that dishonest businessmen cannot make excessive profits. She particularly instructed the field-level administration to be on alert. The Commerce Ministry has said it will keep an eye on the traders so they cannot destabilize the market by creating any artificial crisis.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even detectives from the law enforcement agencies under the Home Ministry have been instructed to keep their eyes open so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create an artificial crisis in Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the past, it was noticed that traders increased the prices of goods several times before the start of market supervision ahead of Ramadan. Just before Ramadan, the demand for items like edible oil, sugar, pulses, chickpeas, spices, and so on increases. Traders take this opportunity and raise the prices of in-demand items. It is no different this time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Ramadan is a few days away. Like last year, I have bought sugar, pulses, and chickpeas at a much higher price. Every year the same thing happens. There is also an upswing in the vegetable market,” Wahid Fakir, a resident of Bhatara New Market, told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read: Dates, fruits to be more costly during Ramadan due to LC opening crisis</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices of sugar, oil, ginger, onion, and other essential goods have all increased in the last week. Vegetables, fish, and meat prices are also going up. Although there is also no shortage of edible oil in the market, daily essentials are selling at an increased price rate every week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This year we are already on alert from before. No one will be spared, if there is an artificial crisis in the market. We, the local administration, including the law enforcement agencies, and consumer rights protection directorate, will continue to monitor the market with mobile courts,” Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As preparation for Ramadan, I have had meetings with businessmen one to two months ago. That\'s when we asked them to increase imports. In particular, instructions have been given so that the banks open the LCs quickly for the import of food products,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The government has taken all kinds of necessary initiatives to keep the prices of goods under control during Ramadan. We have warned the traders about the preparations in advance this year. Controlling commodity prices was a challenging affair at this time of global crisis and rise in dollar rate,” he also said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Despite this, dollars have been provided for import of all food products commonly used in Ramadan. Besides, the ministry has requested the NBR to reduce the duty and VAT to reduce the prices of commodities like sugar and edible oil,” said the minister. “In addition, we are taking several other programmes to control the prices of goods during Ramadan. Apart from the family card allocated for 1 crore families, sugar and chickpeas will be sold in truck-sales in Dhaka and divisional cities. NBR has also extended the time for import of rice by three more months.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Hopefully, the prices of goods will be stable during Ramadan. The government\'s preparation in this regard is good enough,” added Tipu Munshi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about the role of law enforcement agencies in keeping the market stable during Ramadan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, \"The law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent the rise in the prices of goods.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Detectives have already been instructed to keep an eye so that unscrupulous syndicates do not create any artificial crisis around Ramadan and make the market unstable. Several strict steps have been taken, including conducting mobile courts, to control the prices of consumer goods by suppressing syndicates,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Various strategies are being formulated to prevent artificial crises in the market and to take action against those who stockpile goods. Along with the police, the law enforcement agencies and consumer rights department, including RAB, will be active in the field, the intelligence surveillance will also be increased,” he also said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain said, “If there is an abnormal situation in the market, we can enforce the law. Every deputy commissioner has been told about this. They will monitor it very strictly. We will also monitor from here.” UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 05:04:53', '2023-03-20 05:04:53'),
(5885, 5885, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning (March 20, 2023).</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 133 at 9 am, Dhaka ranked 15 in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered \'unhealthy\', particularly for sensitive groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iraq’s Baghdad, Pakistan\'s Lahore and South Korea\'s Incheon occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 259, 257 and 194, respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 05:44:21', '2023-03-20 05:44:21'),
(5886, 5886, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Barcelona snatched a 2-1 Clasico win over Real Madrid with Franck Kessie\'s late goal Sunday to move 12 points clear at the top of La Liga.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victory dents Madrid\'s ambitions of retaining the title and leaves the Catalans close to lifting the trophy for the first time since 2019.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Carlo Ancelotti\'s Real took the lead through a Ronald Araujo own goal but Barcelona pulled level when Sergi Roberto tucked home just before half-time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides had chances to win the game and Marco Asensio struck for Madrid, but the goal was ruled offside by VAR, before Alejandro Balde set up Kessie in the 92nd minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We came from a Marco Asensio goal that we didn\'t know was offside and from losing, we scored Franck\'s goal, and the truth is it tastes a bit better, winning like that in the last minute,\" Sergi Roberto told Movistar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There are a lot of games left and you can never give Madrid up for dead. 12 points is a tricky distance to have to go, but it\'s up to us, and that is good.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The build-up to the match was overshadowed by Barcelona\'s corruption charge in the \"Caso Negreira\" refereeing scandal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid joined Spanish prosecutors\' complaint against Barcelona last week and their president Florentino Perez snubbed the game for the first time in over 20 years, amid rising tensions between the two Spanish giants.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That fed the match\'s intensity, both on and off the pitch, in Xavi\'s sixth Clasico as Barcelona coach but only his first at Camp Nou.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xavi asked fans to make the stadium a pressure cooker and they responded, selling it out, whistling Madrid in possession and conjuring one of the best atmospheres of the season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid did not manage a single shot on target in their Copa del Rey semi-final first leg defeat by Barcelona earlier in March, but Karim Benzema stung Marc-Andre ter Stegen\'s palms inside the first minute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Robert Lewandowski responded at the other end by testing Thibaut Courtois as the veteran marksmen exchanged shots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Barcelona conceded the opening goal of the game, it was friendly fire. Araujo deflected Vinicius\' cross in at the near post, with Ter Stegen helpless.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Araujo, playing at right-back to counteract the Brazilian, has enjoyed his duels with Vinicius in the past but this time the winger triumphed, albeit fortuitously. Barcelona supporters became enraged by his emphatic celebration in front of them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was the first goal from open play Barcelona have conceded at Camp Nou in La Liga all season long, and only the second strike at home and ninth overall.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Comeback charge -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barcelona complained defender Nacho, already booked, should have been sent off for a hand-off on Raphinha.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The hosts did not get their wish, but were building up steam and found the breakthrough just before half-time, from an unlikely source.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Selected in place of injured midfielder Pedri, Sergi Roberto was in the right place at the right time to control a loose ball in the box and arc it beyond Courtois.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barcelona had significantly more possession than in their cup win over Madrid and significantly more chances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lewandowski sent a deflected piledriver narrowly wide as Madrid wobbled, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to roll the dice and bring on Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It almost paid instant dividends as Madrid robbed Sergio Busquets and Rodrygo lashed inches over the bar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid substitute Asensio fired home what might have been the winner but the goal was ruled out for offside after a nervy wait for VAR instruction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barcelona seemed content with the draw but Kessie\'s last-gasp strike sparked wild celebrations at Camp Nou.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked if Madrid\'s hopes of defending the title were over, Courtois told Movistar: \"Yes, we have to be honest, we will keep fighting until the end but it\'s (12 points) now, we have the better head-to-head, but they have to lose four games and we have to win them all.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Nothing is impossible but it\'s very difficult.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 06:01:24', '2023-03-20 06:01:24'),
(5887, 5887, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Railways Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan has said all rail tickets will be brought under online system as he distributed 274 laptops among primary students in Debiganj and Boda upazila of the district.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Hundred percent rail tickets will be brought under online system,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister handed over 158 laptops among Boda upazila primary students and 116 Laptops in Debiganj upazila primary students in separate functions on Sunday evening.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Debiganj, the function was held at upazila parishad hall room arranged by upazila administration and upazila education office under fourth primary education development project (PEDP-4).&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said now everything is coming under online system. Students will have to be taught about using technology at school level, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning that about 50 percent rail ticket came under online system, he said the hundred percent rail tickets will be brought under online.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO) Md. Golam Ferdous presided over the function as Education Officer Md. Samshul Alam, Upazila Awami League President Gias Uddin Chowdhury and General Secretary Hasnat Zaman Chowdhury Jarje, among others, were present. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 06:21:00', '2023-03-20 06:21:00'),
(5888, 5888, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has proposed that the developed countries should contribute 10 per cent of their defence budget to the climate fund to help the vulnerable countries.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We want to save this planet earth. Because this is the only earth we have. In order to save this planet earth, the development partners agreed to provide us additional funding. Unfortunately, not a single penny till today has been given. Therefore, I have a proposal that the countries that spend any money for defence, they should allocate 10 per cent of their defence expenditure for the climate fund,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister made the proposal through a video message at a seminar which was organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) marking its 25th founding anniversary celebrations at the the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He mentioned that Nearly US$ 2.30 trillion is being spent by these countries as defence expenditure, he said adding that by providing 10 per cent of this budget the negative impact of climate change on the vulnerable countries can be mitigated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister said LDC graduation is a success story – so, the graduates should be rewarded, not punished.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are graduating. Since we are graduating, this is a success story. So, the graduation should be rewarded, not punished. We should have a soul-searching to make the process of graduation smooth. I am thankful to UN Secretary General as he said graduation must not be punished but rewarded,” Momen mentioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Graduation must be a reward, never a punishment,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres at Leaders’ Summit of Least Developed Countries in Doha recently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Now it is time for us, and you journalists, how we can create a global financial regime as well as trade regime so that LDCs could graduate and they (those LDCs who are graduating) have a smooth transition,” Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister also said: \"We know that unless there is peace and stability in a country, it is very difficult for that country to prosper. Look at the countries that did very well. Take the example of a small country like Singapore. It had the same government for over 56 years. Rwanda has had the same government over the last 26 years.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But also look at the countries where there is no regional peace – for example, Syria, Libya, and Yemen. So, whenever there is no regional peace and stability, there is no internal peace and stability. Only those countries do well where there is peace and stability.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that over the last 14 years, Bangladesh has had a very stable government. \"No wonder Bangladesh did very well. And if there is any problem, we would like to resolve that problem through dialogue and discussion. And our examples are very bright to have resolved most of our problems with the neighbours through dialogue and discussion peacefully.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He hoped that journalists will try to promote these issues globally and raise public awareness for the decision makers to come up with constructive ideas and approaches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Foreign Minister thanked the DCAB members for questioning them and by promoting the government’s issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Whenever anything goes wrong, they pick it up and in the process we rectify ourselves,” he said, adding that the DCAB members have been helping them a lot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While speaking as the chief guest at the seminar, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said journalists must play a responsible role when it comes to covering sensitive issues concerning national interests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You will find a whole lot of issues in 365 days of the year. Of them, there will be some very significant and highly sensitive communications. … You will have to decide if those should get published,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alam said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps its door open for reaching out on any issue. “A good initiative’s success depends on the timing of its opening up.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said there is nothing as such personal interest in diplomacy and Bangladesh will continue to follow its policy - \"Friendship to all, malice towards none.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It’s a journey that we are undertaking together and we hopefully continue this trend,\" Alam said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The State Minister highlighted the lack of analytical and research-based articles on various foreign affairs including issues on Asia, Europe, Middle East and geopolitics in the media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, former ambassador M Humayun Kabir, Bhorer Kagoj Editor and Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Shyamal Dutta, Dhaka University International Relations Department Chair Lailufar Yasmin, DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary Emrul Kayesh also spoke at the seminar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DCAB members Sheikh Shahriar Zaman and Mir Mostafizur Rahaman presented a paper on the role of journalists in diplomacy, while DCAB former presidents Raheed Ejaz and Pantho Rahaman moderated the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said diplomats put the national interest as their top priority when handling sensitive issues in diplomacy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the media also need to uphold the national interests while covering those issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Ambassador M Humayun Kabir said there is no scope for journalists to think that the common people don\'t understand much about what is happening around the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The internet has given them access to these delicate matters. So, journalists need to study more as their credibility will be at stake, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his keynote paper, Mir Mostafizur Rahaman said, in critical foreign policy issues like Bangladesh’s bilateral ties with its neighbours and important countries, local media played the role of both the information provider and opinion builder.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three founding members of the DCAB – Shyamal Dutta, Anis Alamgir and Mostafa Kamal – were honoured at the event. DCAB began its journey on March 16 in 1998. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 06:26:38', '2023-03-20 06:26:38'),
(5889, 5889, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today put emphasis on formulating new long term export policy, considering graduation to a developing country from LDC after 2026.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“After 2026, while we will graduate to a developing country from LDC, we will get some opportunities… We have to utilise those opportunities to make our economy stronger and develop the country further,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while speaking at the 11th meeting of the National Committee on Export, at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that after graduating to a developing nation, the next aim will be to become a developed one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina also asked the concerned to utilise opportunities regarding enhancing Bangladesh’s export items that have emerged due to Russia-Ukraine war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that due to Russia-Ukraine was, there is an opportunity for Bangladesh to create new markets with its own products.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, she said that many countries have already shown interest to import food items from Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We could export food items after fulfilling local demands. We can take initiatives for that,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that immense opportunities could be created through establishing food processing industries in the country and export those items.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that the government has given importance to the export sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“After assuming office, we have taken steps to formulate long term export policies instead of policies on one-year basis. To sustain achievements, there is no alternative to long term strategy,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the government has formulated export policy until 2024 (2021-2024).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“…But what will we do after that? In the meantime, we are graduating to a developing country. I think this is the right time to consider what we will do in the coming days or how we will advance,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She put emphasis on setting the next moves for economy, keeping in mind the current economic turmoil across the globe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have to find new markets across the globe. We have to diversify our products, we have to include new items in our export basket,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that the Awami League government has given utmost importance to the private sector and it opened every sector to entrepreneurs as it is not possible for the government alone to develop the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the development of the export sector, she said, a strategy needs to be adopted and products have to be identified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For that we have formulated a prospective plan – to turn the country into a developed one by 2041,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM also mentioned ICT and digital devices, RMG, pharmaceuticals, light and medium weight industries, motor vehicles and electronic motor vehicles, while talking about diversifying products.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the government is preparing 100 economic zones with investment from home and abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has been able to attract foreign investments,” PM Hasina said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-03-20 06:39:58', '2023-03-20 06:39:58');
