INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10615, 10615, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Election Commission (EC) has approved 20,773 local election observers to oversee the election across the country in the next parliamentary election slated for January 7.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Of them, 517 observers got approval centrally while 20,256 in field level, said Shariful Alam, director (Public Relation) of the EC, on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC gave the approval according to the relevant law, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The central election observers can collect their identity cards and stickers for vehicles from the EC Secretariat while others have to collect cards and stickers from the offices of the returning officers, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A committee will be formed with the returning officers and assistant returning officers, and they will provide the cards and stickers after proper examination following guidelines, said the PR director.</div><div><br></div><div>An election observer from approved organisations should submit their attested copies of the SSC or its equivalent examinations, one passport size and another stamp size photo and an application form to the returning officers and the assistant returning officers.</div><div><br></div><div>After scrutiny, the returning officers and the assistant returning officers will make a list of valid observers as per the guideline and provide identity cards and stickers, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>No one will be allowed to handover it to others and if any observer is found involved in any political party or is appointed as a polling agent by the local election agents or campaign committees, then no card can be issued by appointing him as an observer, said Shariful.</div><div><br></div><div>No one other than an authorised observer can travel in a vehicle with a sticker reading \'Election Commission Observer’, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 14:33:44', '2023-12-28 14:33:44'),
(10616, 10616, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four people were dead and at least eight were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a laguna on the Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram highway in Chakaria upazila of Cox\'s Bazar this morning.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The accident took place at Kalabagan area of Harbang union under Chakaria around 8:45 am, said Chiringa Highway Police Station In-charge, Sub-inspector Khokon Kanti Rodra.</div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Riduan, Abu Bakar, Joynal Abedin and Mohiuddin. The deceased are all from different areas under Harbang union.</div><div><br></div><div>The identities of the injured could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>SI Khokon Rodra said that a bus of Zakir Travel, which came to Cox\'s Bazar with picnic-goers, collided head-on with a Chattogram-bound laguna on the Cox’s Bazar-Chattogram highway. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies, according to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>The highway police seized the vehicles involved in the collision.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The bodies were handed over to the families, and the vehicles were taken into the custody of the highway police station, said SI Khokon.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:00:51', '2023-12-28 15:00:51'),
(10617, 10617, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks surged to 21,320 since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the enclave said Thursday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said that 55,603 other people had been injured in the Israeli onslaught.</div><div><br></div><div>“At least 210 people were killed and 360 others injured in the last 24 hours,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The spokesman said that 312 medics were killed and 104 ambulances destroyed in Israeli attacks, while 23 hospitals and 142 health care centers were forced out of service.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, leaving it in ruins, with half of the coastal territory\'s housing damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million people displaced within the densely populated enclave amid acute shortages of food and clean water, reports&nbsp;</div><div>Anadolu Agency.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, around 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:14:51', '2023-12-28 15:14:51'),
(10618, 10618, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US House Republicans escalated their impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden on Wednesday, demanding the White House hand over documents related to the deposition of his son, Hunter.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>James Comer and Jim Jordan, the chairs of the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees, sent a letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel demanding the White House submit \"all documents and communications sent or received by employees of the Executive Office of the President regarding the deposition of Hunter Biden.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Republican chairmen said they are seeking to determine whether the president worked to \"influence, obstruct or impede\" their committees\' proceedings.</div><div><br></div><div>“In light of an official statement from the White House that President Biden was aware in advance that his son, Hunter Biden, would knowingly defy two congressional subpoenas, we are compelled to examine as part of our impeachment inquiry whether the President engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct a proceeding of Congress,\" they wrote in a joint statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The lawmakers referred to comments from White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre during a Dec. 13 press briefing in which she said the president \"was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The junior Biden had shown up to Congress that day after being subpoenaed for a closed-door deposition but insisted that any testimony he give before Congress be public in defiance of the lawmakers.</div><div><br></div><div>Hunter Biden said during a press conference on the Capitol grounds that he would testify publicly but did not want to do so behind closed doors out of concern that his words would be manipulated by Republicans. In response, Republicans said they would look into contempt proceedings.</div><div><br></div><div>Later that day, the House formally voted to authorize an impeachment inquiry into the president.</div><div><br></div><div>The party-line 221-212 vote saw all of the chamber\'s Republicans line up in support of the investigation, despite a lack of evidence that Biden has crossed a critical impeachment threshold, namely committing what the Constitution describes as \"high crimes and misdemeanors\" while in office. All Democrats were opposed.</div><div><br></div><div>But it is not at all clear into what matters the impeachment inquiry will delve. A roughly year-long investigation into the Biden family\'s business dealings has so far failed to produce solid evidence of wrongdoing. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:16:40', '2023-12-28 15:16:40'),
(10619, 10619, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Türkiye \"neutralized\" 59 PKK terrorists as part of anti-terror operations since Dec. 22, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking to local officials in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said: \"If terrorism has come to the point of ending within our borders today, the operations we carry out in Iraq and Syria are the key reason for this.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our red line is to uphold the principle of one nation, one flag, one homeland, one state under all circumstances, as this guarantees our national survival,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Türkiye will resolutely continue the anti-terror operations until the last terrorist is no longer a threat to the nation, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We continue our operations beyond our borders. We do not allow terrorists to tarnish our homeland with their dirty feet,\" Erdogan added.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish intelligence is conducting highly successful operations against terrorist infrastructure and ringleaders in northern Syria, said Erdogan.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of critical 70 facilities, including oil refineries, belonging to the PKK terror group were destroyed, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Wherever there are such sources for them, we will destroy these sources, and we are destroying them. Along with all these, terrorists are also being eliminated,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Türkiye has built hundreds of kilometers of roads in northern Iraq for permanent base areas in the past years, said Erdogan, adding that conditions make it difficult to progress at the speed that is desired.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Hopefully, we will complete the infrastructures of our new base areas by the spring, and we will make terrorists unable to set foot there again.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish authorities use the term \"neutralize\" to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.</div><div><br></div><div>The recent anti-terror operations followed Friday\'s PKK terror attack that killed 12 Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq. Turkish airstrikes, since then, have destroyed dozens of terror targets in northern Iraq and Syria and “neutralized” senior terrorists.</div><div><br></div><div>PKK terrorists often hide out in northern Iraq to plot cross-border attacks in Türkiye. It also has a Syrian branch, known as the YPG.</div><div><br></div><div>Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).</div><div><br></div><div>In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is PKK’s Syrian offshoot. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:22:14', '2023-12-28 15:22:14'),
(10620, 10620, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Gaza Strip is grappling with catastrophic hunger amid ongoing Israeli attacks, the UN Palestinian refugee agency said Thursday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\'\"Every day is a struggle for survival, finding food and finding water,” Thomas White, director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>White warned that “40% of the population are now at risk of famine.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The reality is, we need more aid. The only remaining hope is a humanitarian cease-fire,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 21,110 Palestinians have since been killed and 55,243 others injured, according to local health authorities, while nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave\'s infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million people displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicines. According to Anadolu Agency reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:25:24', '2023-12-28 15:25:24'),
(10621, 10621, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The leader of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) arrived today in Ethiopia on the second stop of his first trip abroad since war erupted with Sudan’s army in April.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Mohamed Hamdan Daglo’s visits to Ethiopia and Uganda come as regional diplomats scramble to broker a meeting between the RSF commander and his rival, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.</div><div><br></div><div>The warring generals have not met face-to-face since the outbreak of fighting between their forces that has killed over 12,000 people by some conservative estimates, and forced millions to flee.</div><div><br></div><div>The RSF leader met in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed, who said the pair discussed “securing peace and stability” in Sudan.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement on X, Daglo said they “discussed the need to bring a swift end to this war, the historical crisis in Sudan, and how to best alleviate the hardships of the Sudanese people”.</div><div><br></div><div>It followed another high-level meeting in Uganda yesterday when Daglo met with President Yoweri Museveni.</div><div><br></div><div>Daglo is also expected to visit Kenya in coming days, a source close to the RSF told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“After having visited Uganda and Ethiopia, Hemeti will go to Nairobi in order to try to rally the member states of Igad to his cause before going to Djibouti to meet general al-Burhan,” the source said, referring to Daglo by another commonly used name.</div><div><br></div><div>Igad, a bloc representing eight countries in the wider East Africa region, has been trying to bring al-Burhan and Daglo together since war erupted on April 15.</div><div><br></div><div>Yesterday, Djibouti’s foreign ministry said a meeting between the rivals planned for Dec 28 had been “postponed to early January 2024 for technical reasons”.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN Security Council last week voiced “alarm” at the growing violence in Sudan and the spread of fighting to areas previous considered a haven for those displaced by the conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>By the end of November, at least 12,190 people had been killed in the fighting, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict and Location Event Data project.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations says more than seven million people have been internally displaced by the war, while another 1.5 million have fled into neighbouring countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides have been accused of war crimes. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:30:59', '2023-12-28 15:30:59'),
(10622, 10622, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#085294\">Around 180 foreign observers from 35 countries have applied to the Election Commission to observe the next national election scheduled for January 7, 2024.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday, Spokesperson Seheli Sabrin said their applications are being scrutinized.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, around 30 officials from various countries will come and observe the polls, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sabrin said journalists from international media outlets have also applied to the Election Commission to cover the polls.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Election Commission is scrutinising through their due process. Once the process is done, their accreditation process will start,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of the journalists have been informed through email that they can apply for visa now, Sabrin said.</div><div><br></div><div>The MoFA Spokesperson said a media cell is also working to that end.</div><div><br></div><div>She said issues related to budget for managing the international observers are under consideration.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said they want to see a \"free, fair, non-violent and transparent\" election and achieve the goal to build a \"Smart Bangladesh\" ensuring peace and stability, according to unb reports</div><div><br></div><div>\"We want all from the entire world to come and see, and learn from us,\" he said on December 27, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 15:53:52', '2023-12-28 15:53:52'),
(10623, 10623, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Thursday placed 11 people including president of Dhaka University Chhatra Dal on a four-day remand in a case filed under Special Power Act.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Tahmina Haque passed the order when DB inspector and also the investigating officer of the case produced them with a seven-day remand prayer for each.</div><div><br></div><div>Those who remanded were identified as Mehedi Hasan Palash, joint convener of Krishak Dal, Bahauddin Nobel, Jakir Hossain, Khandaker Nazrul Islam, Sumon, Rakibul Islam, Nurul Amin Payel, Kaikobad Hossain Kabir, Liton Hossain and Jahangir Alam.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrested them from different parts of the capital on charges of attempting to foil the election on December 27.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 50,000 leaflets, bomb making materials, explosive substances, 15 crude bombs and five ‘chocolate’ bombs were recovered from their possession.</div><div><br></div><div>KM Mahbubul Alam, inspector of New Market Police Station filed the case under Special Power Act. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-28 16:15:52', '2023-12-28 16:15:52'),
(10624, 10624, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The southern riverine district of Barishal has been in a festive mood marking the visit of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her first to the area in five years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina, the president of ruling Awami League, is visting Barishal as part of her campaign tour ahead of January 7 general election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of AL leaders, including party\'s candidates and actvists, shouted slogans in favour of its election symbol, boat, as the party chief arrived here in the morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina will address an election rally at the historic Bangabandhu Udyan in the divisional headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Decorated with banners, posters and flags the city welcomed the PM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although the premier was scheduled to join the rally at 3.00pm, hundreds of thousands of people thronged packed into the rally ground since early morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Within a few hours the ground filled to the brim as a good number of people were seen taking position around the ground overnight to secure their places.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crowd then spilled over the surrounding areas, roads and empty places long before she was to take the stage made after the shape of a boat.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since early morning, a stream of people, including women, were seen marching towards the venue chanting slogans “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu” and holding colourful placards, banners and festoons. Many of them wearing colourful T-shirts, cap on heads, head bands with drums, election symbol boat as well as national and party flags.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Women in large and small groups waited in queues outside the entrance to the venue with smiling faces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Leaders and followers of Awami League and its associates bodies from different districts of Barishal division as well as adjoining districts joined the rally with a fleet of boats, reserve buses, pickups, motorcycles while many were seen joining the rally on foot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the prime minister started at 9am by road from her official residence Dhaka for Barishal to join the rally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From Barishal, the premier will go to Tungipara, her birth place.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday she has schedule to address two rallies in Tungipara and Kotalipara, and then on her way back to Dhaka she will address another rally at Kalkini in Madaripur. 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, '2023-12-29 08:33:44', '2023-12-29 08:33:44'),
(10625, 10625, '<div><b><font color=\"#3984c6\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A total of 1,432 workers were killed in Bangladesh due to different occupational accidents in 2023, said a local development organization.</span><br></font></b></div><div><br></div><div>The organization called Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment Foundation (OSHE) revealed the statistics at a press conference in Dhaka on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the total, the highest number of causalities was in the transport sector with 637 deaths, followed by the day labourers\' sector at 220, the construction sector at 149, the agricultural sector at 146, and the manufacturing sector at 94, according to the OSHE report.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, 502 others were seriously injured in workplace incidents in 2023, compared to 228 last year, added the report.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the OSHE statistics, the institutional sector witnessed 329 deaths and 277 injuries in 2023, whereas the informal sector reported 1,103 deaths and 225 injuries.</div><div><br></div><div>It said the deaths of workers at workplaces increased in 2023 compared to the previous year, as 967 workers were killed in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The organization said it identified various causes for these workplace casualties, including road accidents, electrocution, fires, building collapses, lightning strikes, gas cylinder explosions, violence, and physical abuse of domestic workers.</div><div><br></div><div>The data from OSHE also shows that at least 9,263 people have been killed at workplaces from 2013 to Dec. 28 this year, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, OSHE officials said they prepared the report based on information gathered from local and national newspapers, online and television sources, spot reports by volunteers, and networks formed by trade unions and organization staff members.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 08:29:20', '2023-12-30 08:29:20'),
(10626, 10626, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A strong and shallow undersea earthquake shook part of Indonesia’s Aceh province on Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 5.9 earthquake was centered 362 kilometers (225 miles) east of Sinabang, a coastal town in Aceh province at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency said there was no danger of a tsunami but warned of possible aftershocks. The agency put a preliminary magnitude at 6.3. Variations in early measurements of quakes are common.</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 270 million people, is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.</div><div><br></div><div>A magnitude 5.6 earthquake on Nov. 21 killed at least 331 people and injured nearly 600 in West Java’s Cianjur city. It was the deadliest in Indonesia since a 2018 quake and tsunami in Sulawesi killed about 4,340 people.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2004, an extremely powerful Indian Ocean quake set off a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them in Indonesia’s Aceh province. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 08:32:57', '2023-12-30 08:32:57'),
(10627, 10627, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the people to give a befitting reply to the conspiracies by casting votes in January 7 parliamentary election in a peaceful manner</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I want this election to be held in a very peaceful manner. Through the January-7 polls, we’ll give a befitted reply to conspiracies against the election so that none can play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of Bangladesh anymore,” said the prime minister.</div><div><br></div><div>She was addressing a grand election rally at Govt Sheikh Mujibur Rahman College Field in Tungipara Upazila under Gopalganj district.</div><div><br></div><div>She said many conspiracies continue and many ones from international level are also engaged in these conspiracies so that elections won’t be held in the country as they want to bring the third party here in power.</div><div><br></div><div>“What can the third party do? They can’t do any development of the country. You had seen what they did in 2007,” said Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that Israel carries out bombing attacks on even hospitals in Palestine, She said Tarique Zia is doing exactly the same thing by giving orders from London to launch attacks on ambulances, journalists and police here in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>She said this type of criminal act won’t be accepted in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“If Allah wants and we can come (to power) winning the next election, it won’t be allowed that he gives orders to harm and kill the people of our country, staying in London. If necessary, he would be brought from there (to the country) and given punishment,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Seeking the votes for the AL\'s ‘boat’ symbol in the election, the AL president urged the voters to turn up in the polling stations and cast votes in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>“You, come to the polling stations and cast votes in the morning to show the world that we know how to hold the election in free, fair and neutral manners. We can do it. We can change the fate of the people of Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>On arrival of Hasina along with her younger sister Sheikh Rehana at the venue, the supporters welcomed them, waving the national flags.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu’s two daughters – Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana-- also responded to them, waving the national flag from the stage.</div><div><br></div><div>AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Sheikh Kabir Hossain, noted actress Yeasmin Jahan Tareen (commonly known as Tareen) and actor Mir Sabbir also spoke at the campaign rally presided over by Tungipara Upazila AL President Sheikh Abul Bashar Khair.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Abu Naser’s family members --Sheikh Helal Uddin MP (Bagerhat-1), his wife Rupa Chowdhury, Sheikh Salauddin Jewel MP (Khulna-2), his wife Shahana Yasmin Shampa and Sheikh Jalaluddin Rubel, and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim’s son and also Jubo League joint general secretary Sheikh Fazle Naeem were introduced before the participants of the grand rally conducted by Tungipara upazila AL general secretary Md Babul Sheikh. ‍Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 08:50:37', '2023-12-30 08:50:37'),
(10628, 10628, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday he was \"very concerned\" about the growing threat of infectious diseases in the Gaza Strip.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"As people continue to be massively displaced across the south of Gaza, with some families forced to move multiple times and many sheltering in overcrowded health facilities, my WHO colleagues and I remain very concerned about the increasing threat of infectious diseases,\" Tedros said on X, formerly Twitter.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas -- considered a \"terrorist\" group by the United States and European Union --- in retaliation for the October 7 attack which left about 1,140 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 250 hostages were also taken during the attack, more than half of whom remain captive.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Tedros said that since mid-October until mid-December, people living in shelters had continued to fall sick.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that close to 180,000 people were suffering with upper respiratory infections, while 136,400 cases of diarrhoea have been recorded -- half of those among children aged under five.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN health agency chief said there had been 55,400 cases of lice and scabies; 5,330 cases of chickenpox; and 42,700 cases of skin rash, including 4722 cases of impetigo, reports AFP</div><div><br></div><div>\"WHO and partners are working tirelessly to support the health authorities to increase disease surveillance and control by supplying medicines, testing kits to support prompt detection and response to infectious diseases such as hepatitis, and trying to improve access to safe water, food, hygiene and sanitation services,\" added Tedros.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 08:58:20', '2023-12-30 08:58:20'),
(10629, 10629, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>All candidates of the upcoming national election are equal to police and there is no partiality from them, said Deputy Inspector General (Operation) of Police Md Anwar on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“To police all candidates are equal and directives are given so that all candidates get equal treatment in electioneering,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the police headquarters.</div><div><br></div><div>During the election, 1.89 lakh police members will perform their duties across the country, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, police will also perform duties with mobile teams, striking teams and the magistrates, said DIG Anwar, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Drive against illegal arms is going on and action is being taken instantly if found any information of clashes. Cases are being filed and police are also arresting those involved in the violence,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The main task of police is to maintain the situation suitable for electionand some policemen were transferred and withdrawn as per the directives of the Election Commission (EC), he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 09:13:37', '2023-12-30 09:13:37'),
(10630, 10630, '<div><b><font color=\"#085294\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Instead of giving any harsher programme on the occasion of 31st Night and the English New Year celebration, BNP on Saturday further extended the ongoing mass contact and leaflet distribution programme for two more days until Monday.</span><br></font></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the fresh programme which is meant to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call to boycott the Januray-7 election and not cooperating with the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Our mass contact and leaflet distribution programme is going on across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day of the year and the next day is the first day of the New Year….usually many people celebrate these two days in different ways,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the people in Bangladesh are not in a situation to celebrate the days in a joyous mood, he said the BNP decided to extend the mass contact and leaflet distribution programme for those by two days considering the interests of people, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said their party’s like-minded opposition parties will also observe a similar programme.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“The situation in Bangladesh is different... there is no joy in people\'s minds as they are living in panic in the country,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi recalled that the Awami League usurped power through unprecedented rigging and night-time ballot stuffing on this day on December 30, 2018. “We condemn it and express our hatred towards them.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on Thursday, the party extended the ongoing mass contact and leaflet distribution programme until Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>On December 24, the party announced a three-day mass contact and leaflet distribution programme beginning on December 26.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s movement lost its momentum following clashes with law enforcers centring the party’s grand rally on October 28 as many senior leaders, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>However, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days in four spells since October 29.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, the opposition party came up with the call for a non-cooperation movement on December 20. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 11:07:59', '2023-12-30 11:07:59'),
(10631, 10631, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Saudi Arabia has ranked first in providing work opportunities to Sri Lankan expats in 2023, as more than 63,000 of them found employment in the Kingdom.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Every year, more than 200,000 migrant workers leave Sri Lanka to work abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>They are a main source of foreign exchange for the country, which since last year was gripped by its worst ever financial crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>P.M. Amza, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, estimated that in 2023 remittances amounted to over $7 billion, of which a significant portion was contributed by expat workers in the Kingdom.</div><div><br></div><div>“During the year 2023, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become the number one country, generating 63,000 employment (opportunities) for Sri Lankans,” he told Arab News on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Of the annual remittances amounting to $7-8 billion a year, a sizable portion has been generated from the Kingdom, which is in the region of 15 to 20 percent of the total remittances.”</div><div><br></div><div>Gulf Cooperation Council countries are a preferred choice for Sri Lankan workers, with Saudi Arabia being their key destination, lately also attracting skilled professionals to its megaprojects under Vision 2030.</div><div><br></div><div>These projects, in addition to a new employment scheme under the Skill Verification Program, were the main factors making the Kingdom increasingly attractive to Sri Lankans, according to Amza.</div><div><br></div><div>The SVP agreement signed in March aims to improve the professional competence of employees in the Saudi labor market and ease the recruitment process of skilled workers from the island nation.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the deal — which covers 23 professions — Saudi employers recognize accreditations issued by Sri Lanka’s Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission.</div><div><br></div><div>“The year 2023 has seen the qualitative and quantitative increase of employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the Kingdom,” Amza said, adding that while half of Sri Lankan expats have been employed in the domestic sector, this year showed growth in the number of those working in the construction and hospitality sector.</div><div><br></div><div>“The signing of the agreement on the Skill Verification Program between the two countries has also contributed to this increase of skill and professional categories of employment, which stood as nearly 12,000 during 2023.” - Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 11:31:03', '2023-12-30 11:31:03'),
(10632, 10632, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">For Bangladesh cricket fans, the sting of the Tigers\' early ouster from the 2023 ICC World Cup might still linger. But a broader look at the year reveals a different story, one of steady progress and improved performance.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Having endured a 2022 campaign marked by 17 victories in 46 international matches, 2023 saw the Tigers claw their way back into contention. The team upped its game, taking on 49 matches and clinching 24 wins, translating to a significant jump in win percentage – from 37% in 2022 to a commanding 49% this year (this stat does not include the last T20I between Bangladesh and New Zealand on December 31, 2023).</div><div><br></div><div>This upward trajectory speaks volumes about the Tigers\' growing maturity and resolve. They have battled seasoned opponents with renewed vigor, showcasing their talent across formats. While the World Cup might not have lived up to expectations, the overall picture for Bangladeshi cricket in 2023 is one of positive strides and increasing promise.</div><div><br></div><div>From Early Doubts to Determined Force:</div><div><br></div><div>The dawn of 2023 brought anxieties for Bangladesh\'s ODI fortunes. Facing the formidable England on home turf, the Tigers stumbled to two consecutive defeats, raising questions about their comfort in the format. The 132-run loss in the second match felt like a gut punch, solidifying these doubts.</div><div><br></div><div>But the then captain Tamim Iqbal\'s men had other plans. They channeled the home crowd\'s electrifying support in Chattogram, erupting in a 50-run victory against England in the third ODI. This win set the stage for a remarkable winning streak.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the win in Chattogram against England, Bangladesh embarked on an eight-match winning streak across formats on home soil— until Ireland flattened them in a T20I encounter.</div><div><br></div><div>After that defeat, Bangladesh won four matches on the trot, including a staggering 546-run victory against Afghanistan, who are now considered a tough opponent for any team in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Tamim\'s 24-Hour Retirement Shock:</div><div><br></div><div>In the midst of the Afghanistan series, Tamim abruptly announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Tears streamed down his face as he announced the decision, hinting at internal tensions within the team management. Whispers about his fitness comments and subsequent clashes with board president Nazmul Hasan swirled, but no explicit reason was given.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the curtain on this drama fell surprisingly quickly. Within 24 hours, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina intervened, and Tamim, with considerable reluctance, withdrew his retirement. He would step away for a break, extending his absence till the Asia Cup, which he ultimately missed. Injury concerns, disputed by Tamim, became the official reason for his World Cup absence, adding a layer of ambiguity to the saga.</div><div><br></div><div>Shakib\'s Critique Fuels Tamim\'s Lack of Professionalism Debate:</div><div><br></div><div>On the eve of the World Cup, Shakib Al Hasan reignited the Tamim controversy in a television interview. He publicly questioned his teammate\'s professionalism, igniting a firestorm of debate nationwide. The interview became the most watched program on the channel, with social media amplifying the divide between Tamim supporters and detractors.</div><div><br></div><div>Critics claimed the interview created a volatile atmosphere, potentially contributing to Bangladesh\'s disappointing World Cup performance. Winning only two of nine matches, the Tigers fell short of expectations, leaving lingering questions about the impact of these off-field distractions on their focus and unity.</div><div><br></div><div>The Tamim-Shakib controversy remains an unresolved chapter in Bangladesh\'s 2023 cricketing story. While the on-field achievements deserve applause, the internal conflicts and public drama paint a complex picture of a year marked by turbulence as much as triumph.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s World Cup Disappointment:</div><div><br></div><div>Starting strong with a win against Afghanistan, Bangladesh\'s World Cup campaign quickly crumbled. Seven defeats, including an 87-run loss to the Netherlands, whom they typically dominate, marked a dismal performance, the worst in their cricketing history. Captain Shakib, visibly heartbroken, called it a \"worst World Cup performance,\" a stark contrast to the early optimism.</div><div><br></div><div>Further controversy flared when Shakib returned to Dhaka for batting practice with his childhood coach during the tournament. This raised questions about Shakib’s trust on the coaching staff. The incident, coupled with Shakib\'s earlier criticism of teammate Tamim Iqbal, painted a picture of potential internal disharmony.</div><div><br></div><div>Whether these off-field issues directly impacted the on-field catastrophe remains unclear. However, the timing of Shakib\'s actions and the team\'s subsequent downfall fueled the narrative of a fractured dressing room struggling with internal conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2023 World Cup will be etched in Bangladesh\'s cricketing memory as a missed opportunity and a source of disappointment. Moving forward, the Tigers face the dual challenge of addressing their technical deficiencies and mending any internal fractures to rise from the ashes of this disastrous performance.</div><div><br></div><div>Young Tigers Roar with U-19 Triumph in Asia Cup:</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s cricketing future shines bright, illuminated by the recent achievements of its young guns. In 2023, the nation witnessed the historic rise of the U-19 squad, who captured their first-ever Asia Cup title. This victory, coming on the heels of their 2020 World Cup win, underscores the consistent caliber of talent produced by Bangladesh\'s cricketing pipeline. It\'s a testament to the system\'s ability to deliver future stars who will continue to elevate the country\'s cricketing standing.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Tigresses’ Victories Mark a Stellar Year:</div><div><br></div><div>The year 2023 saw Bangladesh\'s women\'s cricket team weaving a narrative of resilience and triumph. While early setbacks in the T20 World Cup and a series of losses in Sri Lanka cast shadows, the Tigresses roared back on home soil with a historic first-ever ODI victory against cricketing giant India. This landmark achievement, along with a bronze medal in the T20I category at the Asian Games and subsequent victories over Pakistan, cemented their rising prominence in the global arena.</div><div><br></div><div>Individual brilliance also marked the year. Fargana Hoque\'s record-breaking ODI centuries and Shorna Akter\'s meteoric rise in South Africa further highlighted the depth and potential of the squad. Although losses were encountered, the overall South Africa tour proved a resounding success. The consistent form of Fargana and Nahida in ODIs, coupled with skipper Nigar Sultana Joty\'s leadership in T20Is, paints a picture of a team brimming with talent and ready to rewrite the record books.</div><div><br></div><div>Breaking the New Zealand Barrier: Bangladesh Ends 2023 on a High Note</div><div><br></div><div>For Bangladesh cricket, white-ball victories in New Zealand had long been the elusive Holy Grail. Until, that is, the waning moments of 2023, when the Tigers finally shattered the drought in dramatic fashion.</div><div><br></div><div>Led by a young and determined team – with veteran Mushfiqur Rahim as the lone senior figure and Najmul Hossain Shanto stepping up as captain in Shakib\'s absence – Bangladesh arrived in New Zealand with a singular ambition: rewrite history. And rewrite it they did, in scintillating style.</div><div><br></div><div>The third ODI in Napier witnessed the breakthrough Bangladesh craved. Years of frustration melted away as they secured a historic victory, the first-ever white-ball win against the Kiwis on their soil. The momentum carried over into the T20I series, where Shanto\'s men sealed the opening match, adding another feather to their impressive cap.</div><div><br></div><div>Ending the year on such a triumphant note served as a potent symbol of Bangladeshi cricket\'s unwavering spirit and burgeoning potential. The New Zealand conquest, born from the hunger of youth and the leadership of a rising star in Shanto, marked a significant turning point in their cricketing journey. As they step into 2024, the Tigers carry the lessons learned and the confidence earned, ready to rewrite more chapters in their cricketing narrative. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 12:11:22', '2023-12-30 12:11:22'),
(10633, 10633, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Ukrainian strike on a residential building in the city of Belgorod left one person dead while a total of 32 drones were intercepted overnight including in the Moscow region, Russian authorities said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The strike on Belgorod, which is close to the border, killed one person and wounded four others, Belgorod regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said, adding that the city’s water supply system was damaged in Friday’s attack.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian defense ministry said air defense systems destroyed a total of 13 missiles over the region, which borders Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Separately, the ministry said 32 drones had been intercepted and destroyed in the border regions of Bryansk and Kursk and also in Oryol and the Moscow region.</div><div><br></div><div>Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz had reported the destruction of a “drone-type aircraft” above the regional capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Belgorod city is 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which was heavily hit by Russian forces on Friday morning according to Ukrainian authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 30 people were killed and more than 160 wounded in Ukraine on Friday in a series of Russian strikes across the country, according to Kyiv. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 12:34:23', '2023-12-30 12:34:23');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10634, 10634, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 14 Eurostar trains were cancelled today after flooding in tunnels in the southern UK, stranding thousands of passengers just ahead of New Year’s Eve.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The tunnels near Ebbsfleet International Station in Kent were inundated as the Met Office issued weather warnings for rain, snow, and ice across large parts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurostar, which runs services from London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam via Ashford, midway between London and the southern English coast, apologised to customers for the disruption.</div><div><br></div><div>Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Southeastern Railway said, “No highspeed trains are expected to run today between St Pancras and Ashford International.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We are working to fix the flooding in the tunnels.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, Southeastern added that “flooding between Ebbsfleet International and London St Pancras International means that all lines are blocked.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Disruption is expected until the end of the day.”</div><div><br></div><div>It said flooding had affected both railway tunnels near Ebbsfleet, meaning both tunnels are closed.</div><div><br></div><div>“This means no trains can run between London St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International,” Southeastern added.</div><div><br></div><div>The disruption comes after French unions ended a wildcat strike that had stranded holidaymakers and held up freight just days before Christmas.</div><div><br></div><div>The surprise walkout by workers that blocked the tunnel sparked hours of chaos at rail hubs in Paris and London.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurostar train services resumed on Dec 22 after an agreement was reached.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurotunnel unions said negotiations had yielded “results that satisfy us”.</div><div><br></div><div>Eurostar is owned 55.75% by French state-owned SNCF Voyageurs.</div><div><br></div><div>It almost went bankrupt during the Covid-19 pandemic but was saved with a €290-million bailout from shareholders including the French government. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 12:52:10', '2023-12-30 12:52:10'),
(10635, 10635, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India’s prime minister Narendra Modi visited a holy town today to open fresh transport links catering to pilgrims for a new temple steeped in a history of sectarian violence.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Ayodhya’s new shrine to Lord Ram will be formally unveiled next month on the grounds where a centuries-old mosque once stood before it was torn down by Hindu zealots more than three decades ago.</div><div><br></div><div>Millions are expected to visit the temple each year and its construction was a long-standing pledge of Modi’s ruling party.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today, if any country in the world today wants to reach great heights, it has to take care of its legacy,” Modi told an audience of thousands at a city rally.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is the new India that will both preserve its culture and focus on economic growth.”</div><div><br></div><div>Huge crowds turned out to witness Modi’s procession through the city, formally to open a new airport and upgraded road and rail services.</div><div><br></div><div>But his visit also had the air of a campaign stop, coming just months before national elections he is widely expected to win.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ayodhya temple, standing 50m in height and built at an estimated cost of US$240 million, has helped buttress his image as a custodian of India’s majority faith ahead of the vote.</div><div><br></div><div>Such is the excitement around the project that Modi appealed to Hindus to refrain from visiting the site on the day he is slated to preside over its inauguration next month.</div><div><br></div><div>“It won’t be possible for everyone to get here, and for this place to handle the numbers on the day,” he told the crowd.</div><div><br></div><div>“I appeal to everyone to celebrate it at your home and come to Ayodhya later.”</div><div><br></div><div>Hindus believe that Ram was born in Ayodhya around 7,000 years ago but that a mosque was built on top of his birthplace during the rule of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.</div><div><br></div><div>The mosque was torn down by a mob in 1992 in a campaign backed by Modi’s party, triggering riots across the country that killed 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.</div><div><br></div><div>Its destruction was a hammer blow to the foundations of India’s secular political order, paving the way for the rise of Hindu nationalism to become the country’s dominant political force.</div><div><br></div><div>Muslim residents of Ayodhya, remembering the deadly riots that accompanied the demolition, have been wary of its renewed atmosphere of religious fervour.</div><div><br></div><div>But for many Hindus, the project is a means of restoring the city to the glory of its depiction in ancient Hindu texts. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 13:00:49', '2023-12-30 13:00:49'),
(10636, 10636, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Moscow and Ankara will continue expanding their political dialogue and productive cooperation in multiple spheres in 2024.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Congratulating his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a New Year message, published on the Kremlin\'s website, Putin noted that Russia and Türkiye \"have been quite effective in developing their multi-faceted cooperation\" over the past years.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The two countries worked together on major energy and infrastructure projects and facilitated efforts to settle regional conflicts. In 2024, Moscow and Ankara will continue expanding their political dialogue and productive cooperation in multiple spheres, which is expected to benefit their friendly nations and contribute to strengthening security and stability on the Eurasian continent,\" the message read.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia and Türkiye have been actively developing economic cooperation in many areas, including agriculture and energy sector. The two countries also set an ambitious goal of raising the bilateral trade turnover to $100 billion, and, according to assessments of the presidents, the two countries \"are successfully approaching\" the target. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 13:22:52', '2023-12-30 13:22:52'),
(10637, 10637, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Israeli army has killed 106 Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip in 84 days of continued intense attacks.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Gaza Media Office said another journalist was killed in an attack by the Israeli army on the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in the central Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>It indicated that a Al-Quds TV journalist was killed in the attack, bringing to 106 the number of journalists killed in Gaza since Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>In a previous statement, it said Israel intentionally killed journalists in Gaza to silence the Palestinian narrative, conceal the truth and prevent news and information from reaching regional and international public opinion. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 13:33:44', '2023-12-30 13:33:44'),
(10638, 10638, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prominent Economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed has said that social values have eroded severely at the individual level as competition for wealth has risen.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He said this at a discussion meeting titled \'Inclusive Development in Bangladesh Challenge and Opportunity\' organized by The Business Eye, at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of the National Press Club on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Kholiquzzaman said, “The country has progressed a lot. There has been economic development. People\'s income increased; the poverty rate decreased. But the inequality in the country did not decrease at that rate.”</div><div><br></div><div>“In order to reduce this disparity, it is necessary to break the triangular power syndicate of politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen along with fighting corruption,” he pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>The eminent economist said Bangabandhu took all the measures for the development of the people, he focused on people-centered agriculture, and he focused on everything from education. But after Bangabandhu, it did not exist anymore.</div><div><br></div><div>“This economist said, we have moved out of human centricity and towards capital centricity. Till 2009 we were mired in poverty. Then in 2015, we became a middle-income country. Since then, there has been a lot of development in the country,” he pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>Former state minister Dr. Shamsul Alam said that the country\'s remittances have increased and Bangladesh has become a country with a $465 billion economy, from $72 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>“Poverty decreased; education rate increased. Inequality has increased somewhat due to the rapid growth of the country. The government has given importance to social security to reduce inequality,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Alam said, “We could not reduce inequality because of corruption. To reduce this inequality, corruption should be reduced. Similarly, taxes should be paid fairly. The government will adopt a zero-tolerance policy on corruption in the future. The government will be rigorous to both loan defaulters and bill defaulters.”</div><div><br></div><div>Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Dr. Atiur Rahman said that most of the development over 50 years has taken place in the last 15 years, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said that inclusive development took place in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “98 percent of cotton is imported and the petrochemicals are 100 percent imported - despite this, Bangladesh is number two in the global market in terms of exports of cotton garments and number one in denim and knitwear.\"</div><div><br></div><div>A large portion of the population directly and indirectly are engaged with garment industries in the country, that is an example of inclusive growth, the BGMEA president added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 13:52:51', '2023-12-30 13:52:51'),
(10639, 10639, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday categorically said that Bangladesh won\'t accept any foreign meddling into the January 7 national polls.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She also sounded a strong warning that the conspirators against the election will suffer severe consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who are plotting (here) to thwart the election will have to face proper punishment one day. And anyone from international level comes to poke nose into (our affairs), we’ll not accept it. Bangladesh didn’t accept it in the past,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL chief made this remark while addressing a campaign rally in Kotalipara upazila in Gopalganj district.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu\'s younger daughter Sheikh Rehana accompanied her sister Hasina at the rally in Kotalipara from a campaign rally in Tungipara.</div><div><br></div><div>Not mentioning the name of any foreign country that opposed the Independence of Bangladesh, the AL president said those powers failed during the Liberation War in 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ll show them that we can achieve victory in terms of economic progress,” she said, adding that Inshallah, Bangladesh would be taken to a glorified position by reducing the poverty rate further to a percentage which is lower than that of the rich countries.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM urged the new voters not to miss the chance of casting their first-time votes and give mandate for her party in the 12th parliamentary election for the sake of progress of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>She said those who are from the young generation and youth society and those who are first-time voters, should not spoil their maiden votes.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who are new voters will have to help Bangladesh to advance further on the development journey, maintaining the current pace of progress by casting vote for the \'boat\' symbol and creating scope for AL to form the government,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL president said her party believes that the power of youth means the advancement of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ll build a skilled and smart youth society through generation of employment, ensuring vocational training, technical education, technological education and modern education for them,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that it is most unfortunate that BNP-Jamaat grouping started unleashing arson violence and killing the people, Hasina called upon all to resist such criminal acts.</div><div><br></div><div>“Catch those who burn, harm (people) or conspire to thwart the election and give them proper punishment, I would like to urge all to do it from your position and place,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that it is the right of people to cast votes, she said it is AL that has established the rights to votes and food today.</div><div><br></div><div>“I would like to request you all to stay awake so that none can play ducks and drakes with this country and the fate of this country anymore,” said Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>AL advisory council member Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP, Sheikh Helal Uddin MP, Sheikh Tonmoy MP, Sheikh Jewel’s wife Sheikh Shahana Yasmin Champa and AL joint secretary general AFM Bahauddin Nasim, among others, were present on the dais.</div><div><br></div><div>Kotalipara upazila unit AL president Bhabendra Nath Biswas presided over the rally that turned into a human sea.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, Sheikh Hasina along with Sheikh Rehana joined another election rally at Kalkini Upazila in Madaripur in the afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the mammoth rally at Kalkini Syed Abul Hossain University College ground, the AL president said BNP leaders Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman will be tried one day for killing many people by giving orders.</div><div><br></div><div>Reiterating that BNP is a terrorist party and Jamaat is a party of war criminals, she questioned what rights they have to do politics here in Bangladesh as they kill and burn people. “They are a party of killers,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Terming late Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Tarique Zia as killers,&nbsp; Hasina said, “No reign of these killers will be there anymore in this country. They will be tried on murder charges a day as they killed so many people in Bangladesh by giving orders,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL chief asked the people to cast their votes as early as possible on the balloting day as a large turnout of voters is important in this election.</div><div><br></div><div>“Cast your votes, going to the polling station in the morning on the polls day …. Today an international conspiracy is on against Bangladesh. They want to play ducks and drakes with Bangladesh. But we won’t let it be done,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She remembered that Syed Abul Hossain, former lawmaker elected from the constituency, was the communication minister when false corruption allegation in the Padma Bridge project was brought against the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“Today we’ve constructed Padma Bridge with our own finances,” she said, praying for the salvation of the departed soul of Syed Abul Hossain.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing her government\'s success, the premier said today Bangladesh has changed in the last 15 years. Bangladesh has today witnessed development in every sector from economy to infrastructures, social safety net, education and health. “Bangladesh is now a changed Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Reiterating her call to the new voters to vote for boat symbol, Hasina said, “We want to build the young generation as the smart and skilled youth force.”</div><div><br></div><div>The AL chief introduced her party’s candidates -- Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury in Madaripur-1, Shajahan Khan in Madaripur-2 and Abdus Sobhan Golap in Madaripur-3— with the participants of the grand rally and sought votes for them in the January-7 election.</div><div><br></div><div>AL presidium member Shajahan Khan, AL joint secretary general AFM Bahauddin Nasim and Abdus Sobhan Miah, among others, spoke at the rally presided over by Kalkini Upazila AL unit vice president Abul Kalam Azad. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 14:01:58', '2023-12-30 14:01:58'),
(10640, 10640, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday said that the next general election will surely be free, fair and neutral and the Election Commission (EC) is determined to ensure that.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"It is possible to hold a free and fair election with the support we have received from the government, and the EC is determined to hold the 12th national election in a free, fair and neutral manner,” the CEC said.</div><div><br></div><div>Kazi Habibul made the remarks while exchanging views with the candidates of six Sylhet constituencies at Circuit House of the district on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Chaired by Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Abu Ahmed Siddique, EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam also spoke as special guest at the event where Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russell Ahmed was present, reports unb.</div><div><br></div><div>Kazi Habibul also said the EC has been sincerely working so that all candidates can get equal facilities in the election field, while election activities have been moving forward unabatedly with the cooperation of the government and sincerity of the local administration.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 14:16:31', '2023-12-30 14:16:31'),
(10641, 10641, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The administration of United States President Joe Biden has once again bypassed Congress to greenlight an emergency weapons sale to Israel, which has only intensified and broadened its attacks on the Gaza Strip despite growing international outrage.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination in less than a month, covering a $147.5m sale of equipment to Israel, the State Department said on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Given the urgency of Israel’s defensive needs, the secretary notified Congress that he had exercised his delegated authority to determine an emergency existed necessitating the immediate approval of the transfer,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to ensure Israel is able to defend itself against the threats it faces.”</div><div><br></div><div>The package includes ancillary items, including fuses, charges and primers that Israel would require to make the 155mm shells that it had previously purchased, function.</div><div><br></div><div>Friday’s emergency determination, which is rare but has been used by at least four previous US administrations, means that a requirement for a potentially lengthy congressional review for foreign military sales will be bypassed.</div><div><br></div><div>Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane said it was important to point out the broader context of the messaging.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve been hearing from all the top Biden administration officials for weeks that it is time for Israel to move to a lower-intensity conflict. In essence, stop the mass bombing. Stop the mass deaths of civilians,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, in that context – knowing that is what they say they want – they are now selling to Israel the exaction munitions they need to continue a high-intensity campaign.” Source: Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 15:40:42', '2023-12-30 15:40:42'),
(10642, 10642, '<div><font color=\"#634aa5\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b style=\"\">One person was killed, and 25 others were injured in a clash between two factions of the Awami League ahead of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s rally in Barishal on Friday.</b></span><br></font></div><div><br></div><div>Siraj Sikder, 55, was killed on the spot. The injured were admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>The clash broke out between the two groups- supporters of AL-nominated candidate Shammi Ahmed and Pankaj Debnath- incumbent MP of Barishal-4 constituency who is running as an independent, at the entrance of the rally venue.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The deceased Siraj Sikder was president of Guabaria Union Krishak League of Hizla upazila. Both sides claimed that Siraj Sikder was their campaigner.</div><div><br></div><div>The clash was still ongoing when Sheikh Hasina got on the stage.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to witnesses, a large number of supporters of Pankaj Debnath, independent candidate of Barisal-4 constituency, came to Bangabandhu Uddyan around 3:30 pm. The followers of Awami League\'s International Affairs Secretary Dr. Shammi Ahmed, were already there.</div><div><br></div><div>Shammi is currently fighting a legal battle in the High Court to get back her nomination that was scrapped by the Election Commission on the grounds of dual citizenship.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>MP Pankaj said that he came to Barishal by launch with the Prime Minister to join the public meeting.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"My workers and supporters were attacked when they were entering the meeting ground. Siraj Sikder has been my worker since the beginning and has been working for the eagle symbol in the election,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Claiming that the attack was pre-planned,&nbsp; Pankaj said, \"They were ready at the entrance knowing that my supporters would come. As soon as they entered, they carried out the attack, one person was killed, and several others were injured.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Shammi Ahmed did not respond to repeated calls seeking comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Her campaigner, Syed Munir, a member of the Awami League\'s international affairs sub-committee, said, \"Siraj Sikder was our activist. He came to Barishal with Hizla Upazila Awami League President Tipu Sultan. Our people, including Siraj Sikder, were attacked when they were about to enter the rally venue, and he died on the spot,\" reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital\'s emergency department doctor Kamruzzaman Tuhin said, \"Siraj Sikder was brought dead to the hospital. Initially, we thought he died of a heart attack. It is not possible to say anything in detail without an autopsy.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-30 15:52:30', '2023-12-30 15:52:30'),
(10643, 10643, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said changes are being made in the curriculum as the government wants to develop international standard education system in Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We want our country to move, keeping pace with the world. This is why the changes are being made in the curriculum (of the educational institutions),” she said while opening the free textbook distribution among students up to the secondary level for the academic year of 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>She opened the textbook distribution programme at an event at her office through handing over books to students of pre-primary, primary and secondary levels in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina said she considers expenses against education as investment. “We\'ll allocate whatever needed for education,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“How do the internationally renowned universities teach, and what curriculum and what method do they follow? We want to create that international standard education system in Bangladesh,” She went on.</div><div><br></div><div>She put emphasis on the practical learning-based education to create employment opportunities in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said she wants to develop a nation with modern technology-knowledge-based education and that from an early age and for this reason her government is giving importance to technical education and vocational training.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want to build a nation with modern-technology-knowledge-based education. We’ve already done everything for that,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister called upon the students to study attentively to develop them properly.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want to build the nation with versatile education. To build smart Bangladesh, we need a smart and skilled population the most,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Putting the importance of education to get rid of poverty, she said, “We want to make Bangladesh a poverty-free country. Only education can make a country free from poverty. That is why we have given the highest importance to education.”</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina wished all a Happy New Year on the eve of 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministries concerned have taken necessary steps to distribute 30,70,83,517 copies of new textbooks among 3,81,28,324 students this year throughout the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The textbooks have already been sent to upazilas in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has so far distributed over 464,78,29,883 free textbooks among students up to secondary levels across the country since 2010.</div><div><br></div><div>Since 2017, the government has been distributing braille books among the blind students alongside distributing Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Garo and Sadri version books among the small ethnic students to study in their mother languages, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>With Education Minister Dipu Moni in the chair, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Jakir Hossain spoke at the function, while Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan delivered the welcome speech.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 09:00:05', '2023-12-31 09:00:05'),
(10644, 10644, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The hype surrounding Dhoom 4 centers on the legacy of the Dhoom blockbuster franchise. The engaging storyline, brilliant casting, and exciting thrilling action scenes of the Dhoom films mesmerised audiences since 2004. </b></span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">After the success of 3 Dhoom movies, the expectations of fans about Dhoom 4 have been amped up. Various rumors have been circulated about its cast in recent years. Keeping up with this trend, there has been a lot of buzz recently about SRK (Shah Rukh Khan) starring in Dhoom 4. Let’s delve into the most recent updates on this high-octane action movie while scrutinizing the authenticity of the buzz.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhoom: A Successful Buddy-Cop Franchise</div><div>This creation by Aditya Chopra follows Jai Dixit, an assistant police commissioner, who, along with his partner Ali Akbar Fateh Khan, is on a mission to apprehend the world\'s most cunning thief.</div><div><br></div><div>This buddy-cop movie stands as the third-largest Bollywood film franchise in terms of box-office revenue. Throughout each part of the trilogy, the villains have consistently outshone the heroes in popularity. The narratives have delved into various dark realms, portraying bank robberies and thefts of priceless artifacts.</div><div><br></div><div>Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra have reprised their roles as Jai and Ali Akbar, respectively, in all three films. However, different renowned stars have portrayed the roles of the thieves in each iteration.</div><div><br></div><div>The first film featured John Abraham as the main antagonist, and Esha Deol as his assistant. The second installment showcased Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai, while the third installment starred Aamir Khan as the villain. Sanjay Gadhvi directed the first two films, released in 2004 and 2006, while Vijay Krishna Acharya, the screenwriter of the entire Dhoom franchise, assumed the directorial reins for the third part. It hit theaters in 2013 as Yash Raj Films\' third project with Dhoom.</div><div><br></div><div>Shah Rukh Khan in Dhoom 4: Truth or Rumor?</div><div>Yash Raj Films has robustly addressed the speculation surrounding Akshay Kumar, making it unequivocally clear that, at that point, no formal agreement existed with any actor for Dhoom 4. Similar rumors had previously circulated about Ranbir Kapoor.</div><div><br></div><div>The rumor involving the “Bollywood Baadshah” is no exception. There were additional speculations about the Bollywood king collaborating with Baahubali-fame Ram Charan.</div><div><br></div><div>An Indian entertainment website\'s post on the potential cast further fueled social media discussions. Their argument centered on the positive reception of John Abraham\'s negative character in the recent film Pathan, suggesting a possible return of the actor to the franchise. Fans are eagerly anticipating Shah Rukh and John Abraham together in the latest sequel of this action-packed franchise.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the Dhoom production house has quelled these expectations, stating that no final cast has been confirmed for this film. SRK himself clarified that he has not yet received any offer for Dhoom 4. Abhishek Bachchan, the consistent lead actor in the series, echoed a similar sentiment, asserting that he would have been informed if work on the film had commenced.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, Dhoom fans find themselves in a state of suspense, eagerly awaiting the revelation of their favorite villain.</div><div><br></div><div>Endnote</div><div>The point is, that the decision surrounding the production of Dhoom 4 is still undecided. In this sense, King Khan starring in the upcoming Dhoom film becomes seemingly inconclusive. However, neither SRK nor Aditya Chopra has officially approached each other on this matter. Nevertheless, fans would love to see their favorite hero in a villainous form anyway. - According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 09:29:44', '2023-12-31 09:29:44'),
(10645, 10645, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced eight people including BNP’s joint secretary general Moazzem Hossain Alal to three years in jail in a case filed for torching a bus in Dhanmondi during hartal in 2013.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim passed the order.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer two months more imprisonment, said Mosleh Uddin Jashim, a counsel of Alal.</div><div><br></div><div>The other convicts are-Saiful Islam Nirob, former president of Jubo Dal, Abdul Quader Bhuiya Jewel, former president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Shafiqul Islam Masud, and secretary of Dhaka south unit Jamaat-e-Islami, Harun-or-Rashid, Obaidul Haque, Shahidul Islam Hira and Ibrahim Hossain.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the prosecution, a bus was set on fire on Sat Masjid Road in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi on December 1, 2013.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdullah Al Mamun, sub-inspector of Dhanmondi Police Station, filed the case.</div><div><br></div><div>On December 15, 2014, police submitted chargesheet against them. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 11:05:44', '2023-12-31 11:05:44'),
(10646, 10646, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has urged voters to come to polling stations and respond to anti-election conspiracies with their votes on the election day on January 7.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while addressing a street rally marking the election campaign in Chaprashirhat under Companiganj upazila of Noakhali on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League leader is contesting from Noakhali-5 constituency (Companiganj and Kabirhat upazilas) with the ‘boat’ symbol.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also road, transport and bridge minister, alleged that BNP has set “an agent to murder a renowned leader. The directive came from London. Tarique Rahman doesn’t have courage, if he did he would come to the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>Recalling the August 15 assassinations and November 3 jail killings, Quader urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant and resist all conspiracies.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the ideology of the Awami League, the leader said that his party doesn’t believe in arms and ammunition, rather it believes in the strength of people.</div><div><br></div><div>He hoped that Sheikh Hasina would clinch victory for the fourth consecutive time in the January 7 election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Obaidul Quader said, ”We will listen if foreigners give suggestions on the election, but we will not accept if they speak in BNP’s tune.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina’s Barishal rally proved that the people of the county have been waiting for the election and nobody has power to foil the election by hindrance, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 11:15:45', '2023-12-31 11:33:08'),
(10647, 10647, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that “all countries and institutions” ought to unite in their opposition to the killing of defenseless women and children in the Gaza Strip for a better future.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“All countries, institutions need to take a united stand against the killing of innocent children and women in Gaza,” Erdogan said in his video message on New Year eve.</div><div><br></div><div>“We hold hope for a better future for humanity. So-called democratic, freedom-loving countries must stop supporting bloody terrorists for this to happen,” the president said.</div><div><br></div><div>Beginning with the war between Russia and Ukraine, he stressed, sincere attempts should be made to put an end to conflicts that cause suffering for people and waste national resources.</div><div><br></div><div>“We need to see that wealth of societies, which has been exploited for centuries, their dignity trampled upon, is used for their future, prosperity, security,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan stressed that the goals for 2023 were just beginning as they are about to launch the real takeoff with Türkiye\'s Century in conjunction with 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>As the world faces global crises, he stressed, \"We will elevate the star of Türkiye by once again demonstrating our difference through production, employment, growth, and development,\" Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"From the fight against terrorism to economic traps, the fundamental purpose behind problems we face in areas is to obstruct the construction of great, powerful Türkiye,\" he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 11:42:30', '2023-12-31 11:42:30'),
(10648, 10648, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said there is no information about any sabotage plan on the voting day of the 12th parliamentary election on January 7.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>However, the intelligence agencies will stay alert to prevent secret killings, the minister told reporters during a press briefing at the secretariat without elaborating it any further.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The BNP is always committing sabotage. They were born with violence, so they will keep doing it. Our security forces are aware of this. Our intelligence agencies are also working,” said Asaduzzaman Kamal.</div><div><br></div><div>The home minister said the BNP has failed to make any impact with their sabotage activities as the country’s intelligence agencies are working properly.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think the people of this country will resist them no matter what they do, the people of this country will not give them any scope. People don\'t want to go back to darkness,” said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>About Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader\'s comment that BNP may carry out secret killings, the minister said, \"The Road Transport minister and our party general secretary definitely have more information. He said it based on information. Our point is that our intelligence agencies are alert. We are trying to deal with any such incident before it happens,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Terming the anti-election campaign of BNP and like-minded parties as tantamount to sedition, the Home Minister said law enforcement agencies, and intelligence agencies are monitoring their campaign very closely.</div><div><br></div><div>“Election Commission is also looking into this. If these types of activities cross the limit, then surely a directive will come from the Election Commission. And then action will be taken according to the law.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 12:52:01', '2023-12-31 12:52:01'),
(10649, 10649, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The UN’s World Food Programme will increase food rations for all Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, months after severe aid cuts led to a rise in malnourishment in the refugee camps.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>WFP reduced food assistance to the Rohingya by 33 percent earlier this year to $8 a month per person, citing a lack of funding, despite malnutrition being already widespread in the Cox’s Bazar camps.</div><div><br></div><div>“The year 2023 was a tumultuous one for the Rohingya in Bangladesh, who lived through multiple fire outbreaks, cyclones, and, for the first time, ration cuts. The rapid deterioration of the food and nutrition situation in the camps is extremely worrying,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP country director in Bangladesh.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>WFP’s food assistance was cut twice in 2023, first in March when the value was reduced from $12 to $10, and again in June, when it was slashed to $8.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN body announced on Sunday that it will restore the critical food assistance to $10 per person per month from Jan. 1, 2024. To restore aid to the full amount, WFP said it needs $61 million to fill the current funding gap.</div><div><br></div><div>Malnourishment was a major problem in Cox’s Bazar even before the ration cut, with around 40 percent of children under 5 chronically malnourished, and 12 percent acutely malnourished.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have noticed a sharp increase in cases of severe acute malnutrition and moderate acute malnutrition among the Rohingya,” Dr. Abu Toha Bhuyan, health coordinator with Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission, told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“The $8 amount per month is very low for one person’s food requirements. As a result, the nutritional situation became very imbalanced. The children and the elderly are especially affected by malnutrition.”</div><div><br></div><div>The decline in food assistance is also affecting the immunity level of the Rohingya population, Bhuyan said.</div><div><br></div><div>“If people have a good immunity, they get less infected with different infectious diseases. Here, we experienced a rise in infectious diseases among the Rohingyas since their immunity was compromised due to less amount of food intake … Malnutrition has also severely impacted the growth of children.”</div><div><br></div><div>The challenging situation is an everyday reality for Monowara Begum, who has three children.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s very tough to manage the food for my … family with this little amount … With less amount of food, my children became very skinny and are suffering from different diseases, like flu, coughs, diarrhea, all through the year,” the 41-year-old told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everything happened because of malnutrition and less immunity. Their growth is also affected, even though they are at a growing age,” she said.</div><div>“As a mother, it’s unbearable for me to see my children going hungry most days. I feel very upset with this situation.” - Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 13:44:29', '2023-12-31 13:44:29'),
(10650, 10650, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The year 2023 proved lucky for Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan led the way with Pathaan and Jawan. However, amidst high expectations, there were also some big titles that failed to capitalise on the great theatrical boom of Hindi movies post pandemic, ultimately falling flat at the box office.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Here is the list of some of the major hits and misses of 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Hits: 1. Pathaan and Jawan: With the two action titles, Shah Rukh made a triumphant return to leading man roles after a gap of four years. Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand, released in theatres in January and shattered many box office records in the opening weekend and ended its theatrical run with a towering gross box office collection of over Rs 1,050 crore. It also starred Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, Jawan, a high-octane action entertainer from Tamil director Atlee. The pan-India film, which also featured Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, turned out to be an even bigger hit, grossing Rs 1,150 crore globally to become the biggest hit of SRK\'s career.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Animal: It was one of the most memorable years of Ranbir\'s career with the actor delivering the third biggest but also the most divisive film of 2023 in Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga of Kabir Singh fame. The film drew criticism for its graphic content, extreme violence, and treatment of female characters but since its release on December 1, it has earned over Rs 880 crores in worldwide gross.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Gadar 2: A sequel to 2000 hit Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, the Anil Sharma-directed film reintroduced Sunny Deol to mass audiences. The movie, which released in August, turned out to be a surprise hit of the year with over Rs 680 crore in worldwide collection, according to trade websites. Sunny, 66, reprised his role of Tara Singh in Gadar 2, set years after the events of the first movie.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Tiger 3: Salman Khan returned as super spy Avinash Singh Rathore aka Tiger in the third part of his eponymous movie franchise. Directed by Maneesh Sharma, the film was released in November. Despite coming in theatres around the time of Cricket World Cup, the movie grossed over Rs 460 crore in worldwide collection. It also starred Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: Karan Johar\'s seventh full-fledged feature not only became one of the highest grossing films of the filmmaker\'s career, but is also his most talked-about and progressive movie till date.&nbsp; Released in July, the movie grossed over Rs 355 crore. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani featured Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt with great supporting acts by the likes of cinema veterans Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi.</div><div><br></div><div>Misses: 1. The Vaccine War: After the controversial-yet-highly-successful The Kashmir Files, Vivek Agnihotri released The Vaccine War in theatres in September. The movie revolved around Indian scientists and their quests to develop an affordable vaccine for India and the world. It earned Rs 14 crore at the box office, according to trade websites.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Tejas: Kangana Ranaut had another forgettable year as Tejas, which featured her as an Indian Air Force pilot, turned out to be a colossal disappointment at the box office. It was released in theatres in October and managed to earn around Rs 8 crore, trade websites reported.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Bholaa: Trade pundits were betting big on Ajay Devgn\'s Bholaa, the Hindi remake of Tamil hit Kaithi, but the audiences gave the film a cold shoulder. The film, which released in cinemas in March, earned over Rs 120 crore, just enough to cover its making cost. It was directed by Devgn and also starred Tabu.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan: Before Tiger 3, Salman had another big release in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, which made its debut in theatres in April, coinciding with the festival of Eid. Despite being headlined by a Bollywood superstar, the film underperformed at the box office, earning around Rs 180 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Adipurush: The Om Raut-directorial, headlined by Baahubali star Prabhas, was one of the most anticipated titles but was plagued by many controversies. The film, also starring Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon, eventually grossed around Rs 390 crores, according to trade websites. - PTI</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 13:47:07', '2023-12-31 13:47:07');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10651, 10651, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Jubilant crowds will bid farewell to the hottest year on record Sunday, closing a turbulent 12 months marked by clever chatbots, climate crises and wrenching wars in Gaza and Ukraine.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The world’s population — now over eight billion — will see out the old and usher in the new, with many hoping to shake the weight of high living costs and global tumult.</div><div><br></div><div>In Sydney, the self-proclaimed “New Year’s capital of the world,” more than a million partygoers are expected to pack the city’s foreshore, despite uncharacteristically dank weather.</div><div><br></div><div>Eight tons of fireworks will light the fuse on 2024, a year that will bring elections concerning half the world’s population and a summer Olympiad celebrated in Paris.</div><div><br></div><div>The last 12 months brought “Barbiegeddon” at the box office, a proliferation of human-seeming artificial intelligence tools and a world-first whole-eye transplant.</div><div><br></div><div>India outgrew China as the world’s most populous country, and then became the first nation to land a rocket on the dark side of the moon.</div><div>It was also the hottest year since records began in 1880, with a spate of climate-fueled disasters striking from Australia to the Horn of Africa and the Amazon basin.</div><div><br></div><div>Perhaps more than anything, 2023 will be remembered for Hamas’s October 7 assault on southern Israel — and Israel’s ferocious reprisals.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations estimates that almost two million Gaza residents have been displaced since Israel’s siege began — about 85 percent of the peacetime population.</div><div><br></div><div>With once-bustling Gaza City neighborhoods reduced to rubble, there were few places left to mark the new year — and fewer loved ones to celebrate with.</div><div><br></div><div>“It was a black year full of tragedies,” said Abed Akkawi, who fled the city with his wife and three children.</div><div><br></div><div>The 37-year-old, now living in a UN shelter in Rafah, southern Gaza, said the war had obliterated his house and killed his brother.</div><div>But still, he clings to modest hopes for 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>“God willing this war will end, the new year will be a better one, and we will be able to return to our homes and rebuild them, or even live in a tent on the rubble,” he told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>In Ukraine, where Russia’s invasion grinds toward its second anniversary, there was defiance and hope in the face of a renewed assault from Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>“Victory! We are waiting for it and believe that Ukraine will win,” said Tetiana Shostka as air raid sirens blared in Kyiv.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will have everything we want if Ukraine is free, without Russia,” the 42-year-old added.</div><div><br></div><div>Some in Vladimir Putin’s Russia are also weary of the conflict.</div><div>“In the new year I would like the war to end, a new president, and a return to normal life,” said 55-year-old theater decorator and Moscow resident Zoya Karpova.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin is already his country’s longest-tenured leader since Joseph Stalin and his name will again be on the ballot paper when Russians vote in March.</div><div><br></div><div>Few expect the vote to be fully free or fair, or for the former KGB man to return to the shadows.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia’s is just one of several pivotal elections scheduled, with 2024 looming as the year of the ballots.</div><div><br></div><div>In all, the political fate of more than four billion people will be decided in contests that could reshape Britain, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela and a host of other nations.</div><div><br></div><div>But one election promises consequences for the entire world. In the United States, Democrat Joe Biden, aged 81, and Republican Donald Trump, aged 77, appear set to rerun their divisive 2020 election race this November.</div><div><br></div><div>As the incumbent, Biden has at times appeared to show his advancing age and even his supporters worry about the toll of another bruising four years in office.</div><div><br></div><div>But if there are worries about what a second Biden administration would look like, there are at least as many concerns about a return of Trump, who faces prosecution on several counts.</div><div><br></div><div>Voters could yet decide whether the bombastic self-proclaimed billionaire goes to the Oval Office or to jail. - Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 13:51:18', '2023-12-31 13:51:18'),
(10652, 10652, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><font color=\"#634aa5\"><b>The BNP started 2023 much as they had ended 2022, active on the streets and on the march with regular programmes throughout the country, their supporters infused with high hopes of ousting the incumbent Awami League-led government and returning to power after 17 years through a free and fair election, that they maintained could only be held under a neutral administration.&nbsp;</b></font></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Everything the BNP did all year was aimed at securing this outcome ahead of the country’s 12th parliamentary election, which they hoped to participate in - but not if it was to be held under a government led by Sheikh Hasina. The posturing by some important foreign governments, most notably in Washington, served to put even more wind on the party’s sails towards achieving their objective.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>But ultimately the year ended in great dismay for the BNP, with a renewed crackdown on their activities in the last two months leading to almost their entire top leadership either ending up in jail or on the run.</div><div><br></div><div>As the party is boycotting the 12 parliamentary polls slated for January 7 following its failure to force the government to accept its demand for a polls-time-neutral administration, political analysts believe it will be very challenging for BNP to stage a comeback in politics and revitalise its rank and file in the coming years.</div><div><br></div><div>They also fear that the party is likely to face a serious leadership crisis in the days to come, as around 1500 leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies have already been convicted in different political cases from years ago getting raked up again, while around 26,000 others have landed in jail.</div><div><br></div><div>Political analysts think BNP should come up with well-thought-out plans and strategies to continue their anti-government movement peacefully by drumming up more public support alongside overhauling the party.</div><div><br></div><div>Analysing BNP’s politics in 2023, Professor Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University (USA), said although the BNP’s non-violent movement did not succeed in achieving its goal to force the incumbent to resign and having a neutral interim government to conduct the election, it has succeeded in popularising the demand, making it a demand of almost all opposition parties.</div><div><br></div><div>“The large public participation in its rallies showed that its support has increased. Despite various efforts from the government to split the BNP, keeping the party united is a big success of the leadership,” he observed.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Riaz said the actions of the government, especially after October 28 (see below) reflect that they in fact wanted to hold an election keeping the BNP out of it.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Therefore, whether BNP wanted to boycott or not seems irrelevant,” he said. “We should underscore that the BNP alone is not boycotting the election. The absence of the BNP has exposed that the ‘election’ is a stage-managed show.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He also said the BNP is facing a serious challenge due to thousands of activists being jailed and more than 1500 leaders and activists being convicted. “This is not by accident but because of a plan to make the party leaderless. Its programs since 28 October are losing traction, but we will have to wait to see what strategy it adopts after 7 January.”</div><div><br></div><div>The internationally reputed political analyst thinks BNP needs to get back to the street and engage in public mobilisation, however difficult it is.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP’s future is connected to how the political landscape looks after January 7. Its future will not be different from other opposition parties. Anyone who wants to suggest that the BNP is a spent force is bound to be wrong,” he viewed.</div><div><br></div><div>Nurul Amin Bepari, a former professor of Dhaka University’s Political Science Department, said the BNP waged a peaceful movement with tremendous public support till at least October 28, as the government gave them political space under the pressure of Western countries.</div><div><br></div><div>“As the government thought it would not be able to stay in power if the BNP remained active on the streets, it again squeezed the political space for the BNP by resorting to a serious crackdown. BNP’s politics was on the right track and the party could drum up public support in favour of its demand through peaceful programmes,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Echoing Prof Ali Riaz, Dr Bepari said BNP needs to intensify its movement on the streets braving all obstacles, as he believes the ‘lopsided election’ set for January 7 will not receive acceptance at home or abroad.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP can still succeed if it can continue the movement with proper strategy,” he maintains.</div><div><br></div><div>Evolution of BNP’s movement</div><div><br></div><div>Considering 2023 as the election year, BNP started taking preparations for waging a tougher movement with different programmes like rallies and demonstrations from early January. The party also overhauled its different units and associate bodies to strengthen its organisational capacity.&nbsp; The party gained success as it held a series of programmes in a peaceful manner with the huge support of the people until October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP, which has been moving forward with different street programmes, announced a one-point simultaneous movement on July 27, intending to remove Awami League from the power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government. BNP along with over three dozen parties observed various programmes, including road marches, simultaneously to press home their one-point demand.</div><div><br></div><div>With time, the presence of supporters of the BNP and other like-minded parties increased on the streets significantly. BNP also held some rallies in the capital staging a big showdown in favour of its one-point demand. The opposition’s movement also got momentum in September with a series of street programmes amid growing public support, encouraging the party to hold a grand rally on October 28 to announce its final course of action before the announcement of the election schedule of the 12th parliamentary polls.</div><div><br></div><div>October 28: The turning point</div><div><br></div><div>Buoyed by the party’s success in previous programmes, BNP announced to hold a public rally on October 28 in front of its Nayapaltan central office. The rally also began unprecedentedly with the participation of tens of thousands of people but it was foiled halfway through following violent clashes between police and the BNP supporters, killing three people, including a police constable, and injuring several hundred others.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the clashes, law enforcers launched a crackdown on the BNP leaders and workers and arrested BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and many other senior leaders, forcing most party leaders and workers to go into hiding to avoid arrest. It ultimately weakened the movement in the absence of BNP leaders and workers on the streets.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP’s Nayapaltan central office and most other offices across the country remained locked for over two months following the events of October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Though thousands of BNP leaders and workers brought out a V-Day rally on December 16 in Nayapaltan, they did not reopen their central office.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrested around 24, 000 BNP leaders and workers over the last two months while 25 leaders and activists were killed by law enforcers during the period, according to BNP’s statistics.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, over 1,500 BNP leaders and workers, including three vice chairmen of the party, were sentenced in different political cases dating from five to ten years ago, that were revived and moved with unusual speed through the courts.</div><div><br></div><div>Hartals and blockades return</div><div><br></div><div>Since BNP’s movement lost its momentum following clashes with law enforcers on October 28, the party took harsher programmes like hartal and blockade after a long time.</div><div><br></div><div>The opposition parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days in four spells since October 29. Finally, the opposition party came up with the call for a non-cooperation movement on December 20, which virtually failed to evoke any response from people.</div><div><br></div><div>The party will end 2023 and start 2024 by observing a countrywide mass contact and leaflet distribution programme to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call to boycott the January 7 election and not cooperate with the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>Election Boycott</div><div><br></div><div>The Chief Election Commoner Kazi Habibul Awal announced the schedule of the 12th parliamentary polls on November 15, But BNP turned down it and declared to boycott the polls as its demand for a polls-time neutral government was not met. It is for the second time the party is boycotting the national election demanding a caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>Though BNP and like-minded opposition parties boycotted the election, (now former) BNP Vice Chairman Shahjahan Omar and around 24 mid-level leaders, decided to participate in the polls violating the party decision.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahjahan Omar, who was arrested in a case in connection with the October 28 violence, joined Awami League a day after he was freed from jail on bail and submitted his nomination papers as the ruling party’s candidate. He said he had had enough of election boycotts, and criticised the party for forgoing polls.</div><div><br></div><div>Of BNP’s alliance partners, only Kalyan Party chairman Syed Mohammad Ibrahim participated in the election.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP leaders claimed that the government tried to split their party with its efforts to bring many party senior leaders to the election either alluring them with different benefits or intimidating them with dire consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP leaders said it was the success of the party that no major leader, except Shahjahan Omar, quit BNP under pressure.</div><div><br></div><div>Concerns over Khaleda Zia’s health</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems, received treatments several times throughout the outgoing year.</div><div><br></div><div>The 78-year-old former prime minister was admitted to the hospital for the last time on August 9 for various health complications. She has still been staying there.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 26, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda’s condition improved since she underwent a successful hepatic procedure by the US doctors, but doctors did not discharge her as she is still not out of danger. ‍Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 14:12:26', '2023-12-31 14:12:26'),
(10653, 10653, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>More than 4,360 people, including combatants and civilians, were killed in Syria’s civil war in 2023, in the thirteenth year since fighting began, a war monitor said today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The figure is an increase from 2022 in which 3,825 people were killed.</div><div><br></div><div>That was the lowest annual death toll since the conflict began in 2011 with the government’s brutal crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy protests, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.</div><div><br></div><div>This year’s count included 1,889 civilians, with 241 of them women and 307 children among them, according to the UK-based Observatory, which has a network of sources inside Syria.</div><div><br></div><div>Syrian government forces accounted for almost 900 of the dead this year, with other fighters including from the Kurdish-led and US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, pro-Iran groups, Islamist factions, Islamic State group jihadists, and foreign combatants accounting for the rest.</div><div><br></div><div>Over the years, the country’s conflict spiralled dramatically. It pulled in foreign armies, militias, and jihadists, killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions, and ravaged the country’s infrastructure and industry.</div><div><br></div><div>With Iranian and Russian support, Damascus has clawed back much of the territory it lost earlier in the conflict, although large parts of the country’s north remain outside government control.</div><div><br></div><div>Frontlines have mostly quietened in recent years and annual death tolls dropped to lower levels.</div><div><br></div><div>Nevertheless, violence persists. The Observatory reported that several people including a fighter and a child were killed yesterday in government bombardment of “residential areas and a market” in the city of Idlib.</div><div><br></div><div>Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group led by Al-Qaeda’s former Syria branch, controls swathes of Idlib province and parts of neighbouring Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia provinces – the last major bastion of armed opposition in Syria.</div><div><br></div><div>A ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey was declared in Idlib after a Syrian government offensive in March 2020, but it has been repeatedly violated.</div><div><br></div><div>Also yesterday, 25 pro-Iran fighters were killed in airstrikes in eastern Syria “likely” carried out by Israel, the Observatory said, raising an earlier toll of 23.</div><div><br></div><div>The dead included five Syrians, six Iraqi fighters, four from Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, and 10 other non-Syrian combatants, the Observatory said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel, which has launched hundreds of strikes on Syrian territory since the war began, rarely comments on individual attacks but has repeatedly said it will not allow its arch-foe Iran to expand its presence in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has intensified its strikes in Syria since its war with Hamas began on Oct 7. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 14:17:52', '2023-12-31 14:17:52'),
(10654, 10654, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China’s president Xi Jinping today said the foundation of Sino-Russian ties had grown stronger in 2023, as he exchanged New Year greetings with his counterpart Vladimir Putin, state media reported.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Beijing and Moscow are staunch allies and have strengthened their relationship even as Western countries have turned their backs on Russia over its military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides have also made much of the personal relationship between the two leaders, and Xi has referred to Putin as his “good friend”.</div><div><br></div><div>Xi said that “the material and public opinion foundation of our relationship has become stronger” in his recap of the year to Putin today, according to state broadcaster CCTV.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the face of changes unseen in a century and a turbulent regional and international situation, China-Russia relations have maintained healthy and stable development and moved steadily in the right direction,” Xi said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Under our joint leadership, political mutual trust between the two sides has further deepened, strategic coordination has drawn closer, and mutually beneficial cooperation has continued to achieve new results,” the Chinese leader was quoted as saying.</div><div><br></div><div>Xi noted that the volume of bilateral trade exceeded US$200 billion ahead of schedule, and said Beijing was looking forward to marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties in 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>During a visit to Beijing by Russia’s prime minister Mikhail Mishustin this month, Xi said maintaining close ties with Moscow was a “strategic choice”. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 14:20:45', '2023-12-31 14:20:45'),
(10655, 10655, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A sub-inspector of Baniachong Police Station has been withdrawn in connection with the custodial death of Golam Rabbani, an accused in a theft case, who died at Baniachong Police Station in Habiganj on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Additional Superintendent of Habiganj Police Hasibur Rahman, said the punitive action was taken against Manirul Islam, sub-inspector of Habiganj Police Station on Saturday following a complaint lodged by the family members of Rabbani.</div><div><br></div><div>Manirul was attached to the Habiganj Police Lines, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On December 28, a three-member probe committee was formed over the death of Golam Rabbani.</div><div><br></div><div>Headed by Habiganj Additional Superintendent of Police (admin and finance) Hasibul Islam, the other two members of the committee are Additional Superintendent of Police (Baniachong circle) Palash Ranjan Dey and Court Police Inspector Md Kamrul Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>Rabbani, 26, was a resident of the Nandipara area of Baniachong Sadar upazila. Baniachong Police Station Officer-in-Charge Delwar Hossain said he was arrested on charges of stealing an autorickshaw on Tuesday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>He was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside a room of the police station in Baniachong around 7:30pm the same day, said the OC.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was taken to the Baniachong Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor declared him dead after an examination.</div><div><br></div><div>OC Delwar Hossain said an unnatural death case has been filed in the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>There were seven to eight theft cases against Rabbani. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-31 14:23:13', '2023-12-31 14:23:13'),
(10656, 10656, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Japan issued tsunami alerts Monday after a series of strong quakes shook western areas.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Japan Meterological Agency reported a quake hitting Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, one of them measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.6.</div><div><br></div><div>It issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the northwestern coast of the island of Honshu.</div><div><br></div><div>Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned torrents of water could reach as high as 5 meters (16.5 feet) and urged people to flee to high land or a top of a nearby building as quickly as possible.</div><div><br></div><div>Reports of damage were not immediately available. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 08:36:15', '2024-01-01 08:36:15'),
(10657, 10657, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The 121st birth anniversary of famous poet and litterateur Jasimuddin, widely revered as the “Polli Kobi”, is being observed on Monday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The poet was born on this day in 1903 at his maternal uncle’s house in Tambulkhana village in Faridpur district.</div><div><br></div><div>UNB Faridpur correspondent reports: On the occasion of the day, students of Ansaruddin High School, a school founded by the poet, brought out a procession. Then they paid homage to the poet\'s graveyard with flowers.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the celebration, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Kamrul Ahsan Talukdar, Superintendent of district Police Morshed Alam, and and freedom fighter commander Abul Foyez Shanewaz, among others, paid floral tributes to the poet’s graveyard at Ambikapur.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, people from all walks of life and members of different cultural and social organisations paid their respect to the poet.</div><div><br></div><div>A discussion meeting and a doa mahfil were held at the yard of the poet’s house. DC Kamrul addressed the event as the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Different aspects of the poet’s life and creations were discussed at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Two of his legendary works, ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ (Field of the Embroidered Quilt) and ‘Sojan Badiar Ghat’ (Gypsy Wharf) are considered two masterpieces in Bengali literature and has been globally translated.</div><div><br></div><div>Being a versatile writer, Jasimuddin is also respectfully remembered for his numerous other creative works including poems, ballads, songs, dramas, novels, stories, memoirs, travelogues and more.</div><div><br></div><div>As an esteemed lyricist, Jasimuddin penned many popular Bengali songs including “Amar sonar moyna pakhi,” “Prano shokhi re,” “Amay eto raate,” “Nishithe jaiyo fulobone,” “Amar haar kala korlam re,” “Amay bhaisaili re,” and others.</div><div><br></div><div>For his remarkable literary works, Jasimuddin was awarded the President\'s Award for Pride of Performance in 1958, DLitt. by Rabindra Bharati University, India in 1969, Ekushey Padak in 1976 and Independence Day Award (posthumously) in 1978.</div><div><br></div><div>In January 2018, Bangla Academy announced Jasimuddin Literary Award, a biennial award to be given for lifetime contribution to Bangla literature. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 09:04:07', '2024-01-01 09:04:07'),
(10658, 10658, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">On the first day of the new year, 2024, Dhaka topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 244 at 8:40 am.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>On the last day of 2023, Dhaka also topped the list with the worst air quality.</div><div><br></div><div>Today, Dhaka’s air was classified as \'very unhealthy’, posing serious health risks to residents, according to the air quality index.</div><div><br></div><div>India’s Delhi, China’s Chengdu and Ghana’s Accra occupied the second, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 222, 216 and 216 respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div><br></div><div>The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div><br></div><div>The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div><br></div><div>As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 09:09:00', '2024-01-01 09:09:00'),
(10659, 10659, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court has sentenced Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail, with fine of Tk 25000 each, in a case over violation of labor law.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka 3rd Labor Court Judge Sheikh Merina Sultana pronounced the judgment.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Yunus reached the court around 2:45 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>The court set January 1 to pronounce the verdict in the case after hearing the arguments of both the prosecution and the defence on December 24, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>On June 6, 2023, Dhaka Labor Court-3 framed charges against the four accused.</div><div><br></div><div>The others accused in the case are: Ashraful Hasan, CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust; trustee Nurjahan Begum; and managing director M Shahjahan.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Yunus and the three others filed a petition challenging the legality of the charge framing and seeking a stay order on trial proceedings in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The High Court on July 23 last year issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the indictment order against the four should not be scrapped.</div><div><br></div><div>On August 3, the Appellate Division directed the High Court to dispose of the rule questioning the charge framing against Dr Yunus and others by the lower court in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>On September 9, 2021, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman, of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka’s 3rd Labor Court.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case, during an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom, inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff members who were supposed to be permanent were not made so.</div><div><br></div><div>No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five percent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law. Upon a complaint, a criminal case was filed under sections 4, 7, 8, 117, 234 of the Labor Act. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 09:53:47', '2024-01-01 14:58:07'),
(10660, 10660, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ferry service on Chandpur-Shariatpur route resumed on Monday morning after nearly six hours of suspension due to dense fog in the Meghna River.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The authorities concerned were forced to suspend the ferry services from 3 am to 9 am on Monday to avert possible accidents.</div><div><br></div><div>Hundreds of vehicles waiting to cross the river remained stuck at the both ends of the river, causing suffering of passengers.</div><div><br></div><div>Faisal Alam Chowdhury, manager of Harina ferry ghat in Chandpur, said the ferry service resumed around 9 am after the invisibility caused by the dense fog improved, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Passengers said that launches operating on the Dhaka-Chandpur route are taking more travel time than usual due to the dense fog in the river.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 10:14:50', '2024-01-01 10:14:50'),
(10661, 10661, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Dhaka court that sentenced Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail in a case over violation of labor law has granted them conditional bail.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka 3rd Labor Court Judge Sheikh Merina Sultana pronounced the judgment.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Yunus’ lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun said the court granted bail to all for one month on condition of appeal.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing dissatisfaction, Barrister Mamun said, “We did not get justice and will file an appeal petition with the High Court.”</div><div><br></div><div>The others accused in the case are: Ashraful Hasan, CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust; trustee Nurjahan Begum; and managing director M Shahjahan.</div><div><br></div><div>The court set January 1 to pronounce the verdict in the case after hearing the arguments of both the prosecution and the defence on December 24, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>On June 6, 2023, Dhaka Labor Court-3 framed charges against the four accused.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Yunus and the three others filed a petition challenging the legality of the charge framing and seeking a stay order on trial proceedings in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The High Court on July 23 last year issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the indictment order against the four should not be scrapped.</div><div><br></div><div>On August 3, the Appellate Division directed the High Court to dispose of the rule questioning the charge framing against Dr Yunus and others by the lower court in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>On September 9, 2021, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman, of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka’s 3rd Labor Court.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case, during an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom, inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff members who were supposed to be permanent were not made so.</div><div><br></div><div>No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five percent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law. Upon a complaint, a criminal case was filed under sections 4, 7, 8, 117, 234 of the Labor Act. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 10:26:48', '2024-01-01 10:26:48'),
(10662, 10662, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#3984c6\">There are 2146 polling centers in the capital and half of those are considered vulnerable, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman said today.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“DMP has undertaken a plan for security arrangements, considering half of the polling centers out of 2146 to be vulnerable,” he said while talking to reporters after attending the textbook giveaway at Rajarbagh Police Lines School and College.</div><div><br></div><div>He also claimed that the security arrangements taken by DMP are strong.</div><div><br></div><div>All preparations centering the upcoming January 7 election are going on in full swing and voting will be held in a free, fair and peaceful manner, he said, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Alongside police, Ansar members will remain to maintain law and order inside the polling centers while patrol teams and striking force will perform their duties outside the centre, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 11:17:26', '2024-01-01 11:17:26'),
(10663, 10663, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b style=\"\">Thousands of Israeli soldiers are being shifted out of the Gaza Strip, the military said Monday, in the first significant drawdown of troops since the war began as forces continued to bear down on the main city in the southern half of the enclave.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The troop movement could signal that fighting is being scaled back in some areas of Gaza, particularly in the northern half where the military has said it is close to assuming operational control. Israel has been under pressure from its chief ally, the United States, to begin to switch to lower-intensity fighting.</div><div><br></div><div>Word of the drawdown came ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region and after the Biden administration bypassed Congress for the second time this month to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>But fierce fighting continued in other areas of Gaza, especially the southern city Khan Younis and central areas of the territory. Israel has pledged to charge ahead until its war aims have been achieved, including dismantling Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years.</div><div><br></div><div>The military said in a statement Monday that five brigades, or several thousand troops, were being taken out of Gaza in the coming weeks for training and rest.</div><div><br></div><div>In a briefing Sunday that first announced the troop withdrawal without specifying how many forces were leaving, army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari did not say whether the decision meant Israel was launching a new phase of the war.</div><div><br></div><div>“The objectives of the war require prolonged fighting, and we are preparing accordingly,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has vowed to crush Hamas’ military and governing capabilities in its war, which was sparked by the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people. Roughly 240 people were taken hostage.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel responded with a blistering air, ground and sea offensive that has killed more than 21,800 people in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel says more than 8,000 militants have been killed, without providing evidence. It blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll, saying the militants embed within residential areas, including schools and hospitals.</div><div><br></div><div>The war has displaced some 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, sending swells of people seeking shelter in Israeli-designated safe areas that the military has nevertheless bombed. Palestinians are left with a sense that nowhere is safe in the tiny enclave.</div><div><br></div><div>BATTLES IN THE SOUTH</div><div><br></div><div>In Khan Younis, where Israel is believed to have thousands of troops, residents reported airstrikes and shelling in the west and center of the city. The military and the militant group Islamic Jihad reported clashes in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>The Palestinian Red Crescent said on X, formerly Twitter, that it transported several dead and injured following a strike late Sunday in the Beach Street in Khan Younis. It posted nighttime footage showing medics carrying casualties to ambulances.</div><div><br></div><div>Combat was also reported in urban refugee camps in central Gaza, where Israel expanded its offensive last week.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s our routine: bombings, massacres and martyrs,” said Saeed Moustafa, a Palestinian from the Nuseirat camp. He said he could hear sporadic explosions and gunfire in Nuseirat and in the nearby Bureij and Maghazi camps.</div><div><br></div><div>“Just as we speak, there is a big explosion not far from my home,\" he said in a phone call Monday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>The military said an airstrike killed Adel Mismah, a regional commander of Hamas’ elite Nukhba forces, in the central city of Deir al-Balah.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas fired a large barrage of rockets toward Israel, including at its commercial hub Tel Aviv, as the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve.</div><div><br></div><div>‘A DIFFERENT MODE OF OPERATION’</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has said the war will last for months. It has argued that it needs time to clear Gaza of militants\' weapons and infrastructure and to prevent Hamas from being able to stage more attacks. Israel has resisted international calls for a long-term cease-fire, saying doing so would amount to a victory for Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>Shlomo Brom, a retired brigadier general once in charge of strategic planning in the Israeli military, said the troop changes may be a result of the U.S. pressure. He said it indicated a shift in how Israel was conducting the war in some areas.</div><div><br></div><div>“The war is not stopping,” said Brom. “It is the beginning of a different mode of operation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israelis still largely support the wars aims, even as the cost in soldiers\' lives is mounting.</div><div><br></div><div>Over the weekend, the military said that of the soldiers killed since the ground operation began — as of Monday, 172 in total — 18 were killed by friendly fire while another 11 died by weapons or equipment malfunctions or accidents. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 11:30:30', '2024-01-01 11:30:30'),
(10664, 10664, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>New Year’s Day arrived to cheers from tens of thousands of beaming people in New York’s Times Square who were showered with confetti and hugs and kisses after watching the descent of the colorful ball marking the birth of 2024 with hope for some, even as the world’s ongoing conflicts subdued celebrations and raised security concerns across the globe.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It’s beautiful,” Corin Christian of Charlotte, North Carolina, said of the scene seconds past midnight as Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blared from speakers in the square and many in the crowd held cell phones in the air, trying to capture the spectacle.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s going very well so far,” said Jacob Eriksson of Salt Lake City, Utah, with the earliest assessment of the New Year.</div><div><br></div><div>The march of midnight from time zone to time zone brought 2024 first to places like Australia, where more than 1 million people watched a pyrotechnic display centered around Sydney’s famous Opera House and harbor bridge — a number of spectators equivalent to 1 in 5 of the city’s residents. It would be another 16 hours before New York finished 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>There were snapshots of joy from country to country as the new year was welcomed with optimism that its days will bring more joy than sorrow.</div><div><br></div><div>Before midnight arrived in Times Square, December Lee, 26, and Shadayah Lawrence, 25, of Columbus, Ohio, said their New York visit highlighted four years of traveling the globe.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is a good way to bring in the new year,” Lee said.</div><div><br></div><div>Also in Times Square, Tyrell Jacobs, 27, and Sarah Crayton, 26, arrived from New Orleans 15 hours before midnight and got engaged in streets packed with tens of thousands of people counting first the hours and then the minutes until midnight.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s definitely a must-see,” Crayton said of the colorful cast of strangers nearby in tall hats and blowing noisemakers even before the ball dropped. “At least go once, you know, just to experience the magic.”</div><div><br></div><div>A small army of thousands of police officers worked to keep New York City safe, just as heightened security had done in the cities midnight hit first. New York has seen near-daily protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 90,000 police and security officers were deployed around France including along Champs-Elysees Avenue, where large crowds took in a multidimensional light show projected onto the Arc de Triomphe showcasing the history of Paris and sports on the menu for next year’s Summer Olympics in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>While New Year’s Eve concerts were plentiful across America on Sunday night, CNN news personality Anderson Cooper followed a tribute to entertainers who died in 2023 by acknowledging the network’s jovial New Year’s Eve program with co-host Andy Cohen might also be a sad occasion for some viewers.</div><div><br></div><div>“There’s a lot of people who feel like they can’t celebrate,” he said in the final minutes of a year that claimed the lives of Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Sinéad O’Connor, Jimmy Buffett, Burt Bacharach and David Crosby, among others. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 11:54:07', '2024-01-01 11:54:07'),
(10665, 10665, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A long-awaited European Union’s visa liberalization scheme allowing Kosovo nationals to travel to Europe’s borderless zone without a visa came into force on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The new regime, which came into force at midnight (2300 GMT Sunday), enables Kosovars to travel to the passport-free Schengen zone without a visa for periods of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.</div><div><br></div><div>Kosovo, with a population of 1.8 million, was the last of the six countries in the Western Balkans to get the waiver.</div><div><br></div><div>The reform is perceived in Pristina as another step toward full recognition and a boost for the ambition of the country that proclaimed independence in 2008 to join the EU.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, Kosovo by 2018 met all the needed criteria for the visa-free regime, including border and migration management.</div><div><br></div><div>But the approval has been held up by France and the Netherlands, that were concerned about the possibility of new migration waves as well as by five other EU members - Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.</div><div><br></div><div>The five do not recognize Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, neither does the latter.</div><div><br></div><div>Before the EU lifted the visa regime with Kosovo, its passport holders could travel without a visa only to 14 countries all over the world.</div><div><br></div><div>During the past few months, the government in Pristina has been conducting a public awareness campaign urging people not to misuse the freedom of travel by looking for jobs in the EU.</div><div><br></div><div>Later on Monday, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who leads the campaign himself, is to address the first Kosovo residents who will travel from the Pristina airport to the EU without a visa. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 12:06:55', '2024-01-01 12:06:55'),
(10666, 10666, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel must increase humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza as the aid entering the enclave meets only 10% of its needs, according to the Israeli media.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote on Sunday: “Half of Gaza\'s population is in a state of severe or extreme hunger, and 90% of Gaza\'s more than two million residents are going a whole day without food, often.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The 190 trucks that enter Gaza daily with Israel\'s approval provide only about 10% of the needs of Gazans,” it added.</div><div><br></div><div>“Israeli media is largely hiding from the public the extent of the destruction, death, and humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip as a result of the war,” the newspaper said.</div><div><br></div><div>Gazans grapple with catastrophic humanitarian and health conditions, as approximately 1.4 million out of 2.3 million people have been displaced from their homes.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has restricted access to food, water, medications, and electricity amid intense bombardment.</div><div><br></div><div>The aid entering the Gaza Strip does not meet the needs of the population, given the stringent blockade imposed by Israel on the Palestinian territory since 2006.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said on Oct. 26 that the years-long Israeli blockade of Gaza has left 80% of the Palestinians in Gaza dependent on international aid.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 150 Palestinians were killed and another 286 wounded in the past 24 hours as Israeli forces continued their onslaught in the besieged Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli army\'s ongoing attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 has risen to 21,822, with 56,451 wounded, the ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities claim the Hamas attacks have killed around 1,200 Israelis. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 12:21:48', '2024-01-01 12:21:48');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10667, 10667, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv from Russian air strikes targeting multiple regions of the country on Friday has risen to 28, local officials declared on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Unfortunately, the bodies of those killed as a result of the missile strikes are still being found. Rescuers retrieved another body from under the rubble,\" Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, announced in a statement on Telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>In an earlier statement, Popko said that the number of those killed had risen to 27 after four more bodies were recovered from under the rubble.</div><div><br></div><div>Indicating that search and rescue operations in the capital are still ongoing, Popko further said that 30 people were injured in the airstrikes.</div><div><br></div><div>Separately, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) said that it found the bodies of eight people in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district during the past day.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 40 people were killed in various regions of Ukraine after a massive air attack by Russian forces on Friday, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the \"heaviest attack\" so far by Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that a day of mourning would be observed in the capital on Jan. 1. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 12:31:52', '2024-01-01 12:31:52'),
(10668, 10668, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thousands of people gathered on Monday for an event titled \"Mercy for our martyrs, support for Palestine, curse on Israel” in mosques during the morning prayers to join a procession organized by Türkiye’s NGO TUGVA and National Will Platform.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The event involved the participation of 308 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). After the morning prayers at Hagia Sophia Mosque, Eminonu New Mosque, Sultanahmet Mosque, and Suleymaniye Mosque, the participants rallied in the mosque courtyards, offering prayers for the martyrs and Palestinians who lost their lives in Israeli attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>The participants assembled in Hagia Sophia Square after the prayers and chanted slogans such as \"Martyrs never die, the homeland will not be divided,\" \"Collaborator traitors will be held accountable, killer Israel will be held accountable,\" \"Killer Israel, get out of Palestine,\" \"Our blood, our lives sacrificed for Al-Aqsa,\" and \"Greetings to Hamas, resistance will continue.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Youth and Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak, former Turkish parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop, and the president of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Dissemination of Knowledge and a member of the High Advisory Board of TUGVA, Bilal Erdogan, were among the participants.</div><div><br></div><div>Prayers were also offered for the 12 Turkish soldiers killed in the Claw-Lock Operation zone in northern Iraq and for those killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>After the prayers, the participants began marching towards the Galata Bridge, carrying signs in Turkish, Arabic, and English. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 12:42:20', '2024-01-01 12:42:20'),
(10669, 10669, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#3984c6\">The BNP on Monday further extended the ongoing mass contact and leaflet distribution programme for three more days until Thursday.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi&nbsp;</span>said this while speaking at a virtual press briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir announced the fresh programme, which is meant to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call to boycott the January 7 election and not cooperate with the Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said, \"Our mass contact and leaflet distribution programme is going on across the country. The BNP and like-minded parties will again observe the mass contact and leaflet distribution programme from Tuesday to Thursday.”</div><div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ruhul Kabir</span>&nbsp;called upon the opposition leaders and workers to make the programme successful with their spontaneous support.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand,&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">On December 24, the party announced a three-day mass contact and leaflet distribution programme beginning on December 26.&nbsp;</span></div><div><br></div><div>The BNP and nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 13:22:45', '2024-01-01 13:38:17'),
(10670, 10670, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In 2023, Bangladesh grappled with persistent volatility in its foreign exchange market, despite concerted efforts by Bangladesh Bank to stabilize the situation through significant dollar sales from its reserves.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Economists have pinpointed policy missteps as the root cause, warning that without a shift in Bangladesh Bank\'s strategy, the foreign exchange crisis could extend into 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>To counter market instability, Bangladesh Bank dispensed a substantial USD $6.7 billion from its reserves in the first half of the fiscal year 2023-24. During this period, it also purchased approximately one billion dollars from various commercial banks, as confirmed by the central bank’s concerned department.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Ahsan H. Mansur, a former senior economist at the IMF, expressed to UNB his concerns regarding Bangladesh Bank’s conservative exchange rate policies. \"The increasing demand for foreign exchange is artificial, largely driven by trade-based capital flight. A more competitive exchange rate could significantly curb this trend,\" Dr Mansur explained.</div><div><br></div><div>He further noted that market-based exchange rates could incentivize expatriates and exporters to increase remittances and repatriate export proceeds.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Mustafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow at CPD, highlighted another challenge: the deferred payment of foreign liabilities, exacerbating the strain on foreign exchange reserves.</div><div><br></div><div>Prof Mustfiz emphasized, “Effective monitoring to prevent capital flight, coupled with competitive exchange rates, is crucial for minimizing the dollar shortage.”</div><div><br></div><div>Md Mezbaul Haque, Bangladesh Bank’s spokesperson and executive director, outlined the dire situation: \"Our import costs are not being offset by export income, and remittances are below expectations. This has led to an acute foreign exchange crisis.\"</div><div><br></div><div>To mitigate this, the central bank sold large volumes of dollars from its reserves, primarily to import fuel, fertilizers, and food. Simultaneously, the bank has been purchasing dollars to bolster reserves, a requirement for securing IMF loans. Yet, the dollar crisis persists, with banks struggling to manage their dollar transactions.</div><div><br></div><div>Banks currently buy dollars from expatriates and export earnings at Tk 109.50, while selling to importers at Tk 110 officially. However, many banks are charging over Tk 110 per dollar for sales. Some even buy expatriate income at rates as high as Tk 123 per dollar.</div><div><br></div><div>As of November 30, 2023, Bangladesh\'s foreign exchange reserves stood at $25.02 billion, or $19.40 billion according to the IMF\'s BPM6 formula. By December 28, reserves had climbed to $27.04 billion, thanks to IMF loan installments, ADB budget support, and various project disbursements.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite these increases, upcoming bill payments in early January, 2024 are expected to diminish these reserves once more, highlighting the continuing challenges facing Bangladesh\'s foreign exchange market. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 14:19:43', '2024-01-01 14:19:43'),
(10671, 10671, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the people to give a befitting reply to arson violence, BNP and Jamaat by casting their votes in the January-7 general election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Don’t only cast your vote, but also protect your vote. Give a befitting reply to arson violence, militant and terrorist BNP and Jamaat,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL chief said this while addressing an election rally, arranged jointly by AL Dhaka City South and North units at Kalabagan Krirachakro Field in the city’s Dhanmondi area.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the people of Bangladesh to stay vigilant always against arsonists BNP and Jamaat as they want to destroy the country, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP and Jamaat want to snatch your votes in the upcoming election by resorting to arson violence,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina urged the voters to go to polling stations and cast their votes in the morning on January 7 so that none can snatch away their voting rights and election.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 14:47:29', '2024-01-01 14:47:29'),
(10672, 10672, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Monday sentenced 18 leaders and activists of BNP to three years jail each in a case filed over a clash with police in 2019.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Begum Afnan Somi passed the order.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also fined them Tk 5,000 each, in default to suffer one month jail in two separate sections under the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The convicts are-- Joint secretary of Dhaka South City unit BNP Anwar Pervez Badal, joint general secretary of Jubo Dal Central Committee Mir Newaz Ali Newaz, Jubo Dal Chawkbazar unit convener Sabha Karim Lucky, President of No 59 ward BNP Syed Hossain Sohel, general secretary of No 24 ward unit BNP Tasaddek Hossain Bablu, BNP leaders Shafiuddin Ahmed Sentu, Aminul Islam Amin, Arman Ahmed, Farhad Hossain Bunty, Riazuddin Badsha, Rafiqul Islam Russel, Nazimuddin Naju, Maniur Rahman Monir, Tipu Sultan, Rafiqur Islam, Liton and Muhin.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also acquitted Mir Ashraf Ali as allegations brought against him could not be proved.</div><div><br></div><div>On December 8, 2019, the leaders and activists of the BNP brought a procession in the Chawkbazar area demanding the release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>A clash took place between the BNP men and police during the procession.</div><div><br></div><div>Sub-inspector Gias Uddin of Chwkbazar Model Police Station filed a case against 19 people.</div><div><br></div><div>Police submitted a chargesheet against them on November 18, 2020. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 15:06:59', '2024-01-01 15:06:59'),
(10673, 10673, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Actor Alia Bhatt welcomed New Year 2024 with her husband-actor Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Raha Kapoor. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Alia shared a bunch of photos also featuring Ranbir and Raha.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In the first photo, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia hugged each other as he gave a kiss on her cheek while clicking the selfie. She smiled and made a face in the photo. In the next picture, Alia smiled while sitting at a table wearing a string dress and a funky hairband.</div><div><br></div><div>Wrap up the year gone by &amp; gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here</div><div>Alia holds Raha in new photo</div><div>Alia held Raha, who waved in the next photo as they stood by the sea, seemingly at sunset. A scuba gear was also seen kept on a deck in the next picture. Alia wore a pink outfit as she clicked a selfie in another photo. She also posted a picture of her feet against the blue sky.</div><div><br></div><div>Alia wishes fans on New Year</div><div>The actor shared her video blowing a whistle. In another clip, she gave a glimpse of trees on a windy evening. She captioned the pictures, \"2024 to do - keep it wholesome &amp; soul-some. Happy New Year to you all (sun, sparkles, light blue heart and upside-down face emojis).\"</div><div><br></div><div>Recently, Alia shared a video on Instagram of her accomplishments in 2023. It featured a bunch of pictures from memorable moments of the year. She captioned it with, \"2 0 2 3.\'\' After her post, Ranveer Singh posted a heart emoji. The video started with her look from Rocky aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. - Hindustan Times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 15:21:44', '2024-01-01 15:21:44'),
(10674, 10674, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nobel peace laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus on Monday stressed that he has been punished for a crime he didn’t commit.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“I have been punished for a crime that I haven’t committed,” Yunus told reporters after he was convicted in a case over violation of labor law. “If you want to call it justice, you can.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this afternoon, a Dhaka court sentenced Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail, with fine of Tk 25000 each, in a case over violation of labor law.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The others accused in the case are: Ashraful Hasan, CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust; trustee Nurjahan Begum; and managing director M Shahjahan.</div><div><br></div><div>They were accused of not making 101 workers and employees of Grameen Telecom permanent, not encashing public leave, and not depositing certain dividends to the Workers Welfare Foundation.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the 84-page verdict, the judge said the charges of violating labor laws were proved against them.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Rejecting the verdict, Yunus\'s lawyer Abdullah-Al-Mamun told reporters that they would appeal against the judgment.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We did not get justice and will file an appeal petition with the High Court,” said Barrister Mamun.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>However, Professor Yunus and three others accused in the case will not have to go to jail for the time being as the court granted one-month bail to them on the condition of appeal.</div><div><br></div><div>After the verdict, Yunus was taken out of the court amid tight police security.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In an immediate reaction, Yunus said, \"Many of my friends have come to hear the verdict today, whom I have not met for a long time. It was a pleasure to see them today. ”</div><div><br></div><div>\"Everyone was waiting for the verdict. We were punished for the crime we didn\'t commit. I got hurt on a happy day,” said Yunus.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Many prominent citizens were present in the court to hear the verdict including human rights activist and United Nations Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, Irene Khan, BLAST Executive Director Barrister Sara Hossain, prominent photojournalist Shahidul Alam and Dhaka University Professor Asif Nazrul.</div><div><br></div><div>Irene Khan told reporters that she was shocked by the verdict and further called it “a travesty of justice.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"On the first day of 2024, I am shocked and I am terrified to see what is happening to the rule of law in this country where a labour tribunal has been weaponised against a nobel peace laureate while labour laws are broken and violated in the most severe ways everyday in Bangladesh and the government does nothing. A social activist and Nobel laureate who brought honour and pride to the country is being persecuted on frivolous grounds. For me that is a travesty of justice,\" said the human rights activist.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka 3rd Labor Court Judge Sheikh Merina Sultana started reading the verdict after 2:00 pm on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Dr Yunus is not being tried today as a Nobel Laureate. Here he is being judged as the chairman of Grameen Telecom,” said the judge.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>While the verdict was being read out, Yunus\' lawyer Barrister Mamun told the judge several times that their contentions were not included in the verdict.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“This raises questions about the impartiality of the court,” he told the court.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the verdict, the judge said, \"The defence lawyer has said that there are other directors in the case who have not been accused. They also said that only the close ones of Dr. Yunus have been accused in the case, which is not true. It has appeared to the court that the labor law has been violated.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to the case, during an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom, inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff members who were supposed to be permanent were not made so.</div><div><br></div><div>No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five percent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the labour law. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-01 16:18:32', '2024-01-01 16:18:32'),
(10675, 10675, '<div><b><font color=\"#a54a7b\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Despite relaxed conditions for net reserves by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bangladesh could not meet the foreign exchange reserves target at the end of 2023.</span><br></font></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to the IMF loan documents, the actual reserves were supposed to be USD $17.78 billion at the end of December 2023. However, as the year ended, the actual reserves stood at about $16.75 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bank could not meet the reserves target as per IMF conditions by September-end as well. Later, the global lender reduced the reserves conservation target at the request of Bangladesh. Even the revised target could not be achieved by the end of December 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>According to IMF\'s new conditions, the real reserves are expected to be $19.26 billion in March and $20.10 billion in June 2024. However, financial sector stakeholders cannot determine whether this goal will be achieved.</div><div><br></div><div>The real reserve is the reserve that is calculated after excluding the SDR of the IMF, the dollars kept as foreign exchange clearing by the banks, and the dollars deposited for the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) bills.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, there are two other accounts of reserve. One of them is total reserve. Another IMF accounting system is reserves maintained under BPM6.</div><div><br></div><div>At the end of the year 2023, total forex reserves increased to $27 billion. However, what the IMF considers is only net or real reserves.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Mezbaul Haque, spokesperson and executive director of Bangladesh Bank told UNB that the central bank worked to keep the reserves above $17 billion, as per the IMF-set target.</div><div><br></div><div>Former IMF economist Dr Ahsan H Mansur told UNB that it is unexpected that the IMF-set target could not be met even after reducing the previous target, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also doubted that Bangladesh Bank will be able to maintain IMF’s foreign exchange reserves target in March 2024, if the central bank does not change its policies.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 08:53:25', '2024-01-02 08:53:25'),
(10676, 10676, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#e79439\">A series of powerful earthquakes hit western Japan, leaving at least 48 people dead and damaging thousands of buildings, vehicles and boats, with officials warning people in some areas on Tuesday to stay away from their homes because of a risk of more strong quakes.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area on Monday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Forty-eight people were confirmed dead in Ishikawa, officials said. Sixteen others were seriously injured, while damage to homes was so great that it could not immediately be assessed, they said.</div><div><br></div><div>Japanese media reports said tens of thousands of homes were destroyed. Government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi said 17 people were seriously injured and gave a slightly lower death tally, while saying he was aware of the prefecture\'s tally.</div><div><br></div><div>Water, power and cellphone service were still down in some areas, and residents expressed sorrow about their destroyed homes and uncertain futures.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It’s not just that it’s a mess. The wall has collapsed, and you can see through to the next room. I don’t think we can live here anymore,” Miki Kobayashi, an Ishikawa resident, said as she swept around her house.</div><div><br></div><div>Their house was also damaged in a 2007 quake, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Japan’s military dispatched 1,000 soldiers to the disaster zones to join rescue efforts, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Saving lives is our priority and we are fighting a battle against time,” he said. “It is critical that people trapped in homes get rescued immediately.”</div><div><br></div><div>A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 shook the Ishikawa area as he was speaking.</div><div><br></div><div>Firefighters were able to bring a fire under control in Wajima city which had reddened the sky with embers and smoke.</div><div><br></div><div>Nuclear regulators said several nuclear plants in the region were operating normally. A major quake and tsunami in March 2011 caused three reactors to melt and release large amounts of radiation at a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan.</div><div><br></div><div>News videos showed rows of collapsed houses. Some wooden structures were flattened and cars were overturned. Half-sunken ships floated in bays where tsunami waves had rolled in, leaving a muddied coastline.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, as well as for the northern island of Hokkaido.</div><div><br></div><div>The warning was downgraded several hours later, and all tsunami warnings were lifted as of early Tuesday. Waves measuring more than one meter (3 feet) hit some places.</div><div><br></div><div>The agency warned that more major quakes could hit the area over the next few days.</div><div><br></div><div>People who were evacuated from their houses huddled in auditoriums, schools and community centers. Bullet trains in the region were halted, but service was mostly restored by Tuesday afternoon. Sections of highways were closed.</div><div><br></div><div>Weather forecasters predicted rain, setting off worries about already crumbling buildings and infrastructure.</div><div><br></div><div>The region includes tourist spots famous for lacquerware and other traditional crafts, along with designated cultural heritage sites.</div><div><br></div><div>U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement that his administration was “ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Japanese people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes because of its location along the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.</div><div><br></div><div>Over the last day, the nation has experienced about a hundred aftershocks. - abcNews</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 09:11:54', '2024-01-02 09:11:54'),
(10677, 10677, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Armed forces will remain deployed across the country for eight days from Wednesday to assist the local civil administration in holding a free, fair and peaceful election scheduled for January 7, 2024 as per Section 126 of the constitution\'s \"In Aid to the Civil Power\".</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The armed forces will provide assistance to the Election Commission (EC) and local civil administration from January 3 to 10 countrywide to ensure peace and order before, during and after the election day, said an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) media release on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the armed forces will be stationed at nodal points and other convenient places in every district, upazila and metropolitan areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Upon request from the returning officers concerned and through coordination with stakeholders, the area-base deployment has been completed, said the ISPR.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of Bangladesh Army have been assigned in 62 districts while Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) alone will perform duty in 45 upazilas.</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, the army in coordination with the BGB and Coast Guard will perform duty in 47 bordering upazilas and 4 coastal upazilas respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>The members of Bangladesh Navy will remain deployed in 19 coastal upazilas including in Bhola and Barguna districts.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Air Forces (BAF) will provide helicopter assistance to polling stations in the hilly remote areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Moreover, a sufficient number of helicopters of the BAF have been kept ready to provide electoral assistance.</div><div><br></div><div>A cell in coordination with several ministries, divisions, and representatives from the law enforcing agencies has been set up at the armed forces division, which will remain effective till January 10.</div><div><br></div><div>The armed forces have taken all-out preparation to provide necessary assistance to ensure peace and order centering the 12th national parliamentary election. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 12:58:25', '2024-01-02 12:58:25'),
(10678, 10678, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been increased to Tk 119.40 per kg for the month of January, from Tk 117.02 in December, said BERC.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Retail consumers will have to pay an additional Tk 2.41 per kg of LPG from 6 pm on Tuesday, according to Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).</div><div><br></div><div>The energy regulator announced the new price, saying that retail consumers will now have to play Tk 1433 (including VAT) for a 12 kg cylinder of LPG. The previous price of a 12 kg LPG cylinder was Tk 1,404.</div><div><br></div><div>Prices of other LPG cylinders – from 5.5 kg to 45 kg – will go up rationally, Md Nurul Amin, chairman of BERC, said on Tuesday at a press briefing at the BERC office in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the BERC decision, the price of “auto gas” (LPG used for motor vehicles) also increased to Tk 65.76 per litre (including VAT) from Tk Tk 64.43 per litre.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of LPG, marketed by the state-owned LP Gas Company, will remain the same as it is locally produced with a market share of less than 5 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>BERC officials said LPG price will witness an increase in the local market due to increase in the prices of Saudi CP (contract price).</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi LPG operators normally import their products from the Middle-eastern market on the basis of Saudi CP.</div><div><br></div><div>LPG witnessed the highest price at Tk 1,498 (per 12 kg cylinder) in the local market in February last year following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February. Accoding to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 13:17:16', '2024-01-02 13:17:16'),
(10679, 10679, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Martial arts, a term encompassing various physical disciplines, are not just about physical prowess but also about mental discipline and spiritual growth. Central to many of these arts is the martial arts belt ranking system. These belts are more than colorful accessories; they signify the milestones one has achieved and the challenges that lie ahead.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Which Martial Arts Use Belt Ranking System?</div><div>Karate&nbsp;</div><div>This martial art is renowned for its robust strikes and powerful kicks. Karate adopts a structured belt progression system, beginning with the symbolic white belt and culminating in the prestigious black belt. As practitioners advance through various levels, each belt color marks a new stage of expertise and understanding.</div><div><br></div><div>Taekwondo</div><div>Characterized by its swift and dynamic kicks, Taekwondo follows a similar belt system to Karate. It encompasses a progression from white to black belts, each representing the stages of skill and personal development within the art.</div><div><br></div><div>Judo</div><div>A grappling-focused martial art, Judo emphasizes throws and takedowns. It employs a belt system starting from white, advancing through different levels until brown. The highly regarded black belt is awarded at the pinnacle of mastery, symbolizing a deep understanding of Judo\'s principles and techniques.</div><div><br></div><div>Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu</div><div>Recognized for its emphasis on ground fighting techniques, Jiu-Jitsu features a belt system encompassing white, blue, purple, brown, and black belts. Significantly, within each belt level, practitioners may earn stripes, marking progress and skill refinement.</div><div><br></div><div>Others</div><div>Various other martial arts also incorporate belt ranking systems. Aikido, for instance, moves practitioners from white to black belts, symbolizing a journey of growth and learning. Kung Fu, known for its diverse styles, follows varied belt systems, each reflective of its unique philosophy and technique.</div><div><br></div><div>Martial Arts Belts Colors in Order</div><div>White Belt</div><div>In many martial arts, the journey begins with the white belt. It symbolizes purity and the start of the student\'s path. Representing an empty canvas, it signifies the initiation into the world of martial arts, where the basics form the foundation of future mastery.</div><div><br></div><div>Yellow Belt</div><div>The yellow belt, representing the first step beyond the beginner stage, signals an understanding of basic techniques. It symbolizes sunlight, the dawn of knowledge and skill in the martial arts journey.</div><div><br></div><div>Orange Belt</div><div>The orange belt denotes a deeper commitment. It represents a progression in learning, where the practitioner starts building upon the basic skills and demonstrates growing self-discipline.</div><div><br></div><div>Green Belt</div><div>The green belt stands for further growth and progress. It symbolizes the lush green of flourishing plants, indicating that the practitioner is developing greater control, stamina, and strength.</div><div><br></div><div>Blue Belt</div><div>As practitioners advance to the blue belt, it marks a significant transition. It indicates further improvement in skills and techniques and reflects the emergence of leadership qualities within the student.</div><div><br></div><div>Purple Belt</div><div>The purple belt is indicative of a higher level of expertise and dedication. This royal color symbolizes advanced skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to guide and mentor others in martial arts.</div><div><br></div><div>Brown Belt</div><div>Approaching the pinnacle, the brown belt signifies an advanced understanding and near mastery of the martial art. It represents maturity, high proficiency, and preparation for the final challenges before reaching the black belt.</div><div><br></div><div>Black Belt</div><div>The black belt is a symbol of ultimate achievement and expertise in martial arts. It represents a deep understanding and high skill level, but importantly, it also signifies the beginning of a new phase where the focus shifts to continuous improvement and mastery of finer aspects of martial arts.</div><div><br></div><div>Bottom Lines</div><div>The belt ranking system in martial arts is a deeply ingrained part of these disciplines, representing the dedication, skill, and growth of practitioners. While the specific belt colors and their meanings might vary slightly among different martial arts styles and schools, the core concept remains consistent: they are a tangible representation of one\'s progress and a source of motivation in the journey toward martial arts mastery. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Martial Arts Belts<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 13:43:07', '2024-01-02 13:43:07'),
(10680, 10680, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged the people to keep vigil against the conspiracies of the anti-liberation forces.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“There are so many conspiracies around. Those who did not support our liberation war have not stopped their conspiracies yet,” she told a mammoth election rally of her party at the Government Rajendra College Field here this afternoon.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Hasina said these conspirators are stepping up their plots as they know Bangladesh never bows to anyone.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am the daughter of the Father of the Nation, I never bow to anyone and will never do that,” she declared.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that although the Awami League government already has done massive development works across the country there are more to be done.</div><div><br></div><div>“We need to build ourselves as a developing country. Who do you need for this? Just tell me,” she asked the audience before saying, \"Only boat can do it.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Boat is the election symbol of Awami League which is seeking a fourth straight five-year term in the January 7 national polls.</div><div><br></div><div>“If only boat gets votes I will be able to come to the power again and it will be possible to build Bangladesh as the developing country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that Bangladesh will never fall back.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Only the boat will give you the solutions. You all have to remember that,” she told the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that by 2041 Bangladeshi will be a smart nation.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh will be hunger-and-poverty-free developed and prosperous Smart Golden Bengal which was the dream of the Father of the Nation,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Smart Bangladesh means a smart government, smart people, smart economy and smart society.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that having lost everything she has found the people of Bangladesh as her family.</div><div><br></div><div>“So whatever I\'ve I have sacrificed for the people of the country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked the audience to promise that they will vote for boat.</div><div><br></div><div>The cheering crowd raised their hands in support and chanted slogans for boat.</div><div><br></div><div>She also introduced candidates from Faridpur, Rajbari and Magura seeking votes for them.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League presidium member and Awami League nominated candidate from Faridpur-1 Abdur Rahman, cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, who is contesting from Magura-1 constituency as Awami League nominated candidate and Awami League nominated candidate from Faridpur-3 constituency Shamim Huq also spoke.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>From the stage Hasina waved national flag to the crowd. In response the audience also waved the miniature flags they carried.</div><div><br></div><div>A festive mood was seen everywhere in Faridpur city as well as in the entire district on the occasion of the visit of the prime minister, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Hasina reached Faridpur by road crossing the Padma Bridge. She arrived at the rally ground at about 3:15pm.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 13:46:32', '2024-01-02 13:46:32'),
(10681, 10681, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The price of Bitcoin on Tuesday rose above $45,000, the first time it has hit that level since April 2022.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The increase fueled hopes that the US this year may implement the Bitcoin exchange traded fund (ETF), which would enable investors to purchase products mirroring the price of bitcoin, eliminating the need to have cryptocurrency.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of Bitcoin was at $45,838 on Tuesday at 0948GMT, a daily increase of 7.34%, according to US-based Forbes business.</div><div><br></div><div>Bitcoin’s competitors also followed suit, with Ethereum – its top challenger – posting a rise of 5.05% to $2,416.38 as of 1000GMT, according to data from the digital asset price-tracking website CoinMarketCap.</div><div><br></div><div>The total value of the crypto market was up 6.7% to $1.85 trillion at the time, 50.83% of which belonged to Bitcoin, the data showed. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 14:05:26', '2024-01-02 14:05:26'),
(10682, 10682, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Narail-2 Awami League candidate for the 12th Parliamentary Election, Mashrafe bin Mortaza MP, has said that the future of the next generation depends on the January 7 election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"This is not just an election, the future of the next generation depends on this election on January 7,\" the former cricket star said, addressing a street rally at Ragurathpur Primary School grounds in Ghoshbari on Monday morning. The school is near the Dattapara bus stand in Auria Union of Narail Sadar.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Go to the polling centre with all the family members and vote for boat. Your duty is till January 7. I will take all responsibility for you and your future generations from January 8. This much I promise you,” the former Bangladesh captain, renowned as a natural leader of men among peers, pleaded.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Many mega projects are still underway, those should not stop. In the last five years, I have been with you and tried to develop as much as possible,” he said, directly addressing the voters.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he held further rallies at Fedi Bazar, Chalitatala Bazar and Ratdanga Bazar of Chandibarpur Union.</div><div><br></div><div>Auria UP Chairman SM Palash, Chandibarpur Union Chairman Azizur Rahman and leaders and workers of district, upazila and union Awami League and associate organizations were present at the time. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 14:56:09', '2024-01-02 14:56:09'),
(10683, 10683, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that the BRICS group of major emerging economies is attracting further support from “like-minded countries” sharing its underlying principles as his country assumed the bloc\'s chairmanship for 2024.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a statement published by the Kremlin, Putin said these underlying principles are “sovereign equality, respect for the chosen path of development, mutual consideration of interests, openness, consensus, the aspiration to form a multipolar international order and a fair global financial and trade system, and the pursuit of collective solutions to top challenges of our time.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the motto for BRICS under Russia’s chairmanship will be “Strengthening multilateralism for equitable global development and security.”</div><div><br></div><div>He added that Moscow will focus on positive and constructive cooperation with all countries concerned while following the motto.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will spare no effort to ensure that, while preserving traditions and being guided by the experience gained by the association in years past, we facilitate the harmonious integration of new participants in all formats of its activities,” said Putin.</div><div><br></div><div>He stressed that they will consider the degree to which around 30 countries are prepared to join its multidimensional agenda “in one form or another,” adding they will start working on the modalities of a new category for partner countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin said that Russia will continue promoting all aspects of the BRICS partnership in three key areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian contacts.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our priorities include promoting cooperation in science, high technology, health care, environmental protection, culture, sports, youth exchanges, and civil society,” he said, noting that more than 200 events “of different levels and types” will be held in Russian cities as part of its chairmanship.</div><div><br></div><div>“We encourage representatives of all countries interested in cooperating with our organization to take part in them. The BRICS Summit in (the Russian city of) Kazan in October will be the culmination of our chairmanship. As Russia assumes its chairmanship, it looks forward to working productively with all countries in the BRICS orbit,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>BRICS, originally comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with five new members -- Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia -- formally becoming full-fledged members of the bloc, contains more than 40% of the world’s population and over 30% of global gross domestic product (GDP).</div><div><br></div><div>Argentina was also due to join BRICS on Jan. 1 after receiving an invitation in August. However, newly elected President Javier Milei announced last Friday that the country would not take part in the bloc, fulfilling his campaign promise to shift his country’s foreign policy to seek closer ties with the West. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 14:58:17', '2024-01-02 14:58:17');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10684, 10684, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In a complete departure from the Israeli narrative, Dan Halutz, a former Israeli military chief, has suggested that Israel has lost the war against the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in the besieged Gaza Strip.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He criticized the current Israeli military and political strategy, expressing concerns over the future of Israel in an interview aired on local broadcaster Channel 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel can only win this war if it succeeds in destroying Hamas. However so far, it is proving very “difficult” to even dislodge it.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas is much more than a movement; it is an idea, and the fundamental problem is that one cannot destroy an idea, according to Paul Rogers, an emeritus professor of peace studies at the University of Bradford.</div><div><br></div><div>Destroying Hamas would not solve the problem for Israel, as even if they appear to destroy it, then “it will just rise in a different form in maybe two or three years’ time, maybe a little bit more. But it doesn\'t solve the underlying problem of the position of the Palestinians. And they are not going to go away,” Rogers told Anadolu.</div><div><br></div><div>The professor argued that the war between the Israeli military and Hamas is a battle of time, as the Israelis only have a certain amount of time in which they can defeat Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>Because otherwise, the pressure from the international community, and particularly from the United States, will force Israel to bring the war to an end, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The sheer loss of life on the Palestinian side is causing “huge problems” internationally for Tel Aviv, said Rogers, pointing out that Israel is slowly but steadily losing support, possibly even in the US, as since the beginning of the war on Gaza, Israeli forces have in their brutal military campaign killed nearly 22,000 Palestinians and wounded over 56,000.</div><div><br></div><div>“So the issue is that you can\'t defeat a group like Hamas in the first place. But you can\'t keep on trying either, as the patience of even the closest ally would run out.”</div><div><br></div><div>“This is why the whole issue is, in a sense of time, urgent, and time is against the Israelis on this,” said Rogers, who is also a global security consultant at Oxford Research Group (ORG).</div><div><br></div><div>Israel spreading false narrative</div><div><br></div><div>Tel Aviv, however, is still spreading a false “narrative of a severely weakened Hamas” by claiming that the war in northern Gaza is mainly completed and that victory in southern Gaza would follow soon.</div><div><br></div><div>“The official narrative has been that Hamas is weakened, but in reality, the IDF’s doctrine of massive force is falling,” said Rogers, referring to the Israeli army.</div><div><br></div><div>He raised doubts about the idea that Israel is making any significant progress in the war.</div><div><br></div><div>At one point, official casualty figures have shown more than 460 soldiers killed in Gaza, Israel and the occupied West Bank and about 1,900 injured. However, other reputable sources suggested much higher numbers.</div><div><br></div><div>Even a department within the Israeli Ministry of Defense which deals with rehabilitation reported different figures to the ministry, giving a figure of around 5,000 injuries, whereas the official line was closer to 2,500.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the rehabilitation department, over 2,000 military personnel had been registered as disabled since Oct. 7 – with 58% of all those it had treated suffering from severe injuries to their hands and feet, which is a lot higher than the official figure.</div><div><br></div><div>“So there are actually differences within the military itself as to the numbers that they\'re releasing,” and one suspects that in fact, “the number of injuries is very much higher than is being said,” Rogers noted.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas is fighting on its own territory with thousands of young fighters prepared and ready to die, which is a huge advantage for the military group, many analysts have suggested.</div><div><br></div><div>This makes it “extremely difficult” for a more conventionally organized country to defeat such groups.</div><div><br></div><div>Rogers pointed out that Hamas is “certainly more efficient” in some of its use of weapons in current circumstances than what analysts would have expected.</div><div><br></div><div>As far as its tunnel network is concerned, it is even more extensive and more organized than it was assumed by the Israelis, he said, adding that Hamas has succeeded in hiding hostages despite a very high level of surveillance and intelligence on the Israeli side.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israelis have developed airpower to a very sophisticated level, but whenever Israel sent in ground troops to Lebanon for instance, they found it much more difficult to handle paramilitary groups such as Hezbollah or Hamas on the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>It would be even more so difficult if part of the fighting was to happen underground, Rogers asserted, adding there is a suspicion that Hezbollah has developed a similar kind of system of underground tunnels in southern Lebanon, which according to him will be very tough to handle.</div><div><br></div><div>The reality is that any modern army fighting this kind of guerrilla war, in an urban environment with many ruins and many obstacles around, “is going to find it very difficult,” he said, adding this is as true for the Israelis as it was for US special forces and others in recent wars including Russia in terms of its fighting in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel unable to win war</div><div><br></div><div>Yitzhak Brick, a major general (reserve) in the Israeli army and former ombudsman for the occupation forces, raised an alarm months ago that Hamas could launch an attack on Israel and that the country must prepare for a multi-front war, given the situation on the Lebanese border, but his claims were dismissed by the defense establishment and the political leadership.</div><div><br></div><div>He referred to Hamas as equipped, trained fighters who will cross the border on foot and attack with an aim to take back Palestinian land and conquer settlements.</div><div><br></div><div>Brick warned that the Israeli army has turned into a primarily air-based military, unable to win a war and fight effectively on the ground.</div><div><br></div><div>He accused the leadership of completely trying to avoid losing on the battlefield, suggesting that this “completely loses the deterrence of the army and the ability to win the war.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We have lost the ability to field an effective army and have become a one-dimensional aerial power that cannot win a war on its own.”</div><div><br></div><div>The current situation of the land forces “is tragic; they are not ready for war,” he told local broadcaster Channel 12 last May.</div><div><br></div><div>“The truth is that an imaginary reality has been created by the general staff and spread throughout the army. The soldiers have lost their motivation and fighting spirit in recent years, and many are not ready to go into battle,” he said, adding that technology, which Israel heavily relies on, is not enough to win the war.</div><div><br></div><div>Things however are not looking that great for the Israeli Air Force either, as former Israeli Air Force chief Major General Amikam Norkin warned last year that the country no longer enjoys unfettered superiority and freedom of action in Lebanon’s skies, stressing that this reality was apparent to the Israeli military after Hezbollah began manufacturing its own drones, he told public broadcaster KAN.</div><div><br></div><div>Brick essentially suggested that Israel is unable to win the war against Hamas alone. But according to Rogers, it is unlikely that the United States will want to get involved on the ground to help the Israeli army because they have experienced problems with this kind of warfare themselves when fighting in the Middle East, reports Anadolu Agency.</div><div><br></div><div>Consequently, the US Army would be “really strongly opposed to this and would resist any attempt to do so,” and in this sense, “Israel is in this on its own as far as the ground troops are concerned,” said Rogers.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 15:03:03', '2024-01-02 15:03:03'),
(10685, 10685, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Yemen’s Houthis have threatened to turn the Red Sea into a “hell” for the US in response to American marines killing 10 fighters on Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The official Houthi news agency ran an editorial under the headline “America has opened the door to hell for itself” on Monday, vowing vengeance for US Navy attacks on their boats in the Red Sea, accusing the US of supporting Israel’s heavy bombardment of Gaza by preventing them from imposing their ban on Israel-linked ships sailing through the Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>The news agency said that the US Navy performed “a foolish act by targeting three boats, as a result of which ten members of the Yemeni naval forces martyred, thus opening the door of hell upon itself, its ships, and its military bases in the region.”</div><div><br></div><div>The US Navy destroyed three of four Houthi boats in the Red Sea on Sunday, killing the crews after they tried to hijack a commercial ship and opened fire on the helicopters.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Houthis, 10 of their men were killed in the US Navy attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Houthi leader Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti said the group would attack the US ships that killed their troops and would continue to prohibit ships traveling to Israel from crossing the Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is an attack on Yemen, and there must be retaliation, and America must suffer the repercussions of this attack and crime,” Al-Bukhaiti told France 24 Arabic TV on Sunday night.</div><div><br></div><div>On Nov. 19, the Houthis launched their Red Sea attacks by hijacking a commercial ship called Galaxy Leader and rerouting it to the coast of Yemen’s western city of Hodeidah.</div><div><br></div><div>In the days that followed, they launched drones and ballistic missiles at commercial and navy ships to force them to avoid the Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the Houthis’ strong threats of retaliation, some analysts believe that regional actors such as Oman may step in to persuade the Houthis to de-escalate so as not to jeopardize the present promising UN-led efforts to forge a plan to end the conflict in Yemen.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammed Al-Basha, a senior Middle East analyst at the Navanti Group, said that public pressure is mounting on the Houthis to retaliate and that, should they choose to do so, they would launch explosive-laden suicide boats at US Navy ships while simultaneously launching massive drones and missiles designed to overwhelm the US Navy’s air defenses.</div><div><br></div><div>“The effectiveness of the US Navy’s defense mechanisms could prompt the Houthis to contemplate a coordinated swarm offensive, involving joint drone attacks, Water-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices, and anti-ship missiles, with the aim of targeting a destroyer,” Al-Basha told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, Yemeni conflict expert Nadwa Al-Dawsari said that the same Western countries that pressed the Yemeni government in late 2018 to halt the military offensive that was poised to expel the Houthis from Hodeidah are now rushing to launch airstrikes on the Houthis, adding that the Houthis would exploit any US military action to recruit people.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now it seems the West is rushing to war,” she said on social media platform X, adding: “Airstrikes might undermine Houthis missile capability in the short term, but won\'t address their threat. They will reinforce their propaganda that they are being punished for defending Palestine, a cause that most Arabs consider their first priority. This will help Houthis recruit fighters for future wars that will extend beyond Yemen.” - Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 15:17:50', '2024-01-02 15:17:50'),
(10686, 10686, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Five people were killed when a Japan Airlines aircraft hit a coastguard plane as it came into land on the runway of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, erupting in a ball of flames.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dramatic video footage shows the moment the plane was coming into land and struck the coastguard aircraft that was carrying relief aid for victims of yesterday\'s earthquake, at about 5:55 p.m. local time.</div><div><br></div><div>Japan Airlines flight 516, an Airbus A350,&nbsp; was arriving from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, according to NHK.</div><div><br></div><div>Miraculously, all 367 passengers and 12 crew were evacuated from the passenger jet.</div><div><br></div><div>The crash comes just a day after a massive earthquake ripped through Ishakawa, Japan.</div><div><br></div><div>Footage shared on social media showed passengers shouting inside the smoke-filled cabin.</div><div><br></div><div>Only one person has been accounted for from the coastguard aircraft that was carrying aid to parts of the country hit by yesterday\'s earthquake.</div><div><br></div><div>Firefighters are tackling the blaze and it is believed all 400 passengers have been evacuated from the passenger jet.</div><div><br></div><div>Japanese news agency JNN said people who appear to be passengers could be seen escaping from the aircraft.</div><div><br></div><div>Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio instructed relevant agencies to coordinate to assess the damage swiftly and provide information to the public, according to his office, reports Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>Haneda has closed all runways following the incident, a spokesperson for the airport added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 15:23:17', '2024-01-02 15:23:17'),
(10687, 10687, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Turkey today announced the detention of 33 people suspected of planning abductions and spying on behalf of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said the suspects were rounded up in raids across eight provinces in and around Istanbul.</div><div><br></div><div>It was not immediately clear if they were Israeli nationals or locals allegedly working with Mossad.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will never allow espionage activities to be conducted against the national unity and solidarity of our country,” Yerlikaya said on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>Yerlikaya’s office released video footage showing armed security service agents breaking down doors and handcuffing suspects in their homes.</div><div><br></div><div>The Istanbul public prosecutor’s office said 13 additional suspects remained at large.</div><div><br></div><div>Relations between Turkey and Israel imploded following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war nearly three months ago.</div><div><br></div><div>Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has turned into one of the world’s harshest critics of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</div><div><br></div><div>The Turkish leader last week compared Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler and demanded that Israel’s Western allies drop their support for the “terrorism” being conducted by Israeli troops.</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan has also recalled Ankara’s envoy to Tel Aviv and pushed for the trial of Israeli commanders and political leaders at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.</div><div><br></div><div>The president’s ruling Islamic conservative party AKP also led tens of thousands of protesters out on the streets of Istanbul on Monday for one of Turkey’s biggest anti-Israel rallies of the entire war. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 15:34:30', '2024-01-02 15:34:30'),
(10688, 10688, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nobel peace laureate and founder of Grameen Bank Prof. Muhammad Yunus described a labour court’s verdict against him as “contrary to all legal precedent and logic.”</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, Labour Court No.3 of Dhaka, sentenced the microfinance pioneer and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail, with a fine of Tk 25000 each, in a case over violations of the labour law.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement published by Yunus Centre, Dr Yunus said, “As my lawyers have convincingly argued in court, this verdict against me is contrary to all legal precedent and logic.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Nobel peace laureate pledged to serve the countrymen and the social business movement to the best of his ability.</div><div><br></div><div>“I will continue to serve the people of Bangladesh and the social business movement to the best of my ability,” the statement reads.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Yunus called on the people to speak out against injustice and in favour of democracy and human rights.</div><div><br></div><div>“I call for the Bangladeshi people to speak in one voice against injustice and in favour of democracy and human rights for each and every one of our citizens,” said the 83-yr-old.</div><div><br></div><div>Yunus, along with three Grameen Telecom officials, managed to avoid prison, as they were granted bail on the condition of appeal yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>After coming out of court following the verdict, Professor Yunus said he had been punished for a crime he didn’t commit, reprots UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “I have been punished for a crime that I haven’t committed,” Yunus told reporters during a brief interaction. “If you want to call it justice, you can.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 15:50:28', '2024-01-02 15:50:28'),
(10689, 10689, '<div><font color=\"#085294\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladeshi expatriates sent home just 2.95 percent more in remittances in 2023 than they did in the previous year (2022), despite a record jump in the number of economic migrants going abroad. Data released by Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday revealed that expatriate Bangladeshis sent home around $21.92 billion through official channels in calendar year 2023, compared to $21.29 billion in 2022.</b></span><br></font></div><div><br></div><div>Although a record number of workers from the country went abroad this year, remittances or expatriate income did not increase as expected. The month-by-month remittance figures for 2023 revealed as much.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>There is also a view that a lag should be expected before the greater numbers going abroad as economic migrants is reflected in remittance flows.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the latest data from the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment, 12.1 lakh, or 1.21 million workers went abroad from Bangladesh in the first 11 months of 2023. In 2022, this number was 11.4 lakh, or 1.14 million.&nbsp; With a month\'s figures still to be added, the number had jumped by 6.1 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>“The remittance inflow has not increased in the same proportion that manpower is being exported from the country,” said economist Dr Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the expatriates are encouraged to send remittances through hundi or informally because they can get a significantly better price for the dollar outside the formal banking system, and the process of sending is easier. This is causing remittances to dry up and failing to meet expectations.</div><div><br></div><div>Remittances sent home by some 1.2 crore expatriates are enriching the country\'s economy. Bangladesh ranks sixth in the list of number of expatriate workers abroad, but seventh in terms of expatriate income - a large part of it being remittances - in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bank data released on Tuesday revealed that Bangladesh received $ 1.99 billion in remittances in December 2023, identical to the November figure. The previous year in December 2022, the expatriates sent remittances of $1.70 billion. That is, compared to the same month of the previous year, the remittance increased by $290 million.</div><div><br></div><div>Looking at the inward remittance figure for the last six months, we see that the situation has just started to get back on its feet. In the year\'s last quarter (Oct-Dec) we see remittances stabilising very close to the $2 billion mark, just a whisker below. Although it hasn\'t breached the $2bn mark&nbsp; limit again yet, the situation is much improved from August-September, when it fell steeply.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Md Mezbaul Haque BB spokesperson said that inward remittances flow increased slightly in December, and the overall trend of remittance sending is stable so far due to the initiative of the central bank.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the central bank instructed banks to provide additional incentives from their financial resources, to play a role in increasing the flow of inward remittances through the legal channel.</div><div><br></div><div>With the government\'s 2.5 percent incentive on expatriate income, banks can buy dollars at an additional 2.5 percent higher price. Then 5 percent is getting incentives in remittances.</div><div><br></div><div>The executive director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) Dr. Salim Raihan said that attracting remittances through incentives would yield no long-term benefits.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that the government should take a sustainable policy by introducing a market-based exchange rate of US dollars, which would lead to increased remittances through the formal channel.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Raihan said,”To increase remittances, hundi should be stopped. If you want to stop hundi, you have to introduce smart policy.”</div><div><br></div><div>The SANEM chief believes the Hundi network is able to incentivise its use just as banks do for theirs. Most importantly, no incentive in the world can at present compete with the dollar rate offered by the hundi specialists&nbsp; - at times reportedly hovering Tk 12-13 above the official dollar rate.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>As long as the hundi remains rampant, the expected remittances will not come through legal or official channels. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 16:13:40', '2024-01-02 16:13:40'),
(10690, 10690, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh\'s readymade garment (RMG) export reached US$ 47.39 billion, which is US$ 1.68 billion more than 2022, according to the year-end export data for 2023 published by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During this year, Bangladesh’s total export earning increased by 2%, meaning that this growth is mostly contributed by the RMG export.</div><div><br></div><div>This growth in RMG export was solely contributed by the growth of knitwear export which grew by 7.47%, while woven export declined by 0.81%.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Since the growth curve of global clothing trade falters every year, we believe that 2024 will be a year of turnaround since 2023 was a weaker year for this industry globally, and there are some indications that consumption and spending may rebound,\" said Mohiuddin Rubel, Director of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The positive side is that despite all the challenges the industry continued its commitment and efforts toward sustainability, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minimum wage was declared which came into effect from 1 December 2023; the transformation of green industrialization continues with more robust performance; and the industry is making visible progress in reducing emission.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The diversification in export diversification in terms of markets, products and fiber makes us confident about the future. We hope that more strategic investments will continue flowing in in this year, and a qualitative shift toward a more innovative and technology-based industry will be visible,\" Rubel said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there are certain challenges that our economy is facing currently. \"I believe 2024 will bring a breath of fresh air in it as we expect a positive shift in our our. We do have new opportunities, which the industry is pursuing and exploring further; and we do have new challenges as well.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"We need continued support and collaboration from all stakeholders including government, development partners and others,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The month-wise export performance for the year 2023 shows that the year started well with modest growth in January and February. After having consecutive dips in March and April, the positive trend in growth was restored and maintained during May-September, and the export performance in the final quarter of the year went below the level of 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Though the year ended with a decline of 2.35% in December, export in this single month was US$ 4.56 billion. The decline in November and December happened primarily because of the unusually higher export in November and December 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Detailed data on country-wise export performance is yet to be published, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Let me put in record the export performance for July-December of the 2023-24 Fiscal Year. During the mentioned period, Bangladesh’s RMG export reached US$ 23.39 billion, and the growth came down to 1.72%,\" Rubel said.</div><div><br></div><div>The RMG export turnover in 2023 remains historic in a single year, and considering the global economic and geo-political crisis, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I would say Bangladesh did fairly well. However, imports of our major markets declined as most of the advanced economies are struggling due to high inflation and impact on consumers due to monetary policy measures taken to contain inflation,\" Rubel said.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-02 16:17:32', '2024-01-02 16:17:32'),
(10691, 10691, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The country’s overall power generation, combining grid capacity and off-grid (mainly captive) power, increased by about 5000MW in 2023 to reach a new benchmark of 30,700MW, although with demand failing to keep up, this is expected to lead to higher capacity payments for the government.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>This is disclosed in available data from the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) and Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda).</div><div><br></div><div>The BPDB data shows that of the 5000MW new power generation, some 3,343MW was added to the national grid by the import electricity from India and production from newly set up local power plants while about 1400MW came from off-grid captive and off-grid solar power.</div><div><br></div><div>It also shows that the country’s installed grid-connected power generation capacity has reached to 25,951 MW on December 30 in 2023 from 22,608 MW in 2022 showing a capacity enhancement of 3343 MW.</div><div><br></div><div>Beyond the national grid, as per BERC data, the captive power generation has increased by 1379MW to reach 4760 MW in 2023 from 3,381MW in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The captive power plants were mainly set up by industries for their own consumption to get uninterrupted power supply as the grid power does not guarantee uninterrupted supply.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources in the power sector said that despite more than 40 percent surplus power generation in the country, still many industries prefer to use their captive power for uninterrupted supply.</div><div><br></div><div>A huge number of applications remain pending with the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to set up more captive plants.</div><div><br></div><div>The power generation from non-conventional, or renewable sources also witnessed an increase in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) statistics show that the solar power generation capacity reached 1200MW in 2023 from 700MW in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the 1200 MW, the off grid is 366.76 MW while ongrid is 601.02 MW. However, the country’s hydroelectric capacity of 230 MW is included in the Sreda statistics.</div><div><br></div><div>Together the new off-grid captive power and grid-connected power has pushed up the country’s total power generation capacity to 30,711 MW in 2023 from about 25,700 MW at the end of 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>BPDB officials said that the import of 1600 MW from the Adani Group’s plant for Bangladesh in Godda, Jharkhand, has played a major role in increasing the power generation capacity of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the import, the commercial operations of a number of base-load power plants played a significant role in raising power generation capacity.</div><div><br></div><div>These new power plants include 600 MW second unit of Rampal Power Plant, and 1200 MW Banshkhali power plant of S Alam Group. There is also a 200 MW Solar power plant in Khulna by Orion Group.</div><div><br></div><div>Although this capacity enhancement in power generation is a pleasing development on the face of it, especially given the country’s long history of struggle with power shortages, BPDB officials are also quick to point out that the growing surplus capacity would also lead to a rise in capacity payments, whereby IPPs get paid even for the electricity the government doesn’t need from them.</div><div><br></div><div>They said that the new power plants being added to the grid were set up by the IPPs, or independent power producers (the private sector firms investing in the power sector, by building and often operating the plants), and the BPDB has an obligation to purchase power from them - to not let their investment go to waste or end in loss. Having them exit the power sector due to losses would be a bigger blow to BPDB\'s long-term vision.</div><div><br></div><div>The increasing burden of capacity payments may pinch the government, as well as the consumer, harder if the dollar crisis prevailing in the country persists. According to the Centre for Policy Dialogue, a Dhaka-based think tank, capacity payments to private, rental, and quick rental power plants have increased from Tk 5,376 crores in FY2017 to as high as an estimated Tk 28,000 crores in FY 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2024, surplus electricity generation capacity is projected to rise to 50 percent from the existing 40 percent, as the country’s peak hour demand is about 16,000 MW, according to a top BPDB official.</div><div><br></div><div>It would mean even at peak demand, half the plants would be surplus to requirements, and thus lie idle. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 08:53:15', '2024-01-03 08:53:15'),
(10692, 10692, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Mohammed Shahabuddin today exercised his franchise through postal ballot for the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls slated for January 7 next, urging the countrymen to fulfill their civic duty by voting.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Let\'s vote ourselves and encourage others to cast vote,\" the president told the journalists this noon after casting his vote at the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>President\'s wife Dr Rebeka Sultana also exercised her voting rights through postal ballot there as they are the voters of their hometown Pabna.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Voting is the democratic rights of the people. As a citizen, it is our duty to vote. People give their democratic verdict through casting their respective votes,\" President Shahabuddin said.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting is the most acceptable method in selecting leadership in a democratic manner, he also pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>The president hoped that the election will be held in a peaceful and festive environment with the participation of all.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Article 27 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the head of the state is able to cast the vote through the postal ballot.</div><div><br></div><div>Registered voters, those are imprisoned or in legal custody, Bangladeshi expatriates and polling officers, can exercise their rights to vote through postal ballots in the upcoming general polls as well, according to the Election Commission Secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>Four types of voters, who are unable to go to the polling centers, can exercise their rights to vote through postal ballots. This provision has been introduced since the 9th Jatiya Sangsad Election.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) has campaigned to encourage voting through postal ballot in this year\'s parliamentary elections.</div><div><br></div><div>In an inter-ministerial meeting held recently, the EC directed all concerned, including the Bangladesh mission abroad, to encourage casting vote through the postal ballots.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the EC notification, a person, who is interested in exercising the rights to vote, has to apply to the returning officer of his constituency for a postal ballot paper.</div><div><br></div><div>The application must contain the voter\'s name, postal address and serial number of the voter list, it stated.</div><div><br></div><div>The Returning Officers will consider the postal votes received by them within the time limit and declare the final result after counting those votes.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC wants to popularize the issue of postal ballot by applying presidential vote.</div><div><br></div><div>President\'s Office Secretary Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin and Secretary (attached) Md Wahidul Islam Khan were also present on the occasion. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 09:12:44', '2024-01-03 09:12:44'),
(10693, 10693, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amid the surge of new JN.1 Covid variant globally, the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 has suggested the authorities concerned to take necessary initiatives, including mask wearing, to prevent spread of the virus.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The committee came up with four recommendations in its 65th meeting held on Tuesday with Dr Mohammad Shahidullah, president of the NTAC, in the chair, said a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>An elaborate discussion was held at the meeting about the latest situation of the surge of JN.1 variant, advice of World Health Organisation (WHO) about the new variant.</div><div><br></div><div>Mentioning that the Covid situation is under control and the new variant has not been identified yet in the country, the committee suggested taking precautionary measures including wearing of masks specially in high risk areas including hospitals and by individuals with low immunity.</div><div><br></div><div>It also suggested the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) to strengthen surveillance through reviewing the global reports to monitor the infection situation and take necessary preparation for quick treatment including Covid test and ICU in case of emergency in future.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the committee also recommended screening of travellers coming from abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>It also suggested taking decision about Covid vaccine through regular examination of scientific data and advised people with high-risk to take 4th dose of Covid vaccine.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting also suggested Covid test before any surgery if the patient&nbsp; has any symptom. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 09:20:17', '2024-01-03 09:20:17'),
(10694, 10694, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh speedster Taskin Ahmed is working on his recovery from a shoulder injury. The pacer said he is upbeat about making a comeback in the upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) but expressed regret over missing the IPL chance.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The pacer was included in the IPL draft — the cash-rich T20 event in India. However, at the last moment, his name was withdrawn by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), marking the thrid time he missed an IPL opportunity.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“As a cricketer, I always want to play in franchise leagues,” Taskin said. “With this, I missed the IPL chance three times.”</div><div><br></div><div>Taskin also missed the opportunity to play in the recently-concluded New Zealand series due to the shoulder injury.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“I would have enjoyed it if I was on this tour. It\'s always great to bowl in New Zealand,” he said. “I would have witnessed Bangladesh\'s success if I were there. Bangladesh played really well. It\'s our team, and the pride is always ours.”</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s pace-bowling unit performed well in New Zealand, making the most of the conditions. During the tour, Bangladesh won an ODI and a T20I, marking the first instances of Bangladesh winning white-ball international matches against New Zealand on Kiwi soil.</div><div><br></div><div>The right-arm pacer mentioned that he has started to bowl with full strength and is expected to make a return with BPL.</div><div><br></div><div>“I’m feeling much better now and have started bowling,” he said. “We still have two weeks to go before BPL, so I believe I can make a comeback fully fit.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 09:55:57', '2024-01-03 09:55:57'),
(10695, 10695, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Independent candidate for Sylhet-3 constituency Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury’s election rally came under attack, allegedly from campaigners of the AL-nominated candidate, on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Ehteshamul&nbsp; alleged that the attackers were activists of Awami League candidate and the incumbent MP, Habibur Rahman Habib.</div><div><br></div><div>During the election rally in the Nayabazar area of Fenchuganj upazila, some people vandalized the rally venue.</div><div><br></div><div>Saleh Ahmed, member secretary of Ehteshamul\'s Fenchuganj upazila election steering committee, alleged that Ghilachora Union Parishad Chairman Saiful Islam Mona and his associates attacked their rally in the evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Ehteshamul said, “General voters, including my campaigners, have become scared after the attack. Jealous of my popularity, my rival candidate\'s activists have started violent attacks. They are openly threatening my supporters.”</div><div><br></div><div>After the incident, he filed a complaint with the returning officer, the deputy commissioner of Sylhet, and assistant returning officer (Fenchuganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer), reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Habibur Rahman Habib, the AL candidate for the constituency, said that these are false allegations. I heard about it. None of my supporters can do that. Besides, I have told my campaigners that no one should behave unfairly during the election campaign. They made these allegations to grab attention.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 10:24:41', '2024-01-03 10:24:41'),
(10696, 10696, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said that the Election Commission is able to act independently and authoritatively, which is why the electoral code of conduct is being strictly maintained.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking this afternoon at the party president’s office in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, he further said that wherever the electoral code of conduct is being violated, the Election Commission is taking action. There is no interference or obstruction from the government, and Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is firm on this matter, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Obaidul Quader said, on January 7, the world will witness a great election in Bangladesh with the spontaneous presence of the people, where the public opinion will be victorious, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that BNP and Jamaat, having failed in their movements, are now distributing leaflets. “They are stuck in the quicksand of failure and mistakes, and they cannot come out. Their negative agendas, violence, and blockades have been ignored by the people. Even if BNP now says they will not resort to violence, there is no way to say if it’s true or not. Because they say one thing and do another. We are receiving news that they are secretly conspiring,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The road, transport and bridges minister also criticized the “double standards” of Amnesty International. He told, “Amnesty International talks about human rights in Bangladesh, and the verdict in Dr. Yunus’ case, but why don’t they speak about the massacres that Israel is carrying out in Gaza, Palestine? They have not said a single word against Israel.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 10:58:40', '2024-01-03 10:58:40'),
(10697, 10697, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Japanese rescuers scrambled to search for survivors Wednesday as authorities warned of landslides and heavy rain after a powerful earthquake that killed at least 62 people.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The 7.5 magnitude quake on January 1 that rattled Ishikawa prefecture on the main island of Honshu triggered tsunami waves more than a meter high, sparked a major fire and tore apart roads.</div><div><br></div><div>The Noto Peninsula of the prefecture was most severely hit, with several hundred buildings ravaged by fire and houses flattened.</div><div><br></div><div>The regional government announced late Tuesday that 55 people had been confirmed dead and 22 severely injured.</div><div><br></div><div>But the toll was expected to climb as rescuers battle aftershocks and poor weather to comb through rubble.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 31,800 people were in shelters, they added.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government was due to hold a meeting of an emergency task force Wednesday morning to discuss responses.</div><div><br></div><div>Kishida reiterated Tuesday night that “it’s a race against time” given how many people may have been caught in the collapsed buildings, according to public broadcaster NHK.</div><div><br></div><div>The operation was given extra urgency as the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a heavy rain warning for Noto.</div><div><br></div><div>“Be on the lookout for landslides until the evening of Wednesday,” the agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>In the coastal city of Suzu, mayor Masuhiro Izumiya said there were “almost no houses standing.”</div><div><br></div><div>“About 90 percent of the houses (in the town) are completely or almost completely destroyed... the situation is really catastrophic,” he said according to broadcaster TBS.</div><div><br></div><div>A woman at a shelter in the town of Shika told TV Asahi that she “hasn’t been able to sleep” due to aftershocks.</div><div><br></div><div>“I’ve been scared because we don’t know when the next quake will hit,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly 34,000 households were still without power in Ishikawa prefecture, the local utility said.</div><div><br></div><div>Many cities were without running water.</div><div><br></div><div>Shinkansen bullet trains and highways have resumed operations after several thousand people were stranded, some for almost 24 hours.</div><div>The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.5, while the JMA measured it at 7.6, triggering a major tsunami warning.</div><div><br></div><div>The powerful quake was one of more than 210 to shake the region through Tuesday evening, the JMA said.</div><div><br></div><div>Japan lifted all tsunami warnings after waves at least 1.2 meters (four feet) high hit the city of Wajima and a series of smaller tsunamis were reported elsewhere.</div><div><br></div><div>Japan experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year and the vast majority cause no damage.</div><div><br></div><div>The number of earthquakes in the Noto Peninsula region has been steadily increasing since 2018, a Japanese government report said last year.</div><div><br></div><div>The country is haunted by a massive 9.0 magnitude undersea quake off northeastern Japan in 2011 which triggered a tsunami that left around 18,500 people dead or missing.</div><div><br></div><div>It also swamped the Fukushima atomic plant, causing one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 11:35:36', '2024-01-03 11:35:36'),
(10698, 10698, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#731842\">The High Court has postponed the hearing on a rule on the bail of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a case over the vandalism of the Chief Justice\'s residence until next week.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice Md Saleem and Justice Shahed Nuruddin deferred the hearing on Wednesday after Fakhrul\'s lawyer Waliur Rahman sought more time to prepare for the hearing, citing \'personal circumstances\'.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocate Waliur Rahman stood for Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while Deputy Attorney General BM Abdur Rafel represented the state.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on December 7, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain why Fakhrul should not be granted bail in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The government was asked to respond to the rule within a week.</div><div><br></div><div>On December 17, the High Court fixed January 3 for hearing on the rule.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police Station on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence during a BNP rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul was arrested in the case on October 29 and has been in jail since then. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 11:55:19', '2024-01-03 11:55:19');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10699, 10699, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said she wants that January 7 national election will be free, fair and neutral setting a milestone in the country’s democratic history.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“People will cast votes for their favourite candidates and make them victorious. That is our target,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the prime minister, was delivering her introductory speech through videoconferencing at the party’s campaign rallies in five districts and one upazila from Awami League office of Dhaka District Unit.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that this election it will widen the path of the country’s advancement to further economic development.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that all have to remember that this election is critically important for Bangladesh. “Because many people want to play many games with Bangladesh”</div><div><br></div><div>The PM reiterated that those who do not believe in the spirit of the Liberation War, banned Joy Bangla slogan and Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech will just destroy the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“They will play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of this country. So, our aim is to ensure that no one can play such game again,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that people have to cast their votes peacefully for their desired candidates.</div><div><br></div><div>“Here, no one can resist any one. I do not want any kind of confrontation,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that the slogan of Awami League is: ‘Will cast my vote and whoever I want’.</div><div><br></div><div>“So please cast your votes as you like, but I do not want any kind of disturbance. Let not there be any unwanted incident and everyone should show utmost patience. There should not be any confusion about it,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She hoped that everyone will cast their own vote peacefully. “And we have to maintain that environment.”</div><div><br></div><div>She once again accused BNP-Jamaat of carrying out destructive activities, including in the railway sector. The people of Bangladesh have to reply the mischief of BNP-Jamaat, she stated.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will be successful in January 7 election and the people will be the victorious,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She again urged the people to cast their ballots for boat, the election symbol of Awami League and ensure the party’s victory in a befitting reply to BNP-Jamaat atrocities.</div><div><br></div><div>“Voting for boat is also necessary to continue the development momentum in the country. That’s what we want,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that Awami League has its candidates in nearly all constituencies and it has also opened the contest for the party’s aspirants who failed to get nomination.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, she talked to a cross section of people from Gaibandha, Rajshahi, Tangail, Brahmanbaria and Cumilla districts and Sandwip upazila of Chattogram district, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She also witnessed colourful cultural programmes during the on-line event.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 12:26:28', '2024-01-03 12:26:28'),
(10700, 10700, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 15 people were injured after police baton-charged a procession brought out by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in support of the ongoing non-cooperation movement in Barishal city.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Eight people, including Barishal south district BNP convener Abul Hossain Khan, were arrested during the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Abu Naser Mohammad Rahmatullah, a member of the party\'s national executive committee, said party leaders and activists to bring out a protest march in support of the non-cooperation movement from the party office on Sadar Road.</div><div><br></div><div>Leaders were distributing leaflets calling on the people to boycott the January 7 election from the procession, said the BNP leader.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“When the protest march reached Ashwin Kumar Hall in the city, police started baton-charging to disperse the procession.”</div><div><br></div><div>Abul Kalam Shahin, member secretary of Barishal south district BNP, accused police of charging batons and dragging the leaders and activists into police vans.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time, 15/20 leaders and activists of the party, including the party’s central assistant organising secretary, Akon Kuddusur Rahman, were injured, said Abul Kalam.</div><div><br></div><div>ATM Anisul Haque, officer-in-charge of Barisal Kotwali Model Police Station, however, denied the claims of police action, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“We dispersed the BNP leaders and activists who gathered without any prior permission from the spot as they were blocking the road and disrupting traffic. The police did not act violently.” OC Anisul said “We have arrested several people on the spot. The details will be provided later.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 12:47:34', '2024-01-03 12:47:34'),
(10701, 10701, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Explosions at an event honoring a prominent Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike in 2020 have killed at least 73 people and wounded over 170 others, state-run media in Iran reported Wednesday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A senior official called the blasts a \"terroristic\" attack, without elaborating on who could be behind them amid wider tensions in the Mideast over Israel\'s ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. No group immediately claimed responsibility.</div><div><br></div><div>Iranian state television quoted Babak Yektaparast, a spokesman for the country\'s emergency services, for the casualty figure.</div><div><br></div><div>The blasts struck an event marking the the fourth anniversary of the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard\'s elite Quds Force. who died in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. The explosions occurred near his grave site in Kerman, about 820 kilometers (510 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities said some people were injured while fleeing afterward. Footage suggested that the second blast occurred some 15 minutes after the first. A delayed second explosion is often used by militants to target emergency personnel responding to the scene and inflict more casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>People could be heard screaming in state TV footage.</div><div><br></div><div>Kerman\'s deputy governor, Rahman Jalali, called the attack \"terroristic,\" without elaborating. Iran has multiple foes who could be behind the assault, including exile groups, militant organizations and state actors. Iran has supported Hamas as well as the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and Yemen\'s Houthi rebels.</div><div><br></div><div>Soleimani was the architect of Iran\'s regional military activities and is hailed as a national icon among supporters of Iran\'s theocracy. He also helped secure Syrian President Bashar Assad\'s government after the 2011 Arab Spring protests against him turned into a civil, and later a regional, war that still rages today.</div><div><br></div><div>Relatively unknown in Iran until the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, Soleimani\'s popularity and mystique grew after American officials called for his killing over his help arming militants with penetrating roadside bombs that killed and maimed U.S. troops.</div><div><br></div><div>A decade and a half later, Soleimani had become Iran\'s most recognizable battlefield commander, ignoring calls to enter politics but growing as powerful, if not more, than its civilian leadership.</div><div><br></div><div>Ultimately, a drone strike launched by the Trump administration killed the general, part of escalating incidents that followed America\'s 2018 unilateral withdrawal from Tehran\'s nuclear deal with world powers.</div><div><br></div><div>Soleimani\'s death has drawn large processions in the past. At his funeral in 2020, a stampede broke out and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 13:46:36', '2024-01-03 13:46:36'),
(10702, 10702, '<div><font color=\"#3984c6\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Wednesday warned that Awami League will no longer be able to cling to power by holding a deceptive election.</span><br></b></font></div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters while distributing leaflets in front of the Jatiya Press Club, he also alleged that the government has annihilated democracy in Bangladesh with a crackdown on the BNP’s peaceful rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>“People ask me what will we do after the January 7 election? I would like to clearly say this government needs to understand that 2024 and 2014 are not the same. It won’t happen this time that they (govt) will confirm the power for 5 years again by holding a fake and depictive election,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that the people of Bangladesh sacrificed their blood for independence and democracy, he said the BNP would bring back democracy for the country’s 18 crore people by facing bullets and sound grenades on the streets.’</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, said the lopsided election has already been held on the day the candidates filed nomination papers.&nbsp; “The government has already decided who will be MPs in which seats.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said Awami League is moving ahead with a plan to form a one-party parliament and government with the fake results of a fake election. \"They’re staging a farce and a drama in the name of election…all the famous media outside the country are saying in one word that the election being held in Bangladesh is nothing but a farce as the current regime wants to prolong its power with it.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party wants to see the change of power through a free and fair election. “BNP does not believe in the politics of violence using sticks and oars. “We never believe in the politics of conflict and the politics of weapons. We want the people of Bangladesh to bring change in this country through a peaceful systematic democratic movement, to restore democracy.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Moyeen along with the leaders and workers of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal distributed leaflets among the pedestrians to drum up public support in favour of BNP’s call for boycotting the January-7 election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also distributed leaflets at AGB Colony Bazar in the capital’s Motijheel area in the morning.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 13:49:30', '2024-01-03 13:49:30'),
(10703, 10703, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the journalist community to stay alert against any rumour.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She made the call when two delegations of noted journalists met her separately at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier also asked the journalists to make them prepared to cope with the modern era.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Online news media are now flourishing rapidly. People are now increasingly browsing online to read news items instead of print newspapers posing a challenge for the print media. They should take preparation for facing the challenge,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing on various measures taken by her government for the overall development of the journalist community, Hasina said her government has formed the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust by providing the seed money. \"If I am voted to power again, I will again donate money to the trust,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>She reiterated her call to the owners of the media houses to donate to the trust fund.</div><div><br></div><div>During the meeting, the prime minister patiently listened to journalist leaders. The journalists placed several demands, including formation of the 10th wage board in accordance with the Awami League\'s election manifesto of 2024 and then taking proper measures to implement the wage board.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said her government has opened the banks, insurances and media for the private sector mainly to generate employment.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government has done everything possible to give the countrymen a developed and improved life.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said she has no (foreign) master but for the people, adding that the people are her only strength and their support only matters to her, nothing else.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) president Omar Faruk and President of Editors Guild Bangladesh Mozammel Babu led their respective delegations during the meetings.</div><div><br></div><div>BFUJ secretary general Dip Azad moderated the BFUJ meeting with the PM.</div><div><br></div><div>Other BFUJ delegation members included former BFUJ presidents Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Abul Kalam Azad and Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and former BFUJ secretary general Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Jatiya Press Club (JPC) General Secretary Shyamal Dutta, former president of Jatiya Press Club Saiful Alam, President and General Secretary of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Sohel Haider Chowdhury and Akter Hossain.</div><div><br></div><div>The delegation members of the Editors Guild Bangladesh included Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)’s Managing Director Abul Kalam Azad, Daily Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, Bangladesh Protidin Editor Naem Nizam, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Gazi TV Editor-in-chief Syed Ishtiaque Reza, Bangladesh Journal Editor Shahjahan Sardar and DBC TV Editor-in-chief Manzurul Islam. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 14:23:51', '2024-01-03 16:34:36'),
(10704, 10704, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladeshi troops were deployed on the country’s streets on Wednesday to maintain order ahead of the Jan. 7 parliamentary election, which is set to be boycotted by the main opposition party.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The nation of nearly 170 million people will vote this coming Sunday after a string of anti-government protests led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the last few months called for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and the polls to be held under a neutral caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>With those demands rejected by the government, the ruling Awami League is widely expected to win its fourth straight parliamentary term.</div><div><br></div><div>“The armed forces have been deployed nationwide from 3 to 10 January 2024 to ensure peace and order before polling, on polling day and after polling,” the Bangladesh Army said in a statement ahead of the deployment.</div><div><br></div><div>Army troops were deployed in 62 districts across the country, with nearly 100 sub-districts covered by officers from the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh, some of whom will be on joint duties with the military.</div><div><br></div><div>A number of helicopters have also been set aside to “provide electoral assistance in case of emergency,” the Army said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The upcoming 12th National Parliament election is going to be held on 7 January 2024 … the armed forces have taken all-out preparations to provide any necessary assistance to maintain peace and order,” the statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, the daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is the longest-serving leader in the country’s history, a predominantly Muslim nation strategically located as a link between South Asia and the rest of the Indo-Pacific.</div><div><br></div><div>While Hasina’s government insists that the upcoming election is inclusive and fair, her main rival, the BNP, is boycotting the polls and saying that the incumbent administration cannot ensure a fair vote.</div><div><br></div><div>Many leaders of Bangladesh’s opposition parties are currently jailed, and violence has marred a number of rallies they held to demand the government’s resignation.</div><div><br></div><div>As Bangladeshis head to the polls to choose 300 MPs, the premier who has been in power since 2009 appears set to secure her fourth consecutive and fifth overall term in office.</div><div><br></div><div>Ahead of the parliamentary election, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, also an Awami League member, is calling on Bangladeshis to cast their vote on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let’s vote ourselves and encourage others to cast their vote,” Shahabuddin told reporters on Wednesday, reports Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “Voting is a democratic right of the people. As citizens, it is our duty to vote.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 14:42:29', '2024-01-03 14:42:29'),
(10705, 10705, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal was handed an eight-month suspended sentence by a French court today for inciting religious hatred in a social media post about the conflict in Gaza.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The 27-year-old defender, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, must also pay a fine of €45,000 for sharing a video calling for a “black day for the Jews”, the Nice criminal court ruled.</div><div><br></div><div>He will further pay for details of his conviction to be published in regional daily Nice-Matin and national newspaper Le Monde.</div><div><br></div><div>The comments at issue came in a video of a preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, which Atal posted to his 3.2-million-follower Instagram account five days after Hamas’s bloody Oct 7 assault on Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel in response launched a campaign against the group which has cost over 22,000 lives according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>After speaking about the children killed in the bombardments, Al Hasanat called on god to send a “black day for the Jews” and “guide the hand” of Gazans striking back.</div><div><br></div><div>Atal was with the Algerian national team in his home country when he shared the video.</div><div><br></div><div>He withdrew it the following day when Nice warned him it was likely to attract controversy, offering his apologies.</div><div><br></div><div>Atal had apologised again to the court during the hearings, saying he had wanted to send a “message of peace” and did not watch the entire 35-second video before posting it.</div><div><br></div><div>That argument did not convince prosecutors or plaintiffs, mostly Jewish organisations and the Professional Football League (LFP).</div><div><br></div><div>“Sharing a video means being party to its message and lending it visibility,” prosecutor Meggi Choutia told the court.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is no talk of peace at any moment in these 35 seconds,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Nice have suspended Atal from playing “until further notice”, while he received a seven-match ban – since expired – from the LFP.</div><div><br></div><div>He has however appeared for Algeria’s Fennecs three times, he is in their squad for the upcoming African Nations Cup tournament, and received support in his home country. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 15:02:13', '2024-01-03 15:02:13'),
(10706, 10706, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>France today described as “provocative” comments made by far-right Israeli ministers calling for Palestinians to emigrate from Gaza and Jewish settlers to return to the besieged territory.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“France condemns the comments of Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>“We call on Israel to refrain from such provocative declarations, which are irresponsible and fuel tensions.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ben-Gvir on Monday called for promoting “a solution to encourage the emigration of Gaza’s residents” and the re-establishment of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>His comments came the day after Smotrich also called for the return of settlers to Gaza, adding that Israel should “encourage” the territory’s approximately 2.4 million Palestinians to leave.</div><div><br></div><div>“The forced transfer of populations constitutes a grave violation of international law,” the French foreign ministry warned.</div><div><br></div><div>“The future of the Gaza Strip and its inhabitants will lie in a unified Palestinian state living in peace and security side-by-side with Israel.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israel unilaterally withdrew the last of its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, ending a presence inside Gaza that began in 1967 but maintaining near complete control over the territory’s borders.</div><div><br></div><div>The US yesterday also denounced the ministers’ controversial comments as “inflammatory and irresponsible”.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not officially suggested plans to evict Gazans or to send Jewish settlers back to the territory since the war broke out in October.</div><div><br></div><div>The fighting erupted after Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, killing around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.</div><div><br></div><div>The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says more than 22,000 people have been killed in the war, mostly civilians, while relentless strikes have left much of the territory in ruins.</div><div><br></div><div>The vast majority of Gaza’s residents have been forced out of their homes by nearly three months of fighting between Hamas and Israel. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 15:17:22', '2024-01-03 15:17:22'),
(10707, 10707, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sweden today recorded its coldest January night in 25 years, with a reading of -43.6°C in the far north as a cold snap hit the country and neighbouring Finland.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“To put that into perspective, that is the lowest January temperature in Sweden since 1999,” Mattias Lind, meteorologist at Sweden’s national weather agency SMHI, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>In January 1999, a temperature of -49°C was recorded in Sweden, which then tied the record set in 1951.</div><div><br></div><div>Lind said that today’s measurement was made at the Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka station in Sweden’s far north.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is the lowest temperature that has been recorded in this specific spot since measurements began” at the site in 1888, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Several other stations recorded temperatures of below -40°C in Sweden’s northern parts.</div><div><br></div><div>While the region is used to seeing freezing temperatures, the recent cold snap has forced local bus operators to cancel services, and train operator Vy said yesterday that it had cancelled all trains north of the city of Umea for several days.</div><div><br></div><div>Trains were also disrupted in neighbouring Finland, where a seasonal record of -38.7°C was recorded yesterday evening in the northern Lapland region.</div><div><br></div><div>Several instances of frozen water pipes were also reported, and Finnish broadcaster YLE said around 300 people in the city of Tampere were left without running water yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>The cold front is expected to move south over the next few days, with residents of the Finnish capital Helsinki already seeing temperatures rise to -15°C today. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 15:30:08', '2024-01-03 15:30:08'),
(10708, 10708, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday that a tide of the election has been created across the country and the BNP\'s tone against the election has become soft.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"The BNP\'s anti-election campaign has been washed away in the Padma, Jamuna, and Karnaphuli rivers across the country. Now the BNP supporters are also waiting to vote in this election,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the comment when he addressed a public rally as the chief guest on the Kuddus Market premises in Shilk Union of Rangunia upazila of Chattogram on Wednesday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>Rangunia Upazila Awami League Vice President Akhter Kamal Chowdhury presided over the rally.</div><div><br></div><div>Quoting BNP leader Dr Moyeen Khan, the minister said they no longer campaigned against the election, and they are not talking about resisting it, but they are talking about boycotting the election.“It shows that their tone has softened now,” said Hasan, also the Awami League’s joint general secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>“The BNP had earlier said the election would be resisted. For that purpose, they threw petrol bombs at people, killing people in their sleep, truck drivers, and helpers. Petrol bombs were thrown at a mother and child while they were sleeping. By doing all these, they found that it did not benefit them; people were not afraid. People have joined the election tide,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Elections are now a festival in our country, people are now celebrating that festival. The situation is such that the BNP will say after a few days that there is no problem if ‘our’ supporters participate in the election. Whatever they do, the BNP supporters are participating spontaneously in the election at the field level,” said the AL leader, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP leaders are announcing to boycott the election, but their grassroots workers and supporters do not support it. Many BNP supporters also attended this rally and will vote for the boat symbol. Local BNP leaders also spoke at the rally because they understood the reality. The enthusiasm we are seeing in this year\'s election in Rangunia is unimaginable,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said, “Bangabandhu\'s daughter, Sheikh Hasina, never differentiated between the Awami League and the BNP in terms of benefiting the people and developing the country. That\'s what we learn from her. In my development activities in Rangunia, I never considered who belongs to which party or ideology.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-03 16:33:42', '2024-01-03 16:33:42'),
(10709, 10709, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader&nbsp; on Thursday said and their party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not care about visa policy&nbsp; or any foreign sanction.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Sheikh Hasina does not care about threat or warning from any foreign power. She is only afraid of God. She loves the people of Bangladesh,” he said while addressing an event marking the 76th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Dhaka University, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The country will run well if good people are elected, otherwise misrule is inevitable, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"Tarique Rahman has ordered to create panic by exploding bombs. This BNP has to be shown the red card forever.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 08:36:47', '2024-01-04 08:36:47'),
(10710, 10710, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Different areas in Chattogram city have been experiencing shortage or low pressure in gas supply for the past one and a half months, hampering the household chores and production at industrial units.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>City dwellers said although the gas crisis started in the mid October, it has intensified recently. Some of them alleged that they do not get any gas even in 24 hours.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL), the gas shortage in Chattogram port city turned acute due to suspension of gas supply from one of the two LNG terminals in Moheshkhali.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the authorities also suspended gas supply in households due to maintenance purposes.</div><div><br></div><div>KGDCL authorities said Chattogram used to some 310-400 million cubic feet of gas from the national grid during normal time but on January 3 it reveived only 280 million cubic feet.</div><div><br></div><div>The city dwellers have been experiencing the gas crisis since October 22 and gas supply remains suspended from 9 am to 3 pm in most of the areas.</div><div><br></div><div>KGDCL authorities said the gas shortage may continue for a long time due to low pressure of gas supply from Moheshkhali LNG gas terminal.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Omar Hazzaz, president, Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI), urged State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid to take necessary steps to mitigate the sufferings of the consumers.</div><div><br></div><div>He also sent a letter to the minister on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>“Chattogram needs 400-450 million cubic feet of gas but only 280 million cubic feet is available now. Of the total gas, nearly 100 million cubic feet gas is used in two fertilizer factories and one thermal power plant while the rest are being distributed to the residents, industries and CNG filling stations, which is not sufficient,” the letter reads.</div><div><br></div><div>The rest of the gas is being distributed to a large number of residential consumers in the city, factories and CNG stations using various strategic methods. As a result, the factories and households are facing a serious gas crisis, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>Managing director of KGDCL (operation division), Engineer Aminur Rahman, said the people of Chattogram port city depend on LNG gas supply and the supply of gas has reduced remarkably.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is difficult to say how long the crisis will stay,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to some residents in Lalkhan Bazar, Kazir Dewri, Askar DighirPar, Khulshi, Jamal Khan lane, Dewanji Pukur Par, Dewan Bazar, Hem Sen Lane, Shulokbohor, Ghat Farhadbegh, Bakolia, Chawkbazar and others area, this UNB correspondent found that people of those areas are passing their days in misery during this winter.</div><div><br></div><div>Many residents of the areas said it is not new. Every year they experience gas crisis from November to February.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahnur Sultana, an employee of a bank, said “Now I have to leave my house in the morning without having any breakfast as there is no gas in my house in the morning. We have to buy food from a local hotel.”</div><div><br></div><div>KGDCL authorities said the gas supply to the domestic consumers has been disrupted as they have to supply gas to Chattogram Urea Fertilizer Limited (CUFL) and Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KFCL).</div><div><br></div><div>Raid Uddin Ahmed, General Manager (Marketing, South Division) of KGDCL, said two Moheshkhali LNG terminals supply a total of 800-900 million cubic feet of gas to the national grid but now supply from one of them has been suspended due to maintenance work.</div><div><br></div><div>The supply situation will improve after the completion of the maintenance work, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>There are 6,01,914 consumers under KGDCL and of these, 5,97,516 connections are given to households. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 09:21:07', '2024-01-04 09:21:07'),
(10711, 10711, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people, including a 40-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter, were dead and two people were injured when a boiler exploded at a rice mill in Daspara of Thakurgaon\'s Sadar upazila earlier today.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Dipti Rani, wife of Sagar Roy, her daughter Puja, and Palak, 12, son of Umakanta, of the area.</div><div><br></div><div>ABM Firoz Wahid, officer-in-charge of Thakurgaon Police Station, said the incident occurred at 9:15 am when the boiler of the rice mill, owned by one Saidur Rahman, exploded.</div><div><br></div><div>A fire also broke out at the rice mill following the explosion. A firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze immediately. The injured were taken to Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 09:40:28', '2024-01-04 09:40:28'),
(10712, 10712, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The anticipation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina\'s return to Narayanganj city after 15 years has created a festive atmosphere as crowds started to gather at the rally ground early today, despite the cold weather.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>From 10 am this morning, Awami League leaders and activists were seen marching towards the rally venue, Shamsuzzoha Sports Complex, shouting the \"Joy Bangla\" slogan.</div><div><br></div><div>People were spotted arriving at the rally venue by motorbikes, pick-up vans, and on foot, all in anticipation of the Awami League president\'s campaign rally. Meanwhile, the anticipation of the upcoming national election has sparked enthusiasm among the Awami League leaders and activists, which was evident as the rally venue is already brimming with party supporters.</div><div><br></div><div>After the announcement of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina\'s arrival, local leaders and activists started preparing to welcome the prime minister after 15 years.</div><div><br></div><div>Processions and public gatherings were seen in several places of the city, including on Link Road, Maleh Road, College Road, Kalibazar, Hospital Road. Most of them are headed to Shamsuzzoha Sports Square.</div><div><br></div><div>Narayanganj\'s Link Road and the surrounding areas of the public rally venue have been covered with festoons, posters and banners.</div><div><br></div><div>Shamsuzzoha Sports Complex has been decorated on the occasion of the prime minister’s public rally. Separate areas for men and women have been arranged for the rally. Loudspeakers have been installed on various electric poles in the city outside the public rally ground. The streets have been cleaned, and the whole city has been decorated with posters. ‍According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 10:16:33', '2024-01-04 15:29:54'),
(10713, 10713, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#3984c6\">BNP on Thursday called a 48-hour nationwide hartal from Saturday morning to protest the 12th parliamentary election to be held on Sunday. With the announcement of the fresh programme of BNP, the 12th parliamentary election will be held amid the shutdown.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came up with the announcement at a virtual press briefing, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir said that the hartal will begin at 6am on Saturday and end at 6am on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, at another virtual press briefing, Ruhul Kabir said their party will bring out processions and conduct mass contacts across the country on Friday in protest against the election.</div><div><br></div><div>Their programme is meant to drum up public support in favour of the party’s call to boycott the Januray-7 election, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said other like-minded opposition parties will also observe a similar programme on Friday, just two days before the election day.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi called upon the opposition leaders and workers to make the programme a success with their spontaneous support.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 11:39:51', '2024-01-04 11:39:51'),
(10714, 10714, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>About 80 lakh first-time voters are going to exercise their voting rights in the 12th national election. As the deadline for election campaigning nears, Awami League nominated candidates are stepping up to attract these new voters.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In the past two elections, the absence of the BNP resulted in reduced competition, negatively impacting the engagement of youth. To address this, Awami League\'s election manifesto includes several promises regarding employment, aiming to involve and engage the younger population in the electoral process.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League, which has been in power for three consecutive terms, announced its manifesto for the 12th parliamentary election, promising a \'Smart Bangladesh\', titled “Visible Development, Increased Employment Opportunities.”</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to the presence of such a large number of voters, their verdict is one of the considerations for any candidate. Therefore, Awami League has given priority to the needs of the youths from the beginning of their election campaign.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission has included 79.83 lakh new voters in the voter list, who will be able to vote for the first time in the upcoming parliamentary election. This includes 40.72 lakh men and 39.10 lakh women.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Awami League has prioritized popular candidates to appeal to young voters. This strategy includes nominations such as former Bangladesh cricket team captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza from Narail-2, renowned all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan from Magura-1, popular actor Ferdous Ahmed from Dhaka-10, and well-known face on political talk shows, M Arafat from Dhaka-17.</div><div><br></div><div>The nominations of these popular candidates have garnered attention from young people, who are actively expressing their interest through various channels, notably on social media. These celebrities are now canvassing door-to-door to secure votes.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader emphasized that the party\'s primary focus in the 12th parliamentary election is the young voters, particularly those voting for the first time.</div><div><br></div><div>Awami League candidate for the Narail-2 constituency, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, expressed, \"I am committed to shouldering the responsibilities of the future generation.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This election isn\'t just about today; it shapes the future of the next generation. No one should stay home. Spare a moment and head to the polling centers with your entire family and cast your votes for the boat,” said Mashrafe. “Your responsibility extends until January 7. I commit to shouldering your responsibilities and those of future generations after January 8. Have your faith in me,\" he added. </div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, on December 29, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader encouraged the young, first-time voters, stating, \"The envisioned Smart Bangladesh, the dream of new voters, will be crafted by the hands of our youth. Get ready for that.\"</div><div><br></div><div>On January 2, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina asked Shakib Al Hasan, the Awami League candidate for Magura-1 constituency, to “hit sixes” in the election like in the field.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister made these remarks while presenting the Awami League candidates during an election rally at Government Rajendra College ground in Faridpur.</div><div><br></div><div>“If we secure votes for the \'boat\' symbol, we can propel Bangladesh towards becoming a developed country,” said the Awami League president. </div><div><br></div><div>Acknowledging numerous conspiracies against the nation, she highlighted that despite adversaries\' attempts, Bangladesh stands resolute, refusing to yield to external pressures.</div><div><br></div><div>Like many of the party’s candidates, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s election campaign is also geared towards the young voters. </div><div><br></div><div>At a campaign rally in Dhaka’s Kalabagan, the AL chief called on the new voters to cast their votes for the Awami League in the 12th parliamentary election to keep the country’s development trend going. </div><div><br></div><div>In her address to the youths, the Awami League president urged, \"Cast your vote for the boat, and together, we will build a Smart Bangladesh by 2041. This election marks the initial strides toward realizing that vision of a smarter Bangladesh,\" reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 11:56:09', '2024-01-04 12:52:01'),
(10715, 10715, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Carbon dioxide emissions in Germany, Europe\'s biggest economy, dropped to their lowest level in seven decades as the use of coal declined unexpectedly sharply in 2023 and economic pressures weighed down production by energy-intensive industry, according to a study released Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Germany aims to cut its emissions to net zero by 2045 and is working to ramp up the use of solar and wind power and other renewable sources.</div><div><br></div><div>The Agora Energiewende think tank said its preliminary calculations show that Germany emitted 673 million metric tons of CO2 last year, a decline of 73 million metric tons compared with 2022 and the lowest level since the 1950s. The figure was 46% below the country\'s emissions in 1990.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, Germany\'s Federal Network Agency said that renewable energy sources accounted for more than half of the country\'s energy production in 2023. Renewables rose to 56% of energy production, from 47.4% in 2022. At the same time, electricity production using black coal dropped to 8.9% from 12.8%, and lignite-fired electricity declined to 17.4% from 21%.</div><div><br></div><div>Germany switched off its last three nuclear power plants in April — a long-planned move, though some argued for a rethink after energy prices spiked because of the war in Ukraine. Nuclear power accounted for 1.5% of energy production in 2023, down from 6.7% the previous year.</div><div><br></div><div>More than half of last year\'s reduction in emissions — some 44 million metric tons — was down to coal-fired electricity production falling to its lowest level since the 1960s, Agora said. That in turn was caused by a drop in electricity demand and increased imports from neighboring countries, around half of which came from renewable energy sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, emissions from industry declined considerably as energy-intensive companies reduced production as a result of economic weakness and international crises, the think tank said.</div><div><br></div><div>Germany, the worst-performing major developed economy in recent months, has been weighed down by high energy prices, global economic weakness and interest rate hikes to fight inflation. The country is home to many energy-intensive companies, including in the chemical and metal industries.</div><div><br></div><div>Agora calculated that only about 15% of last year\'s emissions savings constitute “permanent emissions reductions resulting from additional renewable energy capacity, efficiency gains and the switch to fuels that produce less CO2 or other climate friendly alternatives.” It said that “most of the emissions cuts in 2023 are not sustainable from an industrial or climate policy perspective.”</div><div><br></div><div>Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck, a member of the environmentalist Green party who is also vice chancellor, said Germany has laid the foundations for future growth in renewable energy by moving to expand solar and wind generation.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are making visible progress on the road to climate-neutral electricity supply,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>As for industry, “it is good that investments are being made in climate production and energy efficiency,” he said in a statement. But “it isn\'t good that Russia\'s war of aggression on Ukraine and the price crisis that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin wanted are leading to declines in production.”</div><div><br></div><div>Habeck pointed to government efforts to reduce electricity prices for industry. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 12:29:17', '2024-01-04 12:29:17'),
(10716, 10716, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An election observer mission from Japan will be in Bangladesh from January 5 to 9 to oversee the general election scheduled for January 7, 2024.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The mission, to be dispatched by the government of Japan, will be headed by Watanabe Masato, former Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, and will consist of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh as well as an outside expert.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to observing the casting and counting of votes, the mission will exchange views and information with the Bangladesh Election Commission and election observer missions from other countries, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>The dispatch of the election observer mission is part of Japan\'s cooperation for the consolidation of democracy in Bangladesh in response to the Bangladesh Election Commission’s announcement that it would welcome international election observers.</div><div><br></div><div>With the opposition BNP boycotting the January 7 polls, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party are all but guaranteed a fourth consecutive term. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 12:58:21', '2024-01-04 12:58:21'),
(10717, 10717, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the people to exercise their voting rights in Sunday\'s election to prove that democracy prevails in Bangladesh</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Go to polling stations and cast votes to foil conspiracies against the polls,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL chief was addressing a grand election rally at AKM Shamsuzzoha Krira Complex Ground in Fatullah under Narayanganj, her last public meeting ahead of January 7 parliamentary vote.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh has witnessed a massive development due to the continuation of a democratic trend in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL president asked all the people to maintain peace during the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 7 as many conspiracies were hatched regarding this election.</div><div><br></div><div>“These plots still continue so that this election won’t be held,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Criticising BNP for unleashing violence, the PM said there is no humanity among them.</div><div><br></div><div>“They have not joined the election. It is their wish. But the people of this country would never accept the obstruction on voting rights,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Stressing that the election must be held on January 7,&nbsp; Hasina urged all to stay alert so that they (BNP) won\'t destroy the public assets.</div><div><br></div><div>In the rally, the PM sought votes for her party-nominated candidates —Golam Dastagir Gazi (Narayanganj-1 constituency), Shamim Osman (Narayanganj-4), Nazrul Islam Babu (Narayanganj-2) and Abdullah Al Kaiser (Narayanganj-3)---&nbsp; in the January-7 election.</div><div><br></div><div>AL general secretary Obaidul Quader and Narayanganj-4 MP Shamim Osman&nbsp; spoke at the rally, presided over by Narayanganj District AL President Abdul Hye. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 14:28:10', '2024-01-04 14:28:10');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10718, 10718, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has \"categorically\" said there is no pressure on the voters to go to vote centres to cast vote but pressure is seen regarding distribution of leaflets urging people not to go to vote centres.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“There is no such pressure from the Election Commission, even he has no evidence of as such,\" Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen quoted the CEC as saying during a briefing arranged for the diplomats stationed in Dhaka on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC made remarks when one of the diplomats wanted to know his comments regarding pressure on voters to go to vote centres.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC, however, gave a counter reply mentioning distribution of leaflets by a political party (BNP) which is boycotting polls and urging people not to go to vote centres.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign secretary said over 50 diplomats and representatives from international organisations joined the briefing hosted by the Election Commission.</div><div><br></div><div>CEC Awal gave an update regarding preparations of January 7 polls which was followed by a question-and-answer session.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign secretary said such a opportunity is rare for the foreign diplomats as national election takes place in every five years.</div><div><br></div><div>He hoped that the briefing will help the diplomats to let know their respective countries know about the election through their comprehensive reports, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The diplomats remain in touch with the EC and they remain updated through frequent exchanges, Masud Momen said.</div><div><br></div><div>The diplomats are kept fully informed and that is why there were not too many questions, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign secretary said the international observers and journalists have started arriving in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>They can observer polls in Dhaka and other places across the country if they feel convenient, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 14:42:42', '2024-01-04 14:42:42'),
(10719, 10719, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed some restrictions on vehicular movement with a view to holding the January 7 parliamentary election in a free, fair and peaceful manner, reports UNB.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to a media release signed by DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman on Thursday evening restrictions have been imposed on the movement of taxi cabs, pickups, microbuses, trucks and so on in Dhaka metropolitan area from 12 am on January 6 to midnight on January 7 ahead of the national election.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, a ban has also been imposed on the movement of motorcycles from midnight on January 5 to midnight on January 8, reads the release.</div><div><br></div><div>The restrictions will be relaxed on the issues mentioned below:</div><div><br></div><div>1. The vehicles carrying law enforcement agencies, armed forces, administration and permitted observers.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Vehicles engaged in emergency services and all types of vehicles carrying medicines, health-medical and similar goods and newspapers.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Vehicles used for going to the airport for relatives, passengers or relatives from the airport to their own residence or relatives\' homes (showing tickets or similar proof) and any vehicle for local level travel as well as long-route passengers.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;4. One car each (jeep, car, microbus, etc.) for the candidate contesting in the election and his election agent upon showing proper appointment letter or identity card and permission to ply on the vehicle subject to sticker display.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Allowing movement of journalists, observers or motorcycles used for emergency work with the approval of the returning officer.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Permission to ply motorcycles for election officials or employees or any other person engaged in election work with the approval of the Election Commission;</div><div><br></div><div>7. Vehicles engaged in the assistance of voters with disabilities.</div><div><br></div><div>8. Restrictions will be relaxed on important roads, highways and connecting main roads for exit or entry from Dhaka metropolis or all such roads.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 15:28:39', '2024-01-04 15:28:39'),
(10720, 10720, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Thursday condemned “terror attacks” in Iran that left more than 80 people dead on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Expressing “sadness” over the attacks, a TRNC Foreign Ministry statement said: “We condemn this terrorist attack and extend our condolences to the relatives of those who have lost their lives as well as to the Government and people of Iran and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”</div><div><br></div><div>At least 84 people were killed and 220 others injured in twin explosions that ripped through the southeastern city of Kerman on Wednesday, in close vicinity to the cemetery where Iran\'s former top military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani was buried.</div><div><br></div><div>Many of the injured people are still in critical condition, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said.</div><div><br></div><div>Thousands of people had gathered there to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of Soleimani, the former chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps\' Quds Force, who was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.</div><div><br></div><div>The cause of the explosions is still being investigated by security agencies. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in the post-1979 history of Iran. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 15:41:36', '2024-01-04 15:41:36'),
(10721, 10721, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree on providing citizenship to foreigners contracted to the country’s military since the start of the Ukraine war.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The decree, published on the government portal, said foreign citizens that have entered into a contract with the armed forces or other \"military formations\" since the start of the “special military operation” in February 2022 will have the right to apply for Russian citizenship.</div><div><br></div><div>Soldiers who were dismissed from the military during this period due to various reasons, including health issues, age and the end of their contract, will also be able to apply, while the spouse, children and parents of those eligible under the decree will also be able to do so.​​​​​​​</div><div><br></div><div>The decree, in effect immediately, stipulates that soldiers that apply for citizenship must submit their contract showing they have served for a period of at least one year.</div><div><br></div><div>It declared two previous decrees on the matter, signed in September 2022 and May 2023, as invalid. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 15:49:49', '2024-01-04 15:49:49'),
(10722, 10722, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll from a large Russian airstrike on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv last week rose to 32, local authorities announced on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Update on the consequences of the missile strike on Dec. 29, 2023. Investigators of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, during the examination, discovered two more dead,” Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said on Telegram.</div><div><br></div><div>The ongoing investigation into the missile strike on Kyiv found that 32 people were killed and 30 others were injured, Popko added.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, the Kyiv City Military Administration announced that the death toll had risen to 30, while 29 people were receiving medical care.</div><div><br></div><div>On Dec. 29, at least 40 people were killed due to massive air attacks by Russia on the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strikes as the \"heaviest attack\" by Moscow on the country. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 15:53:41', '2024-01-04 15:53:41'),
(10723, 10723, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A senior official in the US Education Department stepped down on Wednesday, citing President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict in Gaza, the latest sign of dissent in the administration as deaths continue to grow in the war.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Also on Wednesday, 17 Biden re-election campaign staffers issued a warning in an anonymous letter that Biden could lose voters over the issue.</div><div><br></div><div>Tariq Habash, special assistant in the Education Department’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, in a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, said: “I cannot stay silent as this administration turns a blind eye to the atrocities committed against innocent Palestinian lives, in what leading human rights experts have called a genocidal campaign by the Israeli government.”</div><div><br></div><div>Habash, a Palestinian-American and an expert on student debt, was appointed early in Biden’s presidency as part of a build-out of the Education Department’s student loan expertise.</div><div><br></div><div>The 17 anonymous Biden re-election campaign staffers, in their letter, published on Medium, urged Biden to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>“Biden for President staff have seen volunteers quit in droves, and people who have voted blue for decades feel uncertain about doing so for the first time ever, because of this conflict,” the staffers wrote in the letter.</div><div><br></div><div>Biden’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.</div><div>State Department spokesman Matthew Miller earlier on Wednesday said that the US has not observed acts in Gaza that constitute genocide. His remarks were in response to proceedings launched by South Africa at the International Court of Justice over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.</div><div>Israel also has denied claims of genocide in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Josh Paul, a former State Department official, resigned from the Biden administration in October in protest over what he called the administration’s “blind support” for Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>In November, more than 1,000 officials in the US Agency for International Development (USAID), part of the State Department, signed an open letter urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate cease-fire.</div><div><br></div><div>After at least three cables criticizing the administration’s policy were filed with the State Department’s internal “dissent channel,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged disagreements</div><div>in a November letter.</div><div><br></div><div>In December, some staff in the Biden administration held a vigil near the White House to demand a cease-fire in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Palestinian Islamist group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Some 240 hostages were also taken back to Gaza. The total recorded Palestinian death toll from Israel’s retaliatory offensive had reached 22,313 by Wednesday, almost 1 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, the Gaza health ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli bombardments have flattened much of the densely populated enclave, leaving most Gazans homeless, with food shortages threatening famine.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States has publicly slammed the rhetoric of some Israeli ministers and pushed Israel to curb civilian deaths in Gaza. Critics argue that Washington is not using its leverage as a major supplier of arms and aid to influence Israeli policy. -&nbsp; Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 16:02:18', '2024-01-04 16:02:18'),
(10724, 10724, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><font color=\"#3984c6\"><b>Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on Thursday made an impassioned appeal to the people to return her party to power for a straight fourth term by casting votes in Sunday’s general election.</b></font></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Today I’ve appeared before you to ask for votes in favour of the symbol, boat,” she said in a televised address to the nation, her final campaign speech before the January 7 national election to form the country’s 12th parliament. The speech was aired at 7 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>“The call has come, it’s time to take the road”, Hasina said quoting from poet Sukanta Bhattacharya’s poem, Udayachal (From the east).</div><div><br></div><div>In her over 24 minute speech the prime mister said she is seeking another five-year term in office to make the development sustainable, work for improving people’s living standard and build a developed smart Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said during her Awami League government’s three consecutive terms (2009-2023) the country has witnessed the continuation of a “democratic trend and stability” in the process of building a people’s welfare-oriented society based on “equality and justice.”</div><div><br></div><div>“If we can form the government again by getting your valuable votes we will be able to continue with the implementation of the programmes taken by us,” she said adding that this will give “us an opportunity to further improve your living condition.”</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina thanked people of the country for giving her Awami League an opportunity to serve them by voting for the boat symbol in the past.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said whatever she has achieved in this long journey “would not have been possible without your support,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“If I have made any mistakes along the way, my request to you is to look at the matter in the eyes of forgiveness. If I can form the government again, I will get a chance to correct the mistakes. Give me an opportunity to serve you by voting for the \'boat\' in the January 7 election,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She requested the people to keep confidence on her as she considers them as her family.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let\'s all make this Bangladesh a smart Golden Bangla and fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she appealed to the people.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM urged all political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law not to pamper and fuel any idiosyncratic ideas that will disrupt the constitutional process of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The ruling party chief said that her party is expecting a free, fair and impartial election on January 7.</div><div><br></div><div>In this connection, she said that this is the first time in Bangladesh that the Election Commission has been formed under a law passed by the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Election Commission has been given financial independence. The administration and law enforcement agencies are now placed under the Election Commission,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister also said that the EC is conducting the election independently.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our government is giving all kinds of support to the Election Commission for conducting fair and peaceful elections,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned the Awami League is party of the mass people and whenever it comes to power it ensures economic and social development of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>The government has ensured food, safety, health services, housing, education, and employment to the people besides making massive infrastructure development, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about her party’s election manifesto, Hasina mentioned listed 12 priorities for the socio-economic development of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>These are:</div><div><br></div><div>1. To protect and promote the practice of democratic system at all levels.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Making every effort to keep prices within the purchasing power of all.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Ensuring employability education and youth employment.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Building smart Bangladesh based on modern technology.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Mechanization of integrated agricultural system and taking measures to preserve the produce with the aim of increasing production.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Development of agricultural products and food processing industries.</div><div><br></div><div>7. To create employment opportunities by developing infrastructure and industries up to the village level.</div><div><br></div><div>8. To increase efficiency and capacity of bank insurance and financial sector.</div><div><br></div><div>9. Making health services affordable to low income people.</div><div><br></div><div>10. Ensuring individual and social security by including all in the universal pension system.</div><div><br></div><div>11. Making law enforcement agencies efficient in the use of modern technology and ensuring their accountability.</div><div><br></div><div>12. Eradication of communalism and all forms of terrorism and militancy.</div><div><br></div><div>Briefly describing the overall development of the country in the last 15 years, Hasina said that the growth reached 7.25 percent, per capita income increased 5 times, budget size increased 12 times and the Annual Development Program increased 13 times, GDP size increased 12 times, foreign exchange reserve increased 36 times, export earnings increased 5 times, annual remittance increased 6 times, foreign investment increased 5 times.</div><div><br></div><div>Wages of workers increased 9 times, foreign exchange reserve increased 36 times while export earnings increased 5 times, she noted.</div><div><br></div><div>She also mentioned that poverty rate declined from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent while extreme poverty rate reduced by 5 times.</div><div><br></div><div>Drinking water coverage increased from 55 percent to 98.8 percent. Sanitary latrines increased from 43.28 percent to 97.32 percent. Infant mortality decreased from 84 per thousand to 21. Maternal mortality decreased from 360 per lakh to 156. The average human lifespan is 72.8 years now.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister said that power generation capacity increased 8 times in the last 15 years while electricity consumption rate increased from 28 percent to 100 percent. Literacy rate increased to 76.8 percent while 22 times enhancement in technical education.</div><div><br></div><div>The grain production increased 4 times, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have built Padma Bridge with our own funding. We launched metro rail in Dhaka, constructed elevated expressway, and inaugurated subway construction. We set up the country\'s first nuclear power plant at Rooppur,” she went on.</div><div><br></div><div>She mentioned that the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been inaugurated.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have constructed South Asia\'s first underground road - \'Bangabandhu Tunnel\' in Chattogram. Dhaka-Cox\'s Bazar rail route has been established with an eye-catching railway station in Cox\'s Bazar. \'Bangabandhu Satellite-1\' has been launched.”</div><div><br></div><div>In any economic index, she said, the economy of Bangladesh has excelled in 2023 with a multifold growth compared to 2009. In 2009, the GDP was only 102 billion US dollars. In 2023, the GDP will increase to more than 450 billion US dollars.</div><div><br></div><div>The ruling party chief mentioned that during the Awami League government, the total amount of bank loans increased more than 7 times. As of June 2009, there were bad loans of Tk 22,000 crore; which is 10.5 percent of the total loan. At the end of September 2023, there were bad loans of Tk 1.55 lakh crore, which is 9.9 percent of the total disbursed loans.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to critics she said, “It is a pity that they do not present the correct information to the nation. It is their character to mislead people with false information against the country. It seems that these people get frustrated when they see the socio-economic development of the country,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She said that there is a huge difference between Bangladesh of 15 years ago and today\'s Bangladesh. People\'s quality of life has improved. The people today dream a better life.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Hasina said that Bangladesh wants peace and shuns war.</div><div><br></div><div>“We want an end to the wars in Palestine and Ukraine. We want an end to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Bangladesh is always with the people of Palestine,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-04 16:07:37', '2024-01-04 16:07:37'),
(10725, 10725, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Six people including Nabiullah Nabi, joint convener of Dhaka south unit of BNP, were arrested in connection with Friday’s arson attack on Benapole Express train in Dhaka’s Gopibagh area that left four people dead.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The identities of the other arrestees could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>Chief of Detective Branch (DB) of police and also the Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Harun-or-Rashid, shared this information while speaking at a press briefing held at DMP media centre today.</div><div><br></div><div>Nabiullah along with five others were directly involved in the arson attack on the train, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Some 10-11 BNP leaders and activists joined a video conference before the arson attack where all of them planned to carry out the attack,” the DB chief said during the briefing after interrogation.</div><div><br></div><div>At least four people were killed as arsonists set fire to Benapole Express train in the capital\'s Gopibagh area on Friday night.</div><div><br></div><div>Arsonists torched four coaches of the Benapole Express train at 9:05 pm. Three coaches of the Dhaka-bound train were completely burnt.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Railways has formed a seven-member committee to investigate the incident. The committee has been formed following the directive from Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to identify the reason behind the incident and fix responsibility. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 09:09:08', '2024-01-06 09:09:08'),
(10726, 10726, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Denouncing the arson attack on the Benapole Express Train that killed four passengers, BNP on Saturday said the government is playing with fire to make political gains by blaming the opposition.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The government has again started playing with fire. They\'ve resorted to the old game as they played in the past to hold a one-sided national election,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.</div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while picketing in support of their party’s 48-hour hartal that began 6m today to protest against Sunday’s \'dummy\' election.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi claimed that the ruling party tried to gain political advantage earlier by resorting to a hellish rampage of arson.</div><div><br></div><div>“People believe that yesterday\'s (Friday\'s) Benapole Express train fire and casualties were part of the government\'s old game,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>As the people have come up with a massive response to the movement of the BNP and other opposition parties for democracy, he said the ruling quarter is playing with people\'s lives by indulging in arson violence, and terrorism.</div><div><br></div><div>“The government has been hatching plots one after another to arrange the election like an authoritarian country, and putting the blame onto the opposition,” Rizvi alleged.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government aims to stay in power by eliminating the opposition parties, especially BNP.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that the arson on the Benapole Express Train was an ill-motivated, the BNP leader once again demanded an international investigation into the incident under the supervision of the United Nations.</div><div><br></div><div>On the first day of their 48-hour hartal, Rizvi along with some party leaders and workers brought out a procession from Shahbagh crossing towards Banglamotor in the capital around 7:3pm as part of picketing to enforce the shutdown.</div><div><br></div><div>At this time, the BNP activists set fire to tires and staged a demonstration there in support of the hartal.</div><div><br></div><div>A 48-hour hartal, called by BNP and like-minded opposition parties to protest the 12th parliamentary election to be held tomorrow, is underway. The hartal began at 6 am and will end at 6 am on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The night before the scheduled hartal, miscreants torched the four coaches of the Benapole Express train at 9:05pm on Friday, killing at least four people.</div><div><br></div><div>.BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>Many senior leaders, including BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>However, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days since October 29 amid the incidents of violence like setting fire to public vehicles and passenger trains. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 09:18:18', '2024-01-06 09:18:18'),
(10727, 10727, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Police in a drive recovered a “time-bomb” like object from a Cox’s Bazar-bound bus on Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Mouchak in Siddhirganj upazila of Narayanganj district early Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Md Hasan, supervisor of the bus, said a passenger boarded the bus from Dhaka’s Gabtoli area and some boarded at Sayedabad.</div><div><br></div><div>When the bus reached Jatrabari’s Hanif Flyover, they found one passenger missing from the bus and recovered a time bomb like object from the bag of the passenger at 10:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>They informed the matter to police through calling the emergency no 999.</div><div><br></div><div>Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj Police Station, said a bomb disposal unit from the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC) members rushed to the spot and defused it, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Golam Mostafa, superintendent of Narayanganj Police, said a timer was set on the bomb and the passengers were safe due to the prompt action of the authorities concerned.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 09:45:05', '2024-01-06 09:45:05'),
(10728, 10728, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">As winter rolls in, it brings cold waves and fog. In chilly weather, kids may catch cold and fall ill more frequently. However, there are some secret weapons to combat these seasonal maladies: immunity-boosting winter drinks! Discovering tasty and healthy options to fortify children\'s immunity can make winter an enjoyable journey. Let\'s explore palatable winter drinks that not only tantalise the taste buds of children but also serve as shields against sickness during the cold months.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>10 Delicious Immunity-Booster Winter Drinks for Children</div><div>Turmeric Milk </div><div>Turmeric milk is known for its medicinal properties. This drink blends the beneficial properties of turmeric and warm milk. To prepare, heat a cup of milk first. Then add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder, a pinch of black pepper, and a dash of honey to the milk. Simmer the mixture for a few minutes, then strain before consumption.</div><div><br></div><div>This golden elixir boasts curcumin which is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Consuming turmeric milk helps bolster the immune system, aiding in the prevention of winter ailments like colds and flu. Its natural healing properties provide relief from sore throats, coughs, and other seasonal maladies. </div><div><br></div><div>Vegetable Soup</div><div>Vegetable soup, a wholesome blend, incorporates an array of vegetables like carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and onions. Simmer these veggies in a broth, then season with some herbs and spices. This nutritious soup is filled with a plethora of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, fortifying kids\' natural immune systems and aiding in preventing colds and flu.</div><div><br></div><div>The warmth, nourishment, and hydration provided by this soup make it an appealing and immunity-boosting choice to keep kids healthy while relishing an appetizing meal. </div><div><br></div><div>Orange Carrot Juice</div><div>A vibrant and refreshing drink, orange carrot juice is a burst of immunity-boosting nutrients. Combine equal parts of carrot and orange juices for a rich blend of vitamin C and beta-carotene. These ingredients can fortify the immune system, essential in shielding kids from winter ailments.</div><div><br></div><div>The juice\'s high vitamin content bolsters immunity, warding off cold and flu during colder months. The antioxidants in this juice act as a defence mechanism, aiding in preventing illnesses, while its delicious taste makes it kid-friendly.</div><div><br></div><div>Pumpkin Seed Milk</div><div>Pumpkin seed milk is another delightful way to keep winter ailments at bay for the little ones. This remedy involves blending soaked pumpkin seeds with water and straining the mixture. Rich in zinc, antioxidants, and omega-3s, it safeguards kids against winter sickness. </div><div><br></div><div>This nutritious vegan delight acts as a shield against seasonal ailments by fortifying the body\'s defence mechanisms. Its high zinc content aids in immune response, while antioxidants combat free radicals. Providing a wealth of nutrients, including magnesium and vitamin E, pumpkin seed milk contributes to overall health, offering an extra layer of winter protection.</div><div><br></div><div>Fruit Smoothies</div><div>Organic fruits are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and essential nutrients. Preparing smoothies involves blending a variety of fruits such as berries, bananas, and oranges, with a splash of yoghurt or milk. Each sip is a celebration of the body\'s strength.</div><div><br></div><div>The fruit medley provides a powerhouse of vitamins C and E, crucial for fortifying their defences and warding off colds. Its richness in antioxidants aids in fighting off infections, ensuring a tasty and convenient way for kids to stay healthier during colder months.  </div><div><br></div><div>Hot Chocolate</div><div>Hot chocolate, a comforting winter indulgence, is a blend of rich cocoa and milk. To prepare, heat milk in a saucepan, add dark chocolate (cocoa content 70% or higher) and sugar, whisk until smooth, then stir in vanilla. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra immune boost and warm spice. </div><div><br></div><div>This creamy concoction can not only warm the souls of youngsters but also offer potential health benefits. The antioxidants in cocoa may aid in boosting immunity, while the milk provides essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D, fortifying children’s immunity against winter sickness.  </div><div><br></div><div>Strawberry and Kiwi Juice</div><div>Strawberry and kiwi juice is a vibrant blend combining fresh strawberries, ripe kiwis, lime juice, and honey. To prepare this health-boosting drink, blend hulled strawberries, peeled kiwis, lime juice, and honey until the mixture gets smooth. This tropical fruit juice is a powerhouse of vitamin C, essential for bolstering the immunity of kids. </div><div><br></div><div>The blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals present in strawberries and kiwis may aid in shielding from winter wrath. Loaded with nutrients, this combination is a delectable way to keep the youngsters’ infection-defending capacity strong and their taste buds happy.</div><div><br></div><div>Spiced Apple Delight</div><div>This winter, you can treat your little angel to the cosy aroma of spiced apple cider. Spiced apple delight infuses a blend of fresh apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, a hint of nutmeg, and a touch of honey. To prepare this comforting winter drink, simmer sliced apples with water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg together until the mix gets tender. Sweeten the drink with honey and blend to a smooth texture. </div><div><br></div><div>This classic winter drink brims with antioxidants and vitamins, aiding in immune function. The apples offer vitamin C, while spices like cinnamon and cloves possess antimicrobial properties that may fend off winter ailments. This concoction not only delights taste buds but also serves as a natural immune booster for youngsters during chilly months.</div><div><br></div><div>Honey & Lemon Soother</div><div>It is a simple yet effective remedy to ease winter illnesses for children. To prepare this drink, mix hot water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey until dissolved. </div><div><br></div><div>This soothing blend harnesses the antibacterial properties of honey and vitamin C-rich lemon to potentially alleviate winter ailments. The honey and lemon soothe comforts sore throats, while the vitamin C aids immunity function. Its antimicrobial properties may help fight infection, potentially boosting the immunity of children during the cold season</div><div><br></div><div>Dates-Nuts Milkshake</div><div>The Dates and Nuts milkshake is a wholesome blend of energy and immunity boosters. To prepare this energy-boosting winter drink, soak dates and nuts (such as almonds or walnuts). Then, blend the nuts and dates with milk, cinnamon, and vanilla until the mix is creamy. This nutritious elixir is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. </div><div><br></div><div>Dates offer natural sugars and essential nutrients, while nuts provide healthy fats and proteins. The shake\'s warmth soothes throats, and its nutrient-rich profile aids in strengthening the kids’ immune systems, offering a nourishing shield against seasonal illnesses, and winter sickness.</div><div><br></div><div>Bottom Line</div><div>Incorporating these delicious and nutritious drinks into kids\' daily routines during winter is not just about taste; it is about safeguarding their health. The nutrients and antioxidants of these beverages would potentially bolster the body\'s immunity system ensuring kids a satisfying and nutritious winter treat. With these immunity-booster winter drinks for kids, you can turn the cold season into an opportunity to boost their immunity naturally while delighting their taste buds, according to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><font color=\"#397b21\"><b>Boost Kids\' Immunity </b></font><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 10:13:40', '2024-01-06 10:15:36'),
(10729, 10729, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In preparation for the upcoming 12th national election on Sunday, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has deployed 700 personnel across the country to ensure security.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>RAB Director General M Khurshid Hossain stated that coordinated efforts with other law enforcement agencies, including police and intelligence services, have been undertaken to implement sufficient security measures.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have worked as a striking force throughout the country. Tomorrow, 700 RAB personnel will be working on election duty,\" said the RAB DG after overseeing security arrangements in Dhaka\'s Mirpur today.</div><div><br></div><div>He emphasised that comprehensive security measures have been put in place to ensure a fair and peaceful election. Khurshid further expressed confidence in the preparedness of the election centres and urged citizens to exercise their democratic rights.</div><div><br></div><div>\"People have the opportunity to vote. We are prepared to ensure that they can exercise their voting rights without hindrance,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the collaboration between RAB, other law enforcement agencies, and the Cyber Team, the RAB DG detailed the deployment of specialised units, including the dog squad, bomb disposal unit, and, if necessary, RAB helicopters. He also mentioned a new device named OIVS, which will help identify intruders in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>In various districts, meetings have been held with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective communication and coordination. The RAB chief assured that a high level of coordination exists and that everyone is working together for a fair and peaceful election.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to concerns about potential disruptions during the election, Khurshid warned of strict action against anyone attempting to impede the voting process. He mentioned recent incidents of violence on a train and ongoing political strikes, emphasising the need for citizens to vote without fear.</div><div><br></div><div>The RAB chief urged journalists to assist in maintaining civic order by providing accurate information and fostering democratic values. He called for cooperation from the media and the public to ensure a free and fair election.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding recent incidents of violence, Khurshid mentioned that investigations are ongoing and arrests have been made. He reassured the public that law enforcement is working to address any threats and maintain a secure environment for the election. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 11:22:57', '2024-01-06 11:22:57'),
(10730, 10730, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#3984c6\">Bangladesh is set to hold the 12th parliamentary election on Sunday with the ruling Awami League’s victory is guaranteed for a historic fourth consecutive term amid an opposition boycott.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The main opposition BNP and several other parties are sitting out of the polls, which are being participated by the Awami League and 27 other political parties.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks to the opposition boycott the AL is expected to sweep the polls to again form the government and extend its 15-year rule for another five years until 2029, according to analysts.</div><div><br></div><div>The opposition is staying out of the race after Hasina’s government rejected its demand to transfer power to a non-partisan administration to oversee a free and fair vote.</div><div><br></div><div>In a new development in the country’s electoral history the ruling party is facing tough fight mainly from the party’s own members contesting as independents.</div><div><br></div><div>In a televised address to the nation wrapping up her election campaign on Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina  appealed to the voters to go to polling centres early in the morning. She asked them to cast their ballots for boat, her party’s election symbol.</div><div><br></div><div>But the opposition BNP and its like-minded parties have called for a 48-hour hartal (general strike), including on the Voting Day.</div><div><br></div><div>Security has been stepped up across the country after a series of arson attacks on polling centres and fire on a moving train, Benapole Express, on Friday night that left four people, including children charred to death.</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, election officials fanned across the country to reach election materials – expect ballots – to the polling centres, said the EC. The ballots, however, will be sent to the centres in the morning of the voting day.</div><div><br></div><div>The balloting will start at 8am and continue till 4pm non-stop in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies. Voting in Naogaon-2 constituency has been postponed following the death of an independent contender, according to the Election Commission.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 1,970 candidates, including 436 independent contenders are running in the general election.</div><div><br></div><div>In 80 to100 constituencies, tough fights are expected to be seen between AL candidates and its own rivals who are running as independent contestants.</div><div><br></div><div>The ruling party nominated candidates are vying in the election with \'boat\' symbol in 266 seats, while the party is sharing 26 seats with Jatiya Party and six seats with three partners of its 14-party alliance – three for Jasod, two for Workers’ Party and one for Jatiya Party (JP-Manju).</div><div><br></div><div>There is no AL candidate in Barishal-4 and Cox\'s Bazar-1 as the candidacies of its nominated contestants were cancelled in the two constituencies. AL MP Pankaj Nath as an independent candidate is running in Barishal-4 and Kalyan Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim in Cox\'s Bazar-1.</div><div><br></div><div>Jatiya Party nominated contenders are officially contesting in 265 seats. The 265 JP candidates include 26 ones who are vying for the election as candidates of the AL-led alliance. However, some Jatiya Party contestants have unofficially quitted the electoral race.</div><div><br></div><div>Out of 44 political parties registered with the Election Commission, 16 parties are out of the electoral race.</div><div><br></div><div>There are 11,93,32,934 voters –-6,05,92,197 males, 5,87,39,889 females and 848 transgenders – who have voting rights under 260,856 booths of 42,024 polling stations in the constituencies, according to the EC.</div><div><br></div><div>In the January-7 election, some 10,000 polling stations are being considered as vulnerable centres (though the Election Commission called such stations as important polling centres). The tighter security measures have been taken for the vulnerable polling stations.</div><div><br></div><div>Some eight lakh security men are there on election duty to maintain the electoral atmosphere by checking violation of codes of conduct throughout the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Of them, 38,154 Army personnel, 2,827 Navy personnel (19 districts), 44,912 (1151 platoons) BGB personnel, 2355 (70 platoons) Coast Guard personnel, 600 Rab teams and 95 Rab reserve teams, 174,767 police personnel and 5,14,288 Ansar men.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, 653 judicial magistrates and some 2,000 (1970) executive magistrates are in the field to punish the violation of electoral code of conduct.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Election Commission, some nine lakh polling officials including 42024 presiding officers, 260,856 assistant presiding officers and some 522,000 polling officers are there to cast the ballot throughout the country.</div><div><br></div><div>There are 66 returning officers – 64 deputy commissioners and 2 divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Chattogram—and 590 assistant returning officers – 493 upazila nirbahi officers (UNO), 56 upazila election officers, 14 deputy directors of Local Government, 8 additional deputy commissioners, 11 zonal executive officers, five cantonment executive officers, 2 assistant commissioners (Land) and one circle officer – to conduct the election.</div><div><br></div><div>A team of 15-17 security members will be posted to protect each polling station as the Election Commission has designed separate security plans for the polling stations located outside the metropolitan area and the stations located inside the metropolitan areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Outside the metropolitan areas, a team of 15-16 security men including two police with arms, one ansar with arms, one ansar with arms or stick, 10 ansar with sticks, one or two village police members with sticks will protect each normal polling station. But in case of each important polling station (which is considered as vulnerable stations), there will be a team of 16-17 security men including three police with arms. Inside the metropolitan area, a 15-member security team consisting of three police members with arms, one ansar with arms, another ansar with arms or stick and 10 others ansar members with sticks will ensure security for each polling station.</div><div><br></div><div>The 26 JP candidates who are running as AL-led alliance contenders are in Thakurgaon- 3, Nilphamari- 3 and 4, Rangpur- 1 and 3, Kurigram- 1 and 2, Gaibandha- 1 and 2, Bogura- 2 and 3, Satkhira-2, Patuakhali -1, Barishal- 3, Pirojpur- 3, Mymensingh- 5 and 8, Kishoreganj- 3, Manikganj- 1, Dhaka- 18, Habiganj- 1, Brahmanbaria- 2, Feni- 3, Chhatogram- 5 and 8, and Narayanganj- 5.</div><div><br></div><div>Three Jasod candidates running as AL-led alliance contenders are in Bagura- 4, Kushtia- 2 and Laxmipur- 4, while two Workers party candidates in Barishal- 2 and , Rajshahi -2, and one Jatiya Party-JP candidates in Pirojpur- 2.</div><div><br></div><div>On November 15, 2023, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced the schedule to hold the 12th general election on January 7, 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>The deadline for submission of nomination papers was November 30, 2023 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature was December 17, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The last 11th parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018 with participation of two largest political parties Awami League and BNP. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 11:37:51', '2024-01-06 11:38:39');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10731, 10731, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><font color=\"#085294\">The Bangladesh Nationalist Party\'s (BNP) response to the Commonwealth Secretary-General\'s press statement on 5th January 2024.</font></span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary-General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said this in a press release on 6 January (Saturday).</div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir said that the Commonwealth SG’s call shocked the democracy-loving people of Bangladesh who have been disenfranchised by the regime for more than a decade.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"It has come to the attention of the people of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP that the honorable Commonwealth Secretary-General (SG), in a press release issued on 5 January, only 2 days ahead of the much-disputed lopsided dummy election scheduled on 7 January 2024, being held against the will of the people, called on all political and civic leaders in Bangladesh to contribute to a \'conducive environment for citizens to peacefully exercise their right to vote\' on 7 January.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Honorable SG’s call misses many crucial issues surrounding the upcoming farcical 7 January election. The SG’s statement does not reflect the ground reality in Bangladesh. We believe her statement contradicts the desires and aspirations of the pro-democracy Bangladeshis who have been striving for a free, fair, inclusive, and credible election for more than a decade, said Rizvi.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said, \"The SG Scotland must be aware that the upcoming election is being boycotted by all the major pro-democracy political parties in Bangladesh. Only the ruling party-chosen dummy/independent candidates and fake opposition with ruling party blessings are made to participate in the election.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"Since the election result is already predetermined and the people have no real options to choose from among genuine contenders, there is no congenial environment and level playing field; the voters have also rejected the one-sided polls.\" He said, \"The regime has now taken various unethical steps to demonstrate the presence of people, voter or no voters, at the polling center under coercion and intimidation, to make it look like participatory.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He also said, \'These stories are well covered by the local media (despite restrictions), social media, and the well-esteemed international print and electronic media. The Commonwealth Secretariat and the visiting CET must also be aware of the state of terror and fear created by the regime through extreme human rights violations like extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and rampant arbitrary arrests in the last 3 months. More than 27,000 opposition dissidents, including BNP Secretary-General and its top leaders, languishing in prison upon fictitious charges. Scores of people have been killed, tortured, and died in police custody.\'</div><div><br></div><div>All the pro-democracy world and our international partners who believe in the rule of law and liberal values have also expressed their opinion for a free, fair, inclusive, and credible election of international standard in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, forcing all the pro-democracy political parties out of the election, creating a culture of fear, and designing a staged election by dummy candidates, dummy election observers, and dummy voters, the ruling autocratic regime of Bangladesh is conducting a sham election, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, \"The people of Bangladesh acknowledge the Commonwealth’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. If the SG genuinely wants to echo the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh, as she mentioned in her statement, the people expect her to play a proactive role for the realization of the people’s right to vote under a neutral government and administration. The SG\'s statement is out of touch with the ground reality, given that this farcical exercise on 7th January does not even meet the minimum qualification to be recognized or termed as an election of any standard, under the UN Declaration of Human Rights article 21 and 21 (3) or the International Covenant on political and civil rights. The Secretary-General’s statement tends to support the renewal of the current autocratic regime through a highly fraudulent election that goes against the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh for the restoration of democracy through a genuinely inclusive and credible election.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Ruhul Kabir hopes, \"We expect that SG Scotland understands that the pro-democracy people, civil society, and political parties want the Commonwealth to side with the people of Bangladesh and not with the current autocratic regime. As the people of Bangladesh strive for the restoration of their voting rights and fundamental liberties, the support of the Commonwealth will be highly appreciated.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Senior Reporter', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 12:38:26', '2024-01-06 12:38:26'),
(10732, 10732, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP has again urged the voters to boycott Sunday\'s voting for the staged 12th parliamentary election&nbsp; to ensure the fall of the incumbent \"fascist Awami League government.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing on Saturday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also urged the country’s people to peacefully observe their party’s second-day hartal on the voting day by not going to the polling stations.</div><div><br></div><div>“The darkest chapter of another lopsided stage-managed election in the history of Bangladesh is going to be written tomorrow (Sunday) on January 7. So, our call to every democracy-loving voter is to boycott at least for a day on Sunday those who have denied your rights for the last 15 years,” Rizvi said.</div><div><br></div><div>He further said, “Believe me, the grave of this fascist government in Bangladesh will be ensured just because of your one-day decision,”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader called upon the&nbsp; people to spend time with their families during voting hours instead of visiting the polling stations.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let’s establish democracy and voting rights and make the two-day all-out strike a success. Let’s all boycott the January 7 voting and raise our voices in favour of boycotting the polls. Avoid going to polling stations,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also called upon the pro-democratic forces to encourage their family members, relatives, friends and neighbours to boycott the \'monkey’s play\' in the name of voting and refrain from going to voting centres.</div><div><br></div><div>He alleged that a dangerous game has been arranged to retain power again as it has been for the past 15 years through an inventory model of dummy election drama.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said Awami League along with their subservient and partisan state apparatus have laid once again the web of deception to snatch the voting rights of people, ignoring the people of the country and the international community, especially the democratic world.</div><div><br></div><div>“Already this farcical election has been rejected worldwide. World media, including BBC, Al Jazeera, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, branded this election as a farce of Sheikh Hasina\'s ascension to dictatorship and monarchy,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite that, Rizvi said Sheikh Hasina has been ‘shamelessly’ indulging in the farcical game using all powers and making efforts to show the democratic world voter turnouts by force as he has become blind out of her lust for power.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is set to hold the 12th parliamentary election on Sunday amid a boycott by major opposition parties.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP and like-minded opposition parties enforced a 48-hour hartal at 6am Saturday to protest the 12th parliamentary election. The hartal will end at 6 am on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>Many senior leaders, including BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days since October 29 amid incidents of violence like setting fire to public vehicles and passenger trains.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 15:45:09', '2024-01-06 15:45:09'),
(10733, 10733, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The UAE is to put 84 people on trial for terror-related offences, state media said today, a decade after a similar mass trial of government critics.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Gulf state’s attorney-general ordered the trial of “mostly members of the terrorist organisation of (the) Muslim Brotherhood”, official news agency WAM said.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2013, the UAE tried 94 activists, lawyers, students, teachers and other government critics, accusing them of membership of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.</div><div><br></div><div>Rights groups denounced the proceedings at the time.</div><div><br></div><div>The trials resulted in jail time for 69 people, many of whom remain in prison.</div><div><br></div><div>According to WAM, at least some of them are to be charged in the new trial.</div><div><br></div><div>The defendants are accused of “establishing another clandestine organisation for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil”, the news agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The defendants had concealed this crime and its evidence before they were arrested and tried” in 2013, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>A six-month investigation uncovered “sufficient evidence” for the attorney-general to pursue the new trial, WAM said.</div><div><br></div><div>Human Rights Watch said in December that the defendants were being persecuted “in retaliation for forming an independent advocacy group in 2010”.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the New York-based rights group, charges were also brought against other imprisoned dissidents including human rights campaigner Ahmed Mansour.</div><div><br></div><div>He was sentenced in 2018 to 10 years in prison for criticising the government and tarnishing the country’s image on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>“Levelling new charges based on peaceful advocacy over a decade ago seems nothing more than a shameless pretext to keep these men behind bars,” said HRW’s deputy regional director Michael Page.</div><div><br></div><div>Emirati authorities said today that the defendants had been given legal representation, and that the state security court had “begun hearing witnesses and the public trial procedures are ongoing”. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 15:50:21', '2024-01-06 15:50:21'),
(10734, 10734, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>New York City’s historic, two-year snow drought may come to an end this weekend with the arrival of a winter storm system that should begin rolling through the most populous city in the US and across the East Coast today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The city’s 8.5 million residents have not seen more than 2.54cm of snow fall in Central Park since Feb 13, 2022, a record-long streak of 692 days.</div><div><br></div><div>The incoming low pressure system threatens to dump up to 7.6cm of wet snow in parts of the city, the national weather service said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We stand a pretty good chance of getting close to breaking” the streak, said Bill Goodman, a meteorologist based in New York.</div><div><br></div><div>“This winter started off on the mild side, but I think we’re about to switch gears toward a more typical winter.”</div><div><br></div><div>The storm could produce more snow than fell all last winter in New York City, where just 5.84cm fell, the lowest amount in recorded history.</div><div><br></div><div>It was also expected to bring icy rain to parts of the city and wind gusts of up to 72kph, the weather service said in its forecast.</div><div><br></div><div>In a city where snowfalls of more than 30cm are not uncommon – at least until recently – New Yorkers should have little trouble coping with whatever this weekend’s storm dishes out.</div><div><br></div><div>Experts say the lack of snow in New York is one more sign of how climate change is affecting weather patterns around the world.</div><div><br></div><div>The US Southwest, for example, experienced a record stretch of extreme heat last summer.</div><div><br></div><div>Although the forecast calls for at least some snow accumulation, the storm may also just produce freezing rain across the city.</div><div><br></div><div>The downpours, which could total 3.8cm, could cause minor urban flooding and leave an icy glaze on roadways, the weather service warned.</div><div><br></div><div>Either way, New York City is likely to escape the brunt of the weekend storm.</div><div><br></div><div>It threatens to dump as much as 20cm of snow in interior portions of New York state, New Jersey and northeast through New England along and just north of Interstate 95.</div><div><br></div><div>Some areas could see as much as a foot of snow, the weather service said.</div><div><br></div><div>The agency and state officials urged the 16 million people who were under a winter storm watch across the region to stay vigilant as the snow from the storm could cover roads and topple trees and electrical lines, making travel treacherous and knocking out power.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now is a good time to make plans and avoid travel during the duration of the storm,” Connecticut governor Ned Lamont said on social media platform X.</div><div><br></div><div>Boston, home to about 650,000 people, was expected to get as much as 18cm of snow.</div><div><br></div><div>Mayor Michelle Wu cautioned residents to be careful over the weekend but said the storm appeared unlikely to disrupt the start of the workweek.</div><div><br></div><div>“Nothing is quite predictable here in New England, but the timing of this so far – fingers crossed – does mean that it should have less of an impact on the normal rhythms of our weekday commutes and school pickups and drop-offs,” she said at a news briefing yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>Winter weather was also on tap for parts of eastern California and the West Coast, where some communities across region could get as much as 30cm of snow and wind gusts of more than 64kph, causing whiteout conditions on roadways, the weather service warned. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 15:54:41', '2024-01-06 15:54:41'),
(10735, 10735, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Alaska Airlines has grounded dozens of Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets for safety checks after a cabin panel blowout forced a brand-new airplane loaded with passengers to make an emergency landing.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Airline CEO Ben Minicucci said in a statement the 65 similar planes would be returned to service only after precautionary maintenance and safety inspections, which he expected to be completed in the “next few days”.</div><div><br></div><div>Flight 1282 had reached 16,000 feet bound for Ontario, California, before returning to Portland, Oregon, where it landed safely at 5.26pm yesterday with 171 passengers and six crew, according to the airline and FlightRadar24.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’d like to get down,” the pilot told air traffic control, according to a recording posted on liveatc.net.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are declaring an emergency. We do need to come down to 10,000,” the pilot added, referring to the initial staging altitude for such emergencies, below which breathing is considered possible for healthy people without extra oxygen.</div><div><br></div><div>Social media posts also showed oxygen masks deployed and a portion of the aircraft’s side wall missing.</div><div><br></div><div>Passenger photos appeared to show that a panel that can be used for an optional rear mid-cabin exit door had been torn away, leaving a door-shaped gap.</div><div><br></div><div>The extra door is typically installed by low-cost airlines using extra seats that require more paths for evacuation.</div><div><br></div><div>However, those doors are permanently “plugged”, or deactivated, on Alaska Airlines jets.</div><div><br></div><div>“While this type of occurrence is rare, our flight crew was trained and prepared to safely manage the situation,” Alaska said.</div><div><br></div><div>The National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the depressurisation incident.</div><div><br></div><div>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also said the crew had reported a pressurisation issue, and that it would investigate.</div><div><br></div><div>The new MAX 9 was delivered to Alaska Airlines in late October and certified in early November, according to FAA data.</div><div><br></div><div>Boeing said it was looking into the emergency landing.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are aware of the incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282,” the company said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are working to gather more information and are in contact with our airline customer.”</div><div><br></div><div>Production snags</div><div><br></div><div>“Whenever you have a rapid decompression such as this, it’s a major safety event,” said Anthony Brickhouse, an air safety expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.</div><div><br></div><div>“I can’t imagine what these passengers experienced. It would have been loud. The wind would be rushing through that cabin. It was a probably pretty violent situation, and definitely a scary situation.”</div><div><br></div><div>The incident shows the importance of passengers keeping their seatbelts buckled while seated in an airplane, even if the fasten seatbelt light is off, Brickhouse said, noting that the oxygen mask system appeared to have functioned properly.</div><div><br></div><div>Reports said the seat next to the left-hand panel, which contains an ordinary passenger window, was unoccupied.</div><div><br></div><div>“This is a very, very serious situation and it could have been a lot worse,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“If someone had been sitting in that seat, and they weren’t buckled in, it would have been a different situation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Last week, Boeing said it was urging airlines to inspect all 737 MAX airplanes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system.</div><div><br></div><div>The FAA said it was closely monitoring Boeing 737 MAX inspections and would consider additional action if more loose or missing hardware was found.</div><div><br></div><div>The 737 MAX was grounded for 20 months worldwide after two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 linked to poorly designed cockpit software killed 346 people in Ethiopia and Indonesia.</div><div><br></div><div>Boeing is awaiting certification of its smaller 737 MAX 7 and larger MAX 10.</div><div><br></div><div>China’s aviation regulator is conducting an emergency meeting to consider a response to the incident, including a possible grounding of the Boeing Max fleet in the country, Bloomberg news reported today.</div><div><br></div><div>The FAA has carefully scrutinised the MAX for years, saying in 2021 it was tracking all 737 MAX airplanes using satellite data.</div><div><br></div><div>The fuselage for Boeing 737 planes, its most popular model, is made by Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems.</div><div><br></div><div>In August, Boeing identified a quality problem involving Spirit that resulted in improperly drilled holes on the aft pressure bulkhead.</div><div><br></div><div>Spirit was not immediately available for comment on the Alaska incident. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 16:03:46', '2024-01-06 16:03:46'),
(10736, 10736, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Facing a Mideast region in crisis and a number of pressing bilateral issues, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with issues before them including the ongoing carnage in Gaza, final steps to complete Türkiye’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO bid, and US approval for the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The meeting, held at Istanbul’s Vahdettin Mansion, also included Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) head Ibrahim Kalin, Erdogan\'s chief adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic and US Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake.</div><div><br></div><div>No further information was shared about the closed-door meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the day, Fidan and Blinken had met one-on-one.</div><div><br></div><div>\"At the meeting, Ministers discussed the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Sweden\'s NATO accession process, bilateral and regional issues,\" the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on X.</div><div><br></div><div>Following his visit to Türkiye, through Jan. 11, Blinken is set to proceed to Greece, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the West Bank, and Egypt.</div><div><br></div><div>During his regional tour, according to the US State Department, Blinken will stress protecting civilian lives, releasing hostages, delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, restoring essential services, and preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>He will also address urgent steps to reduce violence, calm rhetoric, and ease tensions, including deterring Houthi attacks in Yemen and avoiding escalation in Lebanon.</div><div><br></div><div>Blinken will reaffirm the US commitment to work with partners for Middle East peace, emphasizing progress towards a Palestinian state alongside Israel, said the department.</div><div><br></div><div>His visit comes amid a rising human catastrophe in the Gaza Strip due to both Israeli attacks and its blockade on the besieged strip.</div><div><br></div><div>Fidan and Blinken have held several phone calls and meetings since Oct. 7 to discuss Gaza among other bilateral issues, including Sweden\'s NATO accession and the US sale to Türkiye of F-16 fighter jets.</div><div><br></div><div>The toll from the Israeli attacks since Oct. 7 totals 22,600 dead and 57,910 injured, most of them women and children.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities claim the attacks by Hamas have killed around 1,200 Israelis.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 16:06:16', '2024-01-06 16:06:16'),
(10737, 10737, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Following South Africa\'s lawsuit, Tel Aviv is concerned and anticipating a possible verdict from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) compelling Israel to halt its ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli Broadcasting Authority stated in a brief statement on Friday that Tel Aviv fears the issuance of a decision by the court in The Hague ordering the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, without providing further details.</div><div><br></div><div>South Africa suspended relations with Israel on Nov. 21, in response to its army’s intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip. And later on Dec. 29, it filed a petition with the ICJ to initiate genocidal proceedings against Tel Aviv.</div><div><br></div><div>It requested that Israel immediately cease all acts and measures in violation of its obligations as a signatory to the 1948 Genocide Convention.</div><div><br></div><div>The application was filed \"concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,\" the ICJ said in a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>South Africa is using photo evidence captured by Turkish global news agency Anadolu to show that Israel committed war crimes in its onslaught on the Gaza Strip as it brings its genocide case against Tel Aviv at the ICJ.</div><div><br></div><div>In the case file submitted by South Africa to the international court based in The Hague, photos by Anadolu, also featured in a report by Amnesty International, are serving as evidence to help prove Israel\'s use of banned white phosphorus munitions in Gaza, one of the most densely populated regions in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Israel has engaged in, is engaging in, and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza,\" the African country said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, killing at least 22,185 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring around 58,000 others, according to local health authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli attacks have left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 16:08:55', '2024-01-06 16:08:55'),
(10738, 10738, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A total of 137 arson attacks have been reported in two city corporations of Dhaka in 71 days since October 28, Fire Service and Civil Defence said in a report on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Of them, 89 fire attacks were reported in Dhaka South City Corporation while 48 in Dhaka North City Corporation.</div><div><br></div><div>\"A total of 303 arson attacks were reported across the country during this period, leaving eight people dead and five injured,” said Talha Bin Jashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence\'s media cell.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the fire service, out of 303 arson attacks across the country, 194 incidents occurred in Dhaka division, 35 in Chattogram, 38 in Rajshahi, 9 in Barishal, 10 in Rangpur, 5 in Khulna, 6 in Mymensingh and 6 in Sylhet division.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 176 buses, 49 trucks, 25 covered vans, 5 trains, 3 microbuses, 3 private cars, 21 motorcycles, 1 ambulance, 10 pickup trucks, 3 CNG-run auto rickshaws, 1 human hauler, 3 Lagunas, 1 fire service water truck, 1 police van were torched during this period.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the 23 establishments,&nbsp; nine educational institutions,&nbsp; 5 BNP offices, 1 Awami League office, 1 police box, 1 councilor office, 2 electricity offices, 1 bus counter, 2 showrooms, and 1 Buddhist monastery were burnt during this time, according to fire service.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the statistics, arson attacks happened in 47 days of the 71 days. And no fire attack was reported in 24 days.</div><div><br></div><div>Analysing the incidents, the fire service found that there were more arson attacks during the night compared to daytime.</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 2,959 members of 539 firefighting units worked to douse the fire across the country during this period.</div><div><br></div><div>On 28 October, both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami called rallies in the capital which were marred by violence.</div><div><br></div><div>Many vehicles were torched and two people died, including a police constable. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 16:13:12', '2024-01-06 16:13:12'),
(10739, 10739, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">German-born Hollywood actor Christian Oliver was killed along with his two young daughters as their small plane plummeted into the Caribbean Sea moments after takeoff, local police said.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Oliver, who appeared on the big screen with George Clooney in \"The Good German\" and in 2008 action-comedy \"Speed Racer,\" died aboard a privately owned, one-engine aircraft Thursday, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Fishermen, divers and coast guard immediately went to the scene, where four bodies were recovered.</div><div><br></div><div>Oliver, 51, died along with his daughters Madita, 10, and Annik, 12, and pilot Robert Sachs.</div><div><br></div><div>The plane was travelling from Bequia, a small island in the Grenadines, to St Lucia shortly after midday Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>The family appeared to be on vacation, with Oliver posting on Instagram days earlier an image of a tropical beach and the caption: \"Greetings from somewhere in paradise! To community and love... 2024 [here] we come!\"</div><div><br></div><div>Oliver, born Christian Klepser, had over 60 movie and TV credits to his name, including a minor part in Tom Cruise movie \"Valkyrie.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Early-career roles included TV series \"Saved by the Bell: The New Class\" and movie \"The Baby-Sitters Club.\"</div><div><br></div><div>In his native Germany, Oliver starred for two seasons in popular cop show \"Alarm fur Cobra 11.\" - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 16:15:06', '2024-01-06 16:15:06'),
(10740, 10740, '<div><font color=\"#634aa5\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday expressed hope that the 12th parliamentary election will be credible nationally and internationally.</b></span><br></font></div><div><br></div><div>“Credibility is a relative matter. But we from our part would try making the election a widely credible one. We are optimistic that the election would be credible at home and abroad,” he said while addressing a pre-election briefing in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission arranged ‘Meet the Press: The 12th parliamentary election 2024’ at Bangabandhu International Conference for local and international journalists and election observers.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a question, the CEC said the commission may face a challenge in the peaceful arrangement of this election as a major political block is strongly campaigning against the vote.</div><div><br></div><div>“This time there are some challenges ahead because several incidents have already occurred. A major political party together with alliance parties is formidably campaigning against the election,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Habibul Awal, however, said the commission would be able to conduct this election with participation of the people amid opposition resistance.</div><div><br></div><div>“A crisis may be seen to some extent in the case of holding the election in a peaceful manner as one group is opposing the election, boycotting it and openly declaring to resist it. We don’t deny this reality,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>But the Election Commission has taken preparations, he said asserting that “We will be able to arrange this election with participation of the people and voters despite having opposition and resistance.”</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing at all the opposition political parties who are campaigning against the election Habibul Awal said, “You may peacefully campaign against the election to form public opinion not to go to polling stations but it will be an offense if you physically resist the election preventing voters from going to the polling stations.”</div><div><br></div><div>He again said the commission will have to face a challenge if the opposition political parties resort to arson and physical force to resist the election.</div><div><br></div><div>When his attention was drawn that many election experts thought it wouldn’t be an actual election, rather a selection amid the boycott of BNP and 15 other parties, the CEC said it is not EC’s job to involve in any political debate and it has a mandate just to hold the election. “The debate will remain in the political landscape and it is the politicians who may solve it one day,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Habibul Awal asked the candidates to put their polling agents in every polling booth for the sake of holding this election in a fair manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Answering a question about the possible voter turnout, he said it was difficult right now to predict the percentage of voter turnout.</div><div><br></div><div>But he said if the voter turnout is less than even one percent, it would be legally correct, though it may face a legitimacy crisis, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC said the EC has one minor duty to encourage the voters to come up to the polling station to cast votes. “I think it is a minor duty,” he said, adding that voters are always very interested to come out due to the persuasion of the candidates.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the CEC added, “Had BNP participated in the election, the election would have been more competitive, more inclusive and more festive. This is a reality.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-06 16:23:52', '2024-01-06 16:23:52'),
(10741, 10741, '<div><font color=\"#085294\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday alleged that the ballot boxes were stuffed at night even in the one-sided election.&nbsp;</b></span><br></font></div><div><br></div><div>“The lopsided election is being held today. There are no voters at the polling stations,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a brief rally near Kurmitola Bus Stand area, he said people have rejected the dummy election.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“People are not going to polling stations. They (AL) stuffed the ballot boxes in this one-sided election late at night to show fake turnouts,” Rizvi said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said their ongoing movement will continue until the fall of illegal Awami League government.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader urged the country’s people to peacefully observe the hartal and make it a success.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, Rizvi along with some leaders and activists brought out a procession in support of the hartal.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The voting of the 12th parliamentary election began at 8am today (Sunday) amid a boycott by major opposition parties.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP and like-minded opposition parties enforced a 48-hour hartal at 6am Saturday to protest the 12th parliamentary election. The hartal will end at 6 am on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP along with nearly three dozen opposition political parties have been carrying out a simultaneous movement since December 10 last year to force the current government to quit and hold the 12th parliamentary election under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>Many senior leaders, including BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, were arrested while many others went into hiding in the face of a crackdown by the law enforcers, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, BNP and like-minded parties enforced countrywide blockades for 23 days in 12 phases and hartals for five days since October 29 amid incidents of violence like setting fire to public vehicles and passenger trains.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 08:03:48', '2024-01-07 08:03:48'),
(10742, 10742, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#085294\">Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said voter turnout is relatively higher in rural areas compared to Dhaka, and expressed optimism over healthy turnout of voters as the day progresses.</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“I couldn\'t cast my vote for many years as I was abroad. My father used to come with my mother. As my father passed away few years back, I came here to cast my vote with my mother,” he told reporters after casting his vote at the Teachers Training Centre under Dhaka-10 constituency.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, the Foreign Secretary said foreign observers are monitoring the polls since this morning and they are willing to share their impressions after voting is completed.</div><div><br></div><div>Over 127 foreign observers are monitoring the polls apart from journalists from overseas.</div><div><br></div><div>\"So far, the environment is peaceful,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission is confident about holding the election through a transparent process, the Foreign Secretary said.</div><div><br></div><div>Turnout is a key factor but it needs to be seen whether the entire process was transparent and smooth, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about Western countries’ impression over the possible low voter turnout, the Foreign Secretary said it is for them to consider.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If there is healthy turnout, it will go in favor of the election and its credibility,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Foreign Secretary also said the foreigners who interacted with him personally expressed their concerns over the deaths of people in arson attacks on trains.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign observers and some of the diplomats are monitoring the polls. They will talk to the media after 5 pm today. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 08:08:07', '2024-01-07 08:08:07'),
(10743, 10743, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Voting for the 12th National Parliamentary Election is underway since this morning with reports of low voter turnout and sporadic violence across the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>UNB correspondents from Dhaka and across the country including Dinajpur, Chattogram, Bhola, Chapainawabganj and Khulna have reported low voter turnout than previously expected.</div><div><br></div><div>While visiting the Gulshan Model School and College center in Gulshan-2 area of Dhaka, a UNB correspondent reported that only 35 out of the 13,000 registered voters had cast their votes in the first three hours till 11 am.</div><div><br></div><div>However, after 10 am, there were sudden queues for 5 to 10 minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, only 50 votes were cast at the Udayan School centre in Dhaka-8 constituency (Ramna-Motijheel) in the first two hours of balloting, said presiding officer Liton Das.</div><div><br></div><div>“Voting is proceeding smoothly,” said Das.</div><div><br></div><div>According to data from the Election Management apps, only 8% of votes were cast within the first four hours of balloting across three centers in the Dhaka-8 constituency.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, 50 voters — out of 898 — cast their votes in two booths of Tejgaon Adarsha School &amp; College in Dhaka-12 constituency in the four and a half hours of voting.</div><div><br></div><div>The situation at Uttara High School and Collage in Dhaka-18 was also similar.</div><div><br></div><div>Tofazzal Hossain, presiding officer of the polling centre, said under centre-3 which is designated for male voters, the number of total registered voters is 2158 but only 120 votes have been cast till the filing of this report around 12 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>However, voter turnout started seeing an increase in centers under Dhaka-16 constituency.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Low voter turnout was also observed outside the capital in the first four hours of voting.</div><div><br></div><div>Until 10 am, there was notably low voter presence at polling centres in Dinajpur. The election officials expressed optimism that voter turnout will improve once the effects of fog and cold weather diminishes.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, supporters of candidates have congregated in front of the centers, shouting slogans.</div><div><br></div><div>Lower-than-expected voter turnout was also observed in Cumilla, Bagerhat, Barishal and Habiganj in the first half ofElection Day.</div><div><br></div><div>One killed amidst reports of sporadic violence across the country</div><div><br></div><div>Sporadic violence was reported all over the country as the 12th National Parliamentary Election is underway.</div><div><br></div><div>A supporter of the Awami League candidate was stabbed to death allegedly by supporters of the independent candidate at Tengor in Mirkadim of Munshiganj’s Sadar upazila this morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Violence was reported in multiple places in Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>In Chattogram-10 constituency, two people were shot in a clash between supporters of Awami League candidate and independent candidate at Kalshi-Pahartali area.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, a clash broke out between police and BNP activists in the Chandgaon area of Chattogram city this morning after leaders and activists of the opposition party tried to bar voters from casting their votes.</div><div><br></div><div>Crude bomb explosion was reported at a polling centre in Jashore an hour before voting began that injured a member of Bangladesh Ansar.</div><div><br></div><div>Clashes were reported in Barishal-5 constituency as well.</div><div><br></div><div>In Barisal-5 (Sadar) constituency, independent candidate Salahuddin Ripon accused supporters of the Awami League candidate of attacking his supporters, driving out agents from the center and obstructing voting.</div><div><br></div><div>Alleged irregularities</div><div>Voting at a polling centre in Narsingdi-4 constituency (Monohardi-Belabo) has been cancelled due to allegations of irregularities.</div><div><br></div><div>District Returning Officer Dr Badiul Alam said the voting was cancelled due to allegations of ballot-stuffing.</div><div><br></div><div>Allegations of ballot-stuffing were reported in Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) as supporters of Awami League were accused of stamping the boat symbol on ballot papers.</div><div><br></div><div>In a video on social media that has gone viral, numerous pages of the ballot book show the boat symbol.</div><div><br></div><div>Assistant presiding officers and officials present during the incident mentioned that some individuals arrived, forcibly stamped the “boat” symbol, and left.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, two candidates in Mymensingh’s Gafargaon constituency and one candidate of Jatiya Party in Narsingdi-2 have boycotted the election alleging irregularities.</div><div><br></div><div>Two independent candidates in Mymensingh’s Gafargaon constituency announced to boycott the election alleging vote rigging and irregularities.</div><div><br></div><div>Independent candidate Abul Hossain Dipu with eagle symbol and truck symbol candidate Kaiser Ahmed said they boycotted the voting as the polling agents of most of the polling centres in 15 unions and municipal areas of the upazila were forced out of the polling centers.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Rakiqul Alam Selim, the Jatiya Party candidate for the Narsingdi-2 constituency, has withdrawn from the election, citing irregularities.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting for the 12th parliamentary election began this morning with the ruling Awami League set for a historic fourth consecutive term amid an opposition boycott.</div><div><br></div><div>Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 08:13:13', '2024-01-07 08:13:13'),
(10744, 10744, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal claimed that Sunday\'s national election has been free, fair and neutral thanks to the government\'s political will, sincerity and cooperation.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Since the government has sincerity…..and we received the assistance as assured by the government, the election was held in free, fair and neutral manner through a coordinated effort under the partisan government,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC made the remarks at a post-polls press briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>He said though there is some challenge to hold election under a partisan government as the political will of the government is needed to make the polls free, fair and non-partisan.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC said the voter turnout might be some 40 percent in the 12th Parliamentary election.</div><div><br></div><div>“Some 40 percent voters cast their vote in today\'s balloting. But it may vary after gleaning all data in this regard (the final estimation),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to a question, Habibul Awal said it can\'t be said right now if this election would be credible nationally and internationally, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Whether this election would be credible nationally and internationally may be known later after the publishing its results. You people would judge it,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 13:16:39', '2024-01-07 13:16:39');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10745, 10745, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Claiming that their party\'s call for boycotting the ‘unilateral’ national election was successful, BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Sunday congratulated the voters for not going to the polling stations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence, he also said the people of the country rejected the Awami League government through this voter-less election.</div><div><br></div><div>“On behalf of not only BNP but also all the 62 political parties who boycotted this farcical election, I salute the people of Bangladesh for the sole reason that they have never compromised on the question of democracy. They also didn’t do this this time as well,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that the pictures taken by the media speak, he said thousands of photos have already been there on social media. \"You can see pictures of dogs standing, lying down and basking in the sun in front of the polling stations in the absence of voters.\"</div><div><br></div><div>“Most of the polling stations were almost empty of voters. So, our call for the election boycott has succeeded definitely,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the last part of the election drama arranged by the government was being staged from Sunday morning. “The interesting thing is what we have been saying for the one year that the people of Bangladesh have turned down this government has proved it today before everyone in the country as people boycotted the voting.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said they astonishingly observed that the government has taken democracy to such a level in the last 10 years that hundreds of voting centres were empty during the election. “This is the reality of the farce in the name of Bangladesh\'s 12th parliament election.”</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question, he said they got overwhelming support from people as they have been carrying out their movement against the government peacefully and democratically. “We’ll continue our movement together with the people in a peaceful process.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Moyeen said the Awami League not only deceived the country’s people but also cheated their party men with such a farcical election. “The consequences of this election won’t be good.”</div><div><br></div><div>\"We do not believe in any fake and bogus election system in the name of democracy. Many people brand this government as an autocratic regime. People also call this regime by different names. I say this government is pretending to be a democracy. Governments that pretend to be democratic are far more dangerous than authoritarian ones,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Moyeen feared that the government and the Election Commission would show an inflated figure of voter turnouts as they did in the last two national elections. “But that is not our concern as the people of the country and the entire world witnessed how the voters in Bangladesh turned down the election.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said even many supporters of the ruling party did not go to the polling stations as they knew the victory of their candidates was certain, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, “Awami League voters know that our candidates have passed and won. Why should we waste time by going to the polling stations unnecessarily? Awami League voters did not get any purpose of going to polling stations.”&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 13:36:09', '2024-01-07 13:36:09'),
(10746, 10746, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel has signalled that it is ready to end its bombardment of northern Gaza, saying it has “dismantled” Hamas in that part of the Gaza Strip.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The claim from the military spokesperson that Israel has nullified the Palestinian armed group in the north of the enclave extends the signs that it plans to shift to a more precise campaign. It came as top American and European envoys toured the region on Sunday, stepping up the international pressure over the mounting death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The spokesperson said Israeli forces have now completely dismantled Hamas’s “military framework” in northern Gaza after killing about 8,000 fighters, and will now end major combat operations.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas fighters “without a framework and without commanders” are still present, he continued, and scattered fighting is to be expected, along with rockets sporadically being launched towards Israel. But Hamas no longer operates in an organised manner in the area, he asserted.</div><div><br></div><div>The military did not address troop deployments in northern Gaza going forward, but the spokesperson said it will “continue to deepen the achievement” in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the onslaught in the rest of the enclave, including the south, to which Israel previously pushed Palestinians labelling it a safe area, is set to continue.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the strip,” the spokesperson said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli military’s assault using drones, missiles and ground forces was launched following Hamas’s attack on October 7, which killed about 1,140 people in Israel and saw some 240 taken captive.</div><div><br></div><div>The latest figures on casualties in Gaza show that close to 23,000 people have been killed and more than 58,000 wounded. Many more are missing, feared under the rubble of bombed buildings. Most of the 2.3 million population has been displaced, and are struggling for food and shelter. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 13:41:58', '2024-01-07 13:41:58'),
(10747, 10747, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Tens of thousands of people gathered in southern Taiwan today for rallies by three presidential candidates making a final weekend push for votes before a crucial Jan 13 election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The poll is being closely watched in Beijing and Washington, with the winner set to determine the future of the democratic island’s relations with an increasingly aggressive China.</div><div><br></div><div>China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, and President Xi Jinping has in recent years intensified rhetoric about “unification” while refusing to rule out the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control.</div><div><br></div><div>Frontrunner and current Vice-President Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) called the election a choice “between democracy and autocracy”, while his main opponent Hou Yu-ih has warned the DPP will bring Taiwan “closer to war”.</div><div><br></div><div>Hou is the candidate for the island’s Kuomintang (KMT) party, which endorses closer relations with Beijing.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking to a sea of red-and-blue-clad supporters in the southern city of Kaohsiung, the former policeman – who has painted himself as a “protector” of Taiwan – called on voters not to be “deceived” by the DPP.</div><div><br></div><div>“They love to say Hou Yu-ih is pro-China and will sell out Taiwan…Hou Yu-ih will look after cross-strait peace,” the 66-year-old New Taipei City mayor shouted.</div><div><br></div><div>“We must not let such a party (DPP) continue to be in power.”</div><div><br></div><div>Taiwan has for the past eight years been led by President Tsai Ing-wen, a leader loathed by Beijing for her staunch defence of the island’s sovereignty.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, China has cut off high-level communications with her government and dispatched unprecedented numbers of fighter jets and naval vessels around Taiwan – a ramp-up in military pressure that has raised global fears of a potential conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>Tsai’s deputy Lai, in the past, was far more vocal about independence – a red line for Beijing – but has softened his stance on the issue in recent months.</div><div><br></div><div>Supporters at KMT’s rally – where organisers estimated a turnout of 120,000 people – carried signs saying “Vote KMT, Taiwan Strait will be free of wars”.</div><div><br></div><div>“I worry about a war in the Taiwan Strait – our children will be sent to the battlefield…I don’t want it to be like the Ukraine-Russia war,” said Ou Pei-li, 56, who works in finance.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearby, DPP supporters gathered ahead of a nighttime rally, wearing the party’s signature green, while a crowd for third-party candidate Ko Wen-je waited eagerly for his arrival in Gushan district. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 13:44:07', '2024-01-07 13:44:07'),
(10748, 10748, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russia launched 28 attack drones and three cruise missiles at Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force said today, adding that its air defence systems destroyed 21 of the drones.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The air force said on its Telegram messaging channel that Russia targeted mainly the south and east of Ukraine, and did not say what happened to the three cruise missiles.</div><div><br></div><div>“The enemy is shifting the focus of attack to the frontline territories – Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions were attacked by drones,” air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told national television.</div><div><br></div><div>Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>Dnipropetrovsk regional authorities said on Telegram that 12 people were injured in a drone attack in Dnipro city.</div><div><br></div><div>They also said an educational institution and its dormitory, two multi-apartment buildings, and one administrative building were damaged.</div><div><br></div><div>Ihnat said the drones were predominantly destroyed by mobile teams, saving “scarce” air defence missiles.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Ukrainian forces used some missiles to repel two recent major Russian attacks and “processes are underway to continue to provide Ukraine with the number of missiles needed to repel air attacks”.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia deployed almost 300 missiles and more than 200 drones in attacks in the last days of 2023 and the first days of 2024. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 14:28:30', '2024-01-07 14:28:30'),
(10749, 10749, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United Nations’ top human rights official voiced alarm today about rising ethnic tension and calls to violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following disputed elections.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Massive delays and bureaucratic chaos marred the Dec 20 ballots to choose the president, lawmakers for national and provincial assemblies, and local councillors.</div><div><br></div><div>So far, the election commission has only announced the result of the presidential vote – a landslide victory for incumbent Felix Tshisekedi that the opposition has rejected as a sham.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am very concerned about the rise in ethnic-based hate speech and incitement to violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” (DR Congo) said UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the post-election calls for violence were particularly concerning in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu – which have been plagued for decades by armed groups and ethnic killings – as well as the regions of Kasai and Katanga.</div><div><br></div><div>Tshisekedi hails from Kasai and Moise Katumba, one of his main rivals, from Katanga.</div><div><br></div><div>“Hateful, dehumanising, and inciteful rhetoric is abhorrent and can only deepen tension and violence in the DRC itself, as well as putting regional security at risk,” Turk said.</div><div><br></div><div>He urged the authorities “to thoroughly and transparently investigate all reports of hate speech and incitement to violence and to hold those responsible to account”.</div><div><br></div><div>Election-related tensions are common in the DR Congo, which has a history of authoritarian rule and violent government overthrow.</div><div><br></div><div>Some 250 different ethnic groups live in the vast country. It sits on considerable mineral wealth but little trickles down to the population of around 100 million. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 14:42:49', '2024-01-07 14:42:49'),
(10750, 10750, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Belgian politician Charles Michel has announced that he will step down as European Council president after running in the European parliament elections set for June.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The surprise move will heighten speculation about who will be the next EU leaders as negotiations begin for a new round of top jobs in November.</div><div><br></div><div>European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen of Germany, who like Michel was appointed to her post in 2019, has so far kept quiet on whether she intends to seek a second term.</div><div><br></div><div>As Council president, one of Michel’s main tasks has been overseeing EU summits that have become critical to the search for joint responses to crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>“Four years after starting my term as a European leader, it’s my responsibility to give an account of my work these past years, and to propose a project for Europe’s future,” Michel, the 48-year-old former Belgian prime minister, told Belgian media over the weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>He said he would head the list of the liberal Reformist Movement (MR) party, of which he is also a former president, and step down as council president in July.</div><div><br></div><div>“That means I would continue my work as European Council president until being sworn in as an MEP on July 16,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A Council meeting is scheduled for just after the parliament elections, and “at this moment it will have to decide when my successor will take up the job,” Michel said.</div><div><br></div><div>The parliament elections set for June 6-9 across the 27 EU members will pick 720 deputies in total and prompt fierce horse-trading for the leadership of European institutions, including EU commissioners and European Council members. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 14:45:17', '2024-01-07 14:45:17'),
(10751, 10751, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Some 4,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have been left without shelter after a suspected arson attack ripped through their camp burning nearly 800 homes, an official said today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh is home to around a million Rohingya, many of whom fled a 2017 military crackdown on the mainly Muslim minority in neighbouring Myanmar that is now subject to a United Nations genocide probe.</div><div><br></div><div>The blaze tore through the tightly packed complex of bamboo and tarpaulin shelters in the early hours of this morning at a camp in the country’s southeast, refugee commissioner Mizanur Rahman said.</div><div><br></div><div>“At least 711 shelters were fully burnt and 63 were partially damaged,” Rahman said, adding that five education centres and two mosques were also destroyed.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the fire made 4,000 people homeless.</div><div><br></div><div>There were no casualties, and the fire had been brought under control, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have ordered a probe into the fire”, he added. “We suspect it is an act of arson”.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN refugee agency said the “large fire damaged many refugee shelters”, adding it was “supporting people affected”.</div><div><br></div><div>Fires in the dozens of Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh are common, especially during the dry season from November to April.</div><div><br></div><div>But many of the camps are also riven by violence between rival Rohingya groups.</div><div><br></div><div>Police said security in the camps has worsened, with more than 60 refugees killed in turf wars and drug-related clashes last year, the highest number on record.</div><div><br></div><div>In March 2023, a fire in Kutupalong camp – one of the world’s largest refugee settlements – destroyed 2,000 shelters.</div><div><br></div><div>Two years earlier, at least 15 Rohingya were killed and another 50,000 refugees were made homeless after a blaze in the same camp. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 15:07:36', '2024-01-07 15:07:36'),
(10752, 10752, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A five-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the incident of arrogant behavior of independent candidate and Awami League leader Haji Rahim Ullah with a presiding officer of Feni-3 constituency\'s Sonagazi upazila.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The district returning officer has requested the committee to investigate the incident and submit a report within three working days.</div><div><br></div><div>According to district administration source independent candidate and former Awami League MP Haji Rahim Ullah has threatened to kill Presiding Officer Assistant Professor Amir Hossain Chowdhury while he was on duty at Bhorbazar Advocate Belayet Hossain High School centre in Nawabpur union of Sonagazi upazila of Feni-3 constituency in the 12th parliamentary election.</div><div><br></div><div>Returning Officer Musammat Shahina Akhter formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>The members of the committee include Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) as convener, Sonagazi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) as member secretary, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sonagazi Circle), Sonagazi Upazila Election Officer and Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sonagazi Police Station as members.</div><div><br></div><div>Presiding Officer Amir Hossain said, “Voters were coming and voting was going in an orderly manner since morning. Suddenly independent candidate Haji Rahim Ullah entered the polling center with 7-8 youths and asked me why I ordered fake votes,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“As soon as I replied that I did not give such an order, Haji Rahim Ullah slapped me on my face and left the spot after abusing me,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Independent candidate Haji Rahim Ullah said, “The presiding officer ordered to cast fake votes. For this, a verbal complaint has been given against him to the election search committee.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 15:10:11', '2024-01-07 15:10:11'),
(10753, 10753, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Calling the January-7 election a victory of democracy and people of the country, ruling Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Sunday evening that voters had boycotted the BNP for rejecting the election.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He made the claim while talking to reporters at the office of Dhaka district unit of Awami League in Dhaka’s Tejgaon.</div><div><br></div><div>“The BNP did not participate in the election but they wanted to foil the election. The BNP carried out terrorism and arson attacks to thwart the election, but the people rejected them through ballots,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>People gave massive support to the Awami League through extending their support to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, said the Election Commissioner has already told more than 40 percent of the vote cast.</div><div><br></div><div>Calling the election a victory of democracy, he said they were most grateful to the people of Bangladesh in the 12th parliamentary election.</div><div><br></div><div>Through this election, the people of the whole world and Bangladesh have witnessed the victory of the people, he claimed.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said the people voted for the candidates of their choice and there was no intimidation or interference in voting, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The election will strengthen the democratic progress further, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-07 15:12:04', '2024-01-07 15:12:04'),
(10754, 10754, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><font color=\"#085294\">Visiting international observers today (January 08, 2024) described the just-held 12th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh as “free, fair and safe.”</font></b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Considering the overall situation, all the observers present here agree that the 12th National Parliamentary Election of Bangladesh was held peacefully and with the participation of the common people. It was free, fair and very safe,” observer Terry L Easley said at a media briefing at Jatiya Press Club.</div><div><br></div><div>The observer from the US said there was no intimidation of voters by the candidates or parties participating in the election. “This bode well for democracy and voting rights.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We have heard of some isolated incidents. Like clashes among the supporters of the government\'s candidates, independent candidates and other parties which is unexpected. But if we review the overall election situation, those incidents are very insignificant,” Easley said.</div><div><br></div><div>They congratulated the Election Commission for conducting the election successfully and efficiently.</div><div><br></div><div>Jim Bates, former US congressman and an election observer, also spoke, among others.</div><div><br></div><div>The international observers appreciated participation of women voters.</div><div><br></div><div>They hoped to make their full report public within two weeks to one month.</div><div><br></div><div>“I found (it to be a) very peaceful, free and fair election,” Jim Bates told reporters at a separate media briefing Sunday evening.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I’d like to say it’s a free and fair election already,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>“The thing they keep talking about is low turnout: that’s a misnomer. In some countries, voting goes on till 5/6 pm or even months,” Bates said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh has the shortest voting time in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“So when they say ‘low turnout,’ that’s something to manoeuvre the press,” Bates said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bates is a former politician who served as a Democratic elected official from San Diego, California. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1991.</div><div><br></div><div>Chandra Arya , Member of Parliament, Canada and Victor Oh, Senator, Canada also briefed the media separately.</div><div><br></div><div>The independent election observers from Canada said, \"Today the citizens of Bangladesh have exercised their fundamental and valuable right to vote and chose their representatives. Today, in the true spirit of democracy, the people of Bangladesh have determined who get their mandate to take the country forward for the next 5 years.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Chandra Arya said they will now wait to see the newly elected representatives of the people who will shoulder the responsibility of governing the country and deliver the commitments made during the course of the election campaign.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We noted that even with the call for boycott, a record number of female candidates and a transgender candidate among the 28 political parties and over 1900 candidates including independents contesting the elections,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The observers also noted the efforts of the Bangladesh Election Commission to reach out to voters and specifically to the younger generation to encourage them to participate in the elections.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We confirmed there was a process within the Bangladesh Election Commission to address any complaints from the voters or the political parties or the candidates,\" Chandra Arya said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We wish to congratulate the Bangladesh Election Commission on successfully conducting a free and fair elections,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"With one of us being an elected Member of Canadian Parliament and having contested and won three times in row, we are personally aware of the complexity of managing an election.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Canadian observers recognized and commended the excellent work of Bangladesh Election Commission in marshaling all the institutions of the state and delivering a \"free, fair and successful\" election.</div><div><br></div><div>In a separate briefing, Head of the Russian election monitoring delegation, Andrey Y Shuvot, said they are satisfied with the peaceful elections.</div><div><br></div><div>These elections are legitimate, he told reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>Scottish MP Martyn Day in his brief remarks, said the election was fairly smooth, but voter turnout was relatively low.</div><div><br></div><div>Chief Electoral Officer of Palestine Hisham Kuhali on Sunday said Bangladeshis should be proud of electoral procedures that are in place and expressed satisfaction over the smooth completion of the vote casting.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We noticed quiet and peaceful election. We have not noticed any sign of violence,\" he told reporters at a media briefing at a Dhaka hotel.</div><div><br></div><div>Kuhali said the procedures of casting votes were very simple and straightforward.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is very good by international standards,\" he said, referring to the time it took to cast a vote.</div><div><br></div><div>The international observer said people are well informed and well trained who are helping voters to cast their votes.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked about the voters\' turnout, he said, \"We are here to judge the voting procedures. You should be proud of your process.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Member of Arab Parliament Abdihakim Moalliam described the election as \"smooth\", conducted in a very efficient way.</div><div><br></div><div>He appreciated the democratic exercise in Bangladesh, noting that it was a shining example of peace and unity.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign observers visited several centres.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 127 foreign observers are currently in Dhaka to observe the 12th National Parliamentary Election. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 09:44:22', '2024-01-08 09:44:22'),
(10755, 10755, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India’s top court on Monday restored life prison sentences for 11 Hindu men who raped a Muslim woman during deadly religious rioting two decades ago and asked the convicts to surrender to the authorities within two weeks.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Read: Thousands forced from homes by quake face stress and exhaustion as Japan mourns at least 161 deaths&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The victim, who is now in her 40s, was pregnant when she was brutally gang-raped in 2002 in western Gujarat state during communal rioting that was some of India\'s worst religious violence with over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, killed.</div><div><br></div><div>Seven members of the woman’s family, including her 3-year-old daughter, were killed during the riots. The Associated Press generally doesn’t identify victims of sexual assault.</div><div><br></div><div>The men were eligible for remission of their sentence under a policy that was in place at the time of their convictions. At the time of their release, officials in Gujarat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party holds power, had said the convicts were granted remission because they had completed over 14 years in jail.</div><div><br></div><div>A revised policy adopted in 2014 by the federal government prohibits remission release for those convicted of certain crimes, including rape and murder.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the release of the convicts, the victim had filed a petition with the Supreme Court, saying “the en masse premature release of the convicts… has shaken the conscience of the society.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The 2002 riots have long hounded Modi, who was Gujarat’s top elected official at the time, amid allegations that authorities allowed and even encouraged the bloodshed. Modi has repeatedly denied having any role and the Supreme Court has said it found no evidence to prosecute him. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 10:02:02', '2024-01-08 10:02:02'),
(10756, 10756, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four women out of 62 independent candidates won in the 12th national election.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>They are Amatul Kibria Keya in Habiganj-1, Joya Sen Gupta in Sunamganj-2, Tahmina Begum in Madaripur-3, Abdullah Nahid Nigar in Gaibandha-1.</div><div><br></div><div>Former MP Amatul Kibria Keya Chowdhury was unofficially elected from Habiganj-1 constituency securing 75,052 votes. Her nearest candidate MA Munim Chowdhury Babu from Jatiya Party got 30,703 votes.</div><div><br></div><div>In Madaripur-3 constituency, Awami League candidate and incumbent MP Abdus Sobhan alias Golap was defeated by Tahmina Begum by a huge margin of 34,662 votes.</div><div><br></div><div>Independent candidate Tahmina Begum got 96,633 votes whilel Md Sobhan bagged 61,971 votes. Tahmina is a member of the reserved seats for women and president of Kalkini Upazila Awami League.</div><div><br></div><div>In Sunamganj-2, Jaya Sengupta, wife of late Awami League lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta, won by defeating Awami League candidate Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mahmud alias Al Amin Chowdhury.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the results of the elections, Jaya defeated Mahmud, the younger brother of IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, by about 8,000 votes. Mahmud got 42,075 votes and Jaya got 50, 295 votes.</div><div><br></div><div>In Gaibandha-1, independent candidate Engineer Abdullah Nahid Nigar won her mother\'s seat defeating Jatiya Party\'s two-time MP Barrister Shamim Haider Patwary.</div><div><br></div><div>Nahid Nigar got 66,049 votes while her nearest rival&nbsp; Shamim got 43,491.</div><div><br></div><div>Engineer Abdullah Nahid Nigar is the daughter of Sundarganj Upazila Awami League President Afruza Bari.</div><div><br></div><div>The Awami League left the Gaibandha-1 seat for the Jatiya Party in the coalition decision. Then Afruza Bari had to withdraw her candidacy after getting the nomination of the boat, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, her daughter Nahid Nigar contested the election as an independent candidate.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 10:31:40', '2024-01-08 10:31:40'),
(10757, 10757, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said the people of the country gave a befitting reply to the arsonists, defeated forces of 1971, and the killers of August 15 through balloting.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“BNP-Jamaat has failed this time too and after boycotting the election repeatedly, now BNP has nothing to do except waiting for five years. All allegations BNP brought are now unrealistic and baseless,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at AL’s Tejgaon office in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>He also urged the BNP to accept the truth.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ll implement the pledges made in the election manifesto and a smart and prosperous Bangladesh will be built in future. This election will be a milestone in the country\'s democratic journey,” said the AL general secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, Awami League will hold a public rally on January 10 on the occasion of Bangbandhu’s Homecoming Day, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>AL presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint general secretary Bahauddin Nasim were, among others, present at the press conference. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 10:51:55', '2024-01-08 10:51:55'),
(10758, 10758, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>India has congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her election victory and eyes “even stronger momentum and growth” in the bilateral partnership in support of each other’s national development.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma during his call on PM Hasina today (January 08, 2024) conveyed warm greetings and congratulations on behalf of the government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</div><div><br></div><div>India was the first country to congratulate the Prime Minister today.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian high commissioner expressed hope that during the new term of PM Hasina’s government, there will be even stronger momentum and growth in the bilateral partnership.</div><div><br></div><div>The envoy said that India will continue to support people of Bangladesh in realizing their vision of a stable, progressive and prosperous nation, guided by their long-standing friendship and inspired by their shared sacrifices in the Liberation War. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 12:33:26', '2024-01-08 12:33:26'),
(10759, 10759, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>China said its security agencies found another incident of spying in which the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, used a foreigner in China to collect secrets and information.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The case by China highlights the ongoing heated exchanges the countries have traded over accusations of perceived spying that threatens their respective national securities.</div><div><br></div><div>China’s Ministry of State Security revealed on its WeChat social media account on Monday that a foreigner, only identified by surname Huang, was in charge of an overseas consulting agency, and in 2015, MI6 established an “intelligence cooperative relationship” with the person.</div><div><br></div><div>After that, M16 instructed Huang to enter China several times, and instructed him to use his public identity as a cover to collect China-related intelligence for British spying, the statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>MI6 also conducted professional intelligence training for Huang in Britain and other places, and provided special espionage equipment for intelligence cross-linking, China’s government said.</div><div><br></div><div>“After careful investigation, the state security organs promptly discovered evidence of Huang’s involvement in espionage activities, and took criminal coercive measures against him,” the government said.</div><div><br></div><div>The consulting agency was not disclosed by the Chinese government.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the British government has said Chinese spies are targeting its officials in sensitive positions in politics, defense and business as part of an increasingly sophisticated spying operation to gain access to secrets.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently, a researcher in Britain’s parliament denied he was a Chinese spy.</div><div>China repeatedly condemned the assertions with a foreign ministry spokesperson saying they were “entirely groundless.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We urge the UK to stop spreading disinformation and stop political manipulation and malicious slander against China,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning when queried at a press briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>China has been cracking down on perceived threats to its national security, revealing several cases of spying that it caught in recent years.</div><div><br></div><div>The government also has been warning its citizens in the country and abroad of the dangers of getting caught up in espionage activities. It has been encouraging people to join counter-espionage work that includes creating channels to report suspicious activity.</div><div><br></div><div>China has also unleashed a sweeping crackdown on foreign consultancy and due diligence firms over threats of revealing state secrets that has unnerved foreign companies operating in the country. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 12:39:06', '2024-01-08 12:39:06'),
(10760, 10760, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh has successfully set an example of holding free, fair and impartial polls through Sunday\'s general election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“You have come and witnessed how the people vote in our country. We’ve set a precedent that the election can be free, fair and neutral,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made the remarks while exchanging views with local and foreign journalists and election observers at Ganabhaban complex on the occasion of the 12th parliamentary election.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the people elected her party by voting for it in this election. Besides, many independent candidates and some contenders from other parties were elected, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The people of this country elected them by voting spontaneously. We’d taken all sorts of measures to conduct the election in fair manners as you witnessed it,” said Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>She dedicated her party’s landslide victory in Sunday’s election to the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s not my victory. I think it is a victory of the people,” she said amid applause from the audience.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL president said she has been struggling to establish the rights (voting rights) of the people for long.</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing at BNP, Hasina said a party didn’t participate in the election as they are afraid of contesting the direct election.</div><div><br></div><div>“The parties that were born in the hands of military dictators can’t move on their own. They don’t have public support. So, they fear the direct election,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangabandhu’s youngest daughter Sheikh Rehana, Bangabandhu’s grandchildren Saima Wazed and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby were present at the event. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 13:57:56', '2024-01-08 13:57:56'),
(10761, 10761, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The World Health Organization (WHO) said it had been compelled to cancel a mission to bring medical supplies to northern Gaza yesterday after failing to receive security guarantees.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It was the fourth time WHO had had to call off a planned mission to bring urgently needed medical supplies to Al-Awda Hospital and the central drug store in northern Gaza since Dec 26, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>“It has now been 12 days since we were last able to reach northern Gaza,” the WHO office in the occupied Palestinian territories wrote on the X social media platform.</div><div><br></div><div>“Heavy bombardment, movement restrictions, and interrupted communications are making it nearly impossible to deliver medical supplies regularly and safely across Gaza, particularly in the north.”</div><div><br></div><div>The delivery planned yesterday, WHO said, had been designed to sustain the operations of five hospitals in the northern part of the enclave.</div><div><br></div><div>WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was “shocked by the scale of health needs and devastation in northern Gaza”.</div><div><br></div><div>“Further delays will lead to more death and suffering for far too many people,” he wrote on X.</div><div><br></div><div>In separate comments, the International Rescue Committee aid group said its emergency medical team and the Medical Aid for Palestinians charity had been forced to withdraw and cease its activities at the Al Aqsa Hospital in Gaza’s Middle Area due to increasing Israel military activity in the area.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli offensive launched in the wake of a deadly rampage by Hamas in southern Israel on Oct 7 has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, left many homes and civilian infrastructure in ruins, and caused acute shortages of food, water and medicine. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 14:16:43', '2024-01-08 14:16:43'),
(10762, 10762, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>For many Indians the opening of a grand new temple this month is a long-held dream come true but for Muslims like Mohammed Shahid, the day will evoke only blood-soaked memories.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The shrine in Ayodhya has been built on ground where a mosque stood for centuries, before it was torn down by Hindu zealots in a campaign backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahid, 52, vividly remembers the day in 1992 when hundreds of men demolished the Babri Masjid with pickaxes and sledgehammers in a religious frenzy, leaving a trail of death in their wake.</div><div><br></div><div>“My father was chased down a street by a mob. They hit him with a broken glass bottle before burning him alive,” he told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“My uncle was also brutally killed. It was a long, dark night for our family.”</div><div><br></div><div>Shockwaves from the demolition of the mosque were felt around the country and triggered riots that killed 2,000 people, with most of the victims Muslim.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi will this month inaugurate the shrine built to replace it in a grand ceremony that will burnish his image as a custodian of the Hindu faith, a de-facto campaign launch for national elections later this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahid shudders at the thought of the thousands of pilgrims expected to throng the quiet riverside town each day once the temple’s doors are thrown open.</div><div><br></div><div>“For me, the temple symbolises nothing but death and destruction,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>‘Given my blood and sweat’</div><div><br></div><div>The temple is dedicated to Ram, one of the most revered deities in the Hindu pantheon, said to have been born in Ayodhya around 7,000 years ago.</div><div><br></div><div>Devout Hindus believe the Babri Masjid was built on top of his birthplace in the 16th century during the Mughal Empire, under rulers they say oppressed their faith.</div><div><br></div><div>Carved from pink sandstone and marble, the temple complex has been constructed at an estimated cost of 20 billion rupee, which the government said was sourced entirely from public donations.</div><div><br></div><div>Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party had campaigned for decades to build the temple and its activists were instrumental in the demolition of its predecessor.</div><div><br></div><div>Santosh Dubey, a member of the mob that destroyed the mosque, said the temple’s opening on Jan 22 would be a “more significant” day for his country than when India declared independence from Britain in 1947.</div><div><br></div><div>“I have given my blood and sweat for the temple,” Dubey, 56, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“A lifelong dream of all Hindus is coming true.”</div><div><br></div><div>Dubey, then in his mid-twenties, recalled how thousands of religious volunteers had gathered in Ayodhya on the eve of the 1992 demolition.</div><div><br></div><div>“It was all well-planned,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We were determined to bring down the mosque, come what may.”</div><div><br></div><div>Around 50 men including Dubey climbed up to the mosque’s central dome with ropes and used sledgehammers to reduce it to rubble.</div><div><br></div><div>Dubey fell from the roof of the mosque during the fervour, breaking 17 bones.</div><div><br></div><div>He spent nearly a year in prison afterwards on charges of criminal conspiracy and promoting religious enmity before a court released him.</div><div><br></div><div>“But I have no regrets,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am proud of what I did. I have been born to serve Lord Ram … He is the living soul of India.”</div><div><br></div><div>‘So what if Muslims died?’</div><div><br></div><div>Dubey said he was untroubled by the bloodbath that followed.</div><div><br></div><div>“I can give up my life for Ram and I can also take a life for Ram. So what if Muslims died? So many Hindus have also sacrificed their lives for the cause.”</div><div><br></div><div>The site where the mosque once stood lay vacant for decades before India’s top court gave permission for the temple’s construction in 2019, after years of legal wrangling.</div><div><br></div><div>Land has been earmarked for the construction of a new mosque mandated by the court verdict, some 25km from the city.</div><div><br></div><div>A vacant field greets visitors to the site, with a poster on an otherwise bare wall announcing a “masterpiece in making” alongside an image of the proposed design.</div><div><br></div><div>Fundraising for the project has not begun, as many within Ayodhya’s Muslim community are unhappy with the isolated location.</div><div><br></div><div>The court verdict greenlighting the temple has emboldened activist groups to pursue other claims against Islamic houses of worship they say were built over Hindu shrines during Mughal rule.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month an Indian court permitted a case to proceed on whether a mosque in the holy city of Varanasi should be opened to Hindu worshippers, with a ruling expected later this year.</div><div><br></div><div>Azam Qadri, the president of a local Muslim body in Ayodhya, said he feared more mosques would meet the same fate as the Babri Masjid.</div><div><br></div><div>“Muslims should be allowed to live in peace and their places of worship should not be taken away,” Qadri told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>“The rift between Hindus and Muslims should get finished. Only love and brotherhood should prevail.” - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 14:21:22', '2024-01-08 14:21:22'),
(10763, 10763, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her on her victory for a historic fourth consecutive term in Bangladesh\'s parliamentary elections.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh for the successful conduct of elections,\" Modi said.</div><div><br></div><div>In a message shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Indian PM said, \"We are committed to further strengthen our enduring and people-centric partnership with Bangladesh.\"</div><div><br></div><div>In a separate congratulatory letter sent on Monday, Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that as Prime Minister Hasina prepares to lead her country for a fourth&nbsp; consecutive term, the historic and close ties between Bangladesh and India will continue to deepen in all areas of their irreversible partnership.</div><div><br></div><div>He affirmed that as a close friend and trusted development partner of Bangladesh, India will continue to support Bangladesh’s aspirations and growth.</div><div><br></div><div>In the letter, Prime Minister Modi also conveyed his best wishes to the people of Bangladesh for their continued progress, peace and prosperity. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-01-08 14:30:05', '2024-01-08 14:30:05');
