INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6221, 6221, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Thursday told parliament that Tk 603.76 crore tolls have been collected from Padma Bridge till March since its inauguration on June 25, 2022.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The minister said this in reply to a tabled question from Awami League MP Benjir Ahmed elected from Dhaka-20.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said after the launch of Bangabandhu Bridge on June 23, 1998, Tk 7697.71 crore have been collected as toll as of March.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to another question from Morshed Alam, a lawmaker from Noakhali-2, Quader said that about 6,000 buses of various transport companies including Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) ply Dhaka city.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said E-ticketing is available on a number of BRTC routes.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from this, e-ticketing has been launched in 3,300 buses of 69 companies out of 97 private transport companies under the supervision of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader informed the House that Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is monitoring these activities.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that soon the e-ticketing system will be introduced in the buses of rest of the companies.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to another query, Quader said that currently there is no research programme to reduce road accidents in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>With Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, the question-answer session of today’s parliament sitting was placed on the table. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-06 16:15:21', '2023-04-06 16:15:21'),
(6222, 6222, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Earth had its joint second-warmest March on record with Antarctic sea ice shrinking to its second-lowest extent for that month, the EU\'s climate monitoring agency said on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"The month was jointly the second-warmest March globally,\" tied with 2017, 2019 and 2020, the Copernicus Climate Change Service said. The hottest March on record was in 2016.</div><div><br></div><div>Its report is based on computer-generated analyses using billions of measurements from satellites, ships, aircraft and weather stations around the world.</div><div><br></div><div>It said temperatures were above average over southern and central Europe and below average over most of northern Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>They were far warmer than average over much of North Africa, southwestern Russia, Asia, northeastern North America, South America including drought-stricken Argentina, Australia and coastal Antarctica.</div><div><br></div><div>Conversely, it was much colder than average over western and central North America, the agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>Global warming is causing sea ice to decline and sea levels to rise, raising warnings that dangerous tipping points could be reached.</div><div><br></div><div>Copernicus said Antarctic sea ice extent was the second lowest for March in the 45-year satellite data record, at 28 percent below average.</div><div><br></div><div>It reached 3.2 million square kilometres on average, 1.2 million sq km below the 1991-2020 average for the month.</div><div><br></div><div>It had reached the smallest area on record in February for the second year in a row, continuing a decade-long decline.</div><div><br></div><div>In the north meanwhile, Arctic sea ice extent was four percent below average and joint fourth lowest for March on record, though concentrations were above average in the Greenland Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>As temperatures rise globally because of human-caused climate change, Copernicus data show the past eight years were the eight warmest on record.</div><div><br></div><div>A UN report warned in March that those record-breaking temperatures would figure among the coolest within three or four decades, even if planet-warming emissions drop quickly. Source: AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-06 16:32:05', '2023-04-06 16:32:05'),
(6223, 6223, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The burning of coal for electricity, cement, steel and other uses went up in 2022 despite global promises to phase down the fuel that’s the biggest source of planet-warming gases in the atmosphere, a report Wednesday found.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The coal fleet grew by 19.5 gigawatts last year, enough to light up around 15 million homes, with nearly all newly commissioned coal projects in China, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor, an organization that tracks a variety of energy projects around the globe.</div><div><br></div><div>That 1 percent increase comes at a time when the world needs to retire its coal fleet four and a half times faster to meet climate goals, the report said. In 2021, countries around the world promised to phase down the use of coal to help achieve the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit).</div><div><br></div><div>“The more new coal projects come online, the steeper the cuts and commitments need to be in the future,” said Flora Champenois, the report’s lead author and the project manager for GEM’s Global Coal Plant Tracker.</div><div><br></div><div>New coal plants were added in 14 countries and eight countries announced new coal projects. China, India, Indonesia, Turkiye and Zimbabwe were the only countries that both added new coal plants and announced new projects. China accounted for 92 percent of all new coal project announcements.</div><div><br></div><div>China added 26.8 gigawatts and India added about 3.5 gigawatts of new coal power capacity to their electricity grids. China also gave clearance for nearly 100 gigawatts of new coal power projects with construction likely to begin this year.</div><div><br></div><div>But “the long term trajectory is still toward clean energy,” said Shantanu Srivastava, an energy analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis who is based in New Delhi. Srivastava said the pandemic and the war in Ukraine temporarily drove some nations toward fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>In Europe, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant a scramble for alternative energy sources and droughts stifled hydropower, the continent only saw a very minor increase in coal use.</div><div><br></div><div>Others went the other way. There were significant shutdowns in the US where 13.5 gigawatts of coal power was retired. It’s one of 17 countries that closed up plants in the past year.</div><div><br></div><div>With nearly 2,500 plants around the world, coal accounts for about a third of the total amount of energy installation globally. Other fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy make up the rest.</div><div><br></div><div>To meet climate goals set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, coal plants in rich countries need to be retired by 2030 and coal plants in developing countries need to be shut down by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency. That means around 117 gigawatts of coal needs to be retired every year, but only 26 gigawatts was retired in 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>“At this rate, the transition away from existing and new coal isn’t happening fast enough to avoid climate chaos,” said Champenois.</div><div><br></div><div>Srivastava added that its important to make sure the millions employed in coal and other dirty industries are not left behind when transitioning to clean energy, although that gets more difficult the more coal projects get locked in.</div><div><br></div><div>“Every day we delay a transition to clean energy,” Srivastava said, “it not only makes it harder to achieve climate goals but it also makes the transition more expensive.” - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-06 16:48:38', '2023-04-06 16:48:38'),
(6224, 6224, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A continued slowdown in almost all the world\'s advanced economies is expected to drag global growth below three percent this year, the International Monetary Fund\'s managing director warned on Thursday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"With rising geopolitical tensions and still-high inflation, a robust recovery remains elusive,\" Kristalina Georgieva said in prepared remarks ahead of the IMF and World Bank\'s spring meetings next week.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This harms the prospects of everyone, especially for the most vulnerable people and countries,\" she added in the speech, due to be delivered in Washington.</div><div><br></div><div>Global growth almost halved last year to 3.4 percent as the impact of Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine rippled through the world economy, abruptly halting the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>While Asia\'s emerging markets are expected to see substantial increases in economic output -- with India and China predicted to account for half of all growth this year -- the good news will be outweighed by the slowdown expected for 90 percent of the world\'s advanced economies.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Growth remains weak by historical comparison -- both in the near and medium term,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She added that world growth will likely remain at roughly three percent for the next half-decade, the lowest medium-term forecast since the 1990s.</div><div><br></div><div>Low-income countries are expected to suffer a double shock from high borrowing costs and a decline in demand for their exports, which could cause poverty and hunger to increase, Georgieva said, reports AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"About 15 percent of low-income countries are already in debt distress and another 45 percent face high debt vulnerabilities,\" she said, calling on wealthier IMF members to do more to provide support.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-06 20:06:40', '2023-04-06 20:06:40'),
(6225, 6225, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladeshi celebrities are buying burnt clothing to support thousands of traders from a popular market in Dhaka, which was destroyed by a massive fire earlier this week.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The blaze that broke out on Tuesday gutted thousands of shops in the crowded area of Bangabazar, where international brands’ apparel produced by local garment factories is sold at affordable prices after failing to meet export standards.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has estimated that 5,000 shops had been reduced to ashes, with merchants losing everything, as they had recently stocked up on goods ahead of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan later this month.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid calls on the government for support, civil society has stepped in to help the traders. Bidyanondo Foundation, one of the biggest social welfare organizations in the country, is organizing a sale of the items partly burnt by the fire, pricing them at $1 each.</div><div><br></div><div>The initiative has been supported by top Bangladeshi celebrities including musician Tahsan Khan, cinema stars Shobnom Bubly, Bidya Sinha Mim, playback singer Konal, director Amitabh Reza, and food vlogger Rafsan, who have purchased the apparel at prices multiple times higher than new garments, with some pieces going for $1,000.</div><div><br></div><div>“Celebrities from different fields came up voluntarily to strengthen our initiative. They contacted us themselves. We highlighted their involvement to inspire others,” Bidyanondo Foundation spokesperson Salman Khan told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>The foundation is aiming to raise $100,000 through the initiative to help those affected reorganize themselves before they find new jobs or their businesses get back on track.</div><div><br></div><div>“If everyone participates with the small amount of $1, in a collective effort it will become a big amount ... As of today, we have been able to collect around $50,000,” Khan said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We all have plans to buy new clothes for Eid celebrations. Let’s purchase a little less. Save $1. If we share this money, it will help many of these people restart their lives.”</div><div><br></div><div>The foundation itself is also purchasing the burnt clothes, which it will try to salvage and later distribute among the poor as Eid approaches.</div><div><br></div><div>The effort also tries to raise awareness on sustainability as the fashion sector — Bangladesh’s top industry — is a water-intensive business.</div><div><br></div><div>“Huge amounts of water are used to make clothes. With this initiative, if we can make the clothes usable again, it will help save the environment also to some extent,” Khan said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will distribute these clothes among the poor as Eid gifts. Although they will be a little faulty, they still can be used.” Source: Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-06 20:45:36', '2023-04-06 20:45:36'),
(6226, 6226, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A continued slowdown in almost all the world\'s advanced economies is expected to drag global growth below three percent this year, the International Monetary Fund\'s managing director warned on Thursday.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"With rising geopolitical tensions, with inflation still running high, a robust recovery remains elusive,\" Kristalina Georgieva said in a speech ahead of the IMF and World Bank\'s spring meetings next week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That harms the prospects of everyone, especially for the most vulnerable people and most vulnerable countries,\" she added at an event in Washington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Global growth almost halved last year to 3.4 percent as the impact of Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine rippled through the world economy, abruptly halting the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Asia\'s emerging markets are expected to see substantial increases in economic output -- with India and China predicted to account for half of all growth this year -- the good news will be outweighed by a slowdown expected for 90 percent of the world\'s advanced economies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Growth remains historically weak -- now and in the medium term,\" said Georgieva.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added that world growth will likely remain at roughly three percent for the next half-decade, the lowest medium-term forecast since the 1990s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Low-income countries are expected to suffer a double shock from high borrowing costs and a decline in demand for their exports, which could cause poverty and hunger to increase, Georgieva said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"About 15 percent of low-income countries are already in debt distress an additional 45 percent are near it,\" she added, calling on wealthier IMF members to do more to provide support. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 13:48:57', '2023-04-07 13:48:57'),
(6227, 6227, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">French President Emmanuel Macron called on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping Thursday to \"bring Russia to its senses\" over Ukraine and urged him not to deliver weapons to Moscow.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The French president, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, has made clear he is seeking to dissuade China from supporting Russia\'s invasion of its neighbour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I know I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table,\" Macron told Xi during a bilateral meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two leaders met Thursday after a formal welcome ceremony in Tiananmen Square, complete with a 21-gun salute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In remarks to the press following their meeting, Xi said he \"stood ready to issue a joint call with France\" for the resumption of \"peace talks as soon as possible\", according to Chinese state media Xinhua.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He reiterated his support of the \"solemn pledge that nuclear weapons must not be used\" and for all parties to \"avoid attacking civilians or civilian facilities\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In this regard, everyone must be reminded of their duties, especially Russia,\" Macron replied.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A recent announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus \"is not consistent with the commitments made to you, to us and to international law,\" Macron said next to the Chinese leader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Xi went to Moscow last month to reaffirm his alliance with Putin -- framed as an anti-Western front -- but has not yet spoken directly with Ukraine\'s President Volodymyr Zelensky.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a French diplomat, Xi expressed a willingness to speaking with Zelensky, but only when the time is right.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron \"pressed Xi Jinping not to deliver anything to Russia that would be used for its war against Ukraine\", added the French diplomat, following Western claims that Beijing could be mulling arms shipments to support Russia\'s war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who is accompanying Macron on his visit, welcomed Xi\'s openness to speaking with Zelensky.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that in her own meeting Thursday with Chinese leaders, she warned that arms shipments to Russia would \"significantly harm\" relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As a member of the UN Security Council, there is a big responsibility and we expect that China will play its role and promote a just peace, one that respects Ukraine\'s sovereignty and territorial integrity, one of the cornerstones of the UN charter,\" von der Leyen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Major role\' –</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow poured cold water on prospects of mediation, insisting on Thursday it had \"no choice\" but to press on with its offensive in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Undoubtedly, China has a very effective and commanding potential for mediation,\" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But the situation with Ukraine is complex, so far there are no prospects for a political settlement.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron\'s visit to China, his first since 2019, comes as Western pressure mounts on Beijing to help push for peace in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing is officially neutral, and Xi has never condemned the Russian invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron said he wants to \"be a voice that unites Europe\" over Ukraine, and that coming to China with von der Leyen serves to \"underline the consistency of this approach\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron\'s talks with Xi were followed by a trilateral meeting with von der Leyen, after which the French and Chinese leaders held a state dinner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron will travel to Guangzhou in southern China to meet students on Friday, taking with him a broad delegation of top politicians, business leaders and even celebrities, including composer Jean-Michel Jarre.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Taiwan tensions -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit comes in the face of mounting Chinese pressure on Taiwan, with the island\'s President Tsai Ing-wen meeting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing baulks at any official contact between Taipei and the rest of the world, insisting there is only \"one China\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China had repeatedly warned both sides that the meeting should not take place and deployed an aircraft carrier near Taiwan hours before the talks went ahead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three additional warships were detected in waters separating the island from China, Taiwan\'s Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Strongly interconnected\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron\'s trip has an important economic component as well, with the French leader keen to firm up a crucial trade partnership.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron is accompanied by more than 50 French business leaders, including top bosses of Airbus, EDF and Veolia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Airbus announced Thursday it would open a second final assembly line in China that will double its production capacity in the country, with the framework for the deal signed by CEO Guillaume Faury in Beijing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asia has become a key market for both Airbus and its US rival Boeing, as demand for air travel climbs with an expanding middle class.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It makes a lot of sense for us, as the Chinese market keeps growing, to be serving local for the Chinese airlines, and probably some other customers in the region,\" Faury said. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 13:52:35', '2023-04-07 13:52:35'),
(6228, 6228, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka, Apr 7 (UNB) - Dhaka\'s air quality is ‘unhealthy’ this morning (April 7, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 152 at 9:30 am, Dhaka ranked 9th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Pakistan’s Karachi and UAE’s Dubai occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 382, 177 and 166, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered \'unhealthy\', AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 13:55:25', '2023-04-07 13:55:25'),
(6229, 6229, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Mushfiqur Rahim shrugged off Bangladesh\'s mid-innings jitters to hit a quickfire half-century Friday and seal a seven-wicket victory over Ireland in their one-off Dhaka Test.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ireland were bowled out for 292 soon after resuming on the fourth day and Mushfiqur top-scored for the hosts with seven fours from his 51 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Opener Tamim Iqbal made 31 and put on 62 runs with Mushfiqur for the third wicket after Ireland saw a glimmer of hope with two crucial early wickets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liton Das gave Bangladesh a positive start but poor fortune saw him bowled for 23 as a Mark Adair bouncer struck him off the helmet and fell to his stumps, dislodging the bails.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three overs later, Najmul Hossain was caught by Andy Balbirnie at slip off Andy McBrine after making just four runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Najmul was initially declared not out by the on-field umpires but replays confirmed a fair catch to leave Ireland jubilant and Bangladesh reduced to 43-2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Mushfiqur and Tamim denied the visitors further success, taking Bangladesh to 89-2 by lunch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ben White dismissed Tamim after the break but Mominul Haque remained on 20 alongside Mushfiqur to take Bangladesh home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh also had pacer Ebadot Hossain to thank when his two wickets wrapped up Ireland\'s innings at 292 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tourists added just six runs to their overnight 286-8 after Ebadot forced last man Graham Hume to give a catch behind the stumps for 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">McBrine added just one run to his overnight 71 to give Ebadot a finish of 3-37.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visitors were staring down the prospect of an innings defeat on Thursday before debutant Lorcan Tucker became Ireland\'s second Test centurion with 108.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kevin O\'Brien is the only other Irishman to hit a Test century, scoring 118 against Pakistan during their maiden Test in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harry Tector added 56 to lift Ireland from a precarious 13-4 and surmount a 155-run first innings deficit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visitors were all out for 214 runs in their first innings and Bangladesh posted 369 runs in response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mushfiqur put the hosts in the box seat on the second day with his first innings knock of 126.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This week\'s Test extends Ireland\'s losing streak in the five-day format. They have now lost all four Tests they have played since becoming a full member of the International Cricket Council in 2017.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ireland next head to Sri Lanka where they will play two Tests in Galle, the first match beginning on April 16. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 15:10:50', '2023-04-07 15:10:50'),
(6230, 6230, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The devastating fire at Bangabazar market was finally doused on Friday morning, over 75 hours after it broke burning down thousands of shops amid hectic Eid shopping.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence said the last traces of Tuesday\'s fire was extinguished around 9:30 on Friday.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning, burning several thousand shops, mainly ready-made garment and footwear stores, to ashes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of six adjacent markets were also burnt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other six markets are--Gulistan Market, AnexK tower, Mohanagar shopping complex, Adarsha market, Banga Islami Market and Barisal Plaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association President, the fire damaged over 5,000 shops, resulting in a loss of over Tk15 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) formed an eight-member&nbsp; committee to investigate the origin of the fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, two cases were filed by police and fire service against 300 unidentified people after angry mob attacked the Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters saying that firefighters failed to quickly bring the fire under control.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Dhaka court on Thursday granted a one-day remand to each of three accused in a case over the attack on police and obstruction of government work. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 15:17:32', '2023-04-07 15:17:32'),
(6231, 6231, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday extended heartiest congratulation to the national cricket team as tigers handed Ireland a seven-wicket defeat in the one-off Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a felicitation message, the cricket-lover Prime Minister greeted all the players, coach and officials of the national cricket team as well as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials concerned for beating Ireland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina expressed the hope that the winning spree of the Bangladesh cricket team would continue in future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the one-off Test between Bangladesh and Ireland, the home side chased down a 138-run target before the end of the second session on the fourth day. The Ireland tour of Bangladesh ends with the one-off Test after the two sides played ODI and T20I series, both of which ended in the Tigers\' favour. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 15:39:30', '2023-04-07 15:39:30'),
(6232, 6232, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh won the one-off Test against Ireland by seven wickets in Dhaka\'s Mirpur on the fourth day Friday, with more than four sessions to spare.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the fourth innings, Bangladesh needed 138 runs to win, a target they reached with the loss of three wickets. Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored 126 in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 51.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Bangladesh had lost eight of their last nine Tests. Their last Test win came last year against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui where Ebadot Hossain delivered an outstanding bowling performance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although Ireland batted grittily, Bangladesh ultimately emerged victorious. The visitors lost four quick wickets for 13 runs in their second innings. However, they made a strong comeback, thanks to the century of wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker and 72 of Andy McBrine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In reply to Ireland\'s first innings score of 214, Bangladesh posted 369, securing a 155-run lead. Taijul Islam took five wickets for the hosts, while McBrine took six wickets for Ireland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ireland not only chased down 155 runs but also set a target of 138 runs for the hosts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Litton Das scored 23 off 19 balls to give Bangladesh a fluent start. Although Najmul Hossain Shanto fell quickly and Tamim Iqbal perished when the Tigers were 33 runs away from the win, Mushfiqur and Mominul Haque sealed the victory for their team. Mark Adair, Ben White, and McBrine took one wicket each for Ireland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It wasn\'t enough in the end,\" said Andrew Balbirnie, Ireland captain, after the match. \"We showed a lot of grit. We all really enjoyed playing Test cricket again, you have to show a lot of fight, which we did.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This was only the fourth Test for Ireland, who had previously lost the three Tests they played.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mushfiqur was named the player of the match for his century and fifty. He praised the bowlers of Bangladesh for their efforts on the track which was not very bowling-friendly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh\'s next assignment is a three-match ODI series against Ireland in England next month, which is part of the inaugural 2020-2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. All three ODIs will be played at the County Ground, Chelmsford, in England. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 16:22:17', '2023-04-07 16:22:17'),
(6233, 6233, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Eight people were killed in a gunfight between two groups in Rowangchhari upazila of Bandarban district on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identities of the deceased could not be known yet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdul Mannan, officer-in-charge of Rowangchhari Police Station, confirmed the news.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Being informed, police recovered the bodies from Khamthampara area around 12:30pm today, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bodies were sent to Bandarban Sadar Hospital, he added. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 16:25:43', '2023-04-08 15:15:34'),
(6234, 6234, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States hopes that the Government of Bangladesh would examine the allegations brought against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a documentary aired and an article published by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'m not going to preview any actions from up here. But we will examine the allegations in this article and video very carefully, and we hope the Bangladesh government will do the same,\" said Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The perpetrators of human rights violations should be held accountable, the US Embassy in Dhaka quoted Patel as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Seheli Sabrin has said that RAB keeps working to ensure the country\'s security and it is not being used for any political purpose. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', '<p><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 17:17:50', '2023-04-07 17:17:50'),
(6235, 6235, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday voiced suspicion that influential ruling party leaders might have carried out the fire incident at Bangabazar market to grab the land.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Some very influential people of the ruling Awami League have long been trying to occupy Bangabazar market. If a real impartial investigation is conducted, then there is a possibility to find out that this incident was completely carried out by the Awami League,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting with the 12-party liaison committee at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Fakhrul said their party wants a neutral probe into the incident to unveil the truth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Justifying his remark involving the ruling party leaders with the market fire, Fakhrul said the government has started talking about constructing multi-storied buildings at Bangabazar just a day after the incident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Shopping Complex in Dhaka on Tuesday morning and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, mainly readymade garment and footwear stores, to ashes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Thursday, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said investigations were being carried out to unearth whether the BNP was involved in the devastating fire incident at Bangabazar or not.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also alleged that BNP was trying to politicise the fire incident instead of standing by the fire-affected people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polls without BNP’s participation won’t have legitimacy</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul alleged that the government has been planning to retain power through a stage-managed election as it did earlier in 2014 and 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We think that the government wants to hold a unilateral election as before. That is why they have rejected the UN’s proposal (for cooperation in the next national election),” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Monday Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is mature enough and there is no need to take help from the United Nations in the national parliamentary election of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul said if the BNP and its alliance partners do not participate in the election under the Awami League government, then there will be no legitimacy of the polls “This is the reality. That\'s why the Chief Election Commissioner said yesterday (Thursday) that if the major parties don’t participate, then the legitimacy of the election will remain in question.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Mostafa Jamal Haidar, the coordinator of the 12-party alliance, said they discussed with the BNP leaders the next course of action of the simultaneous movement to realise their 10-point demand including the resignation of the government and holding the next polls under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said they will intensify the movement in the days to come and make it a success with the united efforts of all.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Selima Rahman were also present at the meeting. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 19:06:47', '2023-04-07 19:06:47');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6236, 6236, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israel unleashed rare airstrikes on Lebanon and continued bombarding the Gaza Strip on Friday, an escalation that sparked fears of a broader conflict following days of violence over Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later Friday, there were signs that both sides were trying to keep the hostilities in check. Fighting on Israel\'s northern and southern borders subsided after dawn, and midday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem passed peacefully. But a Palestinian shooting attack in the Israeli-occupied West Bank killed two women near an Israeli settlement just hours later — a grim reminder of the combustible situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The early morning Israeli strikes followed an unusually large rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon — what analysts described as the most serious cross-border violence since Israel’s 2006 war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants. The violence erupted after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier this week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli strikes seemed designed to avoid drawing in the Iran-backed Shiite group, which Israel considers its most immediate threat. The Israeli military said its warplanes struck infrastructure belonging to Palestinian militants that it accused of firing the nearly three dozen rockets that slammed into open areas and northern Israeli towns on Thursday. Nonetheless, the Israeli military said it believed the Palestinian militants acted with the knowledge of Hezbollah, which holds sway over much of southern Lebanon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were no reports of serious casualties, but several residents of the southern Lebanese town of Qalili, including Syrian refugees, said they were lightly wounded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I immediately gathered my wife and children and got them out of the house,” said Qalili resident Bilal Suleiman, who was jolted awake by the bombing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A flock of sheep was also killed when the Israeli missiles struck an open field near the Palestinian refugee camp of Rashidiyeh, according to an Associated Press photographer. Other airstrikes hit a bridge and power transformer in the nearby town of Maaliya and damaged an irrigation system providing water to orchards in the area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Gaza Strip, Israel\'s military pounded what it said were weapons production sites and underground tunnels belonging to Hamas, the militant group ruling the Palestinian enclave. Residents inspected the damage left after Israeli strikes — including to a children’s hospital in Gaza City, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the retaliatory strikes, Israelis living along the southern border returned home from bomb shelters. Most missiles that managed to cross into Israeli territory hit open areas, but one landed in the nearby town of Sderot, sending shrapnel slicing into a house.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were no reports of casualties on either side of the southern border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military said everyone wanted avoid a full-blown conflict. “Quiet will be answered with quiet,” said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israeli military.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions remained high in the region. In the West Bank, a Palestinian shooting attack near an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley killed two sisters in their 20s and seriously wounded their 45-year-old mother, Israeli medics and officials said. The three victims were residents of the Israeli settlement of Efrat, near the Palestinian city of Bethlehem, said Oded Revivi, the mayor of the settlement. The girls\' father was driving in another car behind his wife and daughters and witnessed the attack, Revivi added. Medics said they dragged the unconscious women from the smashed car that appeared to have been pushed off the road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military said it was searching for those behind the attack, setting up roadblocks in the area. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility. But Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem hailed the attack “in retaliation for the crimes committed by Israel in the West Bank and the Al-Aqsa mosque.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jerusalem\'s holy site of Al-Aqsa, a tinderbox for Israeli-Palestinian conflict, sits on a hilltop sacred to both Muslims and Jews. In 2021, an escalation also triggered by clashes at the scared compound spilled over into an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over 130,000 worshippers poured into the compound for midday prayers on Friday, which ended without incident. Before dawn prayers, chaos had erupted at one of the entrances to the esplanade as Israeli police wielding batons descended on crowds of Palestinian worshippers, who chanted slogans praising Hamas as they tried to squeeze into the site. An hour later, according to videos, people leaving the prayers staged a largescale protest on the limestone courtyard, with Palestinians raising their fists and shouting against Israel. Israeli police forced their way into the compound, inflaming tensions during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police did not comment on the earlier beatings, but said security forces entered the holy compound after prayers in response to “masked suspects” who threw rocks toward officers at one of the gates. Israeli authorities control access to the area but the compound is administered by Islamic and Jordanian officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The unrest comes at a delicate time for Jerusalem\'s Old City, which on Friday was teeming with pilgrims from around the world. The Christian faithful retraced the route Jesus is said to have taken for Good Friday, Jews celebrated the weeklong Passover holiday and Muslims prayed and fasted for Ramadan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The current round of violence began Wednesday after Israeli police twice raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque — in one case fiercely beating Palestinians, who responded by hurling rocks and firecrackers. That led Thursday to rocket fire from Gaza and, in a significant and unusual escalation, the barrage from southern Lebanon and the Israeli retaliation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lebanon\'s Foreign Ministry said Friday it had instructed the country\'s mission to the United Nations in New York to submit a complaint to the U.N. Security Council against the “deliberate Israeli bombing and aggression” in the south, which it condemned as “a flagrant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even as a tense calm took hold along the Lebanese and Gaza borders, the West Bank remained volatile. Violence has surged to new heights in the territory in recent months, with Palestinian health officials reporting the start of 2023 to be the most deadly for Palestinians in two decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year, according to an Associated Press tally. During that time, 16 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis — all but one of them civilians. Israel says most of those Palestinians killed have been militants. But stone-throwing youths protesting police incursions and people not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 19:09:54', '2023-04-07 19:09:54'),
(6237, 6237, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President M Abdul Hamid today called upon all to stand united against any evil force that threatens the country\'s hard-earned democracy as he addressed the \"Special Jatiya Sangsad Session\" marking the parliament\'s golden jubilee.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"All must stand united against any evil force that threatens democracy,\" the President told the House. It is presumed to be his last speech in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) as the President.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdul Hamid\'s second term as President is coming to an end on April 23. He has been the President for last 10 years in two consecutive terms. President-elect Md Sahabuddin is likely to take oath as the new President on April 24.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Urging the countrymen, irrespective of political affiliations, the Head of State said, \"Let\'s join together to build a welfare-oriented state keeping the beloved motherland away from conflicts and any extremist and terror acts.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Jatiya Sangsad is the \'heart of democratic practice\', said the President and urged the parliamentarians of both the treasury and opposition benches to stay above all sorts of enmity, personal and party interests for constructive, effective and active participation to establish democracy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was in the chair while Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Opposition Leader Rowshan Ershad were present at the special session. President-elect Md Sahabuddin and President Hamid\'s wife Rashida Khanam witnessed it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his 16-page written speech, the President said, \"Our identity as a self-respecting, patriotic nation on the map of the world should be upheld with our integrity, honesty and hard work.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said: \"Our thoughts, work-plan and strategies for the development of the country may be different but there should be no violence, no conflict of interest and deep unity should be forged in the areas of national interest and patriotism.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the upcoming 12th Jatiya Sangsad polls, the President said, \"Election is the only way to come to power or bring change.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamid said that the politics of terror and violence in the name of movement can never be beneficial for the country, society and economy; rather, it makes the political atmosphere chaotic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid put emphasis on the importance of everyone\'s support to develop democracy by forgetting conflicts and reaching consensus in all aspects through dialogue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He called upon all to contribute to establishing a tolerant democratic system by removing violence from politics.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The people of Bangladesh would exercise their right to vote impartially in line with the established democratic norms and the constitution, and will enrich and accelerate the history of country\'s democracy, the President hoped.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the long 50 years of parliamentary activities, he said, April 7 is a historic and unforgettable day in the history of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad and the country\'s parliamentary democracy. The first session of the National Assembly was held on this day in 1973.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President said this special session will play an important role in presenting the history of the parliament to the new and future generations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Members of Parliament (MP) will present the history of parliament as well as Bangabandhu\'s customs, tactics and the history of freedom struggle and Liberation War before the countrymen and the world in their speeches, the President hoped.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the current political context, President Hamid said political stability has been maintained in the country in the last 14 years under the strong and charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh has achieved all the qualifications to be graduated from a lest developed country (LDC) to a developing one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He told the parliament that presently there is no opportunity for any other group or unconstitutional force to take over the state power except the representatives elected by the people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid, in his address, mentioned about the remarkable success of Bangladesh in various fields of socio-economic development, including poverty alleviation, education, health, human resource, women empowerment, reduction of infant and maternal mortality rate, removing gender disparity and increase in average life expectancy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh is one of the few countries in the world that have achieved economic growth despite the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country\'s economy has turned around due to the government\'s multifaceted socio-economic and investment projects, programs and activities to ensure sustainable and inclusive development, Hamid added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that the large amount of remittances sent by expatriate Bangladeshis is making an important contribution to keeping the wheels of the economy moving, he said the social safety net has been greatly expanded in the country and the country\'s food security is secured despite the instability in the global economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the aim to include the landless, homeless and marginalized people in the mainstream of the national economy, different programs such as shelter project, distribution of khas land among the landless and employment generation are being widely implemented under the social security schemes, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid said the government led by Sheikh Hasina has already declared 211 upazilas free of the homeless and landless people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President said Bangladesh\'s first satellite \'Bangabandhu Satellite-1\' has been launched into the space and the launch of \'Bangabandhu Satellite-2\' is now at its final stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, success in providing cent percent electricity supply in the country, construction of Padma Bridge with own funding, metro rail in Dhaka, Payra deep sea port, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tunnel, third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport and Rooppur nuclear power plant are the major instances of the present government\'s successful steps.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recalling some of his sweet memories with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said, \"I first met Bangabandhu in 1964. Bangabandhu was the only idol for many youths of East Pakistan at that time. It was in no way possible for anyone, who once came close to Bangabandhu\'s or got the touch of his affection, to forget him (Bangabandhu).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He told the parliament that he spent the most important and eventful time of his life in the Jatiya Sangsad complex here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President said MPs are elected as representatives of the people and they may have political differences and differences in ideologies, but there can be no difference in making the Jatiya Sangsad as the focal point of democracy and development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid said if the JS standing committees related to various ministries can be made more active in the parliamentary system, it will be possible to ensure the transparency and accountability of the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdul Hamid also stressed on ensuring the participation of people of all levels in the JS and said: \"We can never ensure sustainable development by keeping women, half of the workforce, out of the decision-making process.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In order to make the development sustainable, the President said, democracy must be strengthened institutionally and the practice of democracy must be spread to the grassroots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid asked the new MPs to acquire more knowledge on parliamentary customs and rules of procedure by regularly participating in the activities of the different committees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If you want to perform your duties efficiently as a member of parliament, you need to know about the constitution, rules of procedure, parliamentary customs and procedures,\" the President advised.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Hamid said had Bangabandhu not been martyred on August 15, 1975, the country would have become a developed and prosperous one long ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"After 1975\'s brutal incidents, country\'s development and democracy were blocked for a long time. As a result, the country fell far behind. Due to the continuity of government and democracy in the last one and a half decades, the country is rapidly progressing on the path of advancement and progress. Now it is our responsibility to advance this trend of development in days to come,\" Hamid observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the very outset of the speech, President Hamid remembered with deep respect and gratitude the greatest Bengali of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, all the martyrs of August 15, 1975, all the brave freedom fighters, the four national leaders and other martyrs who had to embrace death in August 21 carnage and other democratic movements at different times.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The President also prayed for the eternal peace of their departed souls. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 19:13:04', '2023-04-07 19:13:04'),
(6238, 6238, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An Iranian court has ordered the execution of a man accused of killing seven people during nationwide protests last year, the judiciary said Friday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abbas Kurkuri was accused of using a military weapon to fatally shoot seven people in Izeh, in Khuzestan province, in November, and charged with the capital crimes of \"moharebeh\", or \"war against God\" and \"corruption on earth\", the judiciary\'s Mizan Online news website reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Islamic republic witnessed several months of civil unrest following the September 16 death of Kurdish Iranian Amini, 22, after her arrest for allegedly flouting Iran\'s strict dress code for women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hundreds of people were killed, including dozens of security personnel, and thousands were arrested in connection with what officials labelled \"riots\" fomented Iran\'s enemies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kurkuri\'s sentence can be appealed in the supreme court, Mizan added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the burial of one of the shooting victims, identified as 10-year-old Kian Pirfalak, the boy\'s mother reportedly blamed security forces for killing her son.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the time of his death, officials insisted the boy was killed in a \"terrorist\" attack carried out by an extremist group.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The judiciary\'s website added that Kurkuri had \"accepted the charges\" and confessed to being \"under the influence of social media\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Such confessions are frequently condemned by rights groups based outside of Iran as \"forced\", arguing that they are often obtained under duress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iranian authorities have so far executed four people and issued death sentences for around 20 others in connection to the mostly women-led protest movement. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 19:16:01', '2023-04-07 19:16:01'),
(6239, 6239, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday told the Parliament that the stability of parliamentary democracy since 2008 created a scope for massive development in Bangladesh.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“During the last three terms --2008, 2014 and 2018-- in line with the constitution, the continuous progress of Bangladesh National Parliament, the consistency of parliamentary democracy and political stability created a field for massive development of Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said this while placing a motion in the House on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh National Parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said in continuation of the scope, Bangladesh achieved many successes like the successful implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reducing the poverty rate to 18 percent from 40 percent, gradual sustainable development of Bangladesh, the graduation of Bangladesh into the club of the developing countries, reaching electricity to cent percent houses,&nbsp; massive development of communication infrastructures, attainment of food autarky, construction of Padma Bridge with own finance, implementation of Metrorail project, launching Bangabandhu Satellite,&nbsp; setting up Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, rehabilitation of landless and homeless people under Ashrayan project, women empowerment, construction of Birnibash (houses) for freedom fighters and building Digital Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“Overall, today Bangladesh is a wonder of the world for the development of the people’s life,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina, an MP from Gopalganj-3, moved the motion under the Section-147 of the Rules of Procedure in the House on the 50th anniversary day of Bangladesh National Parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier in her motion said, “During the auspicious moment of 50 years of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad, the Parliament is in opinion that the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad as the centre of parliamentary democracy will continue to play an effective and active role in the quality development of people\'s life and the successful implementation of their hopes and aspirations, and thus democracy will be strengthened, an exploitation-free social system will be established, equality and justice will be guaranteed for all, we all will work together to fulfill these promises stated in the constitution, and build a happy, prosperous, advanced, hunger- and poverty-free smart Bangladesh and the Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman-- this should be our conviction.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, President Md. Abdul Hamid addressed the House on the occasion of the 50 years of the Jatiya Sangsad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 07, 1973, the first parliament had gone into the maiden sitting in independent Bangladesh. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-07 20:33:49', '2023-04-07 20:33:49'),
(6240, 6240, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least three people were killed in a landslide at Beltoli Ghona area of Akbar Shah Union in Chattogram today.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the three workers was Khoka, 45. The others were not immediately identified. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident occurred around 5:45pm. Locals rescued and rushed them to hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Firefighters are still carrying out rescue operations, said Enamul Haque, senior officer of Agrabad Station of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re working. The number of fatalities is still unknown,” he said. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 11, the district administration\'s mobile court conducted an operation on the claim that hills in the Akbarshah area\'s Beltoli Ghona were being cut down to make space for a new roadway.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A man named Shahjahan, 40, was sentenced to 7 days on the charge of cutting hills. An excavator used for hill-cutting was also seized at this time. 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, '2023-04-07 20:38:57', '2023-04-07 20:39:18'),
(6241, 6241, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea claimed Friday it had tested another underwater nuclear attack drone, in its latest response to South Korean and United States military drills.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"A national defence science research institute in the DPRK carried out a test of underwater strategic weapon system from April 4 to 7,\" the official Korean Central News Agency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The underwater nuclear attack drone \'Haeil-2\'... cruised 1,000 km of simulated underwater distance.\" AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 09:23:21', '2023-04-08 09:23:21'),
(6242, 6242, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality is ‘unhealthy’ this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 173 at 8:58 am, Dhaka ranked 4th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Delhi occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 274, 187 and 180, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201 and 300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 10:19:24', '2023-04-08 10:19:24'),
(6243, 6243, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A fire broke out today at Dhaka’s Barishal Plaza Market — opposite to Bangabazar which burned down just four days ago. The fire has been brought under control.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire broke out on the 3rd floor of the market around 8:05 am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, 14 firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control around 8:45 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, what caused the fire could not be known immediately.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Market in Dhaka on April 4 and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, with mainly readymade clothes and footwear, to ashes. 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, '2023-04-08 10:22:30', '2023-04-08 10:22:30'),
(6244, 6244, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Watermelon cultivation has started in the remote char area of the Brahmaputra River in Kurigram.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although watermelon cultivation started on an experimental basis last year, the number of farmers signing up to the this time. The yield has also been as expected. Farmers are hoping for double the profit if there is no flood in advance this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, if the government comes forward in marketing and banks provide loans with easy instalments, the misery of the people of the char area can be erased, or at least eased.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Kurigram Department of Agricultural Extension, there are about 450 chars in 16 rivers in the district. There are about 45,000 hectares of cultivable land. Of these, farmers are starting cultivation on 35,000 hectares of land in 368 chars. Maize, watermelon, sweet pumpkin, cucumber and pepper have been cultivated in these char areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, watermelon was cultivated on 50 acres of land in Char Bagua village of Hatia union of Ulipur upazila of the district. In the early floods, 40 acres of crops were submerged and damaged. Yet the farmers did not stop. This year watermelon has been cultivated on 34 hectares of land in the char.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Farmers have also started harvesting watermelons. Due to favorable weather conditions, the yield has also been as expected. As a result, they are hoping to make a good profit this time after overcoming last year\'s loss. However, the biggest obstacle to commercial cultivation in the char is marketing management. Besides, many farmers have left the land after being unable to cultivate these crops despite the desire, the banks not providing loans to the common farmers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dashim Uddin of Bagua Char said three enterprising farmers have cultivated watermelon on 40 acres of land in this char. As a result of getting a large amount of loan from the bank, they have got the opportunity to cultivate on a large scale. Many farmers here have become interested in their farming, but they are not able to come forward due to economic reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdur Sabur, who cultivated watermelon, said, “Although watermelon was cultivated on an experimental basis last year, the watermelon field was washed away in the early floods. This year, I have cultivated watermelon on 14 acres of land. It cost me Tk6-7 lakh. I hope to pick up 20,000 watermelons. This will earn me an additional income of Tk6-7 lakh.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the problem here is marketing watermelon. Wholesalers come here and buy watermelons at a lower price. If we could take melons to the city and sell, we would have made more profits. More farmers would have come forward to cultivate watermelon.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The farmer also said watermelon seeds should be sown at the beginning of the month of Paush. After four months, watermelon can be lifted in the middle of chaitra month. There are some precautions to be taken in watermelon cultivation. In the sand land, a hole of one and a half feet in the 10-inch by 10-inch square has to be given some loamy soil, dung fertilizer and DSP in the pit. Forty grams should be given in each pit. In this way, after keeping it for a week, three seeds are sown in a pit. In addition, regularly insecticides have to be sprayed to protect against the attack of insects and rats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abul Hossain Master, former chairman of Hatia Union, said at present, local entrepreneurs in the char area have become interested in cultivating various agricultural products. Due to economic problems, the rest of the farmers are unable to come forward. “Their misery would go away if banks and NGOs come forward.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional Deputy Director (Crops) of Kurigram DAE, Md Azizul Islam, said watermelon cultivation has started in the district since last year. Watermelon has been cultivated on 22,000 hectares of land this year. There is a plan to set up a collection center in the char areas so that the farmers do not suffer for marketing. 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, '2023-04-08 10:40:40', '2023-04-08 10:40:40'),
(6245, 6245, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Kusal Mendis struck a rapid half-century as Sri Lanka posted 182-6 in the third and deciding T20 against New Zealand in Queenstown on Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wicketkeeper-opener Mendis raced to 73 off 48 balls to set the Black Caps an imposing chase to win the series -- locked at 1-1 -- in the final match of what has been a difficult tour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 28-year-old took full advantage after being dropped by Daryl Mitchell at slip when on 10.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He went on to hit six fours and five sixes in his 12th half-century, falling just short of his career-high score of 79.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Having been asked to bat, Mendis was the dominant figure in an opening stand of 76 with Pathum Nissanka (25 off 25), before putting on a further 46 with Kusal Perera (33 off 21).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wickets fell rapidly over the closing overs, preventing the tourists from going close to 200.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ben Lister took 2-37 while fellow-seamer Adam Milne and legspinner Ish Sodhi were the most economical of New Zealand\'s bowlers, recording identical figures of 1-30 off four overs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Matt Henry replaced Henry Shipley in their only change from the nine-wicket win at Dunedin in game two on Wednesday while Sri Lanka also made a solitary change to their seam attack, with Lahiru Kumara in for Dilshan Madushanka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The match is the last of Sri Lanka\'s tour, in which New Zealand won the Test and ODI series by the same 2-0 scoreline. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 10:45:39', '2023-04-08 10:45:39'),
(6246, 6246, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Taiwan\'s defence ministry said Saturday it detected three warships and 13 Chinese aircraft around the island, after President Tsai Ing-wen returned from the United States.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ministry of National Defense said three ships and 13 aircraft had been detected around Taiwan by 6 am local time (2200 GMT) on Saturday and \"4 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan\'s southeast ADIZ\". AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 10:48:33', '2023-04-08 10:48:33'),
(6247, 6247, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US President Joe Biden on Friday called a federal judge\'s decision to suspend approval of an abortion pill as an \"unprecedented step in taking away basic freedoms from women.\"</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"My administration will fight this ruling,\" Biden said in a statement issued by the White House.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The ruling, if it were to stand, makes every regulated drug vulnerable to \"these kinds of political, ideological attacks,\" Biden said. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 11:02:04', '2023-04-08 11:02:04'),
(6248, 6248, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The sitting of the 22th special session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) resumed at 10.00 am today with Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;The day\'s proceedings began with recitation from the Holy Quran. BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 11:35:24', '2023-04-08 11:35:24'),
(6249, 6249, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Hundreds of thousands of homes in eastern Canada remained without power Friday, two days after an ice storm killed three people and caused widespread property damage, particularly in Montreal.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">About 460,000 homes in Quebec were in the dark, down from 1.1 million at the height of the outages.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"We have restored power to over 50 percent of the customers affected by the outages,\" said electricity provider Hydro-Quebec.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Our teams are hard at work and we are confident that a further 200,000 customers will have their power back by the end of the day,\" the utility company added.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Some homes though will be without electricity until Sunday, potentially Monday, said Hydro-Quebec spokesman Regis Tellier.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">More favorable weather conditions should \"accelerate the restoration of service,\" he said.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Quebec Premier Francois Legault said that a third person had died from storm-related causes when he used a barbecue inside his home about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Montreal.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A resident of eastern Ontario was killed by a falling tree on Wednesday, and a 60-year-old Quebec man died when he was crushed by a tree branch while trying to clear his land early Thursday.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Montreal, which accounted for about half of the power outages, opened six temporary emergency shelters where residents spent the night.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">At one, located in the Verdun neighborhood, about 30 people came to warm up, drink coffee, eat and charge their electronic devices on the first day of the long Easter weekend.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"It was mostly boring,\" said 28-year-old teacher Isabelle, who declined to give her last name.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"I had planned to work and it delayed me a bit, but it\'s not the end of the world,\" she told AFP.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Rosalie Gouba, accompanied by her mother and two sons aged eight and three, said she was sorry to have had to throw away next month\'s food supplies and to see the blackout continue.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The first night was very difficult because I\'m scared of sleeping in the dark. Since I am stressed, the children are too,\" said the 30-year-old, who came with books to keep her boys occupied.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The storm affected Quebec and Ontario, Canada\'s two most populous provinces.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Health officials in Montreal also recorded about 60 reports of carbon monoxide poisoning, after families used indoor barbecues to keep warm.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Hundreds of Montreal city employees were still cleaning up debris Friday, especially in parks where many branches had collapsed under the weight of the ice.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">City parks, including Mount Royal, the hill overlooking the city, remained closed.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Temperatures of around one degree Celsius (33 degrees Fahrenheit) melted the ice, but wind gusts were shaking trees, risking more fallen branches.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Authorities were still advising people to stay away from power lines.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The power outage was the biggest in Quebec since an ice storm in 1998, which threw the province into chaos for several weeks. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 11:40:15', '2023-04-08 11:40:15'),
(6250, 6250, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Miscreants vandalised and set fire to the office of Nandigram upazila unit BNP in Bogura district on Friday night.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">General Secretary of upazila unit BNP, Belayet Hossain Adar, said a group of masked miscreants swooped on the office around 10 pm and set it on fire after pouring petrol.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also vandalised the chairs at the office. The furniture and banner of the office were also burnt in the fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP has organised a 2-hour sit-in programme on Saturday as part of their 10-point demand. The leaders of the upazila unit BNP were not present at the office during the incident as they went to the police station to get permission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">On information, local people had doused the flame before a firefighting unit reached the spot, said Warehouse Inspector Tanvir Hasan of Nandigram Fire Service and Civil Defence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Condemning the incident, Mosharraf Hossain, former MP of Bogura-4 constituency demanded punishment of those involved in the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police visited the spot at night. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 12:16:53', '2023-04-08 12:16:53');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6251, 6251, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The World Bank\'s ongoing reform could result in a $50 billion lending boost over the next decade, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told AFP ahead of stakeholders\' meetings next week where key changes are expected to be announced.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Central bankers, finance ministers and participants from more than 180 member countries are expected to gather in the US capital for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank\'s spring meetings in the coming week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A key topic of discussion will be the World Bank\'s evolution, amid a push for lenders to revamp and meet global challenges like climate change. The United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank Group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I expect there to be an update of the bank\'s mission to add building resilience against climate change, pandemics, and conflict and fragility to the core goals,\" Yellen said in the interview with AFP Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added that there needs to be a recognition that these challenges aren\'t separate or conflicting but rather, inextricably linked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Second, there will be an announcement that the bank is stretching its financial capacity to meet these objectives, and adopting changes or endorsing changes that could result in an additional $50 billion in extra lending capacity over the next decade,\" Yellen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The move would be a significant resource boost marking a 20 percent rise in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development\'s (IBRD) sustainable lending level. The IBRD is the World Bank\'s middle-income lending arm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Seeking added reforms -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yellen also said there would be an announcement on updating the bank\'s operational model to \"orient it towards the goals that we\'re setting.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among other things, this includes creating more incentives for the mobilization of both domestic and private capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We seek additional reforms during the rest of this year,\" Yellen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March, the World Bank submitted an evolution plan to be discussed with its development committee on April 12, during the spring meetings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that World Bank President David Malpass has laid a \"solid foundation\" for the ongoing work, Yellen added that she expects US candidate Ajay Banga to be elected to the helm of the organization and continue the revamp.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Banga was the sole nominee for the position after Malpass announced this year that he would step down early.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Hopeful sign\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also on policymakers\' agendas next week are support for war-torn Ukraine and debt restructuring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have seen some movement by China on participating in debt restructuring for Sri Lanka, which is a hopeful sign,\" Yellen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As global growth slows, the World Bank previously warned that the outlook is especially tough for the poorest economies -- which face sluggish growth driven by heavy debt burdens and weak investment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yellen had earlier said that China should move more quickly on some debt restructurings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Discussions on this front will continue next week as a newly formed global sovereign debt roundtable gathers, she told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re having useful technical discussions on important elements of debt restructuring. China has been participating, and we all continue to press China for improvements,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington will continue pushing for a speedier and more predictable operation of the G20 \"common framework\" for debt restructuring as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Ukraine, Yellen said: \"Once again, we will work with all of our allies to insist that Russia cease its brutality in Ukraine.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added that the United States would press for economic support alongside its partners on this front. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 12:42:07', '2023-04-08 12:42:07'),
(6252, 6252, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">If the highway renovation work in Sirajganj is not completed soon, there are chances of massive traffic jam, and homebound Eid holiday makers would have to endure extreme difficulties.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As construction work on the highway continues, district police have identified 14 high-risk areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Proposals have been submitted to the authorities concerned for the renovation of 20 bridges spanning about 51 km of the Chandaikona highway from the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is risk of severe traffic congestion at the 14 high-risk points. Every year before Eid, all the vehicles carrying homebound commuters pass through the Bangabandhu Bridge-West Highway. As a result, there is extra pressure on this highway.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is expected that the roads on this route will be repaired by the second week of this month. Bus and truck drivers, in particular, say that if the work on the highway is completed, there will be relief during Eid journey. People of 16 districts of north Bangladesh use this highway to go home from Dhaka during Eid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every day, 16,000 to 20,000 vehicles use this highway, and during Eid, 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles ply it. Work is underway to widen and repair the four-lane highway – connecting the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has already caused traffic congestion and slow movement on the highway. Besides, the north lane of the newly constructed Nalka Bridge has been opened, but the Dhaka-facing lane has been closed. Traffic is moving through the risky old bridge.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The contractor, Akhter JV Project’s Manager Ekhlas Uddin said that discussions have already been held with the Sirajganj Superintendent of Police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the highway, potholes will be repaired soon. New four-lane roads have been opened in different parts of the highway. Officials of the local Roads and Highways Department said the renovation work on the risky points on the highway has been supervised.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Badrul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station, said two rounds of discussions were held among the district police, officials of SASEC-2, and officials of the contractor company. They have assured to complete the repair work soon. On the occasion of Eid, 10 mobile teams and 16 picket teams will work on the highway. In addition, mikes and digital sign will be installed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sirajganj Traffic Inspector (Administration) Salekuzzaman Khan said they spoke to the district police regarding ensuring smooth flow of traffic before Eid. There will be 15 to 18 mobile teams on the highway. Work has already started to ease the traffic congestion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senior police officials mentioned that arrangements have been made to make the Eid journey of the homebound people uninterrupted. 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, '2023-04-08 13:03:47', '2023-04-08 13:03:47'),
(6253, 6253, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President-elect Mohammed Shahabuddin will take oath on April 24 as the current President Abdul Hamid\'s term is coming to an end on April 23.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that preparations are being made for the swearing-in ceremony of the new president as it will be held on April 24 at 11 am in Bangabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League candidate Shahabuddin was elected unopposed in the presidential election. He will be the 22nd president of Bangladesh as the successor of Abdul Hamid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader proposed the name of the presidential candidate while Joint General Secretary Hasan Mahmud supported it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Born in Pabna in 1949, Shahabuddin is a brave freedom fighter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his student life, Shahabuddin served as an activist and president of Pabna district Chhatra League and later handled the responsibility of Pabna Jubo League as the president. In 1971, he was the convenor of Swadhin Bangla Chhatra Sangram Parishad of Pabna district, and also actively participated in the Liberation War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was imprisoned following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. He was later appointed as the Law Ministry’s coordinator in the Bangabandhu assassination case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1982, he joined the BCS (Judicial) Department, and in 1995, he was elected General Secretary of the Judicial Service Association.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He served as the chairman of the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which investigated murders, rapes, thefts, and other crimes by BNP-Jamaat alliance’s activists and leaders following the 2001 general election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also worked as a District and Sessions Judge and retired in 2006. He was a commissioner at Anti-Corruption Commission from 2011 to 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the previous National Council of Bangladesh Awami League, he served as election commissioner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He earned his LLB from Rajshahi University in 1975, and completed his MSc from the same institution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md Shahabuddin’s wife Prof Dr Rebecca Sultana, is a former joint secretary of the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The current President Abdul Hamid is leaving Bangabhaban on April 24 after serving two consecutive terms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The longest serving president in the history of Bangladesh, Hamid was the acting president after the death of Zillur Rahman in March 2013. He was elected to his first term in April 2013 and re-elected to his current second term in 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamid was elected as a member of parliament from the Mymensingh-18 constituency as the youngest person elected in the 1970 Pakistan general election. He was elected as member of parliament for Kishoreganj-5 constituency, from Awami League, in the general elections of 1973, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2009.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For his contribution to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, he was awarded the Independence Award in 2013.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After his term ends, Hamid may move to a house in Nikunjo in the capital, said his press secretary Joynal Abedin. However, two sources in the president\'s family said that a flat in the Cantonment area is also being prepared for him. 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, '2023-04-08 14:06:33', '2023-04-08 14:06:33'),
(6254, 6254, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ahead of Allu Arjun\'s birthday on Saturday, the makers of Pushpa 2: The Rule treated fans to a special creative video, titled #HuntForPushpa. Revealing the whereabouts of Allu Arjun as Pushpa Raj, the video offers a glimpse of his fierce look to officially announce the sequel. While this isn\'t the official teaser video of Pushpa 2, the film\'s team is likely to release it soon.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pushpa 2 is said to redefine the connotation of the Global Indian Film. Since the success of the first chapter, there has been a constant curiosity and demand for an update on the sequel from fans, which led to the release of #WhereIsPushpa? video.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video begins with the news of Pushpa escaping from the Tirupati jail and being shot eight times before disappearing in the Seshachalam forests. As cops continue to search for him, rumours of Pushpa being killed in an encounter reach the public. This causes public protests and riots in Tirupati by his followers who talk about how Pushpa helped them with all his black money.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amidst this, Pushpa is seen alive. A footage from the forest captures him walking in the forest beside a tiger. He strikes the iconic ‘thaggede la’ pose while looking at one camera. His followers break into celebration. The video ends with a look at Allu Arjun in his famous printed pink shirt as he sat on a chair with several goons around him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reacting to the special video, a fan wrote in the comment section, “Sukumar is one of the most underrated directors, He deserves nation wide recognition. Pushpa The Rise created the platform, Now with this he will definitely RULE.” “This film has the potential of beating the records of Pathaan,” added another one.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pushpa 2 went on the floors last November with a look test. The second installment of the franchise will have a face-off between Allu Arjun and Fahadh Faasil, who was introduced as the main antagonist in Pushpa: The Rise in 2021. The film also has actor Rashmika Mandanna, who plays the character Srivalli.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pushpa: The Rule is directed by Sukumar. It is produced by Mythri Movie Makers. Pushpa 1 was originally shot in Telugu and later dubbed and released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 14:42:45', '2023-04-08 14:42:45'),
(6255, 6255, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan won the 2023 TIME100 poll, in which readers voted for the individuals they felt most deserved a spot on TIME’s annual list of the most influential people.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Stars and noteworthy figures also featured on the poll included actor Michelle Yeoh, athlete Serena Williams, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. But it was Khan that ultimately took the win, earning 4% of the vote after more than 1.2 million votes were cast.</div><div><br></div><div>Khan, arguably India’s most famous actor and an international icon in his own right, is also a producer and co-owner of the Knight Riders Group women’s cricket team. The actor made his mark as Bollywood’s favorite romantic hero, starring in blockbusters like Dilwale Dulhania le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.</div><div><br></div><div>His decades-long career has seen him star in more than 100 films and his most recent film is Pathaan. Released in January, it’s one of the top grossing films of the year so far, collecting nearly $130 million worldwide.</div><div><br></div><div>Second place went to the Iranian women protesting for greater freedoms from the country’s Islamic regime, garnering 3% of the vote. Protesters took to the streets of cities around Iran after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was killed at the hands of the country’s “morality police” last September for allegedly wearing her headscarf too loosely. They were named TIME’s 2022 Heroes of the Year and also won last year’s Person of the Year reader poll.</div><div><br></div><div>They were followed by health care workers, who came in third with 2% of the vote. They have been at the forefront of the global pandemic since 2020—in the U.S. alone some 18 million people worked selflessly throughout the pandemic helping others.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The pressures of caring for patients in difficult conditions have taken a toll, in a survey conducted from June to Sept. 2020, health care workers overwhelmingly reported feeling stress, anxiety, burnout and exhaustion.</div><div><br></div><div>Third and fourth place went to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, each of whom earned about 1.9% of the vote. The Duke of Sussex made headlines in January after the release of his memoir Spare, which recounts monumental moments ranging from Princess Diana’s death in 1997 to Queen Elizabeth’s death in September. He is also known for founding the Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service people.</div><div><br></div><div>Meghan Markle, a former actress turned humanitarian, now hosts her podcast Archetypes, where her mission is to “investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back.” She previously narrated the Disney documentary Elephants and has been an advocate for anti-racism and women’s rights. The couple have also launched nonprofit Archewell Foundation, as well as Archewell Productions, which has a creative partnership with Netflix.</div><div><br></div><div>Fifth place went to soccer star Lionel Messi, with 1.8% of the vote. The Argentinian player won his first World Cup title in 2022, adding to his numerous accolades including seven Ballon d’Or awards, a prestigious award presented by France Football magazine.</div><div><br></div><div>TIME’s editors will reveal their choices for the 2023 TIME100 list on April 13. Source: Time</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 15:11:04', '2023-04-08 15:11:04'),
(6256, 6256, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States said Friday it supported ally Israel\'s right to self-defense after deadly attacks as well as rocket fire from Lebanon that triggered Israeli strikes.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The targeting of innocent civilians of any nationality is unconscionable. The United States stands with the government and people of Israel,\" State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States also voiced support for Israel over Lebanon, without explicitly backing the Jewish state\'s strikes on its northern neighbor in response to the rocket fire by militants.</div><div><br></div><div>\"As we urge de-escalation on all sides, we recognize Israel\'s ability to exercise its inherent right to self-defense,\" another State Department spokesperson said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The use of Lebanon as a launchpad for rocket attacks against Israel only puts Lebanon at risk and increases the potential for further conflict,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Violence has soared since Wednesday when Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside Jerusalem\'s Al-Aqsa mosque, just as believers in the world\'s three major monotheistic religions were celebrating major holidays.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, two British-Israeli sisters aged 16 and 20 were killed and their mother seriously wounded in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank, while an Italian tourist was killed and seven other people wounded in Tel Aviv when a car rammed into people walking on a cycling path.</div><div><br></div><div>The vocal US support for Israel comes after an unusually public spat as President Joe Biden pressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to drop a bid to weaken the judiciary.</div><div><br></div><div>The plan by the hard-right government, which Netanyahu has put on hold, has set off major protests by Israelis who say it violates democratic principles. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 15:45:23', '2023-04-08 15:45:23'),
(6257, 6257, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">If the highway renovation work in Sirajganj is not completed soon, there are chances of massive traffic jam, and homebound Eid holiday makers would have to endure extreme difficulties.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>As construction work on the highway continues, district police have identified 14 high-risk areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Proposals have been submitted to the authorities concerned for the renovation of 20 bridges spanning about 51 km of the Chandaikona highway from the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge to Hatikumrul.</div><div><br></div><div>There is risk of severe traffic congestion at the 14 high-risk points. Every year before Eid, all the vehicles carrying homebound commuters pass through the Bangabandhu Bridge-West Highway. As a result, there is extra pressure on this highway.</div><div><br></div><div>It is expected that the roads on this route will be repaired by the second week of this month. Bus and truck drivers, in particular, say that if the work on the highway is completed, there will be relief during Eid journey. People of 16 districts of north Bangladesh use this highway to go home from Dhaka during Eid.</div><div><br></div><div>Every day, 16,000 to 20,000 vehicles use this highway, and during Eid, 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles ply it. Work is underway to widen and repair the four-lane highway – connecting the west side of the Bangabandhu Bridge.</div><div><br></div><div>It has already caused traffic congestion and slow movement on the highway. Besides, the north lane of the newly constructed Nalka Bridge has been opened, but the Dhaka-facing lane has been closed. Traffic is moving through the risky old bridge.</div><div><br></div><div>The contractor, Akhter JV Project’s Manager Ekhlas Uddin said that discussions have already been held with the Sirajganj Superintendent of Police.</div><div><br></div><div>On the highway, potholes will be repaired soon. New four-lane roads have been opened in different parts of the highway. Officials of the local Roads and Highways Department said the renovation work on the risky points on the highway has been supervised.</div><div><br></div><div>Badrul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station, said two rounds of discussions were held among the district police, officials of SASEC-2, and officials of the contractor company. They have assured to complete the repair work soon. On the occasion of Eid, 10 mobile teams and 16 picket teams will work on the highway. In addition, mikes and digital sign will be installed.</div><div><br></div><div>Sirajganj Traffic Inspector (Administration) Salekuzzaman Khan said they spoke to the district police regarding ensuring smooth flow of traffic before Eid. There will be 15 to 18 mobile teams on the highway. Work has already started to ease the traffic congestion.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior police officials mentioned that arrangements have been made to make the Eid journey of the homebound people uninterrupted.</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 16:02:20', '2023-04-08 16:02:20'),
(6258, 6258, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy has criticised the expulsion of two black minority US state lawmakers, sparing a white one, in Tennessee over their gun control protests, questioning the fairness of democracy in the United States.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp; &nbsp;</b></div><div>“US State legislature votes to expel two minority lawmakers, while keeping a third who was white. This is the state of democracy in the US,” Joy said overnight in his verified Facebook status.</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div>He also added: “The US State Department are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites”.</div><div><br></div><div>Tennessee’s Republican-controlled House voted Thursday to expel Justin Jones and fellow lawmaker Justin&nbsp; &nbsp;Pearson, who are both Black, for speaking out of turn during a gun control protest in the House chamber the week prior.</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div>Republican Gloria Johnson, a white lawmaker too participated in the demonstration, faced an expulsion vote that ultimately failed.</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div>Jones later vowed he would seek re-election for his Nashville seat, calling his removal an attack on democracy.&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div>Republicans voted to expel Jones and his fellow Democratic colleague Pearson for leading a gun control protest on 30 March. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 17:18:51', '2023-04-08 17:18:51'),
(6259, 6259, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Traders of Bangabazar, whose businesses burned down in the recent fire at the market, set up temporary shops on the streets and footpaths at the site of the incident today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Around 800 traders displayed their stocks since this morning. They set up their makeshift shops under the flyover, on the south side of Bangabazar Market.</div><div><br></div><div>Many traders are sitting with the clothes they were able to save from the devastating fire last Tuesday. Even though there is a crowd around the shops, sales are yet to pick up.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The traders setting up the temporary shops said they were displaying whatever goods they could save from the Bangabazar Market fire.</div><div><br></div><div>Aynal Hossain was sitting at his shop under the flyover. He told UNB that he had two shops in Bangabazar Market. Both shops were burnt to ashes.</div><div><br></div><div>“I was able to move some stuff. So I brought it here. No sale yet, because our regular customers do not know the address of the shop. Only Allah knows how we will celebrate this Eid,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Trader Shahidul Islam had a shop in Bangabazar, selling jeans and shirts. The shop burnt to ashes and now he has also set up shop on the footpath.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everything is over. There is no money for food at home. So, I was forced to set up shop on the footpath,” he lamented.</div><div><br></div><div>Last Tuesday, (April 4) at 6:10 am, a terrible fire broke out in Bangabazar&nbsp; complex in the capital. Bongo Market, Gulistan Market, Mahanagar Shopping Complex, Adarsha Market and Annex Tower were burnt down.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Businessmen claim that they have lost around Tk 2000 crore in the fire. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 17:40:35', '2023-04-08 17:40:35'),
(6260, 6260, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said the government will have to accept the demands of the opposition parties if it wants to avoid violence and conflict ahead of the next general election.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office after a meeting with the liaison committee of \'Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote\', he also appreciated President Abdul Hamid for his comment that development in absence of democracy can never be universal.</div><div><br></div><div>“If the government wants to avoid conflict and move forward, then the first thing it needs to do is to meet the demands of the opposition parties. In other words, it has to resign, paving the way for talks,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said they used their all weapons to resolve the political crisis, but it is not possible to have a solution without a good intention of the government.</div><div><br></div><div>He said their party joined the 2018 election keeping trust in the promises of the government, but they faced dire consequences.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party has long been urging the government to step down and take steps for talks on the polls-time caretaker government to ensure a credible national election in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to a question, he said their party will not engage in any dialogue with the government until it announces to quit power. “There is no question of believing them (govt). First, they have to announce to resign and then take steps for a dialogue.”</div><div><br></div><div>As a reporter drew his attention to President Abdul Hamid’s memorial speech in the parliament marking the 50th anniversary of the national legislature, Fakhrul said, “We respect the President. But constitutionally he does not have much power. Our past experience was not pleasant.”</div><div><br></div><div>He recalled that their party led by Khaleda Zia, when she was the leader of the opposition, went to the President and gave him some specific proposals on the formation of the Election Commission. “But unfortunately he could not implement any of our proposals. He does not have that power.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the President just read out a traditionally written speech by the government in the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>“However, I say that there’s one thing that I like personally as he said the development without democracy is not universal. That\'s good. Another thing he said is that democracy can never be practised through conflict and vengeance. These words are good,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul bemoaned that the Awami League government is trying to destroy democracy instead of practising it.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether there is any scope to consolidate democracy in Bangladesh through talks avoiding violence, he said it completely depends on the government.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the current parliament has become completely dysfunctional, and important public issues are not discussed there.&nbsp; “One person is all in all there. It’s an unelected parliament.”</div><div><br></div><div>About the recent Bangabazar Market fire, Fakhrul said&nbsp; the fire incidents are happening due to the irresponsibility of the government and its institutions. “The government institutions are not fit for serving people. They indulge in irregularities as they don’t have accountability to people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fariduzzaman Farhad, the coordinator of the \'Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote\', said they discussed with the BNP leaders the current political situation and the strategy to intensify the ongoing simultaneous movement to realise their 10-point demand including the resignation of the government and holding the next polls under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they will carry out their movement until the fall of the current Awami League government for ensuring a credible national election in the country under a non-party neutral administration.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Selima Rahman were also present at the meeting. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 19:23:05', '2023-04-08 19:23:05'),
(6261, 6261, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Miscreants vandalised and set fire to the office of Nandigram upazila unit BNP in Bogura district on Friday night.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>General Secretary of upazila unit BNP, Belayet Hossain Adar, said a group of masked miscreants swooped on the office around 10 pm and set it on fire after pouring petrol.</div><div><br></div><div>They also vandalised the chairs at the office. The furniture and banner of the office were also burnt in the fire.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP has organised a 2-hour sit-in programme on Saturday as part of their 10-point demand. The leaders of the upazila unit BNP were not present at the office during the incident as they went to the police station to get permission.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, local people had doused the flame before a firefighting unit reached the spot, said Warehouse Inspector Tanvir Hasan of Nandigram Fire Service and Civil Defence.</div><div><br></div><div>Condemning the incident, Mosharraf Hossain, former MP of Bogura-4 constituency demanded punishment of those involved in the attack.</div><div><br></div><div>Police visited the spot at night. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 20:23:35', '2023-04-08 20:23:35'),
(6262, 6262, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Gobonamang Kgetho has a deep affection for Africa’s largest inland delta, the Okavango. It is his home.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The water and wildlife-rich land is fed by rivers in the Angolan highlands that flow into northern Botswana before draining into Namibia’s Kalahari Desert sands. Several Indigenous and local communities and a vast array of species including African elephants, black rhinos and cheetahs live among the vibrant marshlands. Much of the surrounding region is also teeming with wildlife.</div><div><br></div><div>Fisher Kgetho hails from Botswana’s Wayei community and relies on his pole and dug-out canoe to skirt around the marshes looking for fish. But things have changed in recent years — in the delta and across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“The fish sizes have shrunk, and stocks are declining,” Kgetho, whose life and livelihood depends on the health of the ecosystem, told The Associated Press. “The rivers draining into the delta have less volumes of water.”</div><div><br></div><div>Drilling for oil exploration, as well as human-caused climate change leading to more erratic rainfall patterns and water abstraction and diversion for development and commercial agriculture, has altered the landscape that Kgetho, and so many other people and wildlife species, rely on.</div><div><br></div><div>The delta’s defenders are now hoping to block at least one of those threats — oil exploration.</div><div><br></div><div>A planned hearing by Namibia’s environment ministry will consider revoking the drilling license of Canadian oil and gas firm Reconnaissance Energy. Local communities and environmental groups claimed that land was bulldozed and cut through, damaging lands and polluting water sources, without the permission of local communities.</div><div><br></div><div>Kgetho worries that rivers in his region are drying up because of \"overuse by the extractive industries, including oil exploration activities upstream.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a written statement, ReconAfrica, the firm\'s African arm, said it safeguards water resources through “regular monitoring and reporting on hydrological data to the appropriate local, regional and national water authorities” and is “applying rigorous safety and environmental protection standards.”</div><div><br></div><div>The statement went on to say that it has held over 700 community consultations in Namibia and will continue to engage with communities in the country and in Botswana.</div><div><br></div><div>The company has been drilling in the area since 2021 but is yet to find a productive well. The hearing was originally scheduled for Monday but has been postponed until further notice. The drilling license is currently set to last until 2025, with ReconAfrica previously having been granted a three-year extension.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals have persisted with legal avenues but have had little luck. In a separate case, Namibia’s high court postponed a decision on whether local communities should pay up for filing a case opposing the company’s actions.</div><div><br></div><div>The court previously threw out the urgent appeal made by local people to stop the Canadian firm\'s drilling activities. It\'s now deciding whether the government\'s legal feels should be covered by the plaintiffs or waived. A new date for the decision is set for May.</div><div><br></div><div>The Namibian energy minister, Tom Alweendo, has maintained the country\'s right to explore for oil, saying that European countries and the U.S. do it too. Alweendo supports the African Union\'s goal of using both renewable and non-renewable energy to meet growing demand.</div><div><br></div><div>There are similar fears of deterioration across Botswana and the wider region. Much of the country’s diverse ecosystem has been under threat from various development plans. Nearby Chobe National Park, for example, has seen a decline in river quality partly due to its burgeoning tourism industry, a study found.</div><div><br></div><div>In the Cuvette-Centrale basin in Congo, a dense and ecologically thriving forest that\'s home to the largest population of lowland gorillas, sections of the peatlands — the continent\'s largest — went up for oil and gas auction last year.</div><div><br></div><div>The Congolese government said the auctioning process “is in line” with development plans and government programs and it will stick to stringent international standards.</div><div><br></div><div>Environmentalists are not convinced.</div><div><br></div><div>Wes Sechrest, chief scientist of environmental organization Rewild, said that protecting areas “that have robust and healthy wildlife populations” like the Okavango Delta, “are a big part of the solution to the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises we’re facing.”</div><div><br></div><div>The peatlands also serve as a carbon sink, storing large amounts of the gas that would otherwise heat up the atmosphere.</div><div><br></div><div>Sechrest added that “local communities are going to bear the heaviest costs of oil exploration\" and “deserve to be properly consulted about any extractive industry projects, including the many likely environmental damages, and decide if those projects are acceptable to them.”</div><div><br></div><div>Steve Boyes, who led the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project that mapped the delta, said researchers now have even more data to support the need to maintain the wetlands.</div><div><br></div><div>Aided by Kgetho and other locals, whose “traditional wisdom and knowledge\" led them through the bogs, Boyes and a team of 57 other scientists were able to detail around 1,600 square kilometers (1,000 square miles) of peatlands.</div><div><br></div><div>“These large-scale systems that have the ability to sequester tons of carbon are our long-term resilience plan,” said Boyes.</div><div><br></div><div>For Kgetho, whose journey with the scientists was made into a documentary released earlier this year, there are more immediate reasons to defend the Okavango, reports AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We must protect the delta,\" Kgetho said. \"It is our livelihood.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 20:53:22', '2023-04-08 20:53:22'),
(6263, 6263, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>India is observing a rise in coronavirus disease cases, with the number of new infections crossing 6,155 on Saturday, prompting authorities to step up surveillance measures to prevent the situation from getting out of control.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The World Health Organization has identified XBB.1.16, an omicron sub-variant, as fueling the infection surge in India. Known as Arcturus, XBB.1.16 has high infectivity and pathogenicity and has been listed as a WHO variant under monitoring since late March.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, the number of reported daily cases in India crossed 6,000 for first time in over 200 days, prompting Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to advise sates to be on alert, ramp up testing and vaccinations, and start reviewing their preparedness from Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>“States need to continue working in (a) collaborative spirit as was done during the previous surges for COVID-19 prevention and management,” he said, as quoted in a statement issued by the Ministry of Health after a meeting with regional health chiefs.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister also “urged the state health ministers to conduct mock drills of all hospital infrastructure on April 10 and 11, 2023, and review the health preparedness with district administrations and health officials on April 8 and 9, 2023.”</div><div><br></div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated India, especially during the second viral wave between March and May 2021, when its hospitals run out of staff, beds and oxygen to treat the sick. People with empty oxygen cylinders were seen lining up outside refilling facilities, hoping to save relatives in critical care in hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Many people were forced to turn to makeshift facilities for mass burials and cremations as funeral services could not deal with the unprecedented number of bodies.</div><div><br></div><div>It remains unclear how many people died during that period. Indian authorities put the death toll for January 2020 to December 2021 at about 480,000, but WHO estimates show that 4.7 million people have died in India as a result of the pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>In the wake of the new infection surge, medical experts agreed that increased vigilance and precautionary measures should be put back in place.</div><div><br></div><div>“I suppose whenever it goes beyond 5 percent positivity rate then this advisory kicks it ... the government is right,” Dr. Dorairaj Prabhakaran, an epidemiologist at the Public Health Foundation of India, told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>Some say that besides increasing testing and vaccination, it is high time that an action plan was put in place.</div><div><br></div><div>“What is the intervention? We know from the WHO that wearing (masks) and maintaining social distance is not having that kind of impact. It is all right to say test more (but) is that enough? What kind of preparedness does the government plan to undertake,” asked Prof. Rama V. Baru from the Center of Social Medicine and Community Health at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.</div><div><br></div><div>“We know we are under-testing and there is a rise in the reported cases — which means is it another variant? It should be.” Source: Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 21:08:42', '2023-04-08 21:08:42'),
(6264, 6264, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In the first official visit from Ukraine since the Russian offensive started in February last year, the war-torn country\'s first Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova will commence her four-day India visit on Monday to discuss bilateral relations, exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine, and global issues of mutual interest, officials said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Ms Dzhaparova will also meet Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, and Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"India shares warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ukraine. Over the last 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has made significant progress in the areas of trade, education, culture and defence. The visit will be an occasion to further mutual understanding and interests,\" an official statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>During her visit, the minister is expected to seek humanitarian aid and equipment to repair energy infrastructure damaged during Russia\'s invasion, The Hindu reported.</div><div><br></div><div>She is also expected to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kyiv, the newspaper said.</div><div><br></div><div>India, which holds the presidency of the G20 bloc this year, has declined to blame its old ally Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and has sought a diplomatic solution while boosting its purchases of Russian oil,</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times since the war began, and India has publicly maintained that diplomacy and dialogue are the only ways to resolve the conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>In a phone conversation with President Zelenskyy on October 4 last year, PM Modi said there can be \"no military solution\" and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 21:41:26', '2023-04-08 21:41:26'),
(6265, 6265, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq has said that there was a dispute between the businessmen of Bangabazar regarding the proposal to build a multi-storied commercial building on the site. Whether that played any part in the fire that razed the market to the ground last week would come out in the investigation, the Commissioner added.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Besides police, the Fire Service and Civil Defense directorate is also investigating the cause of the fire.</div><div><br></div><div>The DMP commissioner came up with the remarks responding to reporters\' questions after a programme at the FDC in the city on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Replying to another question, Commissioner Faruq termed the attack on the nearby FSCD headquarters during the Bangabazar fire as \'pre-planned\'.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that a total of 11 people have been arrested since the attack on the FSCD headquarters till today. Investigation is focused on ascertaining the motive behind the attack on the agency, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>A massive fire broke out at the Bangabazar Market in Dhaka on April 4 and it spread to some other nearby markets, burning several thousand shops, with mainly readymade clothes and footwear, to ashes. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 21:51:10', '2023-04-08 21:51:10');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6266, 6266, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Saturday condemned the US for anchoring an attack submarine at a port of the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Greek Cypriot administration continues to disrupt the atmosphere of stability and peace on the island and in the Eastern Mediterranean by stepping up its arms purchases.</div><div><br></div><div>“We strongly condemn the docking of the USS San Juan attack submarine at a Greek Cypriot seaport,” it added. “We repeatedly state that the removal of the arms sales restrictions imposed by the US on the Greek Cypriot administration and subsequent steps that will endanger the security of the Turkish Cypriot people will encourage the Greek Cypriot administration to take up arms.”</div><div><br></div><div>Citing pledges by Michalis Giorgallas, Greek Cypriot administration\'s defense minister, to buy US weapon systems, the statement said such developments show that the US is helping the Greek Cypriot administration systematically arm itself.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the US Defense Department, the USS San Juan docked at the Southern Cypriot port of Limassol on April 3. Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides visited the sub on Thursday, according to the local media.</div><div><br></div><div>Decades-long struggle</div><div><br></div><div>Cyprus has been mired in a decades-long dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the UN to achieve a comprehensive settlement.</div><div><br></div><div>Ethnic attacks starting in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves for their safety.</div><div><br></div><div>In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greece\'s annexation of the island led to Türkiye\'s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. As a result, the TRNC was founded in 1983.</div><div><br></div><div>It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece and the UK.</div><div><br></div><div>The Greek Cypriot administration was admitted to the EU in 2004, the same year Greek Cypriots thwarted a UN plan to end the longstanding dispute. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-08 22:03:30', '2023-04-08 22:03:30'),
(6267, 6267, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 22 civilians were killed by extremist rebels in eastern Congo - the group\'s second large-scale deadly attack of the week, local authorities said Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces — which has ties to the Islamic State group — attacked people in Beni territory in North Kivu province late Friday evening, said Nicolas Kambale, the mayor of Oicha commune where the attacks occurred.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The enemy killed them savagely and as we speak we have at least 22 civilians killed who are already in the morgue,” Kambale said Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Violence has been simmering in eastern Congo for decades where some 120 armed groups have been fighting over land, resources, power and some to defend their communities. Attacks by rebel groups like ADF have increased recently. Since April last year, ADF attacks have killed at least 370 civilians and abducted several hundred more, including a significant number of children, according to the United Nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group, which originally operated in North Kivu province, has spread to neighboring Ituri province, where more than 144,000 people have been displaced between January and February, according to the U.N. Efforts by Congo’s army and Ugandan forces to push them back have yielded little results.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Friday\'s attack came days after ADF killed more than 30 civilians, including women and children, between the Irumu and Mambasa territories in Ituri.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A spokesman for Congo\'s army in Beni, Capt. Antony Mwalushayi, said the attack Friday was in retaliation for large-scale offensives that the military has been conducting in the area. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 09:28:53', '2023-04-09 09:28:53'),
(6268, 6268, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 30 people were killed in an attack on an internally displaced person\'s camp in north-central Nigeria, the second major attack in the area this week, authorities said Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gunmen attacked civilians in Mgban village in Benue state Friday evening and an investigation is underway, said Sewuese Anene, a local police officer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While it\'s unclear who was responsible for the attack, authorities said suspicion fell on local herdsmen who have clashed in the past with farmers over land disputes in north-central Nigeria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The farmers accuse the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock on their farms and destroying their produce. The herders insist that the lands are grazing routes that were first backed by law in 1965, five years after the country gained its independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The people attacked had been displaced from fighting between farmers and cattle herders and were seeking refuge in a makeshift displacement site.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The violence comes days after gunmen killed at least 50 people in two separate attacks on Umogidi village in the state, which is referred to as “Nigeria’s food basket” because of its bountiful harvests. The villages are some 170 kilometers (105 miles) away from Friday\'s attack, however, it\'s unclear if the same group was responsible for both attacks. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 09:59:30', '2023-04-09 09:59:30'),
(6269, 6269, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 44 people were killed by Islamic extremists in multiple attacks in northern Burkina Faso, the government said Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jihadis attacked Kourakou and Tondobi villages in Seno province, said Lt. Col. P.F Rodolphe Sorgho, governor of the Sahel region in a statement. Sorgho called the attacks on Thursday and Friday “despicable and barbaric” and said the government was stabilizing the area. He called on people to remain calm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The West African nation has been overrun by jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that\'s killed thousands and displaced 2 million people over six years. Fighting has frustrated and divided a once peaceful population, leading to two military coups last year with each junta leader vowing to stem the attacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the violence is intensifying and spreading as jihadis blockade villages, preventing hundreds of thousands of people from moving freely.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In February, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for killing more than 70 soldiers, wounding dozens and taking five hostage, in an ambush on a military convoy in the north. A few weeks before that, jihadis killed at least 32 people, including soldiers and civilians, in multiple attacks across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The violence has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the country\'s history, forcing one in five citizens —some 4.7 million people — to be in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 10:05:14', '2023-04-09 10:05:14'),
(6270, 6270, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China deployed dozens of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan on Sunday for a second day of large-scale military drills, in an angry show of force following a meeting between the island\'s president and the US House speaker.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The move sparked condemnation from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was \"monitoring Beijing\'s actions closely\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dubbed \"Joint Sword\", the three-day operation -- which includes rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan -- will run until Monday, the People\'s Liberation Army\'s (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am a little worried; I would be lying to you if I say that I am not,\" said 73-year-old Donald Ho, who was exercising in a park on Sunday morning in Taipei, in the far north of the self-ruled island.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am still worried because if a war broke out both sides will suffer quite a lot,\" he told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s war games saw planes, ships and personnel sent into \"the maritime areas and air space of the Taiwan Strait, off the northern and southern coasts of the island, and to the island\'s east\", the army said as it launched the exercises, engineered to flex Beijing\'s military muscles in front of Taiwan and the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A report from state broadcaster CCTV said: \"The task force will simultaneously organise patrols and advances around Taiwan island, shaping an all-round encirclement and deterrence posture.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The patriotic write-up went on to detail the type of weaponry China was putting through its paces, including \"long-range rocket artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and refuellers\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen immediately denounced the drills, which come after she met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She pledged to work with \"the US and other like-minded countries\" in the face of \"continued authoritarian expansionism\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Washington, a State Department spokesperson said the United States had \"consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo\", but noted it had ample resources to fulfil its security commitments in Asia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily, although for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Live-fire exercises -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Exercises on Monday will include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of China\'s Fujian province, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Taiwan\'s Matsu Islands and 186 kilometres (115 miles) from Taipei.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking \'Taiwan independence\' and external forces and against their provocative activities,\" said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The operations are necessary for safeguarding China\'s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AFP saw no immediate signs of enhanced military manoeuvres on the northern coast of Pingtan, a Chinese island across the strait from Taiwan where the live-ammunition exercises will kick off on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A smattering of tourists wandered the golden sands on Sunday morning, as fishing boats bobbed in the wharf beyond.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan\'s defence ministry said on Sunday that as many as nine Chinese warships had been detected around the island the day before, along with over 70 aircraft.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The number of aircraft crossings into Taiwan\'s southwestern air defence identification zone (ADIZ) was the highest recorded in a single day this year, according to data collected by AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has continued to conduct military exercises around the Taiwan Strait and since this morning it has successively dispatched multiple batches of aircraft... as well as a number of ships in the area,\" the defence ministry said on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The military has been closely monitoring the situation for relevant developments, and tasked aircraft, ships and ground missile systems to respond accordingly,\" it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The drills came hours after the departure from Beijing of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was in China to urge his counterpart Xi Jinping to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In August last year, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its largest show of force in years following a trip to the island by McCarthy\'s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tsai returned to Taiwan on Friday after visiting her island\'s dwindling band of official diplomatic allies in Latin America, with two US stopovers that included meetings with McCarthy and other lawmakers. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 10:17:08', '2023-04-09 10:17:08'),
(6271, 6271, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality is “unhealthy” this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 158 at 9:15 am, Dhaka ranked 9th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s Delhi, Thailand’s Chiang Mai, and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 306, 250 and 212, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy” while between 201 and 300 is “very unhealthy”, and 301–400 is “hazardous”, posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 10:43:24', '2023-04-09 10:43:24'),
(6272, 6272, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The US Department of Justice on Saturday said it has begun an investigation into a trove of leaked US documents, many related to Ukraine, that have spread to the internet.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The breach appears to include assessments and secret intelligence reports that touch not only on Ukraine and Russia but also highly sensitive analyses of US allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have been in communication with the Department of Defense related to this matter and have begun an investigation,\" a Justice Department spokesperson told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A steady drip of dozens of leaked documents and slides have made their way onto Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other social media and chat sites in recent days, and new documents continue to surface.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Pentagon said Friday it was \"actively reviewing the matter\" and that it had formally referred the apparent breach to the Justice Department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials told the Washington Post that some documents appeared to be manipulated but many were consistent with CIA World Intelligence Review reports that are shared at high levels within the White House, Pentagon and State Department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defense analysts say any breach of internal classified US documents would be both damaging and potentially embarrassing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, the leak would prove valuable to Moscow by showing how deep US intelligence has penetrated parts of the Russian military apparatus, US media said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other documents include apparent information about internal debate within the governments of US allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the documents, for example, were discussions about South Korea\'s debate on whether to provide the United States artillery shells for use in Ukraine, The New York Times said. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 11:40:20', '2023-04-09 11:40:20'),
(6273, 6273, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Justice Dept opens probe into secret US documents leakLionel Messi scored one goal and set up another for Sergio Ramos as Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 at Nice on Saturday to restore their six-point lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table and ease the pressure on coach Christophe Galtier.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Messi converted a Nuno Mendes cross in the 26th minute before Gianluigi Donnarumma produced several key saves and Dante was denied by the woodwork as PSG\'s goal lived a charmed life on the Cote d\'Azur.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ramos then ended any doubt about the outcome when he headed in a Messi corner with 14 minutes remaining, as PSG bounced back from suffering consecutive home defeats.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Those losses had piled the pressure on Galtier amid reports he may not even see out the season.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The result clearly meant a lot to Galtier, who was in charge at Nice last season and expressed his displeasure at a banner unfurled by the home supporters aimed at his mother.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"My mum is 83 and has just had cancer. That\'s all. And if these people in the stands have been watching games in Europe this season it is because of the work I did last season,\" said Galtier, who led Nice to fifth in his single campaign at the club.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A win for PSG\'s nearest challengers Lens on Friday had cut their lead at the top of the table to just three points before this game, and before the top two meet in Paris next weekend.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We knew we had a lot of pressure on our shoulders both because of our poor performances and because of Lens winning, and especially because Nice are a really good team who have been on a great run,\" Galtier told broadcaster Canal Plus.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">\"It was definitely not our best performance of the season but the players fought for each other and it is obviously three important points.\"</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He added: \"It is better to have a six-point lead than be chasing after a six-point deficit but we know we have a very important match next weekend.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">It was a first defeat in 15 matches in all competitions for Nice since former PSG midfielder Didier Digard replaced Lucien Favre as coach in January. The Ineos-owned club remain eighth in the table.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">- Donnarumma stars -</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Messi\'s 14th Ligue 1 goal of the campaign that opened the scoring came at the end of a week in which it emerged he was likely to leave Paris when his contract expires in the summer.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Before that, Danilo Pereira had already hit the woodwork for the visitors, who also saw injury-prone midfielder Renato Sanches come off hurt early on.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Donnarumma saved well from Nicolas Pepe and Terem Moffi before half-time, and Dante then sent an effort off the underside of the bar six minutes into the second half, with the ball bouncing down onto the line and then hitting the post.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">It was an incredible let-off for the league leaders, who were grateful to Donnarumma again as he made further stops from Pepe and Youssouf Ndayishimiye.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ramos made it 2-0 but there was still time for Danilo to head against his own crossbar late on.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Marseille can rejoin Lens and close back to within six points of PSG with a win at Lorient on Sunday.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, bottom side Angers claimed their first Ligue 1 win since September as they beat European hopefuls Lille 1-0.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Substitute Halid Sabanovic scrambled in the only goal of the match with six minutes left as Angers ended a run of 21 matches without a win.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That means they will not match the French top-flight record for the most games without a win in a single season -- that record is held by Arles-Avignon who went 23 matches without a victory in 2010/11.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">They nevertheless remain seven points adrift at the bottom of the table and 12 away from safety with only eight games left. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 11:55:32', '2023-04-09 11:55:32'),
(6274, 6274, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Seven people, including a two-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy, died late Saturday night when a fire swept a residential community in Rizal province, east of Metro Manila, Philippine police said on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire broke out before 10 p.m. local time on Saturday in Taytay town and spread fast in the densely packed neighborhood of old houses, engulfing over 40 houses before it was declared under control more than an hour later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims were trapped in their house at the end of the street, and the bodies were found on the kitchen floor and inside the bathroom, according to the police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire also left more than 60 families homeless.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bureau of Fire Protection is investigating the cause of the fire. Xinhua</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 12:37:00', '2023-04-09 12:37:00'),
(6275, 6275, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two British-Israeli sisters killed in a shooting in the occupied West Bank have been named as Maia and Rina Dee.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The sisters were killed on Friday afternoon near the Hamra Junction in the north of the Jordan Valley, as they drove to Tiberias.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were the children of Rabbi Leo Dee, originally from London, who has described the deaths as a \"nightmare\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their mother, Leah, remains in a critical condition in hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Maia was 20 years old and volunteering for national service in a high school, while younger sister Rina was 15.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their car was driven off the road after being shot at by gunmen while their father had been driving ahead in a separate vehicle. Rabbi Dee heard news of the attack before realising his own family had been involved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking to the BBC, he described his daughters as \"beautiful and wonderful\" and said he hadn\'t been able to sleep since their deaths.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Every time, I had nightmares and woke up,\" he said, \"but the reality was worse than the nightmare, so I went back to sleep. That\'s how it went.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The family live in the West Bank settlement Efrat, its mayor has said. The sisters\' funeral will be held on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described the incident as a terror attack, sent his condolences to the family in a tweet naming the sisters. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 12:47:22', '2023-04-09 12:47:22'),
(6276, 6276, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people were killed after a truck collided with a pickup van in Betmari area of Jamalpur’s Melandaha upazila today, police said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased were identified as Shah Alam (45), son of Karim Uddin, and Kajol (32), the driver of the pickup van and son of Hanif Uddin of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila, and Chanchal Barman (27) of Kurigram’s Ulipur upazila.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">3 killed as truck collides with pick-up van in Jamalpur</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Md. Delawar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Melandaha police station, said a Jamalpur-bound truck hit a pickup van at around 7 am this morning, leaving 3 people dead on the spot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies and sent them to Melandaha Upazila Health Complex, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, police sent the bodies to Jamalpur General Hospital morgue for autopsy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The truck was seized from the spot. However, the driver fled the scene of the accident. 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, '2023-04-09 13:10:10', '2023-04-09 13:10:10'),
(6277, 6277, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Shab-e-Qadr is considered to be one of the holiest nights for the Muslim community. As per Islamic belief, Shab-e-Qadr commemorates the day when the verses of the Holy Quran were first revealed to Prophet Muhammad.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When is Shab-e-Qadr?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year, the most significant night of the Muslims - Shab-e-Qadr - will be marked on 29 April, Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day falls on an odd numbered nights in the last 10 days of the month of Ramadan. Many people believe that it actually falls on the 27th day of Ramzaan (29 April this year).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">How is the day observed?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also known as Laylat al-Qadr, the Muslim community honour the day by reciting the holy verses from the Quran the entire night. They believe that the blessings of the Almighty flourishes and thrives during this night. Hence, the day is known to be the holiest night for all Muslims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Around the world, several religious scholars and preachers organise meetings on the Holy Quran, its holy verses, as well as on the life of Prophet Muhammad. They hold these talks to inspire Muslims to follow the path of true faith and righteousness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here are few things to do on Shab-e-Qadr:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Take time out and do I\'tikaf, which means to adhere or commit oneself to something that is prayer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Perform Namaz and Tahajjud; it is a voluntary prayer during the holy time. Tahajjud is known as the ‘night prayer’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Read and recite a few important verses from the Holy Quran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- While praying, recite some special dua.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">History and Significance:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During Ramadan, Prophet Mohammad spent long hours meditating about the world. He mainly looked for support to guide his people away from the moral evils and idolatry. Occasionally, Prophet Mohammad travelled to the Cave of Hira, a small cave in the hills near Mecca, Saudi Arabia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to scriptures, it is believed that in around 610 Common Era (CE), Prophet Mohammad received the Quran’s first verses from Allah.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 13:20:20', '2023-04-09 13:20:20'),
(6278, 6278, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq on Sunday stressed the need for enactment of a fresh law to take actions against anti-liberation remarks.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“When they (anti-liberation forces) get chances, they make these remarks to make our Liberation War controversial. This is why, I think a fresh law like holocaust general act should be passed here,” he told Parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Minister said this while participating in the discussion on a motion placed by Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the 50 years (golden jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A law is needed so that actions can be taken from the state against those who would talk against the Independence, the Liberation War or the spirit of the Liberation War, said the Minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the law commission has proposed such a law before the Law Ministry, which can be passed in the Parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pointing at BNP and Jamaat, the Minister said they tried to make the last two general elections questionable in order to make the parliament ineffective. They indulged in arson violence to thwart the 2014 election, and they joined the 2018 election but they didn’t contest it in true sense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said they (BNP-Jamaat) don’t believe this parliament--the center of the state power. Since they don’t have confidence in parliament, they hatch conspiracy whenever they get a chance to make not only this parliament but also Bangladesh as a futile and failed state, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mozammel said a fresh law should be adopted in this parliament to check such falsehood and distortion of history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Since the Prime Minister has been able to try the war criminals and the killing of Bangabandhu and the jail killing, it is possible for her (Sheikh Hasina) to make a safeguard for the nation by enacting a law against those who’re opposing the independence and liberation war,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that an effort was made to make Bangladesh as mini-Pakistan by killing Bangabandhu in the past, Mozammel said they still remark that Pakistan was better. “The Pakistani ghost has not gone from their hearts yet,” he added. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 14:07:02', '2023-04-09 14:07:02'),
(6279, 6279, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Appellate Division on Sunday stayed a High Court (HC) order until May 8 that granted bail to Sohel Rana, the owner of the ill-fated Rana Plaza that collapsed in 2013 leaving 1,138 RMG workers dead, in a murder case over the deadly incident in Savar.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chamber Judge Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique passed the order after hearing a petition submitted by the state seeking a stay order in this regard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain and Assistant Attorney General Saiful Islam represented the state while former Food Minister Advocate Kamrul Islam stood for the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On that day (May 8), the regular bench of the Appellate Division will hold a hearing upon a petition to be submitted by the state, Assistant Attorney&nbsp; General Saiful said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on April 6, a High Court bench granted bail to Rana in the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice Shahed Nuruddin granted bail to Rana declaring&nbsp; the HC rule in this regard valid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Advocate-on-record Sufia Khatun, on behalf of the state, filed a petition seeking a stay on the Rana’s bail order on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 24, 2013, Rana Plaza, an illegally-constructed building in Savar which housed five garment factories, came down crashing, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,000 others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Trial in the murder case filed over Rana Plaza collapse began officially on January 31, 2022 by recording statements of the witnesses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On July 18, 2016, Dhaka District and Session Court Judge SM Kuddus Zaman framed charges against the accused and passed an order to begin the trial.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But it got barred as most of the accused appealed to the higher court challenging legality of the order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 31 last year, after clearing the appeals, District and Sessions Court Judge AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan recorded the statement of plaintiff, then Sub-Inspector of Savar police station Wali Ashraf.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the tragic incident then SI of Savar police station Wali Ashraf filed a murder case accusing the owner and others of dereliction and negligence in building construction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 1, 2015, Assistant Superintendent of Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police Bijoy Krishna Kar submitted charge sheet in the case against 41 people including the building owner Sohel Rana.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 594 people were made witnesses in this case. 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, '2023-04-09 14:10:27', '2023-04-09 14:10:27'),
(6280, 6280, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Bank has started releasing new taka notes for exchange from today, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, at specific branches of scheduled banks.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The central bank in a notification said that until April 17 (except weekends and public holidays), these notes will be available through certain branches of banks in the Dhaka region and through the offices of Bangladesh Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At this time, new notes of Tk 5, 10, 20, and 50 will be exchanged in a special system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the central bank, the same person cannot receive new notes more than once. However, while withdrawing the notes, one can take any amount of metal coins from the counter against the money.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new notes are available at these bank branches: Jatrabari branch of NCC Bank, Abdul Gani Road Corporate branch of Janata Bank, National Press Club Corporate branch of Agrani Bank, Mirpur branch of NRB Global Bank, Karwan Bazar branch of Southeast Bank, Bashundhara City branch of Social Islami Bank (Panthapath), Chak Bazar branch of Uttara Bank, Ramna Corporate branch of Sonali Bank, Uttara branch of Dhaka Bank, Gulshan branch of IFIC Bank, Mohakhali branch of National Bank, Mohammadpur branch of First Security Islami Bank, Rajarbagh branch of Janata Bank, and Sadarghat branch of Pubali Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the new notes are available at Southeast Bank\'s Kakrail branch, One Bank\'s Basabo branch, BRAC Bank\'s Shyamoli branch, Dutch-Bangla Bank\'s SME &amp; Agriculture branch in Dakshin Khan, Premier Bank\'s Banani branch, Bank Asia Dhanmondi branch, The City Bank\'s Begum Rokeya Sarani branch, Al-Arafa Islami Bank\'s Nandipara branch, Prime Bank\'s Elephant Road branch, Mercantile Bank\'s Narayanganj branch, Exim Bank\'s Shimrail branch, Islami Bank Bangladesh\'s Gazipur Chowrasta branch, UCBL’s Gazipur Chowrasta branch, Uttara Bank’s Savar branch, Mutual Trust Bank’s Savar branch and Trust Bank’s Keraniganj branch. 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, '2023-04-09 14:49:13', '2023-04-09 14:49:13'),
(6281, 6281, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday accused the government of trying to create a confrontational situation in the country in a planned way by attacking the peaceful programmes of the opposition.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"We’re clearly observing that this government is taking the country towards conflict in a planned way. They want to create a confrontational situation by attacking and obstructing the programmes of the opposition parties without any provocation,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said their party has so far been observing all the programmes of their ongoing movement in a peaceful and democratic manner braving all obstacles and repressive acts.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that Awami League always talks about abiding by the constitution, Fakhrul said the opposition’s rights to speak and protest have been enshrined in the national charter.</div><div><br></div><div>“Why can\'t we say anything against the government? Is the government the state or the God? The government is not the God (that we can’t criticise it),” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party does not believe in democracy and freedom of expression. “To them (those in power), they alone will speak up and all must follow their words like their slaves. But the people of Bangladesh won’t let that happen.”</div><div><br></div><div>Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) protesting the killing of Sultana Jasmine, a union land office employee in Naogaon, in Rab custody last month.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Sultana Jasmine was picked up by the law enforcers illegally from the street. “This can’t happen in any civilised and democratic country. It’s a gross violation of law and the constitution.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also said there is no reason to downplay the murder incident of Jasmine.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“This killing has manifested that the current usurper Awami League government wants to cling to power by killing and torturing people and filing false cases against them.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that the members of elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have been indulging in repression and killing of people at the behest of the government high-ups</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government has been increasingly using the Digital Security Act (DSA) to suppress those who talk about its corruption and injustice and raise voices against it.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have long been protesting against this law alongside the journalist brothers and the editors. But they (govt) won’t do it (repeal or amend it),” Fakhrul said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the government to reform the DSA and repeal its two sections, but the law minister turned down it.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the government is against annulling the DSA as it wants to completely snatch people’s right to speak and the right to protest using the repressive law.</div><div><br></div><div>He expressed concern as he said many journalists have been arrested and jailed in cases filed under the DSA for publishing the truth. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 19:04:10', '2023-04-09 19:04:10'),
(6282, 6282, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Sunday fixed May 22 for submission of the probe report in the murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>With this, the deadline for submission of probe report in the case deferred for the 97th time.</div><div><br></div><div>Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was supposed to submit the report today but as it failed to submit the report Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rashidul Alam fixed the new date for submitting it.</div><div><br></div><div>On March 2, 2021, RAB submitted a progress report in Sagar-Runi murder case in affidavit form to the Attorney General’s Office.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the report, two unidentified people were involved in the murder.</div><div><br></div><div>Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead at their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area on 11 February 2012.</div><div><br></div><div>Nousher Ali Roman, brother of Runi, filed a case with Sher-e-Banglanagar Police Station on the following day.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrested Tanvir in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>Law enforcers have so far arrested eight people, including Tanvir, in connection with the murder case.</div><div><br></div><div>The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 20:51:05', '2023-04-09 20:51:05');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6283, 6283, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Normal livelihood of the region, particularly in the vast Barind tract, is being affected badly due to the ongoing sultry weather that has been experienced by the people for the past couple of days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The dismayed people are thronging marketplaces to buy glucose, oral saline, watermelon and other fruit to get relief to some extent as an uneasy situation is prevailing everywhere in the region.</div><div><br></div><div>The Local Meteorological Office has recorded the highest temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius at 3pm today, which is the season\'s highest temperature in the region against 38 degrees Celsius on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>The met office also recorded only 3.3 millimeters of rainfall since March 31 last. Abdus Salam, Observatory Staff of the Met Office, said they have not seen any significant rainfall in the region for the last couple of weeks because of the adverse impact of climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>He said mild heat weather is sweeping into the region that may continue for the next couple of days. The temperature may also rise.</div><div><br></div><div>Mostly, people whose livelihood depends on manual labour are the worst sufferers. Their daily income has been reduced as they are compelled to take a rest during the working hours in the daytime, creating a negative impact on their lives and livelihood.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, demand for seasonal fruits like pineapples, watermelons and green coconut has increased in the city because of the extreme heat.</div><div><br></div><div>Doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) have advised everyone to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.</div><div><br></div><div>Professor Redwanur Rahman of the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Rajshahi University (RU) opined that the prolonged rainless conditions have created a detrimental condition on the overall public health in terms of drinking water as well as the ecosystem and biodiversity.</div><div><br></div><div>Illustrating his academic and research expertise on the issue, Prof Rahman said global warming has been escalating gradually due to various reasons including carbon emissions resulting in climate change.</div><div><br></div><div>Massive emissions can be the effective means of substantial and sustainable reduction of carbon emissions, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the utmost importance should be given to transforming the existing irrigation system in the Barind region into surface water-based instead of the groundwater ones to mitigate the existing water-stressed condition. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-09 22:25:11', '2023-04-09 22:25:11'),
(6284, 6284, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Sunday said that Bangabazar traders, whose businesses burned down in the recent fire at the market, will be able resume business by setting up temporary benches from next Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are hoping that by Wednesday they can set up the temporary bench there and start their business. The place will be cleaned and leveled soon. The entire arrangement will be executed by the Dhaka South City Corporation,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The mayor made these remarks while speaking with journalists after a meeting with trader-leaders regarding the Bangabazar fire at Nagar Bhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will start the cleaning programme tomorrow morning with full vigor. So that business environment can be created there in the next one to two days,” he said, adding that he hopes the complete list will be prepared by tomorrow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning that the corporation has been receiving positive response from all sides about the trader’s rehabilitation, Taposh said, “Tk 2 crore has already been deposited in the fund. We have a corporation meeting next Tuesday. We will make a decision there. We will also participate in this fund.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Calling upon the people from all walks of life to come forward in support of the affected traders, the mayor said, “The Prime Minister said she will arrange adequate donations for the affected traders. As we are getting responses, we are hoping that we will be able to give the full form of the fund soon.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association Md. Helal Uddin said that we are happy today talking with the mayor. “We didn’t expect that we would get a decision so quickly.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka-8 Constituency parliament member Rashed Khan Menon, Kishoreganj-5 Constituency parliament member Afzal Hossain, Chief Executive Officer of the corporation Md. Mizanur Rahman and many others were present at the meeting. 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, '2023-04-10 09:21:14', '2023-04-10 09:21:14'),
(6285, 6285, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A lot of responsibility lies at the feet of Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, who is aiming to fire his side past Inter Milan and into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1990.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The striker is growing used to the pressure, shooting into the global football consciousness during the World Cup in December when he was picked to start for Portugal ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the last 16 against Switzerland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos hit a hat-trick as his country thrashed their opponents 6-1, leaping into the limelight having made his international debut just a few weeks earlier, in a friendly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March the striker dazzled against Club Brugge in the Champions League last 16 second leg, scoring a brace in the 5-1 win to guide Benfica into the quarter-finals for the second season running.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inter\'s visit to Lisbon on Tuesday is an opportunity for the forward to put himself in the shop window, as many other young Benfica talents have done over the years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The latest was midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who joined Chelsea in January for a stratospheric 121 million euros ($133 million) fee after winning the World Cup with Argentina, following the likes of Joao Felix, Ruben Dias and Ederson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos\'s development took a step forward at Benfica after Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez last summer for an initial 75 million euros ($82 million), leaving a void up front, which he willingly filled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 21-year-old forward became the focal point of the attack, having played a supporting role to Nunez and others since making his debut in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos came through Benfica\'s admired Seixal academy after joining the club at 12 years old, and nearly a decade later many of Europe\'s giants are chasing him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The forward has been linked with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea of late, while Patrick Kluivert recommended his former side Barcelona to sign him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I am very satisfied with GonOalo Ramos, but not only for what he did against Club Brugge,\" said Benfica coach Roger Schmidt in March.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I love his attitude, which he gives to the team. He is young, he is scoring goals in the Champions League and it is normal for him to attract the attention of other clubs.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Extraordinary\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos\'s 17 goals in 23 appearances in the Portuguese top flight have helped Benfica open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They did stumble to a 2-1 defeat against rivals Porto, second, on Friday, although it was Ramos hitting the bar which forced Diogo Costa\'s own goal to open the scoring.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The striker has also netted seven times in 12 appearances in Champions League, including the qualifying rounds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Goncalo has had an extraordinary season at his club,\" admitted new Portugal coach Roberto Martinez in March, although for now he is relying on the veteran Ronaldo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ramos has formed a strong link on the pitch with Joao Mario, who is enjoying the best goalscoring season of his career.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The former Inter Milan and West Ham midfielder is benefitting from Ramos\'s build-up play and well-rounded game, honed over his seasons as a support striker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Above all, he is a team player,\" said former Braga coach and current Celta Vigo boss Carlos Carvalhal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"He has an unusual mix -- he works, runs, he fights -- and he\'s a good finisher. He shoots well with his head and both feet.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some have compared Ramos to Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller, a parallel the forward enjoys, although he is stronger in the air.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think I have some similarities to him, and he is also an example for me. I like being compared to him,\" said Ramos.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Muller, 33, has won the Champions League on two occasions, the same number as Benfica have in their history -- while Ramos is yet to lift a trophy in his fledgling career.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Team-mate Rafa Silva, who was officially given the man-of-the-match award in the 5-1 quarter final second leg romp over Club Brugge, gave the trophy to Ramos after his brace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benfica are undefeated in Europe this season and have a strong defence, but are fully aware their best chance of reaching the semi-finals hinges on Ramos and his superior finishing. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 09:46:18', '2023-04-10 09:46:18'),
(6286, 6286, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States is assessing how the apparent leak of a trove of highly classified documents could impact national security, the Pentagon said on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The breach -- which is being investigated by the Justice Department -- appears to include assessments and secret intelligence reports that touch not only on Ukraine and Russia but also highly sensitive analyses of US allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the Defense Department is still reviewing the validity of photographed documents circulating online, they \"appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material,\" Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"An interagency effort has been stood up, focused on assessing the impact these photographed documents could have on US national security and on our allies and partners,\" Singh said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Justice Department said Saturday it has been in touch with the Defense Department about the issue and had opened an investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A steady drip of dozens of leaked documents and slides have made their way onto Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other sites in recent days, and new documents continue to surface.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials told the Washington Post that some documents appeared to have been manipulated but many were consistent with CIA World Intelligence Review reports that are shared at high levels within the White House, Pentagon and State Department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Defense analysts say any breach of internal classified US documents would be both damaging and potentially embarrassing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, the leak would prove valuable to Moscow by showing how deep US intelligence has penetrated parts of the Russian military apparatus, US media said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other documents include apparent information about internal debate within the governments of US allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the documents, for example, were discussions about South Korea\'s debate on whether to provide the United States with artillery shells for use in Ukraine, The New York Times said. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 09:52:38', '2023-04-10 09:52:38'),
(6287, 6287, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 194 at 9:15 am today (April 10, 2023), Dhaka ranked 4th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi, and Thailand’s Chiang Mai, occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 238, 231 and 204, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy” while between 201 and 300 is “very unhealthy”, and 301–400 is “hazardous”, posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 11:29:34', '2023-04-10 11:29:34'),
(6288, 6288, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least two migrants have died and around 20 others are missing after their vessel sank in the Mediterranean between Tunisia and Italy, German aid group ResQship told AFP Sunday.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The group\'s ship, the Nadir, rescued another 22 people and took them to the Italian island of Lampedusa, said Stefen Seyfert of ResQship. Their boat sank overnight Saturday to Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among those rescued were men, women and children from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mali, Ingo Werth, captain of the Nadir, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A pregnant woman was among those saved, while the boat\'s crew also recovered the bodies of two men.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In all, around 40 migrants were on the boat when it left Sfax in Tunisia, said Seyfert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We did everything we could to save more people, but didn\'t manage to,\" he added. He acknowledged the \"good cooperation\" with the Italian coastguard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Italian news agency ANSA, nine women were among the survivors. It put the number of missing at 18.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The migrants are believed to have paid 3,000 Tunisian dinars (about $980) each to get passage on the vessel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Describing their operation earlier Sunday on Twitter, ResQship said that when they arrived at the scene of the wreck, the migrants had already been in the water for about two hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- An \'unspeakable tragedy\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As well as rescuing 22 people, they had recovered two bodies, they said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is an unspeakable tragedy that could -- and should -- have been prevented by a humanitarian approach to migration instead of barb-wiring the European borders,\" the group added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the last few days, thousands of migrants have landed on Lampedusa, which lies only about 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Tunisian coast.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This incident is the latest in a series of disasters in the Mediterranean Sea, where dozens of migrants attempting the crossing have drowned and dozens more have had to be rescued from flimsy vessels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They are increasingly being used as a springboard for the perilous attempts by West Africans, Sudanese and others to reach safety and better lives in Europe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Italy has been complaining for some time about the numbers of migrants arriving on its shores.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to interior ministry figures, more than 14,000 migrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year -- significantly more than the 5,300 who had arrived over the same period in 2022 and the 4,300 who arrived in 2021. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 11:37:43', '2023-04-10 11:37:43'),
(6289, 6289, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin stressed the need for strengthening the transboundary collaboration with India for the conservation of tigers and leopards in Bangladesh as the two countries have shared tiger and leopard habitat.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Considering the conservation importance of seven big cat species on earth and two critically endangered big cat species in Bangladesh, we in principal support the creation of the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) with a membership of the range of countries harboring these species,” he said. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said this at an event organized on the occasion of the International Conference on Tiger Conservation as part of 50 years of Project Tiger held on Sunday at Mysuru University in Mysuru, Karnataka, India after the inauguration of the event by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sahab Uddin said Bangladesh government is working with the determination to double the number of wild tigers by achieving zero poaching target with the active participation of local community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It’s a matter of hope that wild tiger numbers are starting to tick upward he said adding that government has taken several remarkable initiatives for conserving the national animal and other wild species.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahab Uddin said Bangladesh government is implementing National Tiger Recovery Program (2022 to 2034) and second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027) which include tiger survey; genetic study; SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans; capacity building programs for frontline staffs of the Forest Department as well as local community to ensure protection & conservation of the Sundarbans and Bengal tiger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Minister said, a protocol was signed between Bangladesh and India for strengthening collaboration for the Conservation of Royal Bengal Tiger in  the Sundarbans in 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Minister said to mitigate tiger human conflicts, our government has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming Village Tiger Response Team, Co-management Committee and Community Petrol Group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules, 2021 has the provision to give compensation up toTk 3 lakh for person killed by tiger, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been established under Forest Department to combat illegal wildlife trade and to strengthen the capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Center has been established which is working as a center of excellence, said the minister. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA)  which will focus on protection and conservation of seven major big cats of the world such as tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah in collaboration with the countries concerned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Environment and Forest Ministers of the countries harboring these species were  present on the occasion. 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, '2023-04-10 12:51:37', '2023-04-10 14:23:33'),
(6290, 6290, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The World Bank and International Monetary Fund\'s spring meetings get underway later this week with an ambitious reform and fundraising agenda likely to be overshadowed by concerns over high inflation, rising geopolitical tension and financial stability.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Growth remains historically weak -- now and in the medium term,\" IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said during a speech last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fund now expects global growth to fall below three percent this year, and to remain at close to three percent for the next half a decade -- its lowest medium-term prediction since the 1990s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Close to 90 percent of the world\'s advanced economies will experience slowing growth this year, while Asia\'s emerging markets are expected to see a substantial rise in economic output -- with India and China predicted to account for half of all growth, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Low-income countries are expected to suffer a double shock from higher borrowing costs and a decline in demand for their exports, which Georgieva said could fuel poverty and hunger to increase.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Updated growth projections published in the IMF\'s World Economic Outlook on Tuesday will provide a broader look at how different countries are coping, with additional publications to detail fiscal and financial challenges to the global economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Tackling inflation remains a priority -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year\'s spring meeting will be held against the backdrop of high inflation and ongoing concerns about the health of the banking sector following the dramatic collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Georgieva told AFP last week that central banks should continue battling high inflation through interest-rate hikes, despite concerns that it could further inflame the banking sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t envisage, at this point, central banks stepping back from fighting inflation,\" she said during an interview on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Central banks still have to prioritize fighting inflation and then supporting, through different instruments, financial stability,\" she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ahead of the spring meetings, the IMF and World Bank also called on wealthier countries to help plug a $1.6-billion hole in a concessional lending facility for low-income countries that was heavily-used during the Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many low-income countries are now facing mounting debt burdens due in part to the higher interest-rate environment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- US pushes for World Bank reforms -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The spring meeting also provides an opportunity to make progress on an ambitious US-backed agenda to reform the World Bank so it is better-prepared to tackle long-term issues like climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told AFP in an interview that she expects member states will agree to update the World Bank\'s mission statement to include \"building resilience against climate change, pandemics, and conflict and fragility,\" to its core goals.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yellen said she also expects an agreement to \"significantly\" stretch the World Bank\'s financial capacity, which \"could result in an additional $50 billion in extra lending capacity over the next decade.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The changes will likely fall to the bank\'s next president to implement, with current World Bank president David Malpass due to step down early from a tenure marked by concerns over his position on climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Malpass is widely expected to be replaced by US-backed former Mastercard chief executive officer Ajay Banga, who was the only person nominated for the position. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 12:55:54', '2023-04-10 12:55:54'),
(6291, 6291, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Northern Ireland on Monday marks the 25th anniversary of its landmark 1998 peace accords, with the UK province mired in political dysfunction and security concerns which threaten to overshadow the historic milestone.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No large-scale public events are planned for the day itself, but British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden will arrive Tuesday to launch several days of high-profile commemorations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The territory has been significantly reshaped since pro-UK unionist and pro-Irish nationalist leaders struck an unlikely peace deal on April 10, 1998 -- Easter Good Friday -- following marathon negotiations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Brokered by Washington and ratified by governments in London and Dublin, the Good Friday Agreement largely ended three decades of devastating sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland and intermittent terrorist attacks on mainland Britain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The so-called \"Troubles\" killed more than 3,500 people. They pitted the province\'s majority Protestant unionists, wanting continued British rule, against Catholic republicans demanding equal rights and reunification with the Republic of Ireland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But a quarter-century on, Northern Ireland is struggling to consolidate the gains of its hard-earned peace, with post-Brexit trade arrangements prompting political instability, and violence by dissident republicans on the rise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed,\" Sunak said in a statement marking Monday\'s anniversary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As we look forward, we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Potential\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UK leader will participate in a commemorative conference at Queen\'s University in the capital, Belfast, and host a gala dinner to honour the anniversary, his Downing Street office has said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden will \"mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,\" White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters ahead of his visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It will \"underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland\'s vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities,\" she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Irish-American president will then travel south on Wednesday to Ireland, spending three days in his ancestral homeland, in part tracing his family history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While there he will \"deliver an address to celebrate the deep, historic ties\" the country shares with the US, according to the White House.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The following week, Northern Ireland will continue its peace accord commemorations with a three-day conference starting April 17 hosted by former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her husband, Bill Clinton, played a pivotal role in securing the 1998 deal as US president from 1993 to 2001.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The upcoming events will celebrate Northern Ireland\'s subsequent transformation, but focus will undoubtedly be drawn to its present woes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the years after 1998, Northern Irish paramilitaries were disarmed, its militarised border dismantled and British troops departed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the peace process is perhaps more precarious now than it has been at any other point since then.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Up and down\' -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Power-sharing institutions created by the accords have been paralysed for more than a year over bitter disagreements on post-Brexit trade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite Britain and the European Union agreeing in February to overhaul the arrangements, that new deal -- the Windsor Framework -- is yet to win the support of the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It has boycotted Northern Ireland\'s devolved government for 14 months over the issue, crippling the assembly, and is showing no sign of returning to power-sharing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Sunday that Dublin, London and Belfast were \"working towards having the institutions up and running in the next few months\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, the security situation has deteriorated, with Britain\'s security services last month raising the province\'s terror threat level to \"severe\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police last week warned of \"strong\" intelligence that dissidents were planning attacks against officers in the city of Londonderry on Easter Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It follows the attempted murder in February of police officer John Caldwell, the latest act of violence claimed by republican dissidents which served as a stark reminder of Northern Ireland\'s dark past and fragile peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, it also united its often-divided political leaders in condemnation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in a flurry of recent interviews and public appearances, those behind the 1998 accords have hailed its importance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The last 25 years have been up and down... but one thing is for certain, we are all in a better place,\" former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said Friday at a commemorative event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Despite current challenges, the future is bright.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 12:59:39', '2023-04-10 12:59:39'),
(6292, 6292, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A case has been filed against 22 leaders and activists of BNP including its Fultola upazila unit convener under the Explosives Act.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sub-inspector Rafiqul Islam of Khulna Sadar Police Station filed the case on Saturday naming 17 and 4/5 unnamed people for obstructing government work.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP called a sit-in programme in cities, thanas and upazilas across the country on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the programme, BNP men gathered on Jamira Road at 11:30 am under the leadership of upazila unit onvener Prof Gazi Abdul Haque.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At that time, police stopped them as they did not have permission to hold the programme, police said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, nine BNP leaders and activists including Khulna Metropolitan BNP Joint Convener Kazi Md Rashed have been released from jail on bail in various cases filed by the police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were released from prison on Sunday afternoon. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 13:02:37', '2023-04-10 13:02:37'),
(6293, 6293, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">People working from home became younger, more diverse, better educated and more likely to move during the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In many respects, the demographic makeup of people working from home from 2019 to 2021 became more like workers who were commuting, while the share of the U.S. labor force working from home went from 5.7% in 2019 to 17.9% in 2021, as restrictions were implemented to help slow the spread of the virus, according to a report released last week based on American Community Survey data.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The increase in homebased workers corresponded with a decline in drivers, carpoolers, transit riders, and most other types of commuters,” the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The share of people working from home between ages 25 and 34 jumped from 16% to 23% from 2019 to 2021. The share of home-based workers who are Black went from 7.8% to 9.5%, and it went from 5.7% to 9.6% for Asian workers. It remained flat for Hispanic workers, the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The share of home-based workers with a college degree also jumped from just over half to more than two-thirds, and people working from home were more likely to have moved in the past year than commuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two industry groups that saw the greatest jumps in people working from home were in information, where it went from 10.4% to 42%, and finance, insurance and real estate, going from 10.8% to 38.4%. Professional and administrative services, also went from 12.6% to 36.5%.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The smallest gains were in agriculture and mining; entertainment and food services; and armed forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While every income level saw jumps in people working from home, those in the highest income bracket were most likely to work from home. While it doubled from 2019 to 2021 for workers in the lowest income bracket, it tripled for those in the highest, the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Home-based work also varied by region. By 2021, it was more prevalent in the West and Northeast, making up about a fifth of the workforce, compared to 16.2% in the South and 15.8% in the Midwest. The variation may have been caused by the availability of Internet access, the cluster of information technology jobs on the coasts and the way people commute, whether by car or public transportation, the report said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tech-heavy San Francisco and San Jose metro areas had more than a third of their labor force working from home in 2021 — the largest share among metros with more than 1 million residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since most pandemic restrictions have been lifted since the 2021 survey was taken, it is unknown at this point if the growth in work-from-home is permanent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If only temporarily, the COVID-19 pandemic generated a massive shift in the way people in the United States related to their workplace location,” the report said. “With the centrality of work and commuting in American life, the widespread adoption of home-based work was a defining feature of the pandemic era.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 13:47:25', '2023-04-10 13:47:25'),
(6294, 6294, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Self-proclaimed film critic Kamaal R Khan (KRK) has shared an old video of Ranbir Kapoor in which the actor had said that he is against remakes. Sharing the video on Monday, KRK tweeted, “It’s a brilliant statement of Ranbir Kapoor.\"</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the video, Ranbir said that he wants to create something original and why he would not like to be a part of someone else\'s film. Ranbir also said he would instead want people to remake his films.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I feel new directors are coming in. We are at a time in the film industry where everyone is becoming brave, taking risks, actors are approaching characters which probably they would never approach early on. Every leading hero is thinking like a character. It is such a wonderful change that has come in the film industry. Why should I do a film that somebody has already done which is a big success. I want to create something new, something original. I want people to remake my film, why should I be a part of somebody else\'s,” Ranbir had told Komal Nahta in an interview in 2013.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last month, Ranbir had again voiced his opinion on remakes. He had told Times Now Digital, \"I think very early on in my career also, I was very against remaking a film, even remaking a song. I remember that one song I did, Bachna Ae Haseeno, I also had a little issue but I was also very new at that time, I didn\'t have a say into it. I believe I am in a position where I can create original content, I always believe that if there is a film that has been made, it has been made to the best abilities and it is very hard to kind of recreate it and do a better version of it.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He had also said that if told to do so, he would like to play Anthony\'s part in Amar Akbar Anthony. Amitabh Bachchan had played Anthony in the film which also starred Ranbir\'s father Rishi Kapoor as Akbar and Vinod Khanna as Amar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ranbir is currently working on his next, titled Animal. He has been sporting a heavy beard for the film since several months. His latest release Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, opposite Shraddha Kapoor, earned more ₹100 crore. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 14:03:00', '2023-04-10 14:03:00'),
(6295, 6295, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A man was killed, allegedly by his younger brother, in Singaire upazila of Manikganj on Sunday.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased Abu Raihan, 27, was son of Shahjahan Fakir and a resident of Vakum Fakirpara village of Joymontop union.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">According to family members, Roman, 24, the younger brother, slit Raihan\'s throat while he was asleep around 12 am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Family members rescued and rushed Raihan to upazila health complex where the duty doctor declared him dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roman might have killed his brother over family dispute and fled immediately, said Syed Mizanur Islam, officer-in-charge of Singair police station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The body was sent to the morgue of Manikganj General Hospital for an autopsy, said the OC. 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, '2023-04-10 14:22:59', '2023-04-10 14:22:59');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6296, 6296, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">When the kitchen is redolent with the aroma of fragrant peele chawal and the smokey maa-ki-daal, you know it is Baisakhi. A festival that marks the beginning of harvest season, Baisakhi is an ode to all things new. The Punjabi and Sikh communities ring in the festivities with an assortment of delectable and nourishing dishes. Ahead of the festival, we take a look at the non-mainstream delicacies integral to the celebration.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>As kirtans and langars take over the streets, the aroma of dal makhani, maa-ki-daal, chole-bhature, matar-paneer, pinni, etc. takes over the homes! The celebration is incomplete without yellow-hued saffron rice or zarda, phirni and jalebi.</div><div><br></div><div>However, there are quite a few culinary treasures that are still being made in some homes but have been largely forgotten over the course of history. Chef and author Monish Gujral elaborates on this: “My grandmother, who hailed from the North-West Frontier, used to make dishes like Multani rarah paneer (stuffed paneer made in tomato rarah gravy); moti makai pulao (rice cooked with makai and black chana), achari kasturi methi aloo, Multani chawal wari and papad. And my all time favourite is roh ki kheer.”</div><div><br></div><div>Langarwali dal, pakodewali Punjabi kadhi with chawal, aam di meethi lassi, Amritsari meethi pedewali lassi, and gur da halwa are some other festive favourites.</div><div><br></div><div>Quintessentially Punjabi</div><div><br></div><div>“Baisakhi reminds me of childhood. It was the day when we would make the traditional meethe peele chawal or sweet saffron rice,” says chef Sanjeev Kapoor.</div><div><br></div><div>There are some dishes that originate from different parts of the state and are still made at some homes for Baisakhi. Phulkari pulao, which derives its name from the Phulkari art, is one such dish. “Made with four types of fragrant rice and cooked with desi ghee, milk, mawa, poppy seeds, saffron and vegetables, it is a vibrant and wholesome dish,” shares chef Reetu Uday Kugaji.</div><div><br></div><div>Chef Nishant Choubey adds about the unbelievable mirchi ka halwa that is made from fresh green or red chillies cooked in ghee. Jaggery or sugar is used as a sweetener.</div><div><br></div><div>Recalling Punjabi dishes that are rarely made by city folk, Chef Barun Pratap Singh shares: “Gur ganne ke chawal, a dish made with jaggery and sugarcane juice mixed in rice, cooked till the rice is sticky and sweet. Gajar till ki kheer, a delicious dessert made with grated carrots, milk, and sesame seeds, garnished with chopped nuts are some other baisakhi specials.”</div><div><br></div><div>Ingredients</div><div><br></div><div>1 cup boiled rice</div><div><br></div><div>4 cups sugar cane juice</div><div><br></div><div>1/2 cup fried almonds and pistachio</div><div><br></div><div>1 tbsp raisins</div><div><br></div><div>Method</div><div><br></div><div>In a pan add boiled rice and sugar cane juice and cook till the juice thickens.</div><div><br></div><div>Add raisins and stir for a minutes.</div><div><br></div><div>Remove from heat and pour in serving dish.</div><div><br></div><div>Garnish with some fried nuts.</div><div><br></div><div>Serve chilled or warm as desired, and dig in. HT</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 14:33:50', '2023-04-10 14:33:50'),
(6297, 6297, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China said it was simulating \"sealing off\" Taiwan in a third day of drills as it appeared to use an aircraft carrier to launch jets towards the island.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan said it had detected jets to its east while China said its Shandong aircraft carrier had taken part.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing began the exercises on Saturday after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker in California.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far however the drills are not as big as those that followed Nancy Pelosi\'s visit to Taipei last August.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state. China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing\'s control - by force if necessary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday Taiwan said it had spotted another 70 warplanes and 11 ships in its surrounding waters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A map of flight paths released by Taiwan\'s defence ministry showed four J-15 fighter jets to the island\'s east - suggesting that the Chinese military is for the first time simulating strikes from the east rather than the west where China\'s mainland lies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Analysts said it was likely the jets had come from China\'s Shandong aircraft carrier - one of two such carriers it possesses - which is currently deployed in the western Pacific ocean, about 320km (200 miles) from Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese military confirmed on Monday in a statement that the Shandong had \"participated\" in Monday\'s exercises. It said fighter planes loaded with live ammunition had \"carried out multiple waves of simulated strikes on important targets\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japan\'s defence ministry said on Monday that the Shandong had also conducted air operations in the preceding days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jet fighters and helicopters took off and landed on the carrier 120 times between Friday and Sunday, the Japanese ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also on Monday the US sent the USS Milius, a guided-missile destroyer, through part of the South China Sea about 1,300km (800 miles) south of Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China said the ship had \"illegally intruded\" into its waters, while the US maintained the operation was consistent with international law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Washington had repeatedly called for China to exercise restraint following President Tsai\'s meeting with Kevin McCarthy, the third most senior US government figure. Beijing meanwhile had warned the US and Taiwan of \"resolute counter-measures\" if Ms Tsai met Mr McCarthy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China announced the drills after top foreign leaders it was hosting - including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - left the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Macron later urged Europe not to get dragged into a confrontation between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan in remarks that have attracted some criticism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On his flight out of China he told reporters Europe risked getting \"caught up in crises that are not ours\" and this would make it harder to build \"strategic autonomy\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s drills began on Saturday after Ms Tsai had returned from her 10-day trip to the US and Central America.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former US House Speaker Ms Pelosi\'s high-profile visit to Taiwan last August was followed by four days of unprecedented military drills, which saw China fire ballistic missiles into the seas around Taiwan. Ms Pelosi was the highest-ranking US official to land in Taiwan since the 1990s.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However some analysts say such military exercises may have diminishing impact over time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To maintain the same fear factor, [China will] have to ramp it up bigger and bigger each time as their actions will have a normalising effect after a while,\" said Ian Chong, a non-resident scholar at Carnegie China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taiwan\'s status has been ambiguous since 1949, when the Chinese Civil War turned in favour of the Chinese Communist Party and the country\'s old ruling government retreated to the island.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China\'s President Xi Jinping has said \"reunification\" with Taiwan \"must be fulfilled\". BBC&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 14:47:37', '2023-04-10 14:47:37'),
(6298, 6298, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday came down heavily on the Prothom Alo saying that the Bengali language daily is the enemy of her ruling Awami League party, democracy and the people of the country.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The name of the paper is Prothom Alo (first light), but it lives in darkness. Prothom Alo is the enemy of Awami League, democracy and the people of the country,” she told the parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier made the remarks, joining the discussion on a motion placed by her in the House, marking the 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament. This was also her valedictory speech in the 22nd session of the current parliament.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the newspaper asked a 7-year old child to tell a lie, handing him Tk 10. They recorded his remark –-‘We want freedom of rice, fish and meat’--- and published it.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am very sorry to say that they never want the stability to remain in this country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said the newspaper was very glad in 2007 when the emergency was declared and two newspapers got engaged wholeheartedly at that time.</div><div><br></div><div>Without mentioning the name, she also criticised the USA saying that the country talks against corruption, but they’ve been advocating for convicted persons in graft charges.</div><div><br></div><div>“They want to bring such a government here, scraping democracy, which would have no democratic existence –-- (that means) undemocratic trend,” she said, adding that “some local (so-called) intellectuals who live on selling their intellects obey them.” According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 16:21:45', '2023-04-10 16:21:45'),
(6299, 6299, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Describing the Election Commission’s plan to hold elections to five city corporations by June this year as a trap of the government, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said their party will not be lured into the plot.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“This time people and BNP won’t step into any trap of the government…we’ll overturn their trap,” he said while talking to reporters at a hospital in the city’s Rampura area.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also said their party has been on a movement with a clear stance that no parliamentary elections can be held under the current government and no election will be held without a caretaker government.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also said BNP has not been participating in local body elections under the Awami League government for a long time.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, parried journalists’ question about what action their party will take if its leaders take part in the city polls as independent candidates.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission at a recent meeting decided to hold elections to five city corporations -- Barishal, Gazipur, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet -- between May 23 and June 29.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul went to Delta Care Hospital to visit Natore Sadar Upazila BNP general secretary Abul Hossain who was critically injured in Natore’s Alaipur area by the ruling party activists while observing the party’s sit-in programme on Saturday last.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the Awami League government has become completely isolated from the country’s people. “If a fair election is held now under a neutral government, then you will see that Awami League won’t get even thirty seats. This is the reality.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader alleged that Awami League wants to hang onto power by resorting to terrorism, ‘false’ cases and using the state machinery to foil the opposition’s democratic programme.</div><div><br></div><div>He warned that there will be no national election in the country until the current regime steps down by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the ruling party ‘cadres’ swopped on Abul Hossain in Natore while observing BNP’s sit-in programme and brutally stabbed him in a bid to kill him. “In fact, he could have been killed if the police had not rescued him. They (AL cadres) tried to kill him.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said such terror attacks have repeatedly taken place in Natore. “They’ve created a reign of terror not only in Natore but also in Khulna, Habiganj, Jashore and across the country.”&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the ruling party ‘cadres’ with the help of police also attacked their party’s sit-in programme in different parts of the country, including in Dhaka, on Saturday, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Awami League is basically a terrorist party and the current government has turned into completely a terrorist regime. The country’s people will give it a befitting reply through the movement,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 17:30:22', '2023-04-10 17:30:22'),
(6300, 6300, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Dalai Lama has apologised after outrage over a video of him kissing a child on the lips and asking him to \"suck my tongue\" at a public event.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 87-year-old spiritual leader apologised to the boy and his family, with his team saying he \"often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked His Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug. His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused. His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident,\" said an official statement on the exiled Tibetan leader\'s Twitter account, which has 19 million followers.</div><div><br></div><div>The viral video, which has one million views on Twitter, showed the Dalai Lama kissing a young boy on the lips and touching foreheads with him as an audience claps and laughs. Then the leader sticks out his tongue and says: \"Can you suck my tongue?\"</div><div><br></div><div>The video triggered a huge backlash, with Twitter users denouncing it as \"disgusting\" and \"unbecoming\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"So the Dalai Lama is kissing an Indian boy at a Buddhist event and even tries to touch his tongue. He actually says \'suck my tongue\'. Now why would he do that?\" tweeted user Joost Broekers.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Why is the Dalai Lama fondling this young boy and asking him to \'suck his tongue\'?\" questioned Stew Peters.</div><div><br></div><div>The Nobel Peace Prize winner had earlier apologised in 2019 for controversially saying if his successor were to be a woman, \"she should be attractive\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"If a female Dalai Lama comes, she should be more attractive,\" he said to the BBC in an interview.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, the Dalai Lama named an eight-year-old US-born Mongolian boy as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, the third highest rank in Tibetan Buddhism.</div><div><br></div><div>Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting separatism in Tibet and it does not recognise the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which represents about 100,000 exiled Tibetans living in around 30 countries including India, Nepal, Canada and the US. Source: NDTV</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 18:07:01', '2023-04-10 18:07:01'),
(6301, 6301, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Rajshahi University (RU) is scheduled to go on a 21-day vacation on the occasion of the Pohela Boishakh, Shabe Qudr, Eid-Ul-Fitr and historic May Day from April 14 next.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Prof Prodip Kumar Pandey, Administrator of RU Public Relation Office, confirmed the matter saying their varsity will remain closed for 15 days on the occasion of Shab-e-Qadr, May Day and Eid-ul-Fitr according to the academic calendar.</div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said all sorts of academic activities will remain suspended for the scheduled occasions and the weekends from April 14 to May 4.</div><div>But this time, all the 17 students\' dormitories will remain open during the Eid holidays.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the resident students appreciated the RU decision for keeping their halls remain open during the long vacation and termed it as wise.</div><div><br></div><div>Jamal Uddin Abrar, a student of the university, said tests of various jobs, including Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) and banks, are in the offing. Preparations for the upcoming tests may be disturbed due to staying in their houses, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>So, the university authority will get appreciation for the time-fitting decision, he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 19:34:17', '2023-04-10 19:34:17'),
(6302, 6302, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said although BNP is yet to show interest to join the next parliamentary elections, many BNP leaders are secretly taking preparations for the polls.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Many BNP leaders and workers are communicating about the elections. Among you (BNP leaders), there are many leaders like Ukil Abdus Sattar. Many leaders are looking for a way to participate in the elections and are communicating secretly. Wait and see,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks while speaking at peace rally, organised by Dhaka South City AL, in front of the party\'s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue here.</div><div><br></div><div>Blaming that the BNP participates in elections wearing a veil, he said the BNP is unwilling to join polls sensing its defeat.</div><div><br></div><div>Many BNP leaders are participating in elections as independent candidates, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Confirming that all the local government elections, including city polls, will be held in time, Quader said there will be no result by hatching conspiracy as the elections will be held in time in line with the country\'s Constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>\"No matter who joins polls or not, the elections will not be halted for anyone, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL general secretary said sensing the inevitable victory of AL President Sheikh Hasina in the national elections, BNP is hatching plot over the polls and the BNP leaders want to make elections questionable without participating in it.</div><div><br></div><div>About the BNP\'s movement, he said BNP launched various kind of movement including road march and human chains, but there was no people\'s participation in its movement.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that BNP is walking towards a political accident in Bangladesh, Quader said the movement of BNP could not get any response from commoners and will remain the same in the future too.</div><div><br></div><div>AL presidium members Advocate Qumrul Islam and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, organising secretary Afzal Hossain and central committee member Anwar Hossain, among others, spoke at the rally with Dhaka South City AL acting president Nurul Amin Ruhul in the chair.</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka South City AL general secretary Humayun Kabir conducted the rally. Source; BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 20:55:18', '2023-04-10 20:55:18'),
(6303, 6303, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Mashrafe Bin Mortaza led Legends of Rupganj became the third team to confirm the super league of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) after Abahani Limited and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club following a five-wicket victory over Prime Bank Cricket Club at BKSP-4 ground today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The victory helped Rupganj achieve&nbsp; 14 points in nine matches, that guaranteed a place in super league.</div><div><br></div><div>Little know pacer Abdul Halim was instrumental in the victory, grabbing three wickets for 34 runs.</div><div><br></div><div>Halim was complemented by his captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza who scalped 2-25 as Rupganj bundled Prime Bank out for just 128 in 36.2 overs after putting them into bat first.</div><div><br></div><div>Nasir Hossain was the top-scorer for the side with 31 while national player Yasir Ali Chowdhury made 28 when he needed a big score to boost his confidence.</div><div><br></div><div>Legends for Rupganj couldn’t make it cakewalk but still raced to the victory in 24.4 overs, making 129-5 for their seventh victory. Fardeen Hasan Oney made team-high 47 while Irfan Shukkur added 31 ball-34 to hasten the victory.</div><div><br></div><div>Offspinner Mahedi Hasan and pacer Rejaur Rahman Raja bagged two wickets apiece. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 21:35:02', '2023-04-10 21:35:02'),
(6304, 6304, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Both treasury and opposition lawmakers on Monday said the anti-liberation force is the main barrier to the constitutional form of government.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The anti-liberation force under the umbrella of BNP is the main obstacle to the constitutional form of government\", they said.</div><div><br></div><div>The lawmakers were participating in the discussion on a motion brought under section 147 of the rules of procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) marking its golden jubilee at the Sangsad Bhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Leader of the House Matia Chowdhury said the emergence of the parliament and the existence of the nation are closely related as Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made a huge sacrifice for development of the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>Praising the current development of the country, the deputy leader said Bangabandhu had liberated the country and his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working to fulfill the dream of Bangabandhu.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had introduced parliamentary form of government for the welfare of the people while the anti-liberation force is working to destabilize the country through neglecting constitutional consistency\", said Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.</div><div><br></div><div>The present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina established accountability in the Jatiya Sangsad, said Chief Whip Nur-E Alam Chowdhury.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"The members of parliament are now the chairmen of the parliamentary standing committees instead of the concerned ministers and question-answer session is also relevant with the parliamentary procedure.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Opposition leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Begum Raushan Ershad termed the Jatiya Sangsad as the centre of all the expectations and ambitions of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>She said as the whole activities of the government are being mobilized in the Jatiya Sangsad, that\'s why political unity is crucial for well functioning of the legislative house.</div><div><br></div><div>Treasury bench lawmaker Social Welfare Minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Jatiya Party deputy leader GM Kader, among others, also participated in the discussion.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the discussion under the proposal was moved to the house and then it was unanimously adopted after being okayed by the lawmakers with Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:01:06', '2023-04-10 22:01:06'),
(6305, 6305, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun on Monday said that there is no threat of sabotage on the upcoming Bengali New Year Pahela Baishakh, which will be celebrated in the country on April 14.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said that Mongol Shovajatra will come out on the Pahela Baishakh in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>“So far there is no threat of any kind of sabotage,” he said.</div><div>He said that plainclothes police will be on duty in the field alongside regular police teams on the day.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP came up with the remarks responding to reporters\' questions after inspecting security measures of Bashundhara Shopping Mall in the capital on Monday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP said security measures have been taken considering maximum security, no matter, whether there is any threat or not.</div><div><br></div><div>He said that special security measures have already been taken in in all the shopping malls of Dhaka city during Ramadan. Security zones at various levels have also been created.</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that traffic management system has been strengthened so that people can come and go to the shopping malls easily.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our traffic policemen are on the roads round the clock so that the city dwellers will not need to take iftar on the streets during Ramadan, and they can reach their homes on time,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to Dhaka city, security has also been strengthened in various markets across the country so that people can do shopping before Eid and Pahela Baishakh.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have strengthened security in all markets. All units of the police are working together to provide security to the people,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>DMP Commissioner Khandkar Ghulam Faruq, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Harun-ur Rashid and other senior officials were also present during his briefing. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:10:23', '2023-04-10 22:10:23'),
(6306, 6306, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh is expected to receive 800-MW more electricity from Adani Power Limited in June.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Indian company started supplying over 700 MW to the national grid on Sunday from its first 800-MW ultra-super-critical thermal power generation unit at Godda in Jharkhand of India.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to BSS, Director General of Power Cell Engineer Mohammad Hossain said Bangladesh\'s grid generation capacity rose to 23,000 MW, while the present demand is over 14000 MW.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We\'re fulfilling the current electricity demand from our own generation alongside imported power from India. Now around 1700 MW power is being imported from neighbouring country,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a statement of Adani power issued on Sunday, as per Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) annual report for the financial year 2021-22, the total tariff of HFO-based plants is around Taka 22.10/kWh (USC 21/KWh) and total tariff of HSD-based power plants is around Taka 154.11/kWh (USC 149/KWh), which is far higher than the tariff of Godda Power Plant (Energy cost estimated to be around 9 cents/KWh).</div><div><br></div><div>Though at present, Bangladesh has long-term PPA ties with three other imported coal-based generators, total tariff of Godda TPP is competitive compared to peers.</div><div><br></div><div>It said Adani commissioned its first 800 MW unit at Godda in Jharkhand of India and began supplying of power to Bangladesh with 748 MW of power.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Godda Power Plant is a strategic asset in the India-Bangladesh\'s long-standing relationship,\" said SB Khyalia, CEO, Adani Power Limited.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It will ease the power supply in Bangladesh, making its industries and ecosystem more competitive. It is going to be the most efficient and environment-friendly thermal power plant installed in India and entire South-East region and also one of the best in class in the world. It is the first power plant in the country, which has started its operations from Day One with 100 percent Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), SCR and Zero Water Discharge,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement said in November 2017, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) executed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APL\'s wholly-owned subsidiary Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) to procure 1,496 MW net capacity power from 2X800 MW ultra-supercritical power project at Godda. India\'s largest power producer in the private sector is expected to commission its second 800 MW unit soon.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is to inform that Unit 1 of 800 MW capacity of the 2x800 MW ultra-supercritical power project of Adani Power (Jharkhand) Limited (\"APJL\"), situated in Godda district in Jharkhand, has achieved commercial operations.</div><div><br></div><div>Subsequently, the requisite transmission evacuation system on the Bangladesh side was commissioned in March 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Accordingly, APJL again synchronised the unit 1 on March 20, 2023. The Reliability Run Test, including Commercial Operation Tests, was completed on April 5, 2023 in the presence of competent authority from BPDB and Power Grid Corporation of Bangladesh (PGCB).</div><div><br></div><div>The Godda Power Plant comprises two units of the latest technology available in the world, which is \"Ultra Super Critical Technology\" with latest techniques for controlling emissions and consumption of coal and water. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:24:22', '2023-04-10 22:24:22'),
(6307, 6307, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville killed at least four people and wounded at least eight others Monday, police said. The suspected shooter was also dead.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The shooting, the 15th mass killing in the country this year, comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, about 160 mile (260 kilometers) to the south.</div><div><br></div><div>Police arrived as gunshots were still being fired inside the Old National Bank and exchanged fire with the shooter, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a news conference. It wasn\'t clear whether the shooter killed himself or was shot by officers.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this that did have a connection to the bank. We\'re trying to establish what that connection was to the business, but it appears he was a previous employee,\" Humphrey said.</div><div><br></div><div>Humphrey said that at least eight people were being treated at a hospital for wounds, including two police officers, one of whom was in critical condition.</div><div><br></div><div>An emotional Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he lost friends in the shooting in the building on East Main Street not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is awful,\" he said. \"I have a very close friend who didn\'t make it today. And I have another close friend who didn\'t, either. And one who\'s at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.\"</div><div><br></div><div>It was the second time that Beshear was personally touched by a mass tragedy since becoming governor.</div><div><br></div><div>In late 2021, one of the towns devastated by tornadoes that tore through Kentucky was Dawson Springs, the hometown of Beshear\'s father, former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear. Andy Beshear frequently visited Dawson Springs as a boy and has talked emotionally about his father\'s hometown.</div><div><br></div><div>Humphrey, the deputy chief, said the actions of responding police officers in Louisville on Monday morning had undoubtedly saved lives.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is a tragic event,\" he said. \"But it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.\"</div><div><br></div><div>This year\'s 15 mass shootings is the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009, when 16 incidents had occurred by April 10, according to a mass killings database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.</div><div><br></div><div>Going back to 2006, the first year for which data has been compiled, the years with the most mass killings were 2019 and 2022, with 45 and 42 mass killings recorded during the entire calendar year. The pace in 2009 slowed later in the year, with 32 mass killings recorded that year. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-10 22:31:47', '2023-04-10 22:31:47'),
(6308, 6308, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China has again been staging military drills around Taiwan - but some experts say Beijing has dialled them down as the island will hold a presidential election in nine months, and it is in China\'s interest to see a victory by the opposition Kuomintang party (KMT).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No missiles have been fired near the island, the drills only lasted three days and the US politician who met President Tsai Ing-wen - House Speaker Kevin McCarthy - has not been sanctioned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beijing\'s response when ex-speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei last August was harsher.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The drills have become part of China\'s \"standard operational procedure\" after Ms Pelosi\'s trip, says Professor Chen-shen Yen of Taiwan\'s National Chengchi University. \"They need to make their position known, but their reactions cannot be overboard.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Timing is key.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese Communist Party defeated the KMT in a civil war that ended in 1949, forcing the latter to flee to Taiwan. But in recent decades, the former rivals have found common ground in the 1992 Consensus, a vaguely worded understanding that says there is only \"One China\" which includes Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Beijing continues its hard-line rhetoric, it risks becoming the best campaigner for the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the election, Prof Yen says.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The KMT won big in last year\'s local elections, but analysts say the China factor weighs much more in presidential elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has adopted a carrot-and-stick strategy, says Professor Fang-yu Chen of Taiwan\'s Soochow University. On one hand China promises exchanges - including economic and cultural - if Taiwan agrees on the \"One China\" principle. At the same time it continues its military build-up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Beijing wants to tell the Taiwanese people that there will be a war if they vote for the DPP, but there will be peace if they vote for the KMT,\" he adds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is an uneasy balance to strike. However, China also faces internal pressure to act tough towards Taiwan, especially given that China has been stoking nationalism among its citizenry, he says.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If China\'s military exercises aim to deter US and Taiwanese politicians from getting too close, it has achieved some success - Taiwan appears to have taken steps to reduce tensions around the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last July, Mr McCarthy said he would like to lead a congressional delegation if he became the house speaker. The Tsai administration managed to convince him to meet in the US instead because of Taiwan\'s security concerns, the Financial Times reported, quoting sources.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US also tried to downplay the meeting, pointing out that it was Ms Tsai\'s seventh transit since taking power. Both the US and Taiwan have described it as a stopover or transit, rather than a \"visit\".&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The US and Taiwan have developed a tacit understanding that they should take a low profile,\" says Prof Chen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is still a win for Taiwan, he says, as Mr McCarthy was the highest-ranking US official any Taiwan president has ever met on American soil since 1979, when the US severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Taiwan issue is the biggest flashpoint in the US-China relations. China sees the democratic self-governing island as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the US shows greater support for Taiwan, China has accused it of hollowing out its longstanding One China policy. the diplomatic acknowledgement of China\'s position that there is only one Chinese government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the policy, the US recognises and has formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province to be unified with the mainland one day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But this is distinct from the One China principle, whereby China insists Taiwan is an inalienable part of one China to be unified one day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US policy is not an endorsement of Beijing\'s position and indeed as part of the policy, Washington maintains a \"robust unofficial\" relationship with Taiwan, including continued arms sales to the island so that it can defend itself. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 09:25:28', '2023-04-11 09:25:28'),
(6309, 6309, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five people died when an employee opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, and livestreamed the attack on Instagram, police say.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims were aged between 40 and 64. Among nine others injured was a rookie police officer who had graduated to the force just two weeks ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The officer was shot in the head and is still critical after brain surgery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police responded within three minutes, and fatally shot the attacker in an exchange of gunfire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The shooting took place at the Old National Bank in the city centre at about 08:30 local time (12:30 GMT).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Caleb Goodlett told local media his wife, an employee at the bank, locked herself inside the vault when the attack began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other witnesses described seeing the shootout between police officers and the lone attacker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said an \"incredible friend\" of his, Tommy Elliot, a senior vice-president at the bank, was among the victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad,\" said Mr Beshear.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">City Councilman Anthony Piagentini told the Courier-Journal newspaper that Mr Wilt graduated from the academy on 31 March, and that his brother is enrolled in the police academy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the attack \"an evil act of targeted violence\". The mayor noted that he himself was the victim of a recent gun attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year he was shot at by a mentally disturbed man who had burst into his campaign office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two survivors told WHAS-TV that Monday\'s gunshots first broke out in a ground-floor conference room at the bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Whoever was next to me got shot - blood is on me from it,\" said one man, pointing to his shirt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The suspect was named as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, who police said used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the incident and was broadcasting the shooting online.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That\'s tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured,\" said Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instagram\'s owner Meta said it had \"quickly removed the livestream of this tragic incident this morning\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The attacker is described in an online profile as being a syndications associate and portfolio banker at Old National Bank. He had joined the company as a full-time employee last year after spending three summers as an intern there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials say he had no previous contact with law enforcement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to US media, he had recently been told by the bank that he was going to be fired and had written a note describing his plans for the mass shooting before going to work on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive shows that there have been at least 146 mass shootings - defined as those in which at least four people were shot - so far in 2023, including at least 15 since April began.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Joe Biden demanded Congress pass gun control measures as he tweeted on Monday: \"Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kentucky is one of 26 states that allow most adults over 21 years old to purchase and carry a firearm without a licence. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 09:30:42', '2023-04-11 09:30:42'),
(6310, 6310, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Barcelona missed the chance to go 15 points clear at the top of La Liga as they were frustrated at home by Girona.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Robert Lewandowski had a golden chance to open the scoring after four minutes, but put his effort onto the roof of the net.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Girona keeper Paulo Gazzaniga, on loan from Fulham, made a number of good saves, including one to deny Raphinha at his near post.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Taty Castellanos also shot wide when through on goal for the visitors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is only the third time this season that Barcelona have dropped points at home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But despite the disappointment of failing to win, Xavi\'s side increased their advantage over Real Madrid to 13 points after their title rivals were beaten by Villarreal on Sunday. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 09:34:53', '2023-04-11 09:34:53'),
(6311, 6311, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 199 at 9:20 am today (April 11,2023), Dhaka ranked 5th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s Beiijng, India’s Delhi, and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 482, 359 and 263, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered “unhealthy”, while between 201 and 300 it is considered “very unhealthy”, and 301–400 is “hazardous”, posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 10:51:58', '2023-04-11 10:51:58');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6312, 6312, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States has reiterated its desire to see a free and fair election in Bangladesh, noting that the world will be observing Bangladesh’s next national election.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next election, to make sure that they set a strong example of free and fair election for the region and for the world,” US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said during his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in Washington on Monday afternoon (US time).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appreciating Bangladesh’s engagement with the USA, Blinken said they are committed to work together to find ways to further “strengthen and deepen” the robust relationship, and to address economic development and human rights as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the US deeply appreciates Bangladesh’s remarkable generosity in hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While briefing the media after the meeting, Momen said Bangladesh, like the US, also wants a free, fair and ideal election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Democracy is in our blood. People gave blood to uphold democracy, justice and human dignity,” he said, seeking help from the US for a free and fair election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen highlighted the independent Election Commission and measures taken for holding the election transparently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh welcomes US observers but not any “partisan observers”. “All opposition parties must come forward to help in holding a free and fair election. We are creating an environment for a free fair election.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said he handed over a letter from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — addressed to US President Joe Biden — to Secretary Blinken.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are proud of the partnership,” he said, adding that he is in Washington to strengthen and solidify the relationship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said Bangladesh wants to improve its ties with the United States towards a stronger trade relationship in the next 50 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has a multifaceted, dynamic and wide ranging relationship with the US. Over the last 50 years we have done very well. We look forward to the next 50 years,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We achieved all with your support and active partnership and we are proud of your partnership and we look beyond, so that we can have better days in future. I am here to strengthen and solidify our relationship,” Momen added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh raised the issue of Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is moving freely in the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen hoped that the US will not be a shelter for killers and will hand over Rashed to Bangladesh as it wants to establish the rule of law in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Blinken said the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States has grown tremendously over the last 50 years, particularly in the economic aspect.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also mentioned people-to-people ties and said the two countries have been doing more together recently — from climate change to health.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two sides also focused on their ongoing cooperation to deal with the climate crisis, meet the needs of Rohingyas and their safe return to Myanmar, and promote regional security through UN peacekeeping operations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 4 last year, Blinken met with Momen to celebrate and reflect on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-US relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They discussed the \"tremendous economic potential\" of the relationship and reflected on the ways the two countries collaborated over the last half century – including in growing people-to-people ties with vibrant Fulbright exchanges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While talking to reporters last Wednesday in Dhaka, Momen said: \"I\'d say we\'re lucky because the American secretary of state doesn\'t give invitations frequently. We got three in a row. America is paying much attention to our journey on the highway of development.\" 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, '2023-04-11 10:56:00', '2023-04-11 10:56:00'),
(6313, 6313, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">U.S. spies caught Russian intelligence officers boasting that they had convinced the oil-rich United Arab Emirates “to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies,” according to a purported American document posted online as part of a major U.S. intelligence breach.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. officials declined to comment on the document, which bore known top-secret markings and was viewed by The Associated Press. The Emirati government on Monday dismissed any accusation that the UAE had deepened ties with Russian intelligence as “categorically false.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the U.S. has had growing concerns that the UAE was allowing Russia and Russians to thwart sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The document viewed by the AP includes an item citing research from March 9 with the title: “Russia/UAE: Intelligence Relationship Deepening.” U.S. officials declined to confirm the document\'s authenticity, which the AP could not independently do. However, it resembled other documents released as part of the recent leak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites. They appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine and U.S. intelligence assessments regarding U.S. allies that could strain ties with those nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the documents may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign, U.S. officials said. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday urged caution, “since we know at least in some cases that information was doctored.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the main successor agency of the Soviet-era KGB, the document seen by the AP says: “In mid-January, FSB officials claimed UAE security service officials and Russia had agreed to work together against US and UK Intelligence agencies, according to newly acquired signals intelligence.\" Signals intelligence refers to intercepted communications, whether telephone calls or electronic messages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The UAE probably views engagement with Russian intelligence as an opportunity to strengthen growing ties between Abu Dhabi and Moscow and diversify intelligence partnerships amid concerns of US disengagement from the region,” the assessment concluded, referring to the UAE capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It’s not clear if there was any such agreement as described in the UAE-Russia document, or whether the alleged FSB claims were intentionally or unintentionally misleading.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But American officials are speaking out increasingly about a surge in dealings between the UAE and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A U.S. Treasury official, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg, in March singled out the UAE as a “country of focus.\" She said businesses there were helping Russia evade international sanctions to obtain more than $5 million in U.S. semiconductors and other export-controlled parts, including components with battlefield uses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. intelligence officials in recent years have pointed to possible links between the UAE and the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary group closely associated with the Kremlin and active in Ukraine and several African countries. In 2020, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed “that the United Arab Emirates may provide some financing for the group’s operations.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King’s College in London, on Monday called the UAE “the most important strategic partner for Russia in both the Middle East and Africa.” The head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, held extensive meetings with UAE leaders in Dubai in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia and the UAE share similar outlooks in some key conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and the influx of Russians into the UAE since Russia launched its war in Ukraine also has strengthened ties between the two, said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East expert at Rice University\'s Baker Institute. But the reference to teaming up against U.S. and British intelligence agencies is surprising, said Ulrichsen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian intelligence officials “probably have an interest in describing something in those terms,” he said. “If that was the way the UAE was describing it, I\'d certainly take it ... quite differently.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A U.S. official separately has told the AP that the United States also was worried about Russian money coming into Dubai\'s red-hot real estate market.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And in October, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges against two Dubai-based Russian men and others accused of stealing military technology from U.S. companies, smuggling millions of barrels of oil and laundering tens of millions of dollars for the oligarchs surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors in that case quoted one of the Dubai-based Russians as assuring his partners “there were no worries” about using a UAE financial institution for the transactions. “This is the (worst) bank in the Emirates,” he was quoted as saying, using an expletive. “They pay to everything.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a statement Monday to the AP about the apparent intelligence document, the United Arab Emirates said UAE officials had not seen the document and claims regarding the FSB were “categorically false.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We refute any allegation regarding an agreement to deepen cooperation between the UAE and other countries\' security services against another country,” the statement said. “The UAE has deep and distinguished relations with all countries, reflecting its principles of openness, partnership, building bridges, and working to serve the common interests of countries and peoples to achieve international peace and security.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The leak of the purported document comes as Emirati officials have recalibrated their foreign policy in the Middle East after a series of attacks attributed to Iran. Attacks claimed by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels hit Abu Dhabi in 2022, killing three people and leading locally stationed American forces to respond with Patriot missile fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the time since, and as Emiratis perceived America’s presence waning in the region after its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the UAE reached a détente with Iran. That’s even as the United States maintains multiple military bases and stations thousands of troops and weaponry in the region, including at Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra Air Base. Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port remains the busiest U.S. Navy port of call outside of the continental U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UAE also remains one of the few places still running daily, direct flights to Moscow after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That has seen money, megayachts and Russian citizens come into the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. However, it hasn’t been a full embrace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relations between the U.S. and the UAE have seesawed over the past decade, as Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan cemented his power. Under the Trump administration, the UAE diplomatically recognized Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the deal\'s wake, the UAE sought but has yet to receive advanced American F-35 fighter jets under President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the Emirates has criticized Israel over the escalating violence between Israel\'s hard-right government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinians. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 11:00:40', '2023-04-11 11:00:40'),
(6314, 6314, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three top Twitter executives who were sacked by Elon Musk last year when he took over the social media company filed suit on Monday, seeking to be reimbursed for costs of litigation, investigations and congressional inquiries related to their former jobs.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ex-CEO Parag Agrawal, along with the company\'s former chief legal and financial officers, claim in the suit that they are owed a total of more than $1 million, and that Twitter is legally bound to pay them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twitter responded to an AFP request for comment with a poop emoji, as has become its practice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court filing outlined numerous expenses related to inquiries by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), but does not include details on the nature of the investigations or whether they are still ongoing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Agrawal and then-chief financial officer Ned Segal provided testimony to the SEC last year and \"have continued to engage with federal authorities,\" according to court documents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The SEC is investigating whether Musk complied with securities rules when he amassed Twitter shares.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Former Twitter chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde was called on to take part in a US congressional hearing about big tech and free speech following Musk\'s release late last year of so-called \"Twitter Files\" related to the site\'s content moderation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gadde was also named as a defendant in a lawsuit by a man who claimed he was \"doxed\" at Twitter as a white supremacist, the filing said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Musked terminated Agrawal, Gadde and Segal from their posts in late October after closing his contentious $44 billion takeover of Twitter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three former executives argue that Twitter is bound by agreements to reimburse them, but has done no more than acknowledge it received their invoices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After taking over Twitter, Musk quickly slashed the ranks of employees, with the cuts so broad it raised concerns about the platform\'s stability and its ability to fight misinformation and other abuse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Complaints have also been filed accusing Twitter of not paying rent or other bills as Musk follows on a vow to \"cut costs like crazy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, market trackers say advertising revenue has plunged at Twitter due to concerns over misinformation and hateful content flourishing as Musk dials back moderation efforts. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 11:42:54', '2023-04-11 11:42:54'),
(6315, 6315, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is swapping her domestic drama for something scripted with an appearance on cult show \"American Horror Story.\"</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The socialite and billionaire businesswoman posted an eerie video Monday to her 352 million Instagram followers, confirming that she will be joining the series with regular Emma Roberts.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The brief video includes an off-key rendition of \"Rock-a-bye Baby\" and the whispered line: \"Emma and Kim are delicate.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The showbiz news outlet Variety reported that Kardashian will have a lead role in Season 12, playing a character that was written specifically for her.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Kardashian first came to public attention as a member of heiress Paris Hilton\'s entourage, but gained global notoriety with the release of a sex tape.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">That was followed by the long-running \"Keeping Up with the Kardashians\" series and its spin-offs, in which viewers get insights into the lives of the uber-wealthy family.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">As well as a now-dissolved high profile marriage to Kanye West, Kardashian has also built a business empire selling lingerie and beauty products.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">She appeared in a handful of films in the late 2000s, and recently voiced a character in \"PAW Patrol: The Movie.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But \"American Horror Story\" will be her first scripted on-screen venture in a decade.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"American Horror Story\" is an anthology piece revolving around different characters and locations.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">It is known for its high-profile cast, which changes frequently.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Previous stars have included Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett. AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 12:59:25', '2023-04-11 12:59:25'),
(6316, 6316, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A fire that broke out at a ceramic warehouse in Old Dhaka\'s Chawkbazar area this morning, was brought under control around 12:05 pm.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire originated around 10:45 am at the warehouse located on the 5th floor of a 5-storey building next to Chawkbazar Bismillah Tower.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 6 fire fighting units rushed to the spot and are working to douse the fire. No casualty has been reported in the incident yet. 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, '2023-04-11 13:03:36', '2023-04-11 13:03:36'),
(6317, 6317, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Actor Salman Khan has yet again received a death threat, this time from a man in Rajasthan. As per Mumbai Police, the man threatened to kill the actor on April 30. An investigation is currently underway. The threat reportedly came on the same day Salman attended the trailer launch event of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan in Mumbai along with the cast of his upcoming film.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This isn\'t the first time that Salman has received a death threat. Last month, a 21-year-old man was arrested in connection with sending a threat mail to Salman. A Mumbai court had sent the accused to police custody.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In a call received at Police Control Room yesterday, a man who identified himself as Roki Bhai from Rajasthan\'s Jodhpur threatened to kill actor Salman Khan on April 30. Further investigation underway,\" news agency ANI reported on Tuesday quoting Mumbai Police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In March, Dhakadram Ramlal Siyag was held from Jodhpur by a Bandra Police team after a probe into the threat mail showed it was sent from his mobile phone, a police official told news agency PTI. \"Our probe has found he also sent a threat mail to the father of late singer Sidhu Moosewala. A case has been registered in this connection in Mansa police station in Punjab. Siyag also has an Arms Act case against his name in Sardarpura police station,\" PTI had quoted the official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We will probe if he has any role in previous threats received by (Salman) Khan, including a case registered in 2022 against gangsters Goldy Brar, Lawrence Bishnoi and others,\" he had said. Lawrence and Goldy are alleged masterminds in the killing of Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, in Punjab\'s Mansa district in May last year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case was registered at Bandra Police station. The accused had allegedly sent a threat mail to Salman stating that he will \"end up like Sidhu Moose Wala\". In March, Mumbai Police booked jailed gangsters Lawrence, Goldie and Rohit Garg for allegedly sending threatening emails to Salman\'s office. Bandra Police registered a case under sections 506(2),120(b) and 34 of IPC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The actor has been provided with Y-category security by the Mumbai police. The Maharashtra government took this step after the actor received a threat letter from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang earlier. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 13:13:57', '2023-04-11 13:13:57'),
(6318, 6318, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) is set to launch Eid special bus service on April 14 to ensure smooth journey of the homebound passengers on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BRTC will start Eid special bus service on April 14 and it will continue till April 23,\" an official release said today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The advance ticket selling already started on April 9 from concerned BRTC bus depots, it confirmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The release also said the advance bus tickets for different routes across the country will be sold from city\'s various BRTC bus depots including Mothijheel, Joarsahara, Kalyanpur, Gabtoli, Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Gazipur and Narayanganj bus depot at Chasara.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The advance bus tickets will be sold from Mothijheel BRTC depot for traveling to Khulna, Daudkandi, Damuddya, Khasherhat, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Netrokona.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Bhang, Rangpur, Panchagarh, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Khustia, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Netrokona, Ranishankail, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur routes\' tickets will be sold from Kallyanpur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Bhanga, Gopalganj, Barishal, Dasmina (Patuakhali), Aricha, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Aricha and Paturia and Jashore routes\' passengers can collect tickets from Gabtoli bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka-Paisarhat, Bishawroad-Patchdona and Dhaka to Rangpur, Naogaon, Jaipurhat, Tangail, Mymensingh and Bogura routes\' passengers will get tickets from Joarshahara bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Barishal, Rangpur, Khustia, Bogura, Kurigram, Dinajpur, Mymensingh and Naogaon routes\' travelers can collect tickets from Mirpur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka to Shariatpur, Faridpur, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura and Naogaon rotes\' tickets are available from Mohammadpur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bishawroad to Patchdona, Tangail, Netrokona, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Kurigram routes\' tickets are available from Gazipur bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even the passengers who will travel from Dhaka to Rangpur and Shariatpur route will get ticket from Jatrabari bus depot while Narayanganj bus depot will sell tickets for Dhaka-Goshairhat, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilpahmari, Naogaon, Bogura, Gaibandha and Pabna routes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The homebound passengers who will travel from Narshingdi to Madaripur, Charmuguria and Rangpur routes have been asked to collect tickets from Narshigdi bus depot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To operate special bus services, a total of 60 buses will remain standby at different city bus depots including Sayedabad bus terminal, Mirpur section-12 bus depot, Kallyanpur bus depot, Nabinagar, Mothijheel bus depot, Mohakhali bus terminal, Joarshahara bus depot, Mohammadpur bus depot, Gazipur chowrasta, Hemayetpur bus stand and Chandra bus stand. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 13:20:58', '2023-04-11 13:20:58'),
(6319, 6319, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The leak of highly sensitive US documents -- many of them related to the Ukraine conflict -- presents a \"very serious\" risk to US national security, the Pentagon said Monday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The breach is being investigated by the Justice Department and appears to include secret information on the war in Ukraine as well as sensitive analyses of US allies, whom American officials are now seeking to reassure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A steady drip of dozens of photographs of documents have been found on Twitter, Telegram, Discord and other sites in recent days, though some may have circulated online for weeks, if not months, before they began to receive media attention last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The documents circulating online pose \"a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation,\" said Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, without confirming their authenticity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We\'re still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom,\" Meagher told journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many of the documents are no longer available on the sites where they first appeared, and the United States is reportedly continuing to work to have them removed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meagher said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was not initially briefed on the issue until the morning of April 6 -- the day a New York Times story on the documents was published.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">White House national security spokesman John Kirby told journalists that President Joe Biden was briefed on the leak \"late last week,\" but did not provide a specific date.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many of the documents relate to Ukraine, such as one that provides information on the country\'s air defenses or another on international efforts to build up its military forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Reassuring allies -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But other documents point to US surveillance of its allies, such as one that states that leaders of Israel\'s Mossad intelligence agency advocated for domestic protests against a controversial judicial reform plan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US officials have been in touch with Washington\'s allies over the issue, the State Department said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They \"are engaging with allies and partners at high levels over this, including to reassure them on our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and ability to secure our partnerships,\" spokesperson Vedant Patel told journalists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Pentagon also said relevant congressional committees have been informed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meagher said a Pentagon team is working to determine if the documents are genuine, but noted that images circulating online seemed to show sensitive information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Photos appear to show documents similar in format to those used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates,\" he said, but some \"appear to have been altered.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This includes a document that seems to have been altered to make it show that Ukraine had suffered higher casualties than Russia, when the apparent original version said the reverse was true.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kirby said the US government is worried that there may be more documents to come.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t know who\'s responsible for this. And we don\'t know if they have more that they intend to post,\" Kirby said, adding: \"Is that a matter of concern to us? You\'re darn right it is.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fallout from the apparent leak could be significant -- even deadly -- potentially putting US intelligence sources at risk while giving the country\'s foes valuable information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Disclosure of sensitive classified material can have tremendous implications not only for our national security, but could lead to people losing their lives,\" Meagher said. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 13:26:16', '2023-04-11 13:26:16'),
(6320, 6320, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \">UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday at the start of a brief visit to Somalia, a</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">country scarred by protracted armed conflict and climate disasters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Guterres was given a red carpet welcome at the capital city\'s airport by&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Somalia\'s Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse who posted pictures of the event on Twitter.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Somalia has imposed a security lockdown on Mogadishu for the visit, with most roads closed and public transport restricted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Guterres\'s trip comes as the country is in the grip of a calamitous drought&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">that has driven many to the brink of famine, while the government is also&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">engaged in a major offensive to put down a bloody Islamist insurgency.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United Nations has launched a $2.6 billion appeal for humanitarian aid for the troubled Horn of Africa nation, but it is currently only 13 percent funded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Five straight failed rainy seasons in parts of Somalia as well as Kenya and&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ethiopia have led to the worst drought in four decades, wiping out livestock and crops and forcing at least 1.7 million people from their homes in search of food and water.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While famine thresholds have not been reached in Somalia, the United Nations says about half its population will need humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million affected by the drought.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"The crisis is far from over -- needs remain high and urgent,\" the UN\'s&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">resident coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, said last week in Geneva.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Some of the most affected areas continue to face the risk of famine.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adding to the woes, seasonal rains in March led to flooding that claimed the lives of 21 people and displaced more than 100,000, he said, while warning that the rains were unlikely to be enough to improve the food security outlook for many.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Offensive against Al-Shabaab -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Somalia was hit by a famine in 2011 which killed 260,000 people, more than half of them children under six, partly because the international community did not act fast enough, according to the UN.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A report by the UN and the Somali government released in March said that drought may have led to 43,000 \"excess deaths\" last year, with children under the age of five accounting for half the victims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">One of the poorest countries on the planet, Somalia has been wracked by&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">decades of civil war, political violence and a bloody insurgency by the Al-</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year declared \"all-out war\" against the Islamist militants and sent in troops in September to back an uprising&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">against Al-Shabaab launched by local clan militias in central Somalia.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In recent months, the army and the militias known as \"Macawisley\" have&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">retaken swathes of territory in an operation backed by an African Union force known as ATMIS and US air strikes.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The government claimed late last month that more than 3,000 Al-Shabaab&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">fighters had been killed since it launched the offensive.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">It also said in a statement issued by the information ministry that 70 towns&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">and villages had been \"liberated\" from Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting against the fragile central government for more than 15 years.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was not possible to independently verify the claims.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Al-Shabaab has frequently retaliated against the offensive with bloody&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">attacks, underlining its stability to continue to strike civilian, political&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">and military targets despite the government\'s advances.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a report to the UN Security Council in February, Guterres said that 2022 was the deadliest year for civilians in Somalia since 2017, largely as a result of Al-Shabaab attacks. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 13:56:45', '2023-04-11 13:56:45'),
(6321, 6321, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government of Bangladesh has raised the prices of Urea, TSP, DAP and MOP fertilisers by Tk 5 per kg at both farmer and dealership levels.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new rates came into effect on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agriculture ministry issued an order in this regard on Monday following a letter sent by the finance department of the finance ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prices have been refixed aiming to keep the fertilizer import at a rational level amid the hike in its prices at the international level and ensure optimum utilization of fertilizers, said the order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the farmers’ level, the price of per kg Urea has been raised to Tk 27 from Tk 22, DAP to Tk 21 from Tk 16, TSP to Tk 27 from Tk 22 and MOP to Tk 20 from Tk 15.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, at the dealers’ level, the Urea price has been re-fixed at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20, DAP at Tk 19 instead of Tk 14, TSP at Tk 25 instead of Tk 20 and MOP at Tk 18 instead of Tk 13.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The current price of Urea, DAP, TSP and MOP fertilisers in the international market is Tk 48, Tk 70, Tk 50 and Tk 60 per kg respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a result, the government is still giving a subsidy of Tk 21 in Urea, Tk 49 in DAP, Tk 23 in TSP and Tk 40 in MOP per kg even after the latest price hike, said a media release of the agriculture ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fertilizer prices were raised by 3-4 times in the global market in the last three years, resulting in hike in government subsidy in the country four times, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the fiscal year 2020-21, the amount of subsidy was Tk 7,420 crore while it increased to TK 28 crore in 21-22 FY and in the running 2022-23 fiscal year, about Tk 46,000 crore will be required for subsidy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From 2008-09 to 2022-23 fiscal years, Tk 1,19,837 crore was spent as fertiliser subsidy. 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, '2023-04-11 15:17:33', '2023-04-11 15:17:33'),
(6322, 6322, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>While reiterating that any abuser of human rights should be held accountable, Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Vedant Patel has said, “Broadly, the U.S. supports the principle of free and fair elections in Bangladesh and around the world, but I’m not here to endorse one political candidate or party versus another.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He was speaking at a regular briefing in Washington.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It’s our immense hope that the Bangladesh Government does look into the contents of this article and video (DW documentary on RAB),\" Patel said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said as per their assessment, the Digital Security Act is \"one of the world’s most draconian laws\" for journalists.</div><div><br></div><div>World Press Freedom Index ranked Bangladesh 162 out of 180 countries, a drop of 10 places from the previous year, Patel said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"And we have made our concerns about this law quite clear. A free press and an informed citizenry are key for any nation and its democratic future,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The US Embassy in Dhaka shared updates on the briefing today.</div><div><br></div><div>Petal said they want to and are looking forward to deepening their relationship with Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>That’s why, he said, Secretary Blinken met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"We, again, are looking forward to deepening our relationship with Bangladesh as a whole,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 15:55:06', '2023-04-11 15:55:06'),
(6323, 6323, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Hundreds of South Koreans were forced to flee a wildfire fueled by strong winds that burned parts of an eastern coastal city Tuesday, destroying dozens of homes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>More than 700 firefighters and 300 vehicles were dispatched to fight the fire that started on a mountain in a central part of Gangneung, according to the Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 44 homes were destroyed and more than 300 residents evacuated to facilities that included an ice-skating arena and a middle school gym. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, according to the ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>It wasn’t immediate clear how long it would take firefighters to bring the flames under control as the high winds made it difficult to deploy aircraft. Kim during a televised briefing said firefighters are establishing barriers while focusing on preventing the fire from spreading to more populated areas of Gangneung.</div><div><br></div><div>Photos showed firefighters spraying water toward burning homes and buildings and large, orange flames engulfing a pine forest near a seaside resort hotel.</div><div><br></div><div>South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed officials to deploy “all available equipment and personnel” to swiftly extinguish the wildfire and evacuate residents to prevent the loss of life. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 17:09:22', '2023-04-11 17:09:22'),
(6324, 6324, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>There seems to be no respite from the sizzling heat as Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD)&nbsp; has predicted that the prevailing mild to moderate heat wave condition in the country will continue&nbsp; in the next seven days.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The BMD issued an alert message in this regard on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The people of the country continue to experience the scorching heat with maximum temperature recording 39.2 degree Celsius in Chuadanga and 16.5 degree Celsius minimum temperature in Tentulia today. Dhaka’s temperature has been recorded at 37.5 degree Celsius.</div><div><br></div><div>According to a Met office bulletin, “ Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal &amp; Chattogram divisions and Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Nertakona districts and it may continue.”</div><div><br></div><div>Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>The Department of Agricultural Extension has provided guidelines to protect crops and fruit amidst the ongoing mild heatwave across the country. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 17:23:01', '2023-04-11 17:23:01');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6325, 6325, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP on Tuesday accused the government of trying to create a climate of fear by using the Digital Security Act (DSA) to muzzle the voice of people ahead of the next national election to ‘usurp’ power again.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a seminar, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged the government to repeal the DSA as it has now become a demand of mass people.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The government has enacted such laws to hang onto power by force. The national election is nearing. They have made these laws so that no one can put up a resistance against them and register protest against their wrongdoings ahead of the election,” he said</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the citizens of the country are being prevented from speaking up and lodging their complaints while the journalists are being obstructed from writing by abusing the DSA.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government also wants to cross the election hurdle by keeping their opponents completely out of the race using the DSA and other ‘black’ laws.</div><div><br></div><div>“All the black laws must be abolished. First of all, the Digital Security Act should be repealed. It’s now the demand of the country and its mass people,” Fakhrul observed.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP arranged the seminar titled “Digital Security Act, Democracy &amp; Constitutional Scheme” at a city hotel.&nbsp; Advocate Asaduzzaman, the human rights affairs secretary of BNP, presented the keynote paper at the programme.”</div><div><br></div><div>Some people who were reported to be the victims of the DSA and ICT Act also spoke about their ordeal at the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the government has enacted the DSA and many other laws so that the citizens of the country are afraid to speak up.</div><div><br></div><div>He said there is a film titled 1984 depicting how authoritarian rule was established in North Korea by intimidating its citizens and creating a climate of fear to enslave that nation.&nbsp; “Its reflection has now started in Bangladesh through the arrest and jailing of Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman and the filing of cases under the DSA against him and many other journalist brothers.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said many journalists and cyber activists were jailed and tortured and made disappeared by the government.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He also slammed the government for arresting Nafiz Mohammad Alam who was interviewed in a Deutsche Welle documentary on RAB.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Nafiz was arrested with liquor in cases filed under the Pornography Act “This is their (govt’s) old practice. It’s also their weapon. They have many such weapons and they are using those weapons one after another with a goal to muzzle the voice of the citizens and snatch the rights of the citizens and thus they’re establishing a monarchy in their own way.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said it has become now a matter of luck to get justice in the judiciary while the administration has been fully politicisied and the education and health sectors have been destroyed.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the current Awami government is an unelected, illegal, and usurper regime. “It has been working completely as an occupation regime and taking the country to dire consequences. It is destroying the basic characteristics of Bangladesh and pushing a democracy-loving nation toward conflict.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the most grievous crime the Awami League government has committed by destroying the country’s democratic soul in a deliberate and planned way to stay in power.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said Awami League’s main goal is to establish a one-party fascist rule under cover of democracy.&nbsp; “There’s no alternative to ousting the incumbent regime to get rid of the current situation of the country and establish a pro-people government and parliament.”</div><div><br></div><div>BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said the DSA must be revoked as it contrary to the country’s constitution, democracy, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-1948.</div><div><br></div><div>In the keynote paper, Asaduzzaman said the DSA is undoubtedly a controversial law that is being used to suppress the dissenting voices and political opponents of the government. “The application of this law affects and touches not only the fundamental rights of the citizens but also the democratic fabric of the country which is the basic structure of our Constitution.”</div><div><br></div><div>He urged the global community to be vocal demanding that the DSA should be repealed immediately not only to protect the citizens, and their fundamental rights, but also to ensure democracy and restore voting rights.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Bangladesh Gono Odhikar Parishad Convenor, Dr Reza Kibria, Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, Jatiya Party ( Zafar) chairman Mostafa Jamal Haider,&nbsp; National People\'s Party (NPP) chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad and Dhaka University teacher Prof Lutfor Rahman, among others, spoke at the seminar. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 19:31:21', '2023-04-11 19:31:21'),
(6326, 6326, '<div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Myanmar’s military has launched air attacks on a central town known to be a bastion of opposition to the coup carried out two years ago.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses and local media said dozens of people were killed and wounded in the attack on Tuesday – one of the worst since the military seized control of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Citing residents in the Sagaing area – about 110km (45 miles) west of the main city Yangon – news reports said ­ at least 30 people, including civilians, had died in the barrage on the town of Pazigyi.</div><div><br></div><div>The air raids occurred as residents gathered for the inauguration of an administrative office, Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng reported, from Thailand’s capital Bangkok.</div><div><br></div><div>“At 7:35am the crowd was attacked by jets and those were followed by Mi-35 helicopters,” said Cheng, citing one rescuer at the scene.</div><div><br></div><div>“He confirmed 40 dead but he suspects the death toll will rise considerably – the carnage there was terrible. All the reports we’re seeing is that these were civilians, and far from being a legitimate military target.”</div><div><br></div><div>No immediate response from Myanmar’s military rulers was available.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar’s military has been accused of indiscriminate killings of civilians as it engages in major offensives to suppress armed resistance to its takeover.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, Myanmar’s coup leader Min Aung Hlaing pledged to deal decisively with “terrorists” fighting against his rule.</div><div><br></div><div>On February 1, 2021, the military toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, prompting peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with bloody violence that escalated since then and has been been characterised by United Nations experts and others as a civil war.</div><div><br></div><div>More than one million people have been displaced as the military steps up artillery attacks and air raids.</div><div><br></div><div>A military spokesperson told Al Jazeera recently that previously reported attacks blamed on its forces have been “misreported”.</div><div><br></div><div>Western countries have rolled out sanctions against the ruling generals in a bid to choke off revenue and access to military equipment from key allies and suppliers such as Russia. Source: Al Jazeera</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 21:13:54', '2023-04-11 21:13:54'),
(6327, 6327, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasian has directed the authorities concerned to take strong efforts to unlock the potentials of blue economy in the vast sea area of the country.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>She made the directive while chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said the premier asked the authorities concerned to take cogent efforts to unlock the potential sof blue economy.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She also directed the authorities concerned to reduce the number of sluice gates gradually and not to construct permanent roads in Haors rather construct culverts in important places to pass flood water, said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM stressed the need for recognizing the contribution of women in the GDP for their household chores.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ecnec cleared 11 projects involving the overall estimated cost of Tk 13,655.98 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Among these, seven are new projects, while the remaining four are revised ones.</div><div><br></div><div>Among the projects, Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST)’ project got its nod with Tk 2,995.88 crore mainly to enhance the government’s capacity to check pollution and promote green investment.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the total estimated cost, Tk 10,526.11 crore – 77 percent -- will come from the external sources as foreign loans, while the rest Tk 3,129.87 crore will be drawn from the fund of Government of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of cost, the largest three fresh projects are ‘Sylhet-Charkhai-Shewla Highway Development’ project with the cost of Tk 4,257.07 crore; ‘Accelerating Transport and Trading Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS)-Bangladesh Phase-1 (BLPA Component)’ project with Tk 3,457.15 crore; and ‘Bangladesh Environmental Sustainability and Transformation (BEST)’ project with Tk 2,995.88 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>As per project factsheet,&nbsp; ‘Sylhet-Charkhai-Shewla Highway Development’ project will be implemented in four upazilas – Sylhet Sadar, Dakkhin Surma, Golapganj and Beanibazar-- by December 2027.</div><div><br></div><div>The ACCESS-Bangladesh Phase-1 (BLPA Component) project will be implemented by June 2027. The Land Port Authority under the Shipping Ministry will execute the project.</div><div><br></div><div>The BEST project will be executed by June 2028 in 37 upazilas of 36 districts under eight divisions mainly to enhance the government’s capacity to check pollution and promote green investment through green credit guarantee scheme (GCGS).</div><div><br></div><div>The four other new projects are ‘Rehabilitation of the 2022 Flood-affected Rural Infrastructures with ADB Emergency Assistance’ project with Tk 1,123 crore; ‘Flood Management Reconstruction Emergency Assistance’ project with Tk 699.81 crore; ‘Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction of Flood-affected Water Supply and Sanitation System’ project with Tk 343.91 crore; and ‘Reinstallation of the 2022 flood-affected Sylhet Chhatakbazar Section (Meter gauge) of Bangladesh Railway’ project with Tk 241.59 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The four old projects are ‘Construction of 34 Buffer Warehouse in the Country’s Different Places to Preserve and Distribute Fertilizers (1st Revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 365.43 crore (now the total cost has risen to Tk 2,348.47 crore; ‘Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) (2nd revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 93.15 crore (now cost is Tk 1,105.27 crore);&nbsp; ‘Development of Bangladesh Land Survey Education (1st revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 61.43 crore (now cost is Tk 340.28 crore); and ‘Construction of Bangladesh Chancery Complex in Islamabad of Pakistan ( 4th revised)’ project with additional cost of Tk 17.56 crore (now cost is Tk 97.42 crore). Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 21:37:50', '2023-04-11 21:37:50'),
(6328, 6328, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission (EC) announced the names of a dozen political parties out of the 93 parties that had applied for registration with the Commission in the preliminary selection process.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam made the announcement at the Nirbachon Bhaban in the city\'s Agargaon on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, initiated the selection process at the field level while the registration for these parties will be finalised by next June.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said a committee headed by the joint secretary scrutinised these applications who applied for fresh registration.</div><div><br></div><div>The 12 parties emerging after the primary selection are: AB Party (Amar Bangladesh Party), Bangladesh Nationalist Movement (BNM), Bangladesh Humanist Party (BHP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP), Bangladesh Supreme Party (BSP), Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (BMJP), Bangladesh People\'s Party (BPP), Democratic Party and Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP).</div><div><br></div><div>Jahangir said that in the first stage, the concerned committee recommended the cancellation of the applications of 14 out of 93 parties, while two parties withdrew their applications. Later, the remaining 77 parties were given 15 days to provide additional documents. From that group, the Election Commission selected the 12 parties.</div><div><br></div><div>The commission decided to collect information at the field level about these 12 parties. The commission will reach a final decision after verification at the field level, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the commission-announced roadmap, the finalization process will be completed by June.</div><div><br></div><div>The Representation of the People Order (RPO) in Bangladesh requires political parties to register with the commission to contest elections. Without registration, parties can take part in different political and social activities but are not allowed to take part in elections.</div><div><br></div><div>To register, a party has to deposit Tk 5,000 as a fee, and is required to meet at least one condition out of the following three with supporting documentation-</div><div><br></div><div># A new party needs to have an active central office, a central committee, offices in at least one-third of the administrative districts, and a memorandum of endorsement from a minimum of 200 voters as its members in each Upazila/metropolitan area.</div><div><br></div><div># Having at least one member of the party who had won in a previous general election took place after the independence of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div># Securing at least five percent of total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the post-independence general elections.</div><div><br></div><div>At present, the number of registered parties with the EC stands at 39.</div><div><br></div><div>The newly formed commission, led by Kazi Habibul Awal, is contemplating scheduling the 12th parliamentary general elections between Dec 2023 and Jan 2024. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-11 21:42:14', '2023-04-11 21:42:14'),
(6329, 6329, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The body of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury will be taken to the Central Shaheed Minar at 10 am on Thursday so that people from all walks of life can pay tribute to him.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Altafunnessa Maya, chairman of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, announced this at a press conference at Dhanmondi Gonoshasthaya Kendra Hospital on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He will be given guard of honor by the state on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar and then his first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Suhrawardy Uddyan in the city around 2:30 pm, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, Dr. Zafrullah\'s body is kept in the cold storage of Birdem Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;His body will be taken to Savar\'s Gono Bishwabidyalay’s campus at 10 am on Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>After Jum’a prayers, the second namaz-e-janaza will be held on the university campus.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 82. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 14:21:11', '2023-04-12 14:21:11'),
(6330, 6330, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is due to arrive in Dhaka on April 25 to discuss the progress in the use of the first tranche of its US$4.7 billion loan programme for Bangladesh and the release of the second installment.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Finance sources told UNB on Wednesday that during its April 25 to May 2 visit the mission will hold meetings with the officials of the Ministry of Finance\'s Finance Division, Financial Institutions Division, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh Bank, and National Board of Revenue (NBR).</div><div><br></div><div>IMF Asia and Pacific Division Head Rahul Anand will lead the team comprising three to four members, the ministry sources said speaking on condition of anonymity.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh received the first tranche of US$476.2 million of the $4.7 billion loan approved by the IMF on January 30.</div><div><br></div><div>The entire amount of the loan will be paid in seven installments in three and a half years until 2026. As such there are six more installments left.</div><div><br></div><div>A senior official of the ministry said the IMF usually reviews various aspects of compliance before disbursing each tranche. Accordingly, an IMF team will come next September to review the fulfillment of loan conditions before disbursing the second tranche.</div><div><br></div><div>Usually before each budget announcement, an IMF mission comes to Dhaka to discuss budget assistance. Now that the loan programme is going on with them, besides the budget assistance, the issues of fulfilling the loan conditions will also come up for discussion, said the sources. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 15:30:01', '2023-04-12 15:30:01'),
(6331, 6331, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A trader was killed as a truck hit his bicycle at Jagla in sadar upazila on Magura-Jeshore road on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased is Sushanto Shiker, 60, a resident of the village.</div><div><br></div><div>Magura sadar thana officer-in-charge Jabbarul Islam said when Shushanto was heading to his shop at Jagla bazar on a bicycle a Jeshore-bound truck hit him, leaving him critically injured.</div><div><br></div><div>Locals rushed him to Magura sadar hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.</div><div><br></div><div>A case was filed with Magura police station. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 18:16:03', '2023-04-12 18:16:03'),
(6332, 6332, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that the movement of&nbsp; trucks, long vehicles or trailers carrying construction materials&nbsp; will be prohibited for three days prior to Eid</b>.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have decided that movement of cargo trucks carrying construction materials such as rods, cement, sand will be stopped from three days before Eid. Apart from these, other trucks carrying goods will run”, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“At the same time, long vehicle travel will also be closed. They will resume from the day after Eid”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the ministry\'s conference room after a meeting to review the overall law and order situation, ensure payment of workers\' salaries and allowances and keep highways safe and free from traffic jams during Eid-ul-Fitr.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that the representatives of BGMEA, BKMEA and relevant organisations have pledged to pay the salary and bonus for the month of March before the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday begins, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>If they can, they will pay the salary of April too, said the minister.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 20:32:50', '2023-04-12 20:32:50'),
(6333, 6333, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Traditional three-day-long Boisabi festival of the people of different ethnic communities in Khagrachhari began on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The first day of the festival, known as ‘Phul Biju’, is celebrated by Chakma, Tripura, Marma communities by decorating their houses with flowers and also immersing them in rivers seeking blessings from the Mother Ganga.</div><div><br></div><div>The celebration began through immersing flowers in Chengi river in the town’s Khabangpuria area by the local Tripura community.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Commissioner Md. Sahiduzzaman, Superintendent of Police Md. Naimul Haque and Municipal Mayor Nirmalandu Chowdhury came to the river bank in the morning to enjoy the event.</div><div><br></div><div>Baisabi is considered to be the major cultural festival of 14 ethnic minority communities who speak in 11 languages.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Tripura community will also celebrate their ‘Boisu’ festival on Thursday on the day of Chaitra-Sankranti and the Marma community will celebrate traditional ‘Sangrai’ or ‘pani khela’ on April 14. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 20:38:02', '2023-04-12 20:38:02'),
(6334, 6334, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Elon Musk has described running Twitter as \"quite painful\" and \"a rollercoaster\" in a live interview with the BBC.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The multibillionaire also said if the right buyer came along, he would sell the company.</div><div><br></div><div>Twitter was purchased by Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, last October for $44 billion.</div><div><br></div><div>The interview took place at the company\'s headquarters in San Francisco and addressed his work habits, misinformation, and the huge layoffs.</div><div><br></div><div>Musk acknowledged that the only reason he followed through with the Twitter takeover was because a judge was about to order him to buy the company.</div><div><br></div><div>During the conversation with BBC, Musk tried defending his running of the company.</div><div><br></div><div>When asked if he regretted purchasing Twitter, the second-richest man in the world said the \"pain level has been extremely high, this hasn\'t been some kind of party\".</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about his time at Twitter, Musk said: \"It\'s not been boring. It\'s been quite a rollercoaster.\"</div><div><br></div><div>It has been \"really quite a stressful situation over the last several months,\" he added, but he admitted that buying the company was the right decision.</div><div><br></div><div>Around the beginning of 2022, Musk increased his stake in Twitter and offered to buy the company. However, after he attempted to back out of the agreement, Twitter sued him.</div><div><br></div><div>Musk told the BBC that things are \"reasonably well\" and that \"the site works\" and that usage is growing.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to his workload, he admitted, \"I sometimes sleep in the office\", and he also has a sofa area in a library \"that nobody goes to.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He also addressed his controversial tweets saying, \"Have I shot myself in the foot with tweets multiple times? Yes.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think I should not tweet after 3am,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Twitter is now \"roughly breaking even\" Musk said while discussing its finances, as majority of the advertisers have returned.</div><div><br></div><div>It had not been easy cutting the workforce from just under 8,000 at the time he bought the firm to about 1,500, Musk added.</div><div><br></div><div>He acknowledged that he did not personally fire everyone, saying, \"It\'s not possible to talk with that many people face to face.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The exit of many Twitter engineers following Musk’s purchase of the company has raised questions about the platform\'s stability.</div><div><br></div><div>He admitted certain issues, such as site outages, but claimed that they had only lasted a brief period of time and that everything was presently great.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 20:52:38', '2023-04-12 20:52:38'),
(6335, 6335, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After fasting for a month during Ramadan, the biggest religious festival for Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr, arrives. Along with the celebrations, the occasion also brings new hopes and excitement to the entertainment and film industry of Bangladesh.</b> </span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Every year, filmmakers target this festive season to release their big-budget movies, featuring top stars and promising storylines. Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 is no exception. With a lineup of much-awaited movies, Dhallywood and Bangla OTT platforms are all set to entertain their audiences. From action thrillers to romantic dramas, this year\'s Eid releases promise to cater to a diverse range of tastes. Here\'s a look at the upcoming Bangladeshi movies that will hit the theaters during Eid-ul-Fitr.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>6 Most Anticipated Bangladeshi Movies Releasing on Eid-Ul-Fitr 2023</div><div>Leader: Amie Bangladesh</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladeshi film enthusiasts have been waiting for months for the release of \"Leader: Amie Bangladesh.\" Directed by Topu Khan, the movie features popular actors Shakib Khan and Shobnom Bubly. Directed by Topu Khan, the film is his first directorial venture, and it has been produced by Syed Ashik Rahman, director of Bengal Multimedia.</div><div><br></div><div>Though started in February 2021, the film’s shooting was halted due to the pandemic. The movie\'s production was finally wrapped up in October 2022. After getting clearance from the Censor Board, the film is now ready for release.</div><div><br></div><div>The movie\'s first look poster was unveiled in May 2021 at a press conference, and a 51-second teaser was released on National Film Day on April 3, 2023. The film is now set to be released during the upcoming Eid ul Fitr in 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Jinn</div><div>Jinn, an upcoming Bangladeshi psycho-thriller film, is finally set to hit the theaters after multiple attempts to release it. Directed by Nader Chowdhury and co-produced by Abdul Aziz and Alimullah Khokon under the banner of Jaaz Multimedia, the film features a star-studded cast including Puja Cherry, Ziaul Roshan, Shajal, Jannatun Nur Moon, and Shahid un Nabi in important roles.</div><div><br></div><div>The story of the film, penned by Abdul Aziz, revolves around the lives of Rafsan, a professional photographer portrayed by Shajal, and his wife Monalisa, played by Puja Cherry.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The film’s shooting began in August 2019, and after numerous delays, it is now scheduled to release in the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr 2023. With Saiful Shahin behind the camera, Mohammad Kalam handling the editing, and Javed Ahmed Kislu composing the music, Jinn promises a gripping cinematic experience for Bangladeshi moviegoers.</div><div><br></div><div>Kill Him</div><div>Fans of Bangladeshi cinema can look forward to the release of the action-thriller film \"Kill Him\" in 2023, featuring popular actors Ananta Jalil and Afiea Nusrat Barsha in lead roles. Directed and produced by Mohammad Iqbal under the banner of Sunan Movies, the film promises to be an exciting addition to the Dhallywood film industry.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In the film, the intense action sequences of Ananta and Rubel will entertain the audience. Fans were recently given a sneak peek of what\'s to come, as Ananta unveiled the poster of \"Kill Him\" on 10 April 2023. The film is expected to hit theaters on Eid-ul-Fitr this year. This film marks the first film of Ananta and Barsha outside of their own productions.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;Eid 2023 Bangladeshi films</div><div>Bangladeshi films targeting Eid-ul-Fitr 2023</div><div><br></div><div>Adam</div><div>Adam is another Bangladeshi film releasing on Eid-ul-Fitr 2023. Directed by Abu Tauhid Heron, the film features Yash Rohan and Jannatul Ferdous Oishee as the main leads. The film portrays the harsh reality of rural life during the 1980s, exploring the good and evil sides of human beings and their impact on society. \"Adam\" received the censor certificate in November 2022, and the first look poster was revealed on March 1, 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>The trailer was released on April 2, 2023, generating excitement among fans. The film is set to be released on the upcoming Eid ul Fitr in 2023, promising to be a must-see for those interested in hard-hitting dramas. With a talented cast that includes Allen Shuvro, Raisul Islam Asad, Shahiduzzaman Selim, and Monira Mithu, \"Adam\" is expected to deliver a powerful cinematic experience.</div><div><br></div><div>Paap: First Move</div><div>It is another awaited Bangladeshi film directed by Saikat Nasir and produced by Jaaz Multimedia. The film stars Eamin Haque and Ziaul Roshan in the lead roles, with Amaan Reza, Zakia Maha, and Ariyana Zaman in supporting roles. The film\'s shooting began on March 10, 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>The story, dialogue, and screenplay are penned by Abdul Aziz. \"Paap: First Move\" is the first part of the \"Paap\" franchise, with the second part set to release next year during the Eid festival. The film received its censor certificate on March 5, 2023, and the first official poster was revealed on April 5, 2023. The teaser was released on March 30, 2023, and the film is scheduled to be released in theaters on Eid-ul-Fitr this year. Fans are very curious about this film.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Kuhelica</div><div>Binge, the popular OTT platform, has recently released an original crime-thriller web film \'Kuhelika\' for the 2023 Eid-ul-Fitr. The film is directed and written by Samiur Rahman and produced by Good Company in association with Indie Reels. Binge released the trailer of this film on their official Facebook page.</div><div><br></div><div>The web film stars Safa Kabir, Yash Rohan, Nazia Haque Orsha, Shafayet Mansoor, Sharif Siraj, Rakib Hossain Evon, and Abu Hurayra Tanvir. The trailer showcases the characters navigating the criminal underworld. Fans of the genre can now watch the film on the Binge platform.</div><div><br></div><div>Conclusion</div><div>Eid-ul-Fitr 2023 is expected to bring some exciting new Bangladeshi movies for audiences to enjoy. From action thrillers to dramas exploring the realities of rural life, there is something for everyone to look forward to. With talented directors and cast members attached to each film, expectations are high. Fans are eagerly waiting for the release of these movies and can\'t wait to see what surprises they have in store. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:07:48', '2023-04-12 21:07:48'),
(6336, 6336, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday alerted her party members that many conspiracies might be hatched nationally and internationally against the country in the future as vested quarters can’t tolerate the rapid progress of Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“There’ll be many conspiracies nationally and internationally (in the coming days). Because those who don’t want a country to make so much development have been working against Bangladesh,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), made this remarks when leaders and activists of different district units of AL met her at the PM’s official residence Ganabhaban here.</div><div><br></div><div>She asked AL leaders to make the party stronger as an organization and work keeping the next general election in their minds.</div><div><br></div><div>“You will have to work keeping it in your mind so that the progress of Bangladesh would continue,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said her government has relentlessly been working for the welfare of the people. “So, the people vote for us. It is the reality. So, we don’t need to rig votes. AL comes to power gaining the confidence of the people by serving them….AL always came to power through votes,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Focusing her government’s success in the development of Bangladesh, the PM said it connected the country’s southern region with the capital through recent construction of Padma Bridge, and earlier connected the northern region through construction of Bangabandhu Bridge over Jamuna River during its rule from 1996-2001.</div><div><br></div><div>The scope for connectivity in the entire Bangladesh has been created. So, the country is witnessing the socio-economic development and will witness it further, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>PM Hasina said her government has reached electricity to 100 percent houses, is ensuring healthcare services, raised the literacy rate and reduced the child and maternal mortality rates.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government has successfully been able to do whatever is essential for the development of a country.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the outcome of the recent Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the PM said the poverty rate declined to 18.7 percent now from 41 percent in 2006 while the extreme poverty rate to 5.6 percent from 25 percent in 2006.</div><div><br></div><div>“No person will remain an extreme poor in the country,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said her government proved that AL in power means the fate of the people gets improved.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL President said the BNP and Jatiya Party were born from the pockets of military dictators.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The parties like BNP and Jatiya Party did not emerge from the soil and the people,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the two parties came to power with guns, the people rejected them.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM criticized the BNP leaders and their like-minded people for not seeing the huge development of Bangladesh.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“They continue telling lies everyday using loudspeakers. I can’t understand why they continue telling lies even on Ramadan days!” she said, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She recalled that the BNP-led 20-party alliance won only 29 out of 300 seats in 2008 parliamentary polls, though none could raise any question about that election. The position of BNP still remains unchanged, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:20:45', '2023-04-12 21:20:45'),
(6337, 6337, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">After four decades, Bangladesh got back about one acre of disputed land on Naogaon border, thanks to the initiative of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has been obstructing Bangladeshi farmers since 1977 from cultivating around one acre of land — located at Ramchandrapur under Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon district, inside Bangladesh territory, some 100 yards from border pillar 257/20-R.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The disputed area is under the jurisdiction of Agradigun BOP of BGB Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB).</div><div><br></div><div>A flag meeting was held between BGB and BSF at the battalion commander level on the call of Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB) near border pillar 257/20-R from 11 am to 1:15 pm (Bangladesh time) today.</div><div><br></div><div>At the flag meeting, Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB) Commanding Officer Lt. Col Md. Hamid Uddin led an 8-member BGB member delegation, while Commandant of India\'s Patiram battalion (164 BSF Battalion) Sanjay Kumar Mishra led a 6-member BSF delegation.</div><div><br></div><div>Due to BGB initiative, after 4 decades Bangladesh gets back 1 acre of disputed land on Naogaon border&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>During the flag meeting, land surveyors of Bangladesh and India scrutinized various documents of the disputed land and also conducted survey work in presence of the two battalions\' commanders. After the surface survey, it appeared that the disputed land is in the territory of Bangladesh. In this regard, the BSF Battalion Commander assured that the results of the survey will be communicated to Bangladesh very quickly through a letter, Lt. Col Md. Hamid Uddin said.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, both the commanders expressed their determination to work together to ensure the safety of the frontier people and maintain peace and order along the border.</div><div><br></div><div>Through today\'s flag meeting, Bangladesh got back the ownership of about one acre of land after four decades in a peaceful way. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:32:23', '2023-04-12 21:32:23'),
(6338, 6338, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">All secondary schools and colleges across the country have been asked to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar.</span><br></b></div><div><b>&nbsp;</b></div><div>\"The educational institutions across the country must organise students\' rallies in the morning as part of the celebration of Pahela Baishahk,\" said the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) today.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>DSHE director Prof Shahedul Kabir said that they sent an order to all schools and colleges on Tuesday regarding the Pahela Baishakh celebration following a directive from the Ministry of Education.</div><div><br></div><div>The DSHE has directed that the students must sing the national anthem, as well as \"Esho He Baishakh,\" a popular song by Rabindranath Tagore, to welcome the Bangla New Year on that day as part of the celebrations.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>About \'Mangal Shobhajatra\', the DSHE has also asked the authorities concerned to bring out the \'Mangal Shobhajatra,\' which was declared an \"intangible cultural heritage\" by Unesco in 2016. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:42:37', '2023-04-12 21:42:37'),
(6339, 6339, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said that the government has increased fertiliser prices “abnormally” to meet the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The prices of commodities are going up unusually since the government is raising the tariffs of electricity and gas — accepting conditions of the IMF to stay in power. Now the prices of fertilisers farmers must use have been hiked unusually,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul made the remarks at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office while presenting Eid gifts to family members of opposition leaders and activists who were “victims of enforced disappearance under the current government.”</div><div><br></div><div>BNP sources said the party, on behalf of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman, will provide Eid gifts to “1,000 families of the victims of killings, repression, and enforced disappearance across the country.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the government urged the farmers to accept the raised prices of fertilisers for the sake of development. “What development and whose development is it? This development is the ruling party’s own development.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said discrimination has widened in Bangladesh since the ruling party leaders are “making money, buying houses, and cars, and living a luxurious life by indulging in plundering while the common people are struggling to eat and make ends meet.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The prices of all things have gone beyond their purchasing capacity,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul also alleged that the Awami League government has been trying to hang onto power by “resorting to killing, repression, and enforced disappearance after getting isolated from the people.”</div><div><br></div><div>\"The entire country has now become a killing ground. If you open the newspapers, you’ll only see reports on murder and disappearance,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said people of Bangladesh did not know the term “enforced disappearance” before the Awami League government came to power in 2009.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Awami League has “introduced the culture of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh to eliminate its political opponents.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader claimed that around 700 leaders and workers of their party were disappeared, and over 1,000 were killed during the tenure of the current government. “A horrible situation has been prevailing in the country for the last 14/15 years. The victims’ relatives said here (at the programme) that they could not see their fathers and brothers for 10/11 years.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said they send Eid gifts to the victims’ families every year to remind them that BNP has not forgotten them. “We want to remind them that we are with them.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul said the people of Bangladesh have now decided that they will no longer remain silent after being subjected to killing, enforced disappearance, and torture. “People are starting to wake up.”</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that their party’s “17 leaders and activists were killed by police on the streets in the recent movement,” he said the blood of the slain democracy-loving people and the cries of their family members and children can never go in vain. “Victory will be ours. We must be able to establish a government of people by removing the current repressive and fascist regime.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party wants to build a truly free and independent democratic country where no one will be subjected to enforced disappearance and where people can live freely with security. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 21:55:36', '2023-04-12 21:55:36'),
(6340, 6340, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Wednesday that the movement of trucks, long vehicles or trailers carrying construction materials will be prohibited for three days prior to Eid.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have decided that movement of cargo trucks carrying construction materials such as rods, cement, sand will be stopped from three days before Eid. Apart from these, other trucks carrying goods will run”, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“At the same time, long vehicle travel will also be closed. They will resume from the day after Eid”, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister made the remarks while speaking with journalists at the ministry\'s conference room after a meeting to review the overall law and order situation, ensure payment of workers\' salaries and allowances and keep highways safe and free from traffic jams during Eid-ul-Fitr.</div><div><br></div><div>The minister said that the representatives of BGMEA, BKMEA and relevant organisations have pledged to pay the salary and bonus for the month of March before the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday begins.</div><div><br></div><div>If they can, they will pay the salary of April too, said the minister. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-12 22:02:38', '2023-04-12 22:02:38'),
(6341, 6341, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ex-US President Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer for $500m (£400m), alleging breach of contract.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He says Michael Cohen breached his duty as attorney to act in his client\'s best interests.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The lawsuit comes amid escalating attacks from Trump allies on Cohen, who is a key witness in a New York investigation into the ex-president.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">A Manhattan prosecutor last week charged Mr Trump with fraud in relation to hush money payments to a porn star.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen\'s spokesman and lawyer, Lanny Davis, told the BBC he was confident the lawsuit against his client would fail.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The legal action, filed in a Florida federal court, also accuses Cohen of making \"improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family members, and his business\".</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen worked as Mr Trump\'s attorney for over a decade. He was also a vice-president at the Trump Organization, and was often described as Mr Trump\'s fixer.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">But the two had a major falling out after the 2016 election, as investigators began looking into several of Mr Trump\'s aides.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Now out of prison, Cohen has become a high-profile critic of Mr Trump, and a frequent guest on news programmes.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">He has written a book and hosts a podcast, both of which Mr Trump cites in the lawsuit.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen\'s lawyer, Mr Davis, said in a statement to the BBC: \"Mr Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are co-operating with prosecutors against him.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Mr Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law.\"</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">New York prosecutors have charged Mr Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in what they say was an effort to cover up payments intended to keep a porn star, Stormy Daniels, quiet about her alleged affair with Mr Trump.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">On 4 April, Mr Trump appeared in Manhattan criminal court - the first former US president ever indicted on criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Cohen has admitted that as Trump\'s fixer, he facilitated a $130,000 pay-out to Ms Daniels.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">As Mr Trump\'s court date approached, Cohen made numerous appearances on major network news programmes and criticised his former boss.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"He\'s not thick-skinned,\" Cohen told CNN after Mr Trump\'s indictment. \"He\'s actually very thin-skinned, and he has a very fragile ego.\" BBC</p><p style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 08:44:23', '2023-04-13 08:44:23');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(6342, 6342, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea launched a ballistic missile on a high angle that landed between the Korean Peninsula and Japan early Thursday, continuing its provocative run of weapons tests. The launch prompted Japan to issue an evacuation order that was later retracted for a northern island, showing the vigilance of North Korea\'s neighbors over its evolving missile threats.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea\'s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile launched from near the North Korean capital Pyongyang flew toward the waters off the North\'s east coast. The statement described the missile as having a medium or longer range but didn\'t say how far it flew.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters that North Korea launched a possible intercontinental ballistic missile at a high angle. Hamada said the missile did not reach Japan\'s exclusive economic zone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters he planned a National Security Council meeting to discuss the launch. Asked over the accuracy of Japan\'s information dissemination about future North Korean launches, Kishida said the government is checking related information including alerts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. All its past ICBM launches were made in the area, but on elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea and Japan typically don\'t issue evacuation orders for North Korea launches unless they determine weapons flew in the direction of their territories.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But after Thursday\'s launch, the Japanese government urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter. The government then corrected and retracted its missile alert, saying its analysis showed there was no possibility of a missile landing near Hokkaido.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was unclear why Japan issued the order for a missile that didn\'t fall near the island, but the incident suggested it was being cautious about North Korea\'s evolving missile threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last October, Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. At the time, Japanese authorities alerted residents in its northeastern regions to seek shelter and halted trains, although no damages were reported before the weapon landed in the Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thursday\'s launch came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more \"practical and offensive\" ways.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has launched about 100 missiles this year and in 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many were in response to South Korea-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea wants to use its rivals\' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea\'s growing nuclear and missile threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a military meeting Monday, Kim reviewed the country\'s frontline attack plans and various combat documents and stressed the need to bolster his nuclear deterrent with \"increasing speed on a more practical and offensive\" manner, according to North Korea\'s official Korean Central News Agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. The North\'s alleged suspension of communications on those channels could be worrisome because they are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals\' disputed western sea boundary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seoul\'s point man on the North, expressed \"strong regret\" over North Korea\'s \"unilateral and irresponsible attitude\" over the hotlines. Kwon also warned of unspecified legal action over the North\'s use of South Korean assets at a now-stalled inter-Korean factory park in North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in North Korea in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, removing the last remaining major symbol of cooperation between the rivals. North Korean state media recently showed what appeared to be South Korean commuter buses running in the streets of Kaesong and Pyongyang.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Yoon\'s government has been seeking stronger U.S. assurances that it will surely and swiftly use all its military capabilities, including nuclear, to protect South Korea in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea\'s weapons testing spree has also raised the urgency for Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen their defense postures in conjunction with their alliances with the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts say the discussions between world leaders at next month\'s Group of Seven meetings in Japan could also be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea given the dysfunction at the U.N. Security Council. Permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia\'s war on Ukraine. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 09:09:10', '2023-04-13 09:09:10'),
(6343, 6343, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique has drawn a direct relationship between the number of judges, needed to dispense justice in the country, and the high number of cases pending in the judicial system.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the number of judges in the country is very low compared to the cases. As a result, the average length of the cases is increasing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He assured his listeners though that the judges are trying their best to reduce the backlog. The process of appointing new judges is underway.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said for the 40 lakh cases (approximately the number of cases pending) in the country\'s judicial system, from the lower judiciary all the way up to the Supreme Court, there are only 2,000 judges. But work is already underway to appoint 102 judges, he informed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chief Justice made his remarks after laying the foundation stone for the construction of \'Naykunja\', which will be a restroom of the justice-seekers who come to the nearest district court, at the Jhenaidah court premises on Wednesday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are working to alleviate the sufferings of the justice seekers coming to the court. For this, Naykunja is being built in the district. The government has allocated Tk 35 crore for this purpose. At least Tk 50 lakh will be given in each district for the construction of Naykunja,” said the Chief Justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique also said 82,000 cases were filed in the Supreme Court last year. Of these, 79,000 cases have been disposed of. That means 95 percent were settled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We are hopeful that the judges will be able to solve the case by working hard,\" he said. “In that case, lawyers have to help the court. So that everyone can reduce the litigation together.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Supreme Court Registrar Tofail Hasan, Jhenaidah District and Sessions Judge Md Nazimuddoula, Deputy Commissioner SM Rafiqul Islam, were present at the time, among others. 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, '2023-04-13 09:53:07', '2023-04-13 09:53:07'),
(6344, 6344, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine launched an investigation Wednesday into a gruesome video that purportedly shows the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier, in the latest accusation of atrocities said to have been committed by Russia since it invaded in February 2022.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video spread quickly online and drew outrage from officials in Kyiv, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as international organizations. The Kremlin called the footage \"horrible\" but said it needed to be verified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Associated Press was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the video or the circumstances of where and when it was shot. The AP is not distributing the video or using frame grabs due to its extremely graphic nature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a Russian defense official claimed that fighters from Russia\'s paramilitary Wagner group have seized three districts of Bakhmut, the embattled city that for months has been the focus of Moscow\'s grinding campaign in the east.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video circulating online appears to show a man in green fatigues wearing a yellow armband, typically donned by Ukrainian fighters. His screams are heard before another man in camouflage uses a knife to decapitate him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A third man holds up a flak jacket apparently belonging to the man being beheaded. All three men speak in Russian.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since Russia\'s forces invaded on Feb. 24, 2022, they have committed widespread abuses and alleged war crimes, according to the United Nations, rights groups and reporting by The Associated Press. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting apartment buildings and other civilian structures and equipment in its strikes, and images of hundreds of dead civilians in the streets and in mass graves in Bucha after Russian forces withdrew from the city have horrified the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kremlin denies it has committed war crimes or that it has targeted civilians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukrainian troops have also been accused of abuses, and last year Kyiv said it would investigate video circulating online that Moscow alleged showed Ukrainian forces killing Russian troops who may have been trying to surrender.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelenksyy said the violence in the latest video would not be forgotten, and that Russian forces would be held responsible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everyone must react, every leader. Do not expect that it will be forgotten, that time will pass,\" he said in a video.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In it, he used strong language to describe Russian soldiers, calling them \"beasts.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later Wednesday, at a roundtable of IMF and World Bank meetings, Zelenskyy called in a video for a moment of silence for the Ukrainian soldier killed in the apparent beheading.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the video was \"horrible\" but must be verified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"In the world of fakes we live in, the authenticity of the footage must be checked,\" he said in a conference call with reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s state security service opened an investigation, according to a statement from Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the agency, known as the SBU. Officials are studying the video to identify those responsible, as well as the victim, according to Hanna Maliar, the deputy head of the Defense Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Posters on pro-Kremlin Russian Telegram channels, while not confirming the video\'s authenticity, did not dispute it. Some sought to justify it by saying combat has hardened Russian troops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Andrei Medvedev, a Russian state TV journalist and a member of the Moscow city legislature, speculated that the video\'s release was \"fairly opportune\" for the Ukrainian army, saying it could help \"fire up personnel ideologically\" ahead of a planned major counteroffensive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, also linked the video\'s release to the expected offensive but said it was meant to \"demoralize the public mood or at least change the psychological perception of the war right now.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine\'s human rights chief said he will request that the U.N. Human Rights Committee investigate. Dmytro Lubinets said he has also written to the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights, the U.N. Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the International Committee of the Red Cross.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He wrote on Telegram that \"a public execution of a captive is yet another indication of a breach of Geneva Convention norms, international humanitarian law, a breach of the fundamental right to life.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it had previously documented \"serious violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed against prisoners of war,\" adding that \"the latest incidents must also be properly investigated and the perpetrators must be held accountable.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guterres \"had also seen the video and was horrified by it and supports the call for the perpetrators to be held to account,\" said U.N. spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The video provoked an outcry among Ukrainians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is horrifying,\" said Mykola Drobot, 44, of Kyiv. \"Such things cannot happen without the consent -- silent or not -- of the military and political leadership.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another Kyiv resident, Yuliia Sievierina, 40, speculated the video was meant as \"moral pressure on us to consider ourselves even more oppressed and emotionally torn.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It doesn\'t work,\" she told the AP. \"It only creates more anger and thirst for resistance.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war\'s front lines have been largely frozen for months, with much of the fighting focused around the city of Bakhmut.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Wagner forces had made progress there. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment, but Zelenskyy has said before that his troops could pull out if they face a threat of encirclement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Konashenkov did not specify which neighborhoods of Bakhmut are under Russian control, or how much of the city remains in Ukrainian hands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elsewhere, at least four civilians were wounded as Russian forces shelled a Ukrainian-held town near the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, said regional Gov. Serhii Lysak.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said in a Telegram post that \"people are being pulled out from under the rubble\" after Russian shelling destroyed 13 houses and cars in Nikopol, across the Dnieper River from the plant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko alleged Russian forces attacked a town in the eastern Donetsk province with cluster munitions — banned by an international treaty — wounding one person. An AP and Frontline database called War Crimes Watch Ukraine has cataloged how Russia has used cluster bombs. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 09:58:06', '2023-04-13 09:58:06'),
(6345, 6345, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the goals set out for the Indo-Pacific region are not much different from Bangladesh’s, but the only concern is about its defence aspect, if any.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“Only thing we are afraid of — if it is designed for a defence pact, because we are a peace-loving country. We don’t have any intention (to fight against anyone). We would like to see development in the whole region. We want security (in the region) but no defence pact,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen made the remarks while responding to a question during a conversation on economic diplomacy with a focus on growth and development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Onero Institute partnered with the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center for the session held at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dialogue was moderated by the senior director of the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, Irfan Nooruddin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said Bangladesh does not have any disagreements on the issue and it also wants open, free, secure and freely navigable Indo-Pacific under the international laws.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh wants economic development in the whole Indo-Pacific region and finds many things in common with the goals set up. “We don’t have much difference. We believe the next century is for Asia and the Indo-Pacific provides an opportunity and potential.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question on India-US-China, Momen said the US and China have their own tensions. “The US is our old friend while we have rock-solid relations with India. China became our development partner as they have money,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the western countries including the US “do not come up with money but they come up with advice except for some exceptions.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are very prudent in accepting loans from China. We signed agreements on a big amount but we took a very small amount. It can’t influence our policies,” Momen said while responding to another question.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said Bangladesh is a “hub of connectivity” and maintains very good relations with all its neighbours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have resolved all critical issues with India peacefully through dialogue and discussion,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Though Myanmar is a difficult case, we don’t have any quarrel with them. We have only one difficult problem (Rohingyas),” Momen added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He highlighted issues related to emerging Bangladesh, its socioeconomic achievements, economic partnership and prospects with the USA, economic and public diplomacy, regional development and navigating relations with major powers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said regional peace and stability are essential for development and those countries developed where there is peace and stability.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For example, Singapore. It is peace and stability that has made Singapore an attraction for the whole of Asia,” Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to see development in the whole region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If we develop together, we can go much further. To make our achievements sustainable, we need regional development,” Momen said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh is a land of opportunity and any country can invest in Bangladesh. “If we work together, we will achieve a lot.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On climate issues, Momen said Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries on the climate front and sought cooperation and collaboration to address the common challenges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Climate issue is a global issue. We all have to work together in partnership and collaboration to save this planet for our future generation. There has to be a political commitment,” he said, highlighting the initiatives that Bangladesh has taken on the adaptation front.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister said they are lucky that they have a remarkably dynamic and pragmatic leader like Sheikh Hasina who brought development miracles with her commitment despite many challenges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IRI Officials Keen to Observe Bangladesh Polls</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Foreign Minister Momen joined a meeting as the chief guest at the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Washington DC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the meeting, he talked about Bangladesh’s political landscape, its electoral process and preparedness for a free, fair and participatory general election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">IRI officials expressed their interest to observe the general election which was cordially welcomed by the foreign minister. President of the Institute Daniel Twining moderated the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran, Director General (North America) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khandker Masudul Alam and officials of Bangladesh Embassy were present at the two events.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Momen also visited Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST) in Virginia founded by a Bangladeshi entrepreneur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He delivered a speech as the chief guest at a discussion session organised by the university authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister highly praised the authorities for establishing such a higher educational institution in the USA and wished for its overall success.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President of the University Hasan Karaburk and Chancellor and founder Engineer Abubokor Hanip, among others, spoke at the event, while faculty members and students of the university and officials of Bangladesh Embassy were present on the occasion. 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, '2023-04-13 10:55:09', '2023-04-13 10:55:09'),
(6346, 6346, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Stefano Pioli said that AC Milan should have given themselves more than a one-goal lead in their Champions League quarter-final derby with Napoli after their fellow Italians finished the first leg with 10 men.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milan had a quarter of an hour to extend their advantage earned from Ismael Bennacer\'s first-half strike when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off for two quick-fire bookings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s the only regret we have, we should have been more clear-headed,\" Pioli told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a shame but they gave a lot. It\'s a good result after a good&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">performance, let\'s hope for the next one.\"</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Milan now have to defend a slim lead at the Stadio Maradona in Naples, with the prospect of a semi-final clash with local rivals Inter after they handily won at Benfica on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It will be difficult match, Napoli are a good team with a lot of quality,&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">the team which up to now had scored the most goals in the Champions League,\" added Pioli.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We had a lot of difficult moments tonight... We\'re expecting Napoli to come at us and we need to put everything out there on the pitch. We won\'t get our approach wrong... no one here thinks we\'ve already won.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti said he would quit if the fans didn\'t create</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">an intimidating atmosphere for the second leg after tensions between fans and the owner Aurelio De Laurentiis bubbled over in recent weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protests from hardcore supporters against De Laurentiis over what they</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">believe are his attempts to remove them from the stadium has left home games flatter than one would expect after such a brilliant season for such a&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">passionate fanbase.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Napoli\'s four-goal home hammering at the hands of Milan in the league earlier this month was played in a bizarre atmosphere, with little chanting and even fights breaking out between home supporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If it happens again for the second leg I will quit. For what we\'re&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">contending, for the sensitivity these players have because... these players&nbsp;</span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">are sensitive to what goes on around them,\" said Spalletti.</span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We played in an atmosphere which did not help us. It\'s inexplicable not</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">helping the team in that moment.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 11:05:24', '2023-04-13 11:05:24'),
(6347, 6347, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Five people were dead and one person was injured after a bus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw collided in Chattogram\'s Boalkhali upazila today, police said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identities of the victims could not be known immediately. They were passengers of the auto-rickshaw.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Boalkhali police station said four of them were dead on the spot while another died on the way to the hospital. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two vehicles, involved in the collision, were seized from the spot. 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, '2023-04-13 11:37:21', '2023-04-13 11:37:21'),
(6348, 6348, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality remained unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 125 at 9 am, Dhaka ranked 19th in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s Beijing, Thailand’s Chiang Mai, and China’s Shenyang occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 502, 260 and 200, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered \'unhealthy\', AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 11:41:01', '2023-04-13 11:41:01'),
(6349, 6349, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The country is set to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bengali New Year-1430, tomorrow upholding the rich cultural values and rituals of the Bangalees.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\'The Bangla Nabobarsho festival\' is also going to be celebrated at its traditional venue Ramna Batamul here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year, the first day of the Bangla calendar, will be celebrated following its all rituals at the venue along with bringing out the traditional \'Mangal Shovajatra\' (procession) organized by the Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But, due to the ongoing holy month of Ramadan, it will be celebrated on a limited scale.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People are expected to join the \"Nabo Barsho\" festivities across the country, particularly in the capital city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pahela Baishakh is one of the most colourful festivals through which the Bangalees bid farewell to the old year and welcome the New Year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On this occasion, people from all walks of life wear traditional Bengali dresses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Young women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with bangles, flowers, and tips, while men wear white pyjamas and panjabi or kurta.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has drawn up an elaborate programme. The Mongol Shovajatra will be brought out at divisional, district and upazila levels to reach the traditional programme to the grassroots as it has earned the international recognition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, business communities, especially in the rural areas, are ready to open their traditional \'Halkhata\', new account books. On the day traders also offer sweets to customers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are expected to issue separate messages greeting the countrymen on the eve of the Pahela Baishakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All secondary schools and colleges of the country are asked to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The educational institutions across the country must organise student rallies in the morning as part of celebration of Pahela Baishahk,\" said the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Wednesday (April 12).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DSHE director Prof Shahedul Kabir said that DSHE sent an order to all schools and colleges on Tuesday regarding Pahela Baishakh celebration following a directive of the Ministry of Education.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DSHE directed that the students must sing the national anthem, as well as \"Esho He Baishakh,\" a popular song by Rabindranath Tagore, to welcome the Bangla New Year on that day as part of the celebrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About \'Mangal Shobhajatra\' the DSHE also asked the authorities concerned to \"publicise\" the\' Mangal Shobhajatra,\' which was declared an \"intangible cultural heritage\" by Unesco in 2016.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Awami League (AL), one of the country\'s oldest political parties, has drawn up programmes to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To observe the day, Dhaka South City unit of AL will bring out a colorful procession in the city on April 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession will start from Bahadur Shah Park in the capital on Friday at 7 am where AL central leaders including the party\'s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will participate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The procession will parade different areas of the city and end at AL\'s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, a discussion will also be held in front of Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka at 7 am on the same day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka South City AL Acting President Nurul Amin Ruhul, MP, will preside over the discussion while Dhaka South City unit of AL General Secretary Humayun Kabir will conduct it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different government and non-government organisations, socio-cultural platforms, including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Bangla Academy, Department of Public Libraries, the National Museum, Kabi Nazrul Institute, Copyright Office, National Book Centre, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), the Department of Archives and Library and Dhaka University will hold various programmes along with seminars, exhibitions and quiz, essay and art compositions to observe the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of the Bengali New Year celebrations, Baishakhi rallies will be organized in all districts, upazilas and unions of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, local administration will organize quiz competitions, cultural programmes and folk fairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The programmes of the day usually begin in the city with the musical soiree of Chhayanat, a leading cultural organisation of the country, at Ramna Batamul at dawn.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private television channels will live broadcast the programmes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The city people usually start the day with the traditional breakfast of \'panta bhat\' (soaked rice), green chili, onion and fried fish at Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Uddyan, Dhaka University Campus, Rabindra Sarobor at Dhanmondi and other amusement places. But, on the month of Ramadan, this traditional way of celebrating Pahela Baishahk might not widely be followed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Graffiti are expected to be painted in the walls signifying the arts, culture and heritage of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the occasion, all museum and archaeological sites will remain open for all while children, students, people with disabilities and autism will be allowed to visit the museum free of cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Improved traditional food will be distributed to jail inmates, patients in hospitals and orphanages on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh missions abroad will also organise different programmes to welcome the New Year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The law enforcement agencies will take extensive security measures across the country so that people could celebrate the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different national dailies will publish colourful supplements while Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and other private TV and radio channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of Pahela Baishakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some historians attribute the Bengali calendar to the 7th century king Shashanka, which was later modified by Mughal emperor Akbar for the purpose of tax collection.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the Mughal rule, land taxes were collected from Bengali people according to the Islamic Hijri calendar. This calendar was a lunar calendar, and its new year did not coincide with the solar agricultural cycles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Akbar asked the royal astronomer Fathullah Shirazi to create a new calendar by combining the lunar Islamic calendar and solar Hindu calendar already in use, and this was known as Fasholi shan (harvest calendar). BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 12:28:37', '2023-04-13 12:28:37'),
(6350, 6350, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Airport Armed Police Battalion has launched a special operation to prevent smuggling on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The battalion seized 973 grams of gold, 104 mobile phones, 50 cartons of cigarettes, 35 kg of beauty creams, two laptops and 600 grams of liquor in a day-long special drive on Wednesday (April 12), Mohammad Ziaul Haque, additional superintendent of the force, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The market value of the seized goods is around Tk 1.5 crore, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The goods were seized from Ismail Hossain, Zaker Ullah, Nazrul Islam, Mohammad Forkan, Abdullah Al Faruk, Jahidul Islam Nayan, Mohammad Hossain, Helal Uddin, Abu Sufian, Mohammad Hasan Mahmud, Shahidul Islam, Mohammad Ayat Ullah and Md Amran Hossain. They returned home from Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Oman, according to the Airport Armed Police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ziaul Haque said: “A smuggling&nbsp; group has been very active on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. We’ll be conducting regular drives based on information.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The seized items have been handed over to the customs authorities and legal action has been taken, he added. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-04-13 12:40:39', '2023-04-13 12:40:39');
