INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12025, 12025, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Joe Biden can breathe a bit easier, at least for the moment, now that Israel and Iran appear to have stepped back from the brink of tipping the Middle East into all-out war.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran and Syria caused limited damage. The restrained action came after Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to temper its response to Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israel last week and avoid an escalation of violence in the region. Iran’s barrage of drones and missiles inflicted little damage and followed a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus this month that killed two generals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran’s public response to the Israeli strikes Friday also was muted, raising hopes that Israel-Iran tensions — long carried out in the shadows with cyberattacks, assassinations and sabotage — will stay at a simmer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The situation remains a delicate one for Biden as he gears up his reelection effort in the face of headwinds in the Middle East, Russia and the Indo-Pacific. All are testing the proposition he made to voters during his 2020 campaign that a Biden White House would bring a measure of calm and renewed respect for the United States on the world stage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign policy matters are not typically the top issue for American voters. This November is expected to be no different, with the economy and border security carrying greater resonance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But public polling suggests that overseas concerns could have more relevance with voters than in any US election since 2006, when voter dissatisfaction over the Iraq War was a major factor in the Republican Party losing 30 House and six Senate seats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We see this issue rising in saliency, and at the same time we’re seeing voter appraisals of President Biden’s handling of foreign affairs being quite negative,” said Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. “That combination is not a great one for Biden.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden has staked enormous political capital on his response to the Israel-Hamas war as well as his administration’s backing of Ukraine as it fends off a Russian invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The apparent de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran also comes as the House on Saturday approved $95 billion in wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, a measure that Biden has pushed for as Ukrainian forces run desperately short on arms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, pushed the package forward after months of delay as he faced the threat of ouster by his party’s right flank. The legislation now awaits a vote in the Senate. The new money would provide a surge of weaponry to the front lines, giving the White House renewed hope that Ukraine can right the ship after months of setbacks in the war. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-21 12:40:58', '2024-04-21 12:40:58'),
(12026, 12026, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>The Bangladeshi-flagged ship ‘MV Abdullah’ which was released with all 23 crew members after 31 days of captivity by Somali pirates who hijacked the ship in the Indian Ocean, reached Al Hamriya Port of Dubai safely on Sunday.</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cargo vessel anchored at the port around 4:30 pm (Bangladesh time), said Mizanul Islam, media advisor KSRM group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The vessel is now kept anchored at the port, according to the Marine Traffic Website.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The vessel will be taken to the jetty for unloading coals today or tomorrow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Captain of MV Abdullah, Mohammad Abdur Rashid, said all the 23 crew members are safe and sound and two crew members will go to Bangladesh by a flight while the others will reach the vessel in the first week of May after unloading coal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladeshi-flagged ship and its 23 crew members were released on April 13.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It took eight days to reach the United Arab Emirates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Somali news outlet reported that MV Abdullah was released for $5 million (Tk 55 crore).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on March 12 at 1:30 pm Bangladesh time, Somali pirates boarded and took control of the MV Abdullah while it was en route from the port of Maputo, Mozambique, to the United Arab Emirates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ship was carrying 55,000 tons of coal. All 23 crew members on board are Bangladeshis. The ship is owned by SR Shipping Limited, an affiliate of Chattogram-based Kabir Group. The pirates then took the ship to the coast of Somalia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nine days after the ship was hijacked, the pirates contacted the ship\'s owner\'s group to demand ransom. There were then negotiations at various levels. The ship\'s owner had hinted that the sailors would be released this month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">SR Shipping is one of the largest shipping companies in the country. They operate ocean-going merchant ships. The bulk carrier MV Abdullah, with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 45,653 tons, has an overall length (LOA) of 185.74 metres and a width of 30.4 metres. 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, '2024-04-21 18:06:18', '2024-04-21 18:06:18'),
(12027, 12027, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called for increasing adaptive capacity and strengthening resilience to build a safe and beautiful world for future generations.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We aim to build a safe and beautiful world for future generations. Achieving this goal requires increasing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and undertaking coordinated risk reduction initiatives,” she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this while inaugurating the four-day UN Climate Adaptation Conference National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In order ro achieve this goal she put forward six stems.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">First, major carbon-emitting countries must take effective action to reduce their emissions to limit global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Second, commitments by developed countries to an annual climate fund of $100 billion must be met. This fund must be equally distributed between adaptation and mitigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Third, developed countries must ensure efficient energy solutions and the transfer of technologies to developing countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fourth, during the transition to renewable energy, the development priorities of the countries involved should be taken into account based on their loss and damage;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifth, all countries must share the responsibility for the rehabilitation of people displaced by sea-level rise, salinity, river erosion, floods, and droughts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, major economies must work globally in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary&nbsp; Farhina Ahmed, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Steele and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury were among others also spoke at the programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that although Bangladesh\'s contribution to global carbon emissions is less than 0.48 percent, it is one of the most affected and vulnerable countries to its negative impact.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These adverse effects of climate change threaten our potential development and economic prosperity. Continued global warming is raising sea levels,” she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As a result, she mentioned,&nbsp; a large swath of southwestern Bangladesh, which comprises about 12–17 percent of the country\'s total area, is at risk of submergence by the end of this century.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have made the call to the developed world to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C,” she said.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina mentioned that in 2015, Bangladesh formulated the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and submitted it to the UNFCCC in 2021 after updating.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the document, she said, Bangladesh set an unconditional 6.73 percent and a conditional 15.12greenhouse gas emission reduction target.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also mentioned that Bangladesh has reduced the use of fossil fuels and increased the use of renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in 2023 it formulated the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP), which aims to reach from vulnerability to resilience to prosperity while combating the adverse impacts of climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, she said in the adaptation and mitigation programs of the MCPP, emphasis has been laid on the spontaneous participation of local people and stakeholders and nature-based solutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has already formulated the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for 2022–2050 and submitted it to the UNFCCC in October 2022. In this plan, 113 priority programs have been identified in 8 sectors across 11 climate risk areas,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She sated that for this purpose Bangladesh needs approximately 230 billion US dollars to implement the action plans adopted in the NAP over the next 27 years.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I urge the rich countries and the international community to provide specific funds and additional financial resources.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that developed countries are contributing more to global warming through massive carbon emissions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is their moral responsibility to protect the people affected by climate change. During our tenure as the chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), we repeatedly called for implementing the pledge of providing $100 billion per year by developed countries for adaptation and mitigation activities. I hope the developed countries will abide by their promises.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also urged the international community and wealthy nations to continue providing financial, scientific, and technical assistance to Bangladesh and other countries facing threats from the adverse impacts of climate change, even after graduation to developing countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the COP-26 decision, she said, developed countries should double their adaptation financing by 2025 compared to 2019.&nbsp; She urged rich countries to fulfil this commitment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It should be ensured that countries that have already formulated NAPs can easily and quickly access financial support from all available sources, including the UNFCCC, to implement their NAPs.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that Bangladesh is taking appropriate actions in adaptation and mitigation to reduce the potential damage caused by climate change.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In this case, Bangladesh will take the necessary initiatives to access funding from the UNFCCC\'s Loss and Damage Fund.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that Bangladesh has always been working with the international community to combat the impacts of climate change.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the leadership of the prime minister\'s office, she said, Bangladesh has already formed the \"Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP\" with development partners where all parties have agreed on this, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She hoped that the BCDP will significantly contribute to implementing the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, National Adaptation Plan, National Determined Contribution, and Vision 2041 of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Let\'s work together to protect this planet more intensively,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the programme, the prime minister also launched the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 08:56:11', '2024-04-22 08:56:11'),
(12028, 12028, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The prevailing heat wave condition over the country may continue for 72 hours commencing Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued an alert in this regard on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>It also said, Due to increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persists.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 09:11:46', '2024-04-22 09:11:46'),
(12029, 12029, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday inaugurated the four day UN Climate Adaptation Conference National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NAP Expo is an international forum where countries, organisations and other relevant stakeholders interact and exchange experiences in the formulation and implementation of NAP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event will serve as a platform for sharing insights on climate adaptation strategies from around the world, fostering mutual benefits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some 383 representatives from 104 countries have registered with UNFCCC to participate in NAP Expo 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, 550 people, including representatives of various ministries, departments and organisations of the country, climate experts, representatives of NGOs and volunteers will participate in the adaptation meet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The expo will also arrange training sessions to identify gaps and needs related to the process of NAP formulation and implementation in developing countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There will be a total of 23 stalls in this conference where adaptation activities of different countries will be displayed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Also, at 34 sessions over four days, experts will discuss transformational adaptation, financial mechanism, adaptation activity monitoring and evaluation tools and gender responsive adaptation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A number of 13 stalls allocated for Bangladesh to showcase climate adaptation issues. Bangladesh will showcase its innovative adaptation measures such as rainwater harvesting, solar-powered water extraction in hilly regions, climate-resilient agriculture, and infrastructure development like cyclone shelters and road works.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event will also celebrate Bangladesh\'s rich history, culture, and heritage, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Steele and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury were also present at the programme.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 09:57:39', '2024-04-22 09:57:39'),
(12030, 12030, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) has been created to synchronise with the international stakeholders to face the climate change impacts in their global programmes.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">This BCDP will work with the stakeholders, developed countries and international organisations and fund programmes to mitigate the climate change issues, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said this on Monday while Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Steele called on her at a bilateral meeting room at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a release from PM’s Press Wing the prime minister said that Bangladesh is taking long-term programmes to tackle the impacts of climate change. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She briefly described various adaptation and mitigation programmes of Bangladesh including Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to face the adverse impacts of climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Hasina said that due to the adverse impacts of the climate change Bangladesh is often facing various types of cyclones, heavy rain and heatwaves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are encouraging social movement for forestation, created 84000 volunteers and build multipurpose cyclone shelters,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said that researchers in Bangladesh have invented saline, flood and drought resilient rice varieties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina also said that from June next tree plantation programmes will be started across the country during the rainy season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 10:12:56', '2024-04-22 15:28:34'),
(12031, 12031, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 22 people, including 18 children, health officials said Sunday, as the United States was on track to approve billions of dollars of additional military aid to Israel, its close ally.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza\'s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive against the Hamas militant group to the city on the border with Egypt despite calls for restraint, including from the U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In the coming days, we will increase the political and military pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to bring back our hostages and achieve victory. We will land more and painful blows on Hamas — soon,\" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. He didn\'t give details.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first Israeli strike in Rafah killed a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child, according to the nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, which received the bodies. The woman was pregnant and the doctors saved the baby, the hospital said. The second strike killed 17 children and two women from an extended family.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These children were sleeping. What did they do? What was their fault?” asked one relative, Umm Kareem. Mohammed al-Beheiri said that his daughter, Rasha, and her six children, the youngest 18 months old, were among those killed. A woman and three children were still under the rubble.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, at least two-thirds of them children and women. It has devastated Gaza\'s two largest cities and left a swath of destruction. Around 80% of the territory\'s population have fled to other parts of the besieged coastal enclave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The $26 billion aid package approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday includes around $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, which experts say is on the brink of famine. The U.S. Senate could pass the package as soon as Tuesday, and President Joe Biden has promised to sign it immediately. According to AP reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 10:32:10', '2024-04-22 10:32:10'),
(12032, 12032, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda today stressed the need to ensure optimum use of land and people-friendly services related to land while formulating the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) action plan for the fiscal year 2024-2025.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda said this while inaugurating a workshop on the preparation of draft APA for the fiscal year 2024-25 of the Ministry of Land and its offices/agencies at the conference room of the Ministry of Land at the Secretariat today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chairman of Land Appeal Board AKM Shamimul Haque Siddique, Additional Secretary (Acting Secretary) of the Ministry of Land Md. Abbas Uddin and Additional Secretary (Development) Ziauddin Ahmed NDC were present on the occasion.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Land minister said that people\'s involvement with land management is very high and direct. Most of the rural disputes and litigations are related to land tenure. The government is working to provide more efficient land-related services to the people through efficient, modern, public welfare-oriented, and sustainable land management. APA\'s role in bringing good governance to this process is important.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the workshop, the Land Minister emphasized the important role of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) in increasing transparency and accountability in government offices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Land Minister also highlighted the importance of APA for a result-oriented mentality, institutional transparency, accountability, proper use of resources, and organizational efficiency in government institutions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He underscored the need for effective implementation of the objectives of the Ministry of Land in citizen service to create seamless synchronization between the ministry and the field-level offices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Narayon Chandra Chanda emphasized that the APA introduced by the Government in 2014-15 has been instrumental in bringing the activities of the ministries and agencies from procedural to result-oriented activities.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister also directed the Ministry of Land and its affiliated offices/agencies to prepare their respective strategic objectives and activities for the next fiscal year in line with the overall vision and mission of the Ministry of Land.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/ri/s</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 11:06:01', '2024-04-22 11:06:01'),
(12033, 12033, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) formed a committee to investigate the alleged corruption of former inspector general of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">ACC secretary Khorsheda Yeasmin informed the update at a briefing held at the headquarter of the Commission on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said a report of illegal acquisition of wealth against former IGP Benazir Ahmed was published in a national daily newspaper on March 31 while similar complaints were published in some other electronic media on April 1 and 2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning the reports, ACC secretary said proceedings were initiated under Rule No. 3 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007 regarding the complaints. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said \"The decision to investigate the fomer IGP was taken on April 18 in the first meeting after the long Eid Holiday.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the relevant laws and regulations, legal action will be taken by completing the investigation within the prescribed time frame, she added, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, a writ was filed in the High Court seeking a corruption probe into former IGP of Police Benazir Ahmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday (April 22), Supreme Court lawyer Salahuddin Regan filed the writ in the relevant branch of the High Court. In the writ four persons including ACC chairman and secretary were made defendants. </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"42\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 12:25:14', '2024-04-22 12:25:27'),
(12034, 12034, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A race car veered off the track during a competition in Sri Lanka on Sunday and rammed into a crowd of spectators and race officials, killing seven people and injuring 20 others, officials said.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of spectators looked on as the mishap took place during a race in the town of Diyatalawa in the tea-growing central hills, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of the capital Colombo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It wasn\'t immediately clear what caused the mishap.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said one of the cars veered off the track and crashed into spectators and officials of the event. Seven people, including four officials, were killed and another 20 were being treated at a hospital, said Thalduwa. He said three of the injured were in critical condition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thalduwa said police have launched an investigation into the accident, which was the 17th out of 24 events scheduled. The race was suspended after the accident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About 45,000 spectators had gathered at the race circuit at a Sri Lankan military academy. The event was organized by the Sri Lankan army and Sri Lanka Automobile Sports.&nbsp; - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 12:37:37', '2024-04-22 12:37:37'),
(12035, 12035, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Biden administration wants to start moving weapons and equipment into Ukraine within days of the anticipated passage this week of legislation that includes $60 billion in military aid to Kyiv, a long-delayed lifeline for the embattled nation.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aid would arrive much later than Ukraine - running low on ammunition and staggering under a renewed Russian onslaught - had hoped, and analysts caution that there is no guarantee that more will be forthcoming.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But officials and experts agree that the artillery rounds, precision-guided missiles and air defenses will change the military outlook for Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"With the boost that will come from military assistance, both practically and psychologically, the Ukrainians are entirely capable of holding their own through 2024 and puncturing Putin’s arrogant view that time is on his side,\" CIA Director William Burns said on Thursday at the Bush Center Forum on Leadership in Dallas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ammunition, interceptors for air defense systems and long-range weapons can begin moving \"within days\" once the bills become law, said a U.S. official.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There won\'t be any delays or bottlenecks on the U.S. side,\" the official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than two years into Russia\'s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has lost territory in the eastern part of the country and Russia has ramped up its bombardment of cities and towns behind the front lines amid a slowdown in Western military assistance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aid for Ukraine had been held up for months over objections from hard-right Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Saturday, the House passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It now heads to the Senate and passage is expected this week, clearing the way for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over the weekend, Zelenskiy welcomed the advancing of the aid package in the House of Representatives, and repeatedly urged lawmakers to swiftly pass the bill in the Senate so the transfer of weapons can happen quickly. Source: Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 12:57:38', '2024-04-22 12:57:38'),
(12036, 12036, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 23-year-old Bangladeshi youth was killed in firing by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) members on Monday along the Putia border in Kasba Upazila of Brahmanbaria.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The deceased Md Hasan was the son of Jaru Mia of Kaimpur village of Kaimpur union of the upazila. He was a farmer by profession.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to eyewitnesses and BGB, victim Hasan along with some of his friends went to the zero line area of the Indian border in Putia around 9am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A member of BSF from Gate No. 3 of that area opened fire, leaving Hasan injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His friends Md Yasin and Emon Mia with the help of locals rescued him and brought him to Kasba Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raju Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Kasba police station, said that the body of the youth killed in BSF firing was kept in the upazila health complex. It would be sent to the district Sadar hospital morgue for post-mortem, he added, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sultanpur 60BGB Captain (CO) Javed Bin Jabbar said that they are investigating the matter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, a meeting was held between BGB and BSF in the afternoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the meeting, BGB formally protested the incident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Expressing sorrow over the incident, BSF assured that such an untoward incident should not happen again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 13:11:52', '2024-04-22 13:11:52'),
(12037, 12037, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In fake videos that have gone viral online, two of India\'s A-lister Bollywood actors are seen criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asking people to vote for the opposition Congress party in the country\'s ongoing general election.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a 30-second video that shows Aamir Khan and another 41-second clip of Ranveer Singh, the two Bollywood actors purportedly say Modi failed to keep campaign promises and failed to address critical economic issues during his two terms as prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both AI-generated videos end with the Congress election symbol and slogan, \"Vote for Justice, Vote for Congress\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two videos have been viewed on social media more than half a million times since last week, a Reuters review shows.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Their spread underlines the potential role such AI (artificial intelligence)-generated content can play in the mammoth Indian election that started on Friday and will continue until June. AI and AI-generated fakes, or deepfakes, are being increasingly used in elections elsewhere in the world, including in the U.S., Pakistan and Indonesia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Campaigning in India has long focused on door-to-door outreach and public rallies, but extensive use of WhatsApp and Facebook as campaigning tools started in 2019. This year\'s general election - in which Modi is expected to secure a rare third term - is the first in which AI is being used.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Congress spokesperson, Sujata Paul, shared actor Singh\'s video with her 16,000 followers on X on April 17 and by Saturday afternoon, her post had been reshared 2,900 times, liked 8,700 times and received 438,000 views.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Paul told Reuters by telephone she was aware the video was marked \"manipulated media\" by X, but she did not want to delete it as, while posting, she thought the person was a look alike of Singh and \"it has creativity for sure\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The post was no longer visible on X on Sunday, hours after Reuters sent a request for comment to Congress\' head of social media cell, who did not respond. Source: Reuters&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 13:40:01', '2024-04-22 13:40:01'),
(12038, 12038, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Mohammed Shahabuddin welcomed Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Monday afternoon as Bangladesh rolled out the red carpet complete with gun salute at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Emir of Qatar arrived at 5pm for a two-day state visit at the invitation of the president of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The president and the emir exchanged flowers at the airport on his arrival and exchanged greetings with the representatives of Bangladesh and Qatar in the presentation line after receiving the salute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the trip, President Shahabuddin will host an official lunch in honour of the emir at Darbar Hall followed by a cultural programme at Bangabhaban on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the visiting emir will sign the visitor\'s book after the courtesy meeting with the president.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh and Qatar will sign 11 cooperation documents- six agreements and five MoUs, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud came up with the update while briefing the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Such a high-level 24-hour visit is taking place from friendly country Qatar nearly after 19 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The then Emir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani visited Bangladesh in April, 2005.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive the emir at her office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They will have tête-à-tête (one-to-one) meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office which will be followed by a bilateral meeting, witness the signing of multiple cooperation documents between the two nations, including 6 MoUs, and join a joint press meet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After signing the visitors\' book there, the emir will head for Bangabhaban on Tuesday afternoon where the president will receive him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alongside, the emir will inaugurate the park in Kalshi area of Mirpur under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and a road running from Mirpur ECB Chattar to Kalshi Flyover at 3pm, which will be named after the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the visiting emir\'s father and predecessor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He is scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a special flight at 6pm Tuesday while he foreign minister will see him off at the airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Qatar recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign state on March 4, 1974 following the 2nd OIC Summit held in February 1974.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh opened its diplomatic mission in Doha on June 25, 1975. The State of Qatar reciprocated by opening its diplomatic mission in Dhaka in 1982, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, More than 400,000 Bangladeshis work in Qatar and they are appreciated as dedicated and hard working.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 13:55:24', '2024-04-22 13:55:24'),
(12039, 12039, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP has postponed its rally scheduled for April 26 due to the extreme heatwave.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party announced the postponement of the rally in a statement on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rally was supposed to be held in front of the party’s central office in Dhaka\'s Nayapaltan, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP Dhaka Metropolitan South Unit’s office secretary, Saidur Rahman, said a new date for the rally would be announced later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 14:18:43', '2024-04-22 14:18:43'),
(12040, 12040, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>From April 27, next Sunday, If Aedes mosquito larvae are found in any establishment falling under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), the owners will face not just fines as before but also jail terms, DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said Monday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Furthermore, if larvae are discovered in a government office, the person in charge of that office will also be sued and fined. Even if larvae are found in any office within the DNCC, action will be taken against the officials of that office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The DNCC mayor disclosed this information while inaugurating a month-long public awareness campaign in 54 wards of DNCC simultaneously to prevent dengue in the Mirpur Rupnagar area of the capital on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"My clear message is, if larvae are found, a case will be registered, and individuals may be jailed and fined. The amount of the fine will also be substantially increased. We have already informed the Ministry of Local Government to provide us with more magistrates,\" the DNCC Mayor added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Atiqul Islam further stated, \"If you (city dwellers) are aware, there is no need for jail sentences or fines. Dispose of accumulated water every three days. Clean areas where Aedes mosquitoes can breed. Stay aware and keep yourself and others safe,\" the DNCC Mayor said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among others, Dhaka-14 Constituency Member of Parliament Md. Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, DNCC Chief Engineer Brig Gen Md Moin Uddin, Chief Health Officer Brig Gen Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Regional Executive Officer of Region-4 Md. Abed Ali, Councilor of reserved seat Shikha Chakraborty, and other senior officials were present. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"39\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 14:29:13', '2024-04-22 14:29:13');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12041, 12041, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In keeping with the previous years, Bangladesh is participating in the prestigious Venice International Art Biennale.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy under the guidance of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking&nbsp; part in this event. The overarching theme of this year’s biennale is ‘Foreigners Everywhere’, according to press release received here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh pavilion under the caption ‘Yearning for Harmony: In the Crisis of the Civilization’ has been formally inaugurated in the touristic city of Venice on 18 April 2024 in presence of a huge number of artists, art lovers and critics, journalists, member of expatriate Bangladeshi community, educationist, and high officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 6-member Bangladeshi delegation led by the Director General of Shilpakala Academy Mr. Liaquat Ali Lucky attended the inauguration ceremony. Consul General of Bangladesh in Milan Mr. M J H Jabed, Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in Venice Avv. Fabrizio Ippolito D\'Avino, Curator of Bangladesh pavilion Ms. Viviana Vannucci also attended the ceremony. In his address to the foreign audience, the Director General of Shilpakala Academy said that Bangladesh is a proud participant at the Venice Biennale which is the world\'s premiere art event. The artworks displayed at the Bangladesh pavilion are done by both celebrated and promising artists of the country. He informed that Bangladesh also hosts Asian Art Biennale which has drawn attention of art connoisseurs from across the world. He invited the Italian artists and art critics to attend the future art events to be organized in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Consul General of Bangladesh in Milan noted that during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s last visit to Italy a cultural Cooperation Agreement was signed between Bangladesh and Italy under which two friendly countries are expected to broaden cooperation in the cultural domain. He also noted that Bangladesh has a rich history in art which needs to be showcased before the global community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr. Jabed also stated that Cultural Diplomacy is one of the priority areas in the Public Diplomacy endeavour of the present government. From the Bangladesh delegation Ms. Nafriza Shayma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Ekushey Padak awardee artist Professor Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash spoke on the occasion, reports nnb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the 5th consecutive time that Bangladesh has been participating at the Venice Biennale.The 6-month long event will continue till end November-2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 15:01:03', '2024-04-22 15:01:03'),
(12042, 12042, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said that workers of any factory can form a labor union from now on.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with the US trade delegation in his office at the Secretariat on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>“They mainly discussed the labor laws of Bangladesh, workers\' rights and what we are doing. Their important question was - what is the current situation of the amendment of the Bangladesh Labor Act, what is being done? They wanted to know about eleven issues and how much progress has been made in this regard,” the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>The delegation’s first question was about the threshold (percentage of workers required to form a trade union).</div><div><br></div><div>The minister also said, they informed the delegation about the new decision of keeping no threshold for forming a trade union, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“First, around 2016, it was 30 percent. When we went to the International Labor Organization (ILO) conference in 2017, it was decided to bring this threshold to 20 percent,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“During the last amendment, the first proposal was to bring it down from 20 percent to 15 percent. But there was a caveat, it would be applicable only for factories employing 3,000 or more workers,” said Anisul Huq.</div><div><br></div><div>But that limit has also been lifted, said the law minister, adding “We have informed the US representatives that too.”</div><div><br></div><div>The minister also said that after hearing about the labor laws and rights, the US representative expressed satisfaction. “After this discussion, the US representatives told me that they were satisfied.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 15:12:43', '2024-04-22 15:12:43'),
(12043, 12043, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing accusations of spreading hatred against Muslims after controversial comments on Sunday wherein he equated the community to “infiltrators” and peddled anti-Muslim tropes in the middle of the country’s general elections.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a crowded rally in the western state of Rajasthan, Modi said if the opposition led by the Congress party came to power, it would distribute the country’s wealth among “those who have more children”, in an apparent reference to Muslims, whom he had spoken about just before.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Should your hard-earned money be given to infiltrators?” he said to the cheering crowd, before alleging that the opposition would take away even mangalsutras - the auspicious necklace that a husband ties around his wife’s neck in Hindu weddings - if given a chance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local poll officials in Rajasthan confirmed to Al Jazeera that they had received at least two complaints against Modi, calling for his election campaign to be suspended and for his arrest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Renu Poonia, a nodal officer of the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the state capital, Jaipur, revealed that the complaints were received from the Azad Adhikar Sena, a regional political party, and a local non-profit organisation.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s election code bars parties and politicians from engaging in speeches and campaigns that aim to perpetuate religious or caste differences. But independent watchdogs and activists have long complained that election officials act too slowly, if at all, especially when cases involve powerful officials in the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many leaders in Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in India’s Hindu-majoritarian right have long portrayed the country’s 200 million Muslims effectively as outsiders. Muslim asylum seekers and refugees from Bangladesh and Myanmar are in particular targeted as “infiltrators”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BJP and its partners have also long pushed a conspiracy theory that suggests that Indian Muslims produce more children intending to eventually outnumber Hindus in the country.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In reality, government data shows that the Muslim fertility rate in India is dropping the fastest among all communities and has almost halved in the past three decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Modi has himself promoted this stereotype - in 2002, after an anti-Muslim massacre in the state of Gujarat, where he served terms as chief minister - infamously mocking relief camps as baby-producing factories, reports Al Jazeera</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet, in recent years, while others in his party and its coalition partners have often engaged in open Islamophobic commentary and even violence, Modi has focused on his government’s claimed accomplishments in the fields of the economy and social development. That had been the principal thrust of his 2024 re-election campaign too.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 15:30:11', '2024-04-22 15:30:11'),
(12044, 12044, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b><br></b></span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two students of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) were killed after a speeding bus knocked down their motorcycle on Kaptai road in Chattogram on Monday.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victims were Shanta Saha (ID-2001100), a student of the 20th batch of Civil Engineering Department and Toufiq Hossain (ID-2101006), of the same department of \'21 batch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto Saha was the son of Kajal Saha of Narsingdi and Taufiq Hossain was the son of Mohammad Delwar of New College Road of Noakhali\'s Sudharam.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crash occurred around 3:30pm in the area adjacent to Selina Quader Chowdhury College on Chattogram Kaptai Road on Monday (April 22), reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fazlur Rahman, Deputy Director (Public Relations) CUET, said Shanto Saha\'s body was kept at Chittagong Medical College Hospital while Taufiq\'s body was in Evercare Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bodies would be handed over to their families after due procedures, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 15:49:10', '2024-04-22 15:49:10'),
(12045, 12045, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The country experienced about 1000 MW of load shedding in electricity supply on Monday against soaring demand. According to the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) at the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the country’s demand was recorded at 15,220 MW at 3pm on Monday, when the load shedding was 996 MW.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the demand forecast for Monday evening was 15,666 MW and supply forecast was 16,200 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, maximum burden of the loadshedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in capital Dhaka and other large cities. Reports from different areas said the extent of loadshedding is aggravating the plight of the rural people amid the sweltering heat this summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla’s official data shows that the country’s gas production was 3,046 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for 3,760 MW.<br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The power plants received a supply of 1349.9 MMCFD gas against their demand for 2316.9 MMCFD, the data shows. Source: UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-22 16:02:15', '2024-04-22 16:02:15'),
(12046, 12046, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>There had been \"no significant changes\" in the human rights situation in Bangladesh during the year 2023, the United States has said in a new report.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country reports in the 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR) do not draw legal conclusions, rank countries, or draw comparisons, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were numerous reports of widespread impunity for human rights abuses, said the report in its Bangladesh chapter.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In most cases, it claimed, the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or security force members who may have committed human rights abuses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. Department of State released the 2023 Human Rights Report, which the US Embassy described as a \"factual and objective\" record on the status of respect for human rights worldwide.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR) covers 198 countries and territories.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The individual reports in the HRR detail \"credible factual information\" on human rights abuses and violations, providing a tool used by governments, advocates, journalists and others concerned about the state of human rights and democracy in specific countries and territories, said the embassy.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has issued these reports for nearly five decades. &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HRR represents several months of work performed by U.S. Department of State colleagues in our missions abroad and in Washington, D.C. &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HRR informs U.S. foreign policy decisions and assists the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch, and immigration courts when accurate information on human rights conditions is needed.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HRR also informs the work of civil society - including human rights defenders-lawmakers abroad, scholars, immigration judges and asylum officers, multilateral institutions, and other governments. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 09:22:40', '2024-04-23 09:22:40'),
(12047, 12047, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh and Qatar on Tuesday signed 10 cooperation documents - five agreements and five MoUs - to strengthen ties on multiple fronts and help the relations reach a new height.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani witnessed the signing of the documents.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The five signed agreements are: agreement for cooperation in the legal field between Bangladesh and State of Qatar, agreement on promotion and protection of mutual investments; agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income between Qatar and Bangladesh; agreement on maritime transport; and agreement on the establishment of Joint Business Council (JBC) between FBCCI &amp; QCCI.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The five MoUs are: MoU on cooperation in the fields of sports and youth between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU on cooperation in the field of manpower employment (Labour) between Ministry of Labour, State of Qatar and Bangladesh; MoU on cooperation in diplomatic training between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU between Qatar Ports management Company “MAWANI QATAR” and Chittagong Ports Authority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in morning PM Hasina warmly welcomed and received Emir Sheikh Tamim at her office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They had tête-à-tête (one-to-one) meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, which was followed by a bilateral meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After signing visitors\' book there, the emir will head for Bangabhaban on Tuesday afternoon where the president will receive him.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A high-level Qatari delegation headed by Qatar’s emir is paying the state visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the ceremony, a road and a park in the capital Dhaka were named after Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The park, built in Kalshi area of ​​Mirpur under Dhaka North City Corporation, and the road from Mirpur ECB point to Kalsi Fly Over were named after Emir of the Qatar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, the road and park are known as Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Avenue and Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Park. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 09:46:27', '2024-04-23 09:46:27'),
(12048, 12048, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>One hundred and seventy-three Bangladeshi nationals will return home on Wednesday from Sittwe prison in Rakhine State of Myanmar.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The returnees will be carried by the ‘Myanmar Naval Ship Chin Dwin’ which is visiting Bangladesh to bring back members of Myanmar defence force who were forced to cross the border into Bangladesh due to conflict in Rakhine state, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ship is expected to reach the Bangladesh territory by Wednesday and handover of the Bangladeshi citizens to the relevant authorities of Bangladesh will take place at that time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Out of the 173 people,&nbsp; 129 are from Cox’s Bazar district, 30 are from Bandarban district, seven are from Rangamati district, one each from Khagrachari, Noakhali, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Rajbari, Narshingdi and Nilphamari district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon, upon receipt of the information of the tentative visit of the Myanmar ship to Bangladesh, took up the issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh and relevant Myanmar authorities to seize the opportunity to send back the maximum number of verified Bangladeshi Nationals who were in different prisons of Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Embassy also pursued the relevant host authorities to bring the 144 ‘verified and jail term completed or pardoned’ returnees in Sittwe prison for smooth return and pursued for releasing the 29 verified Bangladeshi nationals who were still serving their jail terms or under trial. Pursuant to the Mission’s efforts the 29 persons were pardoned and sent back to Bangladesh, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon and Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe have been working “steadfastly” for this return since the last return of Bangladeshi citizens that took place on October 3, 2023 when 29 Bangladeshis returned home through a flag meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 10:00:38', '2024-04-23 10:00:38'),
(12049, 12049, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Severe heat wave prevailed in Rajshahi, Pabna, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia districts on Monday, disrupting normal life.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD). besides, mild to moderate heat wave continues to scorch Dhaka, Rangpur and Barishal divisions and&nbsp; parts of Rajshahi &amp; Khulna divisions, Mymensingh, Moulvibazar and&nbsp; Rangamati districts and it may continue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rains or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at one or two places over Sylhet division with hails at isolated places, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Met office also predicted rains in Sylhet and Chattogram on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Due to increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 10:19:51', '2024-04-23 10:19:51'),
(12050, 12050, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The scorching heat waves can pose serious health risks, especially for people who stay outdoors for long hours due to occupation. During hot weather situations in summer, people working under the sun may suffer from heat-related illnesses like dehydration, heatstroke, etc. Let’s explore some effective tips to safeguard outdoor workers from the debilitating effects of heat waves.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">What is Heatstroke?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heat stroke is a severe heat-related illness characterised by a body temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher. It arises when your body overheats and the body\'s internal temperature regulation system fails, typically due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or strenuous physical activity and dehydration. It is most prevalent during the summer season.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Immediate medical attention is necessary for heatstroke. If left untreated, it can swiftly lead to damage to vital organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. Delaying treatment exacerbates the damage, heightening the risk of severe complications or even death.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Symptoms of Heat Stroke</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The most common symptoms of heatstroke include:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>- High body temperature (above 104°F or 40°C)</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>- Altered mental state, such as confusion or disorientation</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>- Nausea and vomiting</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>- Flushed or red skin</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>- Rapid breathing</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>- Rapid heartbeat.</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Summer Tips for Outdoor Workers to Prevent Heat Stroke&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hydrate Regularly&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is important to make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, even if you do not feel thirsty. It is crucial to prevent dehydration, which can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aim to drink around 500 ml of water before starting your work, and then aim for 150 to 200 ml every 15-20 minutes, especially when working in hot and humid conditions. It would be helpful to carry a refillable water bottle with you and take frequent sips throughout the day to maintain hydration levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Avoid Dehydrating Drinks</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is highly recommended to avoid caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and soft drinks, as these products can worsen dehydration. Similarly, sugary drinks should be avoided. Instead, replenish lost electrolytes by opting for sports drinks or electrolyte tablets, especially if you are sweating profusely. These options can help maintain hydration levels and support your body\'s needs during hot weather conditions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Schedule Breaks</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Try to take breaks in shaded or cool spots to rest and cool down. One should refrain from working during the peak heat hours. Seek shade or air-conditioned areas for frequent breaks. Additionally, schedule physically demanding tasks for cooler periods like early mornings or evenings.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One can use cooling methods such as misting fans or cooling towels to lower one’s body temperature. Prioritising these measures helps prevent overheating and maintains productivity in hot weather conditions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dress Appropriately&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is necessary to dress appropriately for hot weather by wearing loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in light colours, ideally made from breathable materials like cotton. Steer clear of dark-coloured clothing, which absorbs heat.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">You should also protect yourself further by wearing a wide-brimmed hat to shield your head and face from the sun, and donning sunglasses to safeguard your eyes from harmful UV rays. These measures help you stay cool and comfortable while working outdoors in the heat.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Use Sunscreen&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Using sunscreen is one of the most important things in summer. Prepare in advance and shield yourself from the sun by applying sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above to exposed skin. Ensure to apply it at least 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours, or more frequently if sweating or swimming.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This precautionary measure helps prevent sunburn, which can hinder your body\'s ability to regulate temperature effectively. This will keep you safe and comfortable in the heat.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Know the Signs&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is essential to be aware of the signs of heat stroke, such as high body temperature, confusion, nausea, and rapid heartbeat. Additionally, monitor your urine output as dark-coloured urine indicates dehydration.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If your urine appears dark, it is crucial to increase your fluid intake to prevent dehydration and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. Stay vigilant and take prompt action to safeguard your health in hot weather conditions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stay Indoors During Peak Hours&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Where feasible, it is better to refrain from outdoor activities during the peak heat hours, usually between 10 am and 4 pm. Stay informed about the heat index, which considers both temperature and humidity levels to gauge how hot it feels.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A higher heat index indicates an increased risk of heat-related illnesses. By being mindful of these factors, you can better protect yourself from the adverse effects of hot weather conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eat Light Meals</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is essential to opt for light, easily digestible meals to prevent exerting additional strain on your body in hot weather. Incorporate fibre-rich fruits and natural juices into your diet while avoiding high-protein foods.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">You need to prioritise foods that aid hydration and provide energy, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try to avoid heavy meals that may leave you feeling lethargic, ensuring you stay nourished and refreshed in warm conditions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Acclimatise&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Experts suggest gradually acclimating to hot weather by increasing outdoor activity levels over several days. This gradual adjustment allows your body to adapt to working in the heat more effectively and reduces the risk of heat-related issues.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monitor Co-workers&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is vital to support your colleagues by monitoring their well-being and prompting them to take regular breaks and maintain hydration. Try to be vigilant for signs of heat stroke, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and slurred speech.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also, encourage prompt medical attention if these symptoms arise. If you or a co-worker experience symptoms of heat stroke, seek medical assistance immediately. Heat stroke necessitates immediate medical attention.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Final Words</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the summer heat waves, many people work in the sun due to their occupational needs. Protecting outdoor workers from heatstroke requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both preventive measures and emergency response protocols.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By implementing these tips and raising awareness about heat-related risks, employers can safeguard the health and well-being of their workforce, even in challenging climates like heat waves in Bangladesh. According to unb reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p><b><font color=\"#e79439\">Heat Stroke</font></b><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 11:03:18', '2024-04-23 11:03:18'),
(12051, 12051, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave Dhaka on Wednesday for Bangkok on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit is aimed at to strengthening&nbsp; the bilateral ties between the two countries, officials said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the premier and her entourage, is scheduled to depart Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:00am on Wednesday, said PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fight is to land at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 1:30pm local time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s both a bilateral and multilateral visit,\" said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said at a media briefing on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bilateral part of visit&nbsp; will be the first-ever visit at the level of head of government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp; It is also Hasina’s&nbsp; first bilateral visit to a country after winning the general election in January.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During her visit from April 24 to 29, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin and also attend the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh and Thailand will sign a number of cooperation documents including a letter of intent on negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries, said the foreign minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two countries&nbsp; are likely to sign an agreement on visa exemption for official passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation while two more MoUs on tourism sector cooperation and duty related mutual cooperation to expand the relations, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh will seek support from Thailand regarding Rohingya repatriation as well as increased investment from Thailand, said Hasan Mahmud adding that the issue of shipping connectivity will also be discussed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai host Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin at the Government House (Prime Minister’s Office) following a tete-a-tete between the two leaders, witness the signing of the documents, participate in a joint press conference and then attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In her multilateral engagement, PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of ESCAP and deliver a speech there on April 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 11:41:32', '2024-04-23 11:41:32'),
(12052, 12052, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday said the 2023 Human Rights Report released by the US has exposed the \"injustice and brutality” of Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“The report expressed deep concern over the horrific human rights violations in Bangladesh, including the incidents of enforced disappearance, assassination and torture. It has also pointed out that the citizens’ right to bring a change in the government through a free and fair election has been taken away,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi said the US report objectively depicted the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, including the arrest of opposition leaders and obstruction to their peaceful gatherings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said a certain truth regarding the human right condition in Bangladesh has come out in the report by highlighting the visible incidents of injustice and cruelty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader said Robert S Gilchrist, senior official in the US State Department\'s Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor, described Bangladesh’s human rights situation as alarming during the briefing on the human rights report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Gilchrist also mentioned that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was removed from the electoral process through plots.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi said 15 cases were filed against Sheikh Hasina while only four cases were filed against Khaleda Zia during 1/11 political changeover.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Sheikh Hasina came to power, he alleged that all the 15 cases against her were hurriedly withdrawn while Khaleda was convicted in the ‘false’ cases using the judiciary.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We talked about these things many times…it has now come up in US reports. People used to believe that Begum Khaleda Zia was a victim of political vengeance of the government…the democratic world has now pointed it out through their very objective observation,” the BNP leader said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday, the U.S. Department of State released the 2023 Human Rights Report, which the US Embassy described as a \"factual and objective\" record on the status of respect for human rights worldwide.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR) covers 198 countries and territories.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were reports of widespread impunity for human rights abuses like extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on freedom of expression and media and peaceful assembly, said the report in its Bangladesh chapter, reports UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In most cases, it claimed, the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or security force members who may have committed human rights abuses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi said BNP has long been reportedly talking about the repression, brutality, enforced disappearances, murders and other misdeeds of the government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is nothing more now to hide in a bag. The incidents of injustice, bloodshed and various misdeeds by Sheikh Hasina are slowly coming out to the democratic world. The entire world is condemning it,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 12:50:08', '2024-04-23 12:50:08'),
(12053, 12053, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani left Dhaka for Kathmandu, Nepal on Tuesday afternoon wrapping up his 24-hour state visit which will “significantly contribute” to the consolidation of ties and elevate the Bangladesh-Qatar bilateral relations to the next level.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud saw him off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said a senior official at the ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Held in a cordial and amicable environment, the Qatari emir’s visit is expected to generate goodwill and understanding between the two countries, said the Bangladesh side.</div><div><br></div><div>At the invitation of the President Mohammed Shahabuddi, the emir of Qatar paid the&nbsp; state visit to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He led a delegation that included, among others, Qatar’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, member of Qatar Investment Authority.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, the president received the emir at the airport while Bangladesh Minister for Liberation Affairs, Home Affairs, Expatriates\' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Foreign Affairs and State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources also welcomed him in presence of the senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.</div><div><br></div><div>This highest-level visit took place after around 19 years from the Qatar side which coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>During the visit, Bangladesh and Qatari delegations led respectively by the prime minister and the emir held fruitful bilateral talks at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>During the bilateral talks, both sides reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations and underlined the need for enhancing&nbsp; the bilateral cooperation through exchange of visit and increased interaction at all levels and strengthening bilateral engagements between Bangladesh and Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>The areas that came up for discussion on cooperation included bilateral trade and investment, energy and power, manpower, defense, education, agriculture, food security and culture. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interests in the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>In the opening remarks, the prime minister deeply appreciated the incredible advancement and transformation of Qatar as an advanced knowledge-based multi-cultural society and Qatar’s role in mediation and multilateral diplomacy under His Highness’s stewardship.</div><div><br></div><div>Qatari emir appreciated remarkable achievements of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of the prime minister and commended Bangladesh as an investment destination and expressed his keenness to invest in diverse potential sectors.</div><div><br></div><div>He also appreciated the expatriate community in Qatar who are making positive contributions to the economies of both the countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at the level of understanding and cooperation in the energy sector adding that both sides are working together to forge this cooperation to the partnership level in the near future.</div><div><br></div><div>The emir had an audience with the president the same day. The president extended a warm welcome to the emir on his visit to Bangladesh and praised him for his leadership and vision.</div><div><br></div><div>They held discussions on wide ranging issues related to the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation as well as on regional issues of mutual interest.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the emir joined an official luncheon at Bangabhaban hosted in his honour&nbsp; by the president.</div><div><br></div><div>The luncheon was attended by PM Hasina, members of the cabinet and other dignitaries. A cultural programme, representing Bangladesh’ tradition, heritage and culture, was also held. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 13:22:56', '2024-04-23 13:22:56'),
(12054, 12054, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A five-member probe body was formed on Tuesday to look into the death of a Dhaka University student who drowned in a swimming pool&nbsp; of the university on Monday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Headed by Prof. Maksudur Rahman, proctor of Dhaka University, the committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other members of the committee are—DU assistant proctor Abdul Muhit, Chairman of Philosophy Department Prof Dr Shah Kawsar Mustafa Abdul Ulayee, assistant professor of Information Science and Library Management Department Prof. Mohammad Sharif Ul Islam and assistant professor of Bangla Department Jashim Uddin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The committee was asked to investigate whether there was any negligence of those who were responsible for the management of the swimming pool, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, Muhammad Soad&nbsp; Haque ,19, a student of Dhaka University’s Philosophy department, drowned in the swimming pool of the university on Monday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 13:55:11', '2024-04-23 13:55:11');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12055, 12055, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda has directed the authorities concerned to implement all necessary measures to ensure that the landowners within the BDS survey area are adequately informed about the ongoing survey.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda gave this direction to the concerned at the progress review meeting of EDLMS project (Establishment of Digital Land Management System Project) of Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS) program at Bhumi Bhavan in the capital today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Director General of Department of Land Record and Survey Anis Mahmud, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Land Ziauddin Ahmed, EDLMS Project Director Md. Zahurul Haque and officials of the Ministry of Land, Land Record and Survey Department and EDLMS Project were present at the meeting. Besides, officials of the project partners from South Korea were present at the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Land Minister emphasized the lack of information among landowners during the survey process, resulting in harassment. He noted that this often occurs when the rightful owner is absent during the survey, leading to completion without their knowledge.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Citing past incidents, the minister mentioned instances where landowners, upon selling land for personal reasons, discovered incorrect surveys had been conducted, resulting in the land\'s Record of Rights (ROR) being issued in someone else\'s name. Consequently, legal owners endure years of legal and economic challenges in reclaiming their property rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister directed the BDS survey officers to publicise the about the ongoing survey locally and nationally so that people living in and outside the area can know that the survey is being conducted in their area. But we also have to keep regular inquiries about our valuable resources, our own land,\" the minister added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The land minister hoped that the BDS program of the first phase of the ongoing survey in six areas under the EDLMS project will be completed by 2026. With the necessary output from the first phase, it will be possible to launch the BDS program simultaneously throughout Bangladesh in the second phase.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Note that, Bangladesh Digital Survey is underway in Chattogram, Narayanganj, Rajshahi City Corporation, Manikganj Municipality, and Dhamrai and Kushtia Sadar Upazilas through the EDLMS project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting, BDS officials informed the land minister, the installation of ground control points is nearing completion, marking the final stage of preparation. Shortly, the mapping process utilizing state-of-the-art equipment such as aircraft and drones will commence, aiming to swiftly finalize the project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Staff Correspondent', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 14:04:18', '2024-04-23 14:04:18'),
(12056, 12056, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Columbia canceled in-person classes, dozens of protesters were arrested at New York University and Yale, and the gates to Harvard Yard were closed to the public Monday as some of the most prestigious U.S. universities sought to defuse campus tensions over Israel\'s war with Hamas.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had camped out on Columbia\'s green were arrested last week, and similar encampments have sprouted up at universities around the country as schools struggle with where to draw the line between allowing free expression while maintaining safe and inclusive campuses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At New York University, an encampment set up by students swelled to hundreds of protesters throughout the day Monday. The school said it warned the crowd to leave, then called in the police after the scene became disorderly and the university said it learned of reports of \"intimidating chants and several antisemitic incidents.\" Shortly after 8:30 p.m., officers began making arrests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a really outrageous crackdown by the university to allow the police to arrest students on our own campus,\" said New York University law student Byul Yoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"Antisemitism is never OK. That\'s absolutely not what we stand for and that\'s why there are so many Jewish comrades that are here with us today,\" Yoon said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The protests have pitted students against one another, with pro-Palestinian students demanding that their schools condemn Israel\'s assault on Gaza and divest from companies that sell weapons to Israel. Some Jewish students, meanwhile, say much of the criticism of Israel has veered into antisemitism and made them feel unsafe, and they point out that Hamas is still holding hostages taken during the group\'s Oct. 7 invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tensions remained high Monday at Columbia, where the campus gates were locked to anyone without a school ID and where protests broke out both on campus and outside.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from North Carolina who was visiting Columbia with three other Jewish members of Congress, told reporters after meeting with students from the Jewish Law Students Association that there was \"an enormous encampment of people\" who had taken up about a third of the green.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We saw signs indicating that Israel should be destroyed,\" she said after leaving the Morningside Heights campus. Columbia announced Monday that courses at the Morningside campus will offer virtual options for students when possible, citing safety as their top priority.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A woman inside the campus gates led about two dozen protesters on the street outside in a chant of, \"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!\" — a charged phrase that can mean vastly different things to different groups. A small group of pro-Israel counter demonstrators protested nearby.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">University President Minouche Shafik said in a message to the school community Monday that she was \"deeply saddened\" by what was happening on campus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday,\" Shafik wrote, noting that students who don\'t live on campus should stay away.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protests have roiled many college campuses since Hamas\' deadly attack on southern Israel, when militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages. During the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry, which doesn\'t distinguish between combatants and non-combatants but says at least two-thirds of the dead are children and women. - AP </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 14:35:08', '2024-04-23 16:02:05'),
(12057, 12057, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The probe bodies formed by the Islamic University authorities and the Lalon Shah Hall administration have found the involvement of three activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League(BCL) in torturing a student of Al-Fiqh and Legal Studies Department on the campus on February 7.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The investigation committees submitted their reports to the university administration on Monday afternoon, sources at IU VC office said on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BCL activists Physical Education Department’s second year student Mudassir Khan Kafi, Islamic History and Culture Department second year student Mohammad Sagor and Uzzal Hossain, supporters of IU BCL unit general secretary Nasim Ahmed Joy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The probe bodies recommended the university administration to take proper action against the accused involved in the incident.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Action will be taken against the accused as per the University Act in the next disciplinary committee meeting as the probe bodies found their involvement in torturing the student, IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the probe bodies, a group of Chhatra League activists led by Mudassir Khan Kafi and Mohammad Sagor called the victim at room 136 of Lalon Shah Hall.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They undressed the victim and tortured him there from midnight to 4:30am on February 7. The accused, at one point, assaulted the victim with a steel stick as he refused to perform as they ordered, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BCL activists tortured the victim both physically and mentally, IU law administrator and also a member of the probe body formed by the university administration professor M Anisur Rahman said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, On February 12, 2023 night, a first-year female student of Finance and Banking department, was tortured by the IU Chhatra League vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her associates, including Tabassum, Mim, Urmi and Maobiya Jahan, at Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus in Kushtia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 14:40:53', '2024-04-23 14:40:53'),
(12058, 12058, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>An expatriate student, drowned after falling into the river while trying to board a launch in Bhairab upazlila of Kishoreganj on Monday (April 22, 2024).</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The incident happened at the Bhairab Bazar Launch Terminal around 8:30 PM on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased was Al Islam (30), son of Alauddin, director of the Bhairab Chamber of Commerce and Industry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bhairab River Police Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam confirmed the matter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, after being informed, a police team reached the spot and rescued Islam with the help of local divers after 40 minutes. He was taken to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Islam had gone to Germany for studies on a scholarship about a year and a half ago. He came home on vacation a few days before Eid, reports unb.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Family members said Al Islam was going to board a ferry to hang out with his friends by the riverbank. At that time, he slipped and fell into the river.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 15:03:25', '2024-04-23 15:03:25'),
(12059, 12059, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Police FC smartly reached the semifinal of the Federation Cup Football Tournament 2023-24 eliminating former BPL champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 3-0 goals in the 3rd quarterfinal at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on Tuesday, reports unb</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, defending champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC and league champions Bashundhara Kings also qualified for the semifinals eliminating Sheikh Russel KC (2-1) and Rahmatganj MFS (2-0) respectively in the quarterfinals</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Six times BPL champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd will face Fortis FC in the 4th and last quarterfinal on April 30 also at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the day\'s 3rd quarterfinal, all the three goals of the match were scored in the first 23rd minute of the match.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Uzbek midfielder Javokhir Sokhibov put the Police team ahead in the very 2nd minute of the match by a good header, capitalizing a Mithu free kick (1-0).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police FC doubled the margin by a gifted goal while Sheikh Jamal defender S. Kholmatov sent the ball to his own net in the 9th minute while he trying to foil an attempt of Shah Quazem (2-0).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Uzbek defender Azamat Abdullaev sealed the fate of the match scoring the 3rd and last goal in the 23rd minute, off a Shaheed Miah\'s cross (3-0).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 15:18:30', '2024-04-23 15:18:30'),
(12060, 12060, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The extent of load shedding in the country crossed 1000 MW on Tuesday in electricity supply against soaring demand.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is first time in recent days the power shortage crossed such a level while the highest load shedding was recorded at 966 MW on Monday although the power generation set a new record with the figure at 16,233 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) at the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the country’s demand was recorded at 15,200 MW at 3pm on Tuesday, when the load shedding was 1049 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the demand forecast for Tuesday evening was 16,800 MW and supply forecast was 16,530 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, maximum burden of the loadshedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in capital Dhaka and other large cities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reports from different areas said the extent of loadshedding is aggravating the plight of the rural people amid the sweltering heat this summer, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla’s official data shows that the country’s gas production was 3,056 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for 3,760 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The power plants received a supply of 1330 MMCFD gas against their demand for 2316.9 MMCFD, the data shows.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"39\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 15:42:29', '2024-04-23 15:42:29'),
(12061, 12061, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">“Shanto told me after he completes study, he will go abroad and then I can start my treatment. Now what will happen, where did my son go? Bring back my child please.”</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These are the words of the bereaved mother of Shanto Saha, who died yesterday (22 April) in a road crash.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto was a promising third-year student of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology’s (CUET) Civil Engineering department.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“My kid is no more, I do not want to live anymore,” Sheuli whispered brokenly through tears.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After Shanto’s dead body reached his house in Narshingdi’s Sheba Sangha area, this morning (23 April), his mother Sheuli was crying out those words.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“My son told me ‘I will pass engineering and go abroad, I will take you abroad for treatment. Who will tell me this now?”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto\'s father, Kajal Saha, a cloth trader in Shekherchar Bazar, struggles to find words amidst his grief. “Shanto was our hope. A road accident destroyed everything. Our son said, ‘When I finish studying, you will not have to suffer any more.’ But today, everything is over.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto went to the university campus on Sunday after spending the holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh. Shanto\'s classmates informed his elder brother Kaushik Saha, a bank official,&nbsp; the news around 4:30pm on Monday.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto was the youngest of three brothers. His elder brother Prartha Saha is a student of a university in India. Prartha is coming to the country from India. Shanto\'s body will be buried on the bank of the Meghna River in the city as soon as his brother arrives home.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shanto, and another student of CUET were killed after a speeding bus knocked down their motorcycle on Kaptai road in Chattogram on Monday, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The crash occurred around 3:30pm in the area adjacent to Selina Quader Chowdhury College on Chattogram Kaptai Road on Monday (April 22).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the autopsy, the university authorities brought Shanto\'s body to Narshingdi in a freezing car at around 6:30 am. Two assistant provosts and seven classmates of Shanto brought the body.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 16:01:20', '2024-04-23 16:01:20'),
(12062, 12062, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in statement has said that the arbitrary announcement of certain bank mergers, coupled with concerns among well-performing banks involved in the process and unwillingness of some underperforming banks, has worsened anxiety, unrest, and uncertainty within the banking sector.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The TIB believes that such instances have cast doubts over the entire process even before it started.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The central bank has initiated steps to merge underperforming banks with stronger counterparts in order to save weak banks in the sector, which is supposed to be considered as being in line with global practices related to tackling crisis in the financial sector,” TIB opined.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, global standards and policies including the Bangladesh Bank’s own policies have been ignored to complete this sensitive and complex task hastily, said the statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The anti-corruption organisation asserts that the lack of transparency in the bank merger process, particularly concerning the management of default loans and issues of accountability within weak banks burdened by default loans, essentially sidesteps the main problem of the crisis and gives impunity to the factions responsible for loan defaults and forgery, reports UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the merger policy issued by the Bangladesh Bank, underperforming banks are allowed to express their interest to merge with financially sound banks following the assessment of assets and liabilities by an auditor firm enlisted by the central bank and disclosing the details in the current year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Considering the evaluation of assets, there are provisions for good banks to voluntarily express interest in initiating mergers with weaker banks.Highlighting that the central bank can only resort to forceful mergers if the initial steps fail, said the statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">TIB Executive Director (ED) Dr Iftekharuzzaman stated, “Based on media reports, only one weak bank has shown interest in voluntary merger, and conversely, it\'s not necessarily the case that the financially sound banks mentioned in the process have willingly and consciously engaged in it.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This suggests that the entire process has been imposed on them arbitrarily, which is a clear violation of the declared policies, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moreover, how fair and reasonable is it to transfer the burdens of default loans and forgeries to good banks without first assessing the assets and liabilities of the weaker ones? It appears that the ongoing actions are akin to prescribing paracetamol for cancer treatments, said Dr Iftekhar</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“On one hand, the culture of loan defaults is exacerbated by shielding factions responsible for them and forgery under the guise of mergers. Contrarily, significant attempts are underway to compel good banks to digest weaker ones as a result of their success. This has fostered an atmosphere of anxiety and restlessness across the entire sector,” he pointed out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Expressing apprehensions that attempts to salvage weak banks might backfire, the TIB ED remarked:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Government-government, private-government, and private-private mergers are all being considered. However, it remains unclear on what basis these banks have been prioritised, or how the decision was made regarding which financially sound banks would merge with which weak ones,” said Dr Iftekhar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additionally, some banks not yet mentioned in the merger process have been kept afloat through liquidity assistance. However, two government-owned banks, known for their strong performance, are slated to absorb two underperforming banks despite having significant amounts of default loans themselves, he urged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Given these circumstances, it is unrealistic to believe that simply merging banks, without ensuring effective accountability-based good governance to address the basic challenges in the banking sector, will resolve the problem or safeguard the interests of clients,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-23 16:47:55', '2024-04-23 16:47:55'),
(12063, 12063, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A red carpet was rolled out as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday afternoon on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her arrival at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 1:08pm (local time),Puangpet Chunlaiad, Minister attached to the Prime Minister\'s Office received the Bangladesh Prime Minister at the airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was given a static guard of honour and a 19-round gun salute at the airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the Bangladesh premier left Dhaka by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 10:13am on the six-day tour, which is both a bilateral and multilateral visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bilateral visit of the prime minister will be the first-ever visit at the level of head of government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During her visit from April 24 to 29, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin and also attend the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh and Thailand will sign a number of cooperation documents including a letter of intent on negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh and Thailand are likely to sign an agreement on visa exemption for official passport holders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation while two more MoUs on tourism sector cooperation and duty related mutual cooperation to expand the relations, said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud&nbsp; at a media briefing on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh will seek support from Thailand regarding Rohingya repatriation as well as increased investment from Thailand, he said, adding that the issue of shipping connectivity will also be discussed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai host Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin at the Government House (Prime Minister’s Office) following a tete-a-tete between the two leaders, witness the signing of the documents, participate in a joint press conference and then attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In her multilateral engagement, PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of ESCAP and deliver a speech there on April 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 08:22:16', '2024-04-24 08:22:16'),
(12064, 12064, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Labour Affairs Secretary of Gopalganj District Awami League Rezaul Haque Shikdar Raju.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raju was also the President of Gopalganj District Sramik League and former elected Mayor of Gopalganj Municipality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved members of the family.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 08:39:38', '2024-04-24 08:39:38'),
(12065, 12065, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United Nations called Tuesday for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in war-torn Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Credible investigators must have access to the sites, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, and added that more journalists need to be able to work safely in Gaza to report on the facts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier Tuesday, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said he was “horrified” by the destruction of the Shifa medical center in Gaza City and Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis as well as the reported discovery of mass graves in and around the facilities after the Israelis left.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He called for independent and transparent investigations into the deaths, saying that “given the prevailing climate of impunity, this should include international investigators.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Hospitals are entitled to very special protection under international humanitarian law,” Türk said. “And the intentional killing of civilians, detainees and others who are ‘hors de combat’ (incapable of engaging in combat) is a war crime.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel on Tuesday called the reports of mass graves at the hospitals “incredibly troubling” and said U.S. officials have asked the Israeli government for information.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military said its forces exhumed bodies that Palestinians had buried earlier as part of its search for the remains of hostages captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war. The military said bodies were examined in a respectful manner and those not belonging to Israeli hostages were returned to their place.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military says it killed or detained hundreds of militants who had taken shelter inside the two hospital complexes, claims that could not be independently verified.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Palestinian civil defense in the Gaza Strip said Monday that it had uncovered 283 bodies from a temporary burial ground inside the main hospital in Khan Younis that was built when Israeli forces were besieging the facility last month. At the time, people were not able to bury the dead in a cemetery and dug graves in the hospital yard, the group said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The civil defense said some of the bodies were of people killed during the hospital siege. Others were killed when Israeli forces raided the hospital. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 08:54:01', '2024-04-24 08:54:01'),
(12066, 12066, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Train communication between Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar routes remained suspended since Wednesday morning following the derailments of two compartments and engine of the train at Dulahazra station in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar district.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Golam Rabbani, Station master of Cox’s Bazar Rail Station, said the engine and two bogies of Cox’s Bazar-bound Eid special train from Dhaka veered off the tracks while entering into the station around 10 am, halting train movement on the route.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, no casualty was reported. The authorities concerned are working to salvage the derailed bogies.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 09:13:55', '2024-04-24 09:13:55'),
(12067, 12067, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, the worst-ever tragedy in the country’s multi-billion-dollar ready-made garment (RMG) industry, is being observed on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different right bodies, worker organisations and left-leaning political parties, including Rana Plaza Survivors’ Association, usually arrange various programmes every year, remembering the victims of the tragedy, reports UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 24 in 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;\">Later, police filed the murder case accusing Sohel Rana who has been in jail since his arrest.</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, 2022, 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; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 09:26:01', '2024-04-24 09:26:01'),
(12068, 12068, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Humanitarian workers have no knowledge of plans to evacuate Palestinians from Gaza’s southernmost city ahead of an expected Israeli assault, but such a transfer would not be “possible” under current conditions, a Red Cross official told AFP .</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The rumor is that the probability of a major operation in Rafah is increasing,” Fabrizio Carboni, Middle East regional director for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said on the sidelines of an aid conference in the United Arab Emirates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“When we see the level of destruction in the middle area (of Gaza) and in the north, it’s not clear to us where people will be moved to, where they can have decent shelter and essential services,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“So today, with the information we have and from where we stand, we don’t see this (massive evacuation) as possible.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel is poised to send troops into Rafah, the Gazan city it sees as the last bastion of Hamas, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, saying preparations were under way to evacuate war-displaced Palestinian civilians who have been sheltering there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Rafah sweep, postponed for several weeks amid disputes with Washington, will happen “very soon,” the mass-circulation Israel Hayom newspaper said, citing a decision by the Israeli government after ceasefire talks with Hamas stalled.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several other Israeli media outlets carried similar reports. Some noted footage on social media that appeared to show the erection of a tent city for Rafah evacuees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israeli military spokesperson’s office had no immediate comment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 1.5 million of Gaza’s population of 2.4 million had sheltered in Rafah, the last major population center in Gaza that Israeli ground troops have yet to enter, though thousands have been seen heading back north.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for two months talked of sending troops into Rafah to go after Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that runs Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Sunday, he said the Israeli military would increase pressure to “deliver additional and painful blows” to the group behind the October 7 attack on Israel which triggered the ongoing war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Israel’s allies including Washington have warned against a Rafah operation, fearing a worsening of Gaza’s already catastrophic humanitarian conditions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We don’t see for the time being any plans for civilian evacuations,” Carboni said during the interview on Tuesday at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But “there is no condition for a military operation without devastating humanitarian consequences,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Considering the level of destruction, considering that people are tired, some of them wounded and sick, and the limited access to food and essential services, I see (evacuations) as extremely challenging.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli government said it was planning different evacuation scenarios, including the creation of tent cities that would be spared the fighting and would be set up with international support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Citing Egyptian officials briefed on the Israeli plan, the Wall Street Journal reported that the evacuation operation would last two to three weeks and be carried out in coordination with the United States and Arab countries, including the UAE as well as Egypt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Carboni said an evacuation would be “difficult” to complete in that time frame.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also speaking to AFP at DIHAD on Tuesday, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said that “everybody seems to be on a countdown to war across the largest displacement camp on earth, which is Rafah.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Describing a Rafah onslaught as an “apocalyptic situation,” Jan Egeland said aid workers operating inside Gaza have not been briefed on plans to mitigate civilian suffering during a Rafah offensive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is no information, no consultation with the humanitarians, no advice, no hope,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Humanitarians in Gaza are “not hearing from the donors. They’re not hearing from the Western sponsors of Israel, and nothing from Israel itself,” Egeland said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What they hear is that Netanyahu says that he will attack but not plans for where should the civilians go, how can aid be provided or how can access be secured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are completely in the dark on how to mitigate this countdown to a catastrophe.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The little aid that is entering Gaza is being distributed in real time leaving no buffer stock that could be used in the event of a massive population movement, Egeland said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There is no stocks, there is no fuel and more importantly, there is no liquidity. There is no money, we cannot pay our staff salaries. We cannot pay those who deliver the services,” the NRC chief added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,183 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. - AFP/Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 09:46:39', '2024-04-24 09:46:39');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12069, 12069, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A sweeping foreign aid package easily passed the US Congress late on Tuesday after months of delay, clearing the way for fresh Ukraine funding amid advances from Russia’s invasion force and Kyiv’s shortages of military supplies.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Senate approved by 79 to 18 four bills passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, after House Republican leaders abruptly switched course last week and allowed a vote on the $95 billion in mostly military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and US partners in the Indo-Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The four bills were combined into one package in the Senate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The largest provides $61 billion in critically needed funding for Ukraine; a second provides $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world, and a third mandates $8.12 billion to “counter communist China” in the Indo-Pacific.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A fourth, which the House added to the package last week, includes a potential ban on the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine and new sanctions on Iran.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden has promised to sign the measure into law as soon as it reaches his desk, and his administration is already preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first to be sourced from the bill, two US officials told Reuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders predicted that Congress had turned the corner in putting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign adversaries on notice that Washington will continue supporting Ukraine and other foreign partners.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This is an inflection point in history. Western democracy perhaps faced its greatest threat since the end of the Cold War,” Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in the Senate.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aid package could be the last approved for Ukraine until after elections in November when the White House, House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for grabs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Much of the opposition to the security assistance in both the House and Senate has come from Republicans with close ties to former US President Donald Trump, a Ukraine aid skeptic who has stressed “America First” policies as he seeks a second term.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong advocate for assisting Ukraine, expressed regret about the delay, largely due to hard-line Republicans’ objections to adding more to the $113 billion Washington had authorized for Kyiv since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I think we’ve turned the corner on the isolationist movement,” McConnell told a news conference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some of the Ukraine money — $10 billion in economic support — comes in the form of a loan, which Trump had suggested. But the bill lets the president forgive the loan starting in 2026. - Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 10:23:15', '2024-04-24 10:23:15'),
(12070, 12070, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A majority of Americans do not see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a foreign policy priority, according to two new concurrent surveys by the Pew Research Center.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Americans identified as their top four of 22 foreign policy priorities protecting the country from terrorism (71 percent), reducing illegal drugs (64 percent), preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (63 percent) and maintaining a military advantage over foreign powers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict drew 29 percent, ranking only 14th among the 22 priorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The question of “supporting Israel” ranked even lower at 20th with 22 percent, with 31 percent opposing that support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Overall, a majority of Americans say that all 22 long-range foreign policy goals we asked about should be given at least some priority. Still, about three in 10 say supporting Israel, promoting democracy in other nations (28 percent) and supporting Ukraine (27 percent) should be given no priority,” Jacob Poushter, Pew associate director of research, told Arab News.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Even with these priorities, 83 percent of Americans say it is more important for President Joe Biden to focus on domestic policy, compared with 14 percent who say he should focus on foreign policy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In 2019, 74 percent wanted then-President Donald Trump to focus on domestic policy, and 23 percent said he should focus on foreign policy.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pew researchers said finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was previously “a priority that saw no partisan difference at all” in a 2018 survey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the new surveys show a “partisan gap” emerging, with twice as many Democrats (36 percent) today than in 2018 calling the conflict “a priority,” while the share of Republicans (20 percent) has remained constant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twenty-nine percent of Americans say they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the UN’s ability to provide effective humanitarian aid to Gaza. Fifty-one percent do not have confidence and 19 percent are unsure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Only 15 percent of Americans say they have confidence in the UN’s ability to enforce a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Sixty-seven percent have no confidence and 17 percent are unsure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A recent Pew survey found that only 12 percent of Americans believe that lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is at least somewhat likely. - Arab News</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 11:37:46', '2024-04-24 11:37:46'),
(12071, 12071, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Women should be made skilled in the ICT sector for the progress of the society and the country, State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Nahar Chapa said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The demand for freelancing is increasing in a significant way but it is unfortunate that the participation of women in this sector in our country is very low,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The state minister was speaking at the discussion titled \"Empowering girls with ICT skills and employment: challenges and opportunities\" organised by Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Center for Gender and Development Studies of the University at Muzaffar Ahmed Auditorium of Dhaka University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Keeping in mind the future employment opportunities and needs, a vocational education system is being developed for women, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The state minister also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has adopted a plan to further develop Bangladesh in technology. According to this plan digital technology is included in both public and private sectors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dr. Monjur Hossain, research director of Bangladesh Development Research Institute, presented an article at the meeting while professor Tanya Haque, director of Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nescha Center for Gender and Development Studies, gave the welcome speech. Source: UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 11:48:17', '2024-04-24 11:48:17'),
(12072, 12072, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Dhaka\'s air quality was categorised as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 134 at 8:59 am, Dhaka ranked 11th on 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, Egypt’s Cairo City and Thailand’s Chiang Mai occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 193, 171 and 170 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be \'very unhealthy\', while a reading of 301+ is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"> bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"39\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 11:56:11', '2024-04-24 11:58:05'),
(12073, 12073, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Around 370 tonnes of potatoes, which are waiting to be unloaded four days after being imported from India have started to rot, due to severe heat sweeping across the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the port authorities  the consignments arrived at Benapole from India’s Petrapole by 16 trucks on the night of April 21.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But still no initiative has been taken to unload the goods. Due to a long delay, the potatoes have started to rot.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rangpur Integrated Food and Beverage imported the potatoes from the export-oriented institution PepsiCo India Holdings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Masum Billah, representative of Transmarine Logistic Limited, said the potatoes have not been uploaded yet due to lack of necessary documents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahadat Hossain, a truck driver said they will take the potatoes to Rangpur after unloading and if the authorities concerned do not take steps immediately, the potatoes will get rotten.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kamal Uddin Shimul, vice-president of Benapole C&F Agent Association, said the importer will face a financial loss if the authorities concerned do not take any measures to unload the goods, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole port, said necessary assistance is being provided to unload the goods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 12:01:55', '2024-04-24 13:51:24'),
(12074, 12074, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A group called the NYU Palestine Solidarity Coalition led New York University students to walk out of classes Tuesday following violent anti-Israel protests that unfolded there last night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Students and others gathered in Washington Square Park in Manhattan \"to reflect, debrief [and] strategize,\" the group said.</div><div><br></div><div>Anti-Israel protests at New York University\'s campus turned violent Monday night when demonstrators hurled bottles at police officers who were sent to the scene to disperse a large unruly crowd, officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>NYPD sources confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that 133 demonstrators were arrested by police using zip ties and flex cuffs to remove the protesters from campus. They were taken on a bus to police headquarters, where they were charged with trespassing, the sources added.</div><div><br></div><div>The NYU Palestine Solidarity Coalition said in an Instagram post that NYU students in their group set up a \"Gaza Solidarity Encampment\" on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>The group is demanding to \"end all war profiteering and investment in genocide,\" a \"complete academic boycott of Israel,\" the removal of NYPD on campus and that NYU \"must protect free speech on campus and provide full amnesty to all students and faculty penalized for their pro-Palestinian activism.\"</div><div><br></div><div>They said the arrests last night were \"violent\" but \"the violence we faced is only a fraction of the violence that Palestinians face on the ground every day.\"</div><div><br></div><div>NYU did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the walkout. According to yahoo.news</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 12:26:37', '2024-04-24 12:26:37'),
(12076, 12076, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia has arrested Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov on organised corruption charges in the most high-profile case since the start of the country’s all-out war on Ukraine.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A brief statement by Russia’s Investigative Committee citing a statute for accepting bribes “on a particularly large scale” said on Wednesday that the arrest was made a day earlier.</div><div><br></div><div>State media showed brief footage of the military official standing in a Moscow court. He faces 15 years in prison if convicted.</div><div><br></div><div>Ivanov will be held under a detention order for two months, according to the TASS news agency, which said a man named Sergei Borodin has also been taken into custody on suspicion of complicity in receiving bribes by Ivanov.</div><div><br></div><div>The 48-year-old deputy defence minister oversaw military construction and repairs and is accused of taking part in a “criminal conspiracy” in managing contracts that greatly benefitted him personally, reportedly contributing to a lavish lifestyle.</div><div><br></div><div>The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had been informed about Ivanov, who had been present at a meeting of top defence officials chaired by Shoigu earlier on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2022, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which is run by the allies of late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, released the findings of an investigation that found Ivanov and his family had funnelled off millions of dollars to buy property and yachts.</div><div><br></div><div>Maria Pevchikh, the chairwoman of the foundation, wrote, “Today is a good day,” in a post on X after news of Ivanov’s arrest was publicised.</div><div><br></div><div>The official was arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB), which was directed last month by Putin to root out corruption in state defence organisations.</div><div><br></div><div>The RBC news service in Russia quoted unnamed sources as saying investigators are carrying out searches in multiple regions in relation with the case. - Al Jazeera&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 13:27:44', '2024-04-24 13:27:44'),
(12077, 12077, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>One hundred and seventy-three Bangladeshi nationals who were imprisoned in Rakhine, Myanmar, and whose citizenship were verified, returned to Bangladesh from Myanmar by sea on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition, the repatriation of 288 Myanmar BGP, army members , immigration officials and others who have taken shelter in Bangladesh in the context of the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar will be completed on April 25 and 26, according to a press release.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The repatriation process of the Myanmar nationals has been organised at BIWTA Ghat in Cox\'s Bazar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Myanmar ship Chin Duin carrying the returning Bangladeshi citizens has arrived in Bangladesh and will leave Bangladesh carrying the Myanmar’s BGP, military and others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MP of Cox\'s Bazar Sadar Shaimum Sarwar Kamal was present at the Jetty Ghat to welcome the returning Bangladeshi citizens.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Out of the 173 people, 129 are from Cox\'s Bazar, 30 are from Bandarban, seven are from Rangamati, one each from Khagrachari, Noakhali, Narayanganj, Chattogram, Rajbari, Narshingdi and Nilphamari.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh embassy in Yangon, upon learning of the tentative visit of the Myanmar ship to Bangladesh, took up the issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh and relevant Myanmar authorities to seize the opportunity to send back the maximum number of verified Bangladeshi Nationals who were in different prisons of Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The embassy also pursued the relevant host authorities to bring the 144 \"verified and jail term completed or pardoned\" returnees in Sittwe prison for smooth return and pursued for releasing the 29 verified Bangladeshi nationals who were still serving their jail terms or under trial. Pursuant to the mission\'s efforts, the 29 persons were pardoned and sent back to Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh embassy in Yangon and Bangladesh consulate in Sittwe have been working for this return since the last return of Bangladeshi citizens that took place on October 3 last year when 29 Bangladeshis returned home through a flag meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Representatives of the Bangladesh embassy in Yangon and consulate in Sittwe were physically present to coordinate with the local authorities, conduct verification process and issue travel permits in favour of the returnees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The necessary activities for the arrival of Bangladeshi citizens by ship, including immigration, health checks and other related activities, and for the dispatch of Myanmar military and other members have</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">been carried out with the assistance of the Ministry of Home Affairs, BGB, Coast Guard, district administration, district police,civil surgeon and other authorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After completing the necessary formalities, the Bangladeshi citizens will be handed over to their relatives. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 13:50:10', '2024-04-24 13:50:10'),
(12078, 12078, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A leading Jewish peace activist in Berlin has criticized German authorities for suppressing the Palestine solidarity movement in the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Udi Raz, a 34-year-old Israeli national, has been at the forefront of the solidarity movement, which has been calling on the German government to suspend weapons sales to Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anadolu met Raz at a protest march against a proposed regulation that would see students lose their degrees and qualifications if they participate in pro-Palestine rallies and demonstrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the government is trying to silence them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For months, we\'re witnessing how the German government does everything it can to silence us. Not only to silence us, but also to brutally attack and violate our civic rights, our very democratic rights that were promised to us by the virtue of the so-called Democratic Republic of Germany,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Besides that, we also witnessed how universities here in Berlin are restricting academic freedom. For example, we are now waiting here, gathering here, in order to demonstrate against a new proposal for a law that would allow universities to exmatriculate students, for example, for calling for a cease-fire, for calling for the implementation of international law also for Palestinians,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), German weapons accounted for 47% of all Israeli weapons imports last year, closely behind the US, with 53%. Germany has been Israel\'s second-largest weapons supplier for the last 20 years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raz belongs to a rising number of anti-Zionist Jews in Germany who have been actively campaigning against Israel\'s brutality in Gaza since Oct. 7, where it has now killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He is also a board member of the Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, a non-governmental organization which has been branded anti-Semitic and has had its bank accounts frozen by the German state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NGO, which has been calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the suspension of German weapons sales to Israel, had also organized a three-day conference on Palestine which was shut down and banned by Berlin police last weekend.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The conference, which was supposed to kick off last Friday with notable speakers such as former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and leading British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sitta, was canceled by Berlin police within the first two hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the cancellation, Raz was briefly arrested by police.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent months, several Jewish intellectuals, academics, artists and campaigners have faced backlash in Germany with many losing their jobs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recently, a leading Jewish American philosopher, Nancy Fraser, was disinvited from taking up a professorship at the University of Cologne after signing a letter expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning the killings in Gaza carried out by Israeli forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to the crackdown, Raz said: \"Since months, we are witnessing how those who are in power do everything they can to silence us for speaking up for democracy, for everyone who lives between the river to the sea, for speaking up for human rights which should also be applied for Palestinians, for speaking up for the implementation of international law, also in the case of Gaza and the West Bank.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Whenever we speak up, those in power point at us and accuse us of being antisemites, Islamists, extremists. To my understanding, six months into an ongoing genocide, those who point at us and accuse us of being Israel haters are nothing less than genocide lovers,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question on whether Germany should differentiate between Israel and Jews, he said: \"Of course, Germany must differentiate between the state of Israel and Jews in general. Israel cannot speak in the name of Jews. Whoever claims otherwise, to my understanding, this is an antisemitic claim. Jews are diverse. Jews live in diverse and different geopolitical contexts and national contexts. We Jews who live here in Germany, of course we care about other Jews who live elsewhere, but it does not mean that we are ambassadors of a racist state called the state of Israel.\" - Anadolu Agency</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 13:54:24', '2024-04-24 13:54:24'),
(12079, 12079, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Though power generation set a new record, there is no sign of decrease in power outages across the country.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rather, the extent of load shedding increased by almost 50 percent compared with the previous day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The records at the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) in the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) show that the country experienced about 1,500 MW of load shedding on Wednesday while it was 1049 M on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NLDC data also show that Wednesday started with 1,468 MW at 1 am. However, the level of power shortage decreased in the day time and it came down to 542 MW in the morning at 7 am.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But again the extent of load shedding took negative turn and increased to 821 MW at 3 pm on Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both the data of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and PGCB show that the country\'s evening peak generation was recorded at 14,473 at 5 pm against demand for 15,200 MW leaving a shortage of 694 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the demand forecast for Wednesday evening was 16,800 MW and supply forecast was 16,530 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, maximum burden of the load shedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in capital Dhaka and other large cities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reports from different areas said the extent of load shedding is aggravating the plight of the rural people amid the sweltering heat this summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla’s official data shows that the country’s gas production was 3,056 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for 3,760 MW, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The power plants received a supply of 1330 MMCFD gas against their demand for 2316.9 MMCFD, the data shows.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 14:39:32', '2024-04-24 14:39:32'),
(12080, 12080, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Students at a growing number of U.S. colleges are gathering in protest encampments with a unified demand of their schools: Stop doing business with Israel — or any companies that empower its ongoing war in Gaza.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The demand has its roots in a decades-old campaign against Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians. The movement has taken on new strength as the Israel-Hamas war surpasses the six-month mark and stories of suffering in Gaza have sparked international calls for a cease-fire.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inspired by ongoing protests and the arrests last week of more than 100 students at Columbia University, students from Massachusetts to California are now gathering by the hundreds on campuses, setting up tent camps and pledging to stay put until their demands are met.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We want to be visible,” said Columbia protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, who noted that students at the university have been pushing for divestment from Israel since 2002. “The university should do something about what we’re asking for, about the genocide that’s happening in Gaza. They should stop investing in this genocide.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Campus protests began after Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, when militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages. During the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and noncombatants but says at least two-thirds of the dead are children and women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT DO THE STUDENTS WANT TO SEE HAPPEN?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are empowering Israel’s military efforts in Gaza — and in some cases from Israel itself.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The demands vary from campus to campus. Among them:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">__ Stop doing business with military weapons manufacturers that are supplying arms to Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">__ Stop accepting research money from Israel for projects that aid the country’s military efforts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">__ Stop investing college endowments with money managers who profit from Israeli companies or contractors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">__ Be more transparent about what money is received from Israel and what it’s used for.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Student governments at some colleges in recent weeks have passed resolutions calling for an end to investments and academic partnerships with Israel. Such bills were passed by student bodies at Columbia, Harvard Law, Rutgers and American University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">HOW ARE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES RESPONDING?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials at several universities say they want to have a conversation with students and honor their right to protest. But they also are echoing the concerns of many Jewish students that some of the demonstrators’ words and actions amount to antisemitism — and they say such behavior won’t be tolerated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sylvia Burwell, president of American University, rejected a resolution from the undergraduate senate to end investments and partnerships with Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Such actions threaten academic freedom, the respectful free expression of ideas and views, and the values of inclusion and belonging that are central to our community,” Burwell said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Burwell cited the university’s “longstanding position” against the decades-old Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protesters in the movement have drawn parallels between Israel’s policy in Gaza — a tiny strip of land tucked between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea that is home to about 2.3 million Palestinians — to apartheid in South Africa. Israel imposed an indefinite blockade of Gaza after Hamas seized control of the strip in 2007.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Opponents of BDS say its message veers into antisemitism. In the past decade alone, more than 30 states have enacted laws or directives blocking agencies from hiring companies that support the movement. Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called it a “pernicious threat” in 2019, saying it fueled bias against Jews on U.S. campuses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked this week whether he condemned “the antisemitic protests,” President Joe Biden said he did. “I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians,” Biden said after an Earth Day event Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Yale, where dozens of student protesters were arrested Monday, President Peter Salovey noted in a message to campus that, after hearing from students, the university’s Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility had recommended against divesting from military weapons manufacturers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Minouche Shafik at Columbia said there should be “serious conversations” about how the university can help in the Middle East. But “we cannot have one group dictate terms,” she said in a statement Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MIT said in a statement that the protesters have “the full attention of leadership, who have been meeting and talking with students, faculty, and staff on an ongoing basis.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">HOW MUCH MONEY ARE THE SCHOOLS RECEIVING?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On many campuses, students pushing for divestment say they don’t know the extent of their colleges’ connections to Israel. Universities with large endowments spread their money across a vast array of investments, and it can be difficult or impossible to identify where it all lands.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. Education Department requires colleges to report gifts and contracts from foreign sources, but there have been problems with underreporting, and colleges sometimes dodge reporting requirements by steering money through separate foundations that work on their behalf.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to an Education Department database, about 100 U.S. colleges have reported gifts or contracts from Israel totaling $375 million over the past two decades. The data tells little about where the money comes from, however, or how it was used.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some students at MIT have published the names of several researchers who accept money from Israel’s defense ministry for projects that the students say could help with drone navigation and missile protection. All told, pro-Palestinian students say, MIT has accepted more than $11 million from the defense ministry over the past decade.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MIT officials didn’t respond to an emailed request for comment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“MIT is directly complicit with all of this,” said sophomore Quinn Perian, a leader of a Jewish student group that is calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. He said there’s growing momentum to hold colleges accountable for any role they play in supporting Israel’s military.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We’re all drawing from the same fire,” he said. “They’re forcing us, as students, to be complicit in this genocide.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Motivated by the Columbia protests, students at the University of Michigan were camping out on a campus plaza Tuesday demanding an end to financial investments with Israel. They say the school sends more than $6 billion to investment managers who profit from Israeli companies or contractors. They also cited investments in companies that produce drones or warplanes used in Israel, and in surveillance products used at checkpoints into Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">University of Michigan officials said that they have no direct investments with Israeli companies, and that indirect investments made through funds amount to a fraction of 1% of the university’s $18 billion endowment. The school rejected calls for divestment, citing a nearly 20-year-old policy “that shields the university’s investments from political pressures.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE STUDENTS?</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Students at Harvard and Yale are demanding greater transparency, along with their calls for divestment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Transparency was one of the key demands at Emerson College, where 80 students and other supporters occupied a busy courtyard on the downtown Boston campus Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twelve tents sporting slogans including “Free Gaza” or “No U.S. $ For Israel” lined the entrance to the courtyard, with sleeping bags and pillows peeking out through the zippered doors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Students sat cross-legged on the brick paving stones typing away on final papers and reading for exams. The semester ends in a couple of weeks, reports AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I would love to go home and have a shower,” said Owen Buxton, a film major, “but I will not leave until we reach our demands or I am dragged out by police.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 14:43:59', '2024-04-24 14:43:59'),
(12081, 12081, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Global immunization efforts have saved at least 154 million lives in the past 50 years, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, adding that most of those to benefit were infants.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That is the equivalent of six lives saved every minute of every year of the half century, the UN health agency said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a study published in the Lancet, WHO gave a comprehensive analysis of the impact of 14 vaccines used under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), which celebrates its 50th anniversary next month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Vaccines are among the most powerful inventions in history, making once-feared diseases preventable,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Thanks to vaccines, smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink, and with the more recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, we are pushing back the frontiers of disease,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“With continued research, investment and collaboration, we can save millions more lives today and in the next 50 years.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The study said infants accounted for 101 million of the lives saved through immunization over the five decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Immunization was the single greatest contribution of any health intervention to ensuring babies not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood,” WHO said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Over 50 years, vaccines against 14 diseases — diphtheria, Haemophilus influenza type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis A, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever — had directly contributed to reducing infant deaths by 40 percent, the study found.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For Africa, the reduction was more than 50 percent, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The vaccine against measles — a highly contagious disease by a virus that attacks mainly children — had the most significant impact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That jab accounted for 60 percent of the lives saved due to immunization, according to the study.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The polio vaccine means that more than 20 million people are able to walk today who would otherwise have been paralyzed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The study also showed that when a vaccine saves a child’s life, that person goes on to live an average of 66 years of full health on average — with a total of 10.2 billion full health years gained over the five decades, reports AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These gains in childhood survival highlight the importance of protecting immunization progress,” WHO said, pointing to accelerating efforts to reach 67 million children who missed at least one vaccination during the Covid pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-24 14:53:54', '2024-04-24 14:53:54');
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(12082, 12082, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for speaking&nbsp; out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and to say ‘no’ to wars.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We must speak out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars,\" she said, adding that Bangladesh supports the UN Secretary General’s ‘New Agenda for Peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister was addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) held at the ESCAP Hall (2nd floor), United Nations Conference Center (UNCC)here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to Thailand.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister also urged the world leaders to stop all wars and conflicts saying that people are suffering and women and children are the worst sufferers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“War is going on and genocide is going in Palestine. It must be stopped. War can’t bring any solution,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the “Chittagong Hill Tract Peace Accord” in Bangladesh during her first regime from 1996-2001, PM Hasina said she restored peace among people in the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the pre-condition for sustainable development is lasting peace and security.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We must settle regional disputes and tension through dialogue. Our mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain paramount,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to redouble their efforts to end Rohingya crisis as all efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle without it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The origin of their crisis has been in Myanmar, and its solution also lies in Myanmar,\" she declared.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As long as that solution remains out of reach, all our efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle. Let us redouble our efforts to put that puzzle back in place,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that in August 2017, when thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh, Bangladesh offered them temporary shelter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“With an ever growing population, this has now become one of the largest humanitarian situations in the world,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that In the backdrop of ongoing armed conflicts in Myanmar, the Rohingya repatriation process is also getting delayed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This is creating serious security risks within and beyond our territories,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to play a proactive role in resolving the volatile situation in Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We must ensure that the Rohingya can go back home in safety and dignity at the earliest possible,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that the Asia-Pacific region must stand united against its common enemies of poverty and hunger.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said&nbsp; Bangladesh has reduced poverty from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent between 2006 and 2022.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also reduced extreme poverty from 25.1 to 5.6 percent during the same period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We remain confident about eradicating extreme poverty by 2030,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that Bangladesh has made notable progress on food security, with focused interventions on maternal and child nutrition.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our current priority is to address inequalities through income distribution, asset ownership, and social protection,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said that Asia-Pacific region must put up a united front in tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and transboundary pollution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We need to push for ambitious climate financing goals beyond 2025 at COP-29. We need to cooperate on cross-border water management and air quality improvement. We must all prepare for growing extreme weather events,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, she suggested looking into Bangladesh’s experience in disaster risk reduction.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We appreciate UN-ESCAP’s support in improving our early warning capabilities,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Briefly describing various development programmes and achievements of her govebrment, the prime minister said that much of the development gains are affected by climate impacts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As a low-lying delta, Bangladesh has no option but to invest heavily in climate resilience,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that Bangladesh is already recognised as a global leader in climate adaptation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are happy to share our traditional and innovative solutions with other vulnerable countries,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that Bangladesh has urged developed and emerging economies in the region to raise their time-bound emission reduction targets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For economies in transition, it is important to have a just energy transition.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, she said, \"we are working on long-term energy security with a sound mix of clean and renewable energy.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We shall continue to do our part in pursuing a circular and low-carbon economic growth pathway.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She underscored the need for increased and easy access to financing and technology from both the public and private sectors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I invite UN-ESCAP to help build the capacity of climate-vulnerable countries to mobilise adequate international climate financing.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina said that Bangladesh now provides critical links to the Trans-Asian Highway and Railway networks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our physical and digital infrastructures are being developed to foster regional trade and connectivity.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh offers access to the Bay of Bengal for land-locked territories in its neighbourhood.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We stand ready to work together with all regional partners through mutual understanding and cooperation,\" said the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on her arrival at the conference hall of the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC), Bangkok, the audience welcomed her with a standing ovation. The audience applauded her speech with loud clapping repeatedly, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Prime Minister also visited “Smart Bangladesh Pavilion” installed by the ICT Division on the venue after her address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, United Nations Under-Secretary General and also Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Executive Secretary Armida Salsian Alisjahbana met the Bangladesh prime minister&nbsp; at the meeting room of the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 08:23:36', '2024-04-25 08:23:36'),
(12083, 12083, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a warning that the ongoing heatwave is likely to persist for 72 hours starting Thursday (April 25, 2024) morning.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The BMD cites increased moisture incursion as a factor contributing to the sustained uncomfortable conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>This announcement follows earlier alerts issued on April 19 and April 22, as the BMD continues to monitor and respond to the challenging weather patterns affecting the region. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 08:38:50', '2024-04-25 08:38:50'),
(12084, 12084, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh will play Lebanon in their last Group I away match of their Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 at a neutral venue—Al Saad Club Stadium in Doha, Qatar.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The match between the two teams will kick-off at 7: 00 pm local time and 10: 00 pm Bangladesh time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two war-torn Arabian nations—Palestine and Lebanon—had to play their home matches in neutral venues due to security reasons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before the last group match, Bangladesh will play Australia in their home match on June 6 at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On completion of four group matches each, Australia dominated the group table to qualify for the next round with an all-win record, securing a full 12 points, War-torn Palestine is in the distant second, collecting seven points with two wins, one draw, and one defeat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lebanon are in the third slot, securing two points with two draws and two defeats, while Bangladesh remained at the bottom with one point from four matches after making a 1-1 draw with Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goal defeat against World Cup playing Australia in their away match, drew 1-1 with Arabian nation Lebanon in the home match, suffered a 0-5 defeat against Palestine in their away match in Kuwait, and conceded a shocking 0-1 goal defeat in the dying moment against Palestine in their home match in Dhaka. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 09:03:18', '2024-04-25 09:03:18'),
(12085, 12085, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh has criticised the recently released US State Department’s 2023 Human Rights Report, noting that the report “fails to appreciate, rather undermines” a number of valued State institutions, including the independent judiciary and certain statutory bodies, which is detrimental to the morale and functioning of such institutions.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Regrettably, many of the improvements and achievements of the government have not been acknowledged in the report. On the other hand, isolated and unfounded allegations continue to be flagged as part of a systematic trend,” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seheli Sabrin, told reporters on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While briefing reporters, she said a thorough reading of the report would make it evident that it is replete with references to individually reported or alleged incidents that were used to draw broad, generalised inferences.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government of Bangladesh reiterated its concerns about the continued trampling of human rights in Gaza by the Israeli occupation force and hopes that the US will play a leadership role in the ongoing efforts of the international community to stop serious human rights violations, killing of innocent women and children, and crimes against humanity in Palestine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the grossly missing items in the report is the systematic campaign launched last year by the anti-state and anti-government elements in the lead up to the 12th National Election in order to create unrest, violence and anarchy under different pretexts and using diverse interest groups, said the foreign ministry spokesperson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sabrin said it is also apparent that the report mostly relies on assumptions and unsubstantiated allegations drawn from local and international non-government organisations (including anonymous sources), many of which are supported by the US government or related entities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As such, some of the inherent biases in the reporting pattern are quite evident,” she said</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government of Bangladesh, however, appreciated the continued interest of the US administration in the Human Rights situation across the globe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“No matter how much we aspire, the human rights situation is not perfect anywhere in the world. Though human rights are non-hierarchical, fulfillment of them can be incremental as socio-economic constraints often put limits to the pace of realising those rights,” said the spokesperson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the government of Bangladesh has been doing its best to uphold human rights of its citizens. “Indeed, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the human rights situation has significantly improved in Bangladesh.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mindful of the areas that need further improvement, the current government, during its consecutive terms in office since 2009, continued to invest in realising meaningful advancement in the human rights situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Any discerning observer would notice that such efforts resulted in significant improvement in women’s empowerment, gender parity, children’s rights, rights of elderly persons, workers’ rights, grievance redressal, access to justice, religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and so on and so forth,” the spokesperson observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the report alleges the law enforcement for use of excessive force in some cases, it fails to reflect the violence and vandalism perpetrated by BNP and its political allies, which often disrupted lives of general people and resulted in damage of public and private property.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It is ironic that when the State was engaged in protecting public life, order and property against such orchestrated campaign, it has been held responsible in the report for even taking recourse to some lawful actions and remedies,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The spokesperson said it must be registered that the law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh exercised utmost restraints and dealt with any law-and-order situation with full professionalism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Coupled with government’s sincere support and professional conduct of elections by the Election Commission, 28 of 44 registered parties participated in the 12th National Election with 42% people exercising their voting rights despite boycotts from BNP and some other parties,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is unfortunate that despite having a series of dialogues with the US authorities on human rights and labour rights issues, a number of recurrent complaints or allegations have been flagged in the report discounting the state/ government perspective on those matters, Seheli Sabrin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For instance, she said, the Rohingya people continue to be termed as ‘refugees’ or ‘stateless persons’, thus undermining their legitimate claims to be recognised as the citizens or residents of Myanmar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In another instance, certain ethnic minority groups continue to be labelled as ‘indigenous peoples’ contrary to the constitutional provisions of the country, which often amounts to attempts to incite unwarranted tension and divisions, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Again, in certain cases, the report tends to omit or neglect substantive evidence or information shared with the US authorities on individual cases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For instance, in the alleged killing of Messers Shaheen Miah and Mohammad Raju, information had been shared on the judicial proceedings that found the incidents to be within the purview of law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet again, she said, the judicial processes undertaken in the case of Jesmin Sultana were not adequately reflected in the report, especially the issue of ongoing due process.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Along similar lines, a number of cases have been flagged in the report concerning labour rights issues, especially on trade union registration and activities, that have been discussed with the relevant US officials on a number of bilateral or plurilateral platforms,” said the spokesperson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As usual, she said, the report wrongfully characterises lawful actions taken by the law enforcement authorities in case of unwarranted obstructions or vandalism carried out in the name of workers against factories, establishments, public properties, or management staff.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report continues to maintain the trend of projecting incidents committed by private individuals or entities as part of systemic abuse of human rights, without often elaborating on the subsequent administrative and judicial measures taken to ensure redress and accountability, she noted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In general, the government of Bangladesh takes note of the overall report and looks forward to remaining engaged with the UN Human Rights mechanisms, the US and other international partners, and stakeholders towards upholding its commitment to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by all citizens under any circumstances, reports UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 10:28:03', '2024-04-25 10:28:03'),
(12086, 12086, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The United States wants Bangladesh to become a “net security provider” in the region in a “responsible way”, and wants Bangladesh to be able to respond to natural disasters and other issues positively with its growing capabilities.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has made a lot of progress over the years, and we are proud to be part of that effort. We would hope that the Bangladesh government sees the Indo Pacific Strategy (IPS) as an opportunity to cooperate with us and our partners to help address some of Bangladesh\'s security concerns,” said Maxwell Martin, an IPS expert at the US Embassy in Dhaka, on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While briefing a select group of journalists at the embassy on “Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) and its implications for Bangladesh”, he said Bangladesh-US cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific is just one aspect of their wide-ranging bilateral relationship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The US-Bangladesh relationship is driven by our nations’ shared history, common values, and future potential. It is not defined by India, China, Russia or any third country,” Martin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question, he said, they look at their relationship with countries in the South Asia region and Indo Pacific in general, on a bilateral basis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We don\'t look at our relationship with other countries through the lens of another country. This is something that we hear sometimes in Bangladesh, in the media and kind of just in the commentary, that the United States looks at Bangladesh through the lens of India. And I don\'t think that\'s true,” said the IPS expert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said they look at their relationship with Bangladesh in terms of a set of shared interests and bilateral priorities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Martin said the increased and renewed engagement with Bangladesh is definitely part of the Indo Pacific Strategy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question from UNB, he said the US wants to ensure a free and open region, drive prosperity, build connections, bolster security, and advance reliance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will remain engaged with the government of Bangladesh on all of these issue sets and make clear opportunities for partnership exist within all five pillars,” said the IPS expert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the Indo-Pacific Strategy is a “positive, progressive vision, comprised of five equally important and interconnected pillars.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the role of civil society, private sector, and academia for the promotion of a free and open Indo Pacific, he said they see all of these entities and institutions playing an important role.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Martin said the IPS is not aimed at countering China but it is just a vision of how they think the region should look and what they think a region that is free and open, prosperous, secure, connected, and resilient should look like and how that can benefit the people and the countries of the Indo Pacific region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Of course, we have a China strategy. It\'s separate from the Indo Pacific Strategy and has to do with investing, aligning and competing. China is a major player here in the region,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The IPS expert said they want people to understand what the Indo Pacific Strategy is as sometimes there is confusion about it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We want to expand and grow our cooperation and engagement with Bangladesh. We always say we are ready to move as quickly as the government of Bangladesh is, and will continue to have those discussions,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to a question, he said QUAD is not an alliance. “I want to emphasize that the QUAD is not an alliance. It\'s not a military alliance. It\'s a flexible grouping of nations with shared interests in the region. They can come together and think of ways to tackle issues and problems of shared interest in a variable way. So that\'s what the quad is.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Martin said he does not think that the QUAD is something Bangladesh should be afraid of. We understand that Bangladesh balances its relationship with us and others in the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said they are very focused on the idea that good governance here in Bangladesh equals prosperity. “That is one of the key goals of our political engagement here in Bangladesh. “</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Martin said they want to see a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated and this principle applies everywhere.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the world\'s most dynamic and fastest-growing region, the Indo-Pacific is a leading priority for US foreign policy and essential to shared global security and prosperity, he said in his opening remarks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US welcomed the release of Bangladesh\'s Indo-Pacific Outlook in April 2023. “We have many common interests and look forward to engaging in them, particularly in building inclusive economic prosperity and environmental and social resilience in the face of 21st century transnational threats,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The US Indo-Pacific Strategy is not a military alliance, nor does it seek to become one. It is defined by what we stand for, not what we are against. It is not a club one can join, but a vision shared by any nation and people,” Martin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our vision is not about forcing countries to choose between the United States and any other partner. It is about ensuring that the region is free and open so countries can freely make their own choices,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US Indo-Pacific Strategy, released in February 2022, lays out a commitment and shared vision for an Indo-Pacific region that is free and open and becomes ever more connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Many countries and peoples in the Indo-Pacific share aspects of this vision for the region. When we work together, we can build a better future together,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding relations in the region, many countries, including the United States, have vital economic or people-to-people ties with China that they want to preserve.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Every nation will navigate its bilateral relations and interests differently. We do not expect every country to have the same assessment of China as we do,” Martin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Biden has made clear that the United States and China can and should work together on global challenges like climate change, macroeconomic stability, health security, and food security.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We seek to manage competition in the US-China relationship responsibly and are determined to avoid confrontation or conflict,” said the IPS expert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, managing competition responsibly takes willing parties, he said, adding that it requires strategic maturity to accept that they must maintain open lines of communication even as they compete, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Martin said the United States works closely with partners to ensure the Indo-Pacific region remains free, open, and accessible, to build connections within and beyond it, to drive regional prosperity, to bolster regional security, and to advance regional resilience to 21st century transnational threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are many specific examples of this work in Bangladesh and across the region,” the IPS expert added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 11:08:21', '2024-04-25 11:08:21'),
(12087, 12087, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The 115th edition of traditional ‘Jabbarer Boli Khela’ (wrestling competition) kicked off at historic Laldighi ground in the port city of Chattogram on Thursday afternoon amid the countrywide scorching heat.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Like every year, interested competitors submitted their names to the organising committee to participate in this year\'s Boli Khela. Their names were taken till 11 am on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the competition, the stage of \'Boli-Khela\' was built on 165 poles at Laldighi ground, said organisers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though the main event started today, a ‘Baishakhi Mela’ centring the competition started Tuesday. The crowd at the fair venue started to increase from Wednesday noon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, organising the Boli Khela amid the prevailing heat wave sparked criticism on social media. Although some are in favour of continuing the game others are suggesting its postponement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jahar Lal Hazari, president of the Abdul Jabbar Memory Wrestling Competition and Boishakhi Mela Committee, said the stage where the wrestling will be held was prepared and the fair will continue till the night of April 26.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The entire area of Laldighi Par from the city\'s Anderkilla intersection has been decorated. Traders from different parts of the country thronged the fair venue with a variety of products along with local businessmen, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Renowned local merchant Abdul Jabbar Sawdagar of the city’s Badorpati area introduced wrestling in 1909 (Bangla 1316) with the aim to organise youths against British government .</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However the 111th and 112th editions of the game and fair were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 11:38:30', '2024-04-25 11:38:30'),
(12088, 12088, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A major fire that engulfed a restaurant and hotel in eastern India on Thursday killed at least six people and injured 20, a local fire officer said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire began when a cooking gas cylinder exploded while diners were eating in the restaurant, and it soon spread into an adjacent hotel in Patna, the capital of Bihar state, said Satya Prakash, the officer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least 40 people were rescued from the two buildings by firefighters who doused the blaze using more than a dozen fire engines, Prakash said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The hotel is in a congested area next to Patna\'s railroad station. Several vehicles parked at the hotel were gutted, Prakash said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said some guests in the hotel jumped from their room windows and were injured. Other details were not immediately available.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fires are common in India, where builders and residents often flout building laws and safety codes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2019, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit engulfed a building in the Indian capital and killed 43 people. In 2022, a fire in a four-story commercial building in New Delhi killed at least 27. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 11:44:14', '2024-04-25 11:44:14'),
(12089, 12089, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said, \"If Aedes larvae are found in the construction sites of buildings, the work will be stopped if necessary.\"</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"Our surveys found that under construction buildings are ideal sources for breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, tougher action will be taken against owners and authorities of under construction buildings if they ignore the directives to destroy breeding grounds of Aedes Mosquito,\" he said .</div><div><br></div><div>He said this while talking to reporters after visiting renovation works of Dr Kazi Bashir Auditorium in the capital\'s Gulistan on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>He urged all developer organizations and their association REHAB to play their due role in destroying breeding grounds of mosquitoes.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"We have taken all necessary measures to tackle any outbreak of dengue disease, we will launch our drives from the beginning of next month to prevent the mosquito-borne disease.\"</div><div><br></div><div>According to the action plan, the campaign to control dengue will be conducted from May and view exchange meetings will be held with all stakeholders, said Taposh.</div><div><br></div><div>The main purpose of the meeting is to regularly keep all the buildings and residences under their control neat and clean.</div><div><br></div><div>\"All relevant organizations have to work in a coordinated manner to combat mosquito-borne diseases as the country witnessed a severe outbreak of dengue last year,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"39\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 12:09:45', '2024-04-25 12:09:45'),
(12090, 12090, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made seemingly contradictory decisions regarding two of its star players.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mustafizur Rahman has been recalled from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for national duty, while Shakib Al Hasan has been granted permission to prioritize Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League matches during a T20I series of Bangladesh against Zimbabwe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While justifying the recall of Mustafizur due to workload concerns, BCB\'s Jalal Yunus, the cricket operation chief, surprisingly stated that “Mustafizur has nothing to learn from IPL.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BCB recently announced a 17-member preliminary squad for a training camp in Chattogram, excluding both Shakib and Mustafizur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Initially, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain indicated Shakib\'s unavailability, leaving his participation in the Zimbabwe series uncertain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will announce the team on 28th April,” Gazi Ashraf said. “That is when you will find out exactly how many matches Shakib will be available for.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Shakib himself clarified the situation during a public interaction in the USA, where he currently resides.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I will definitely play in the Zimbabwe series,” Shakib affirmed. He explained that the decision to miss the initial two or three matches was made after discussions with the coach and captain, with the coach suggesting that playing two matches would suffice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shakib dismissed the speculation surrounding his prioritization of the Dhaka League as “irrelevant.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Shakib remains a crucial member of the Bangladesh team across all formats, his regular participation in national team matches has been a subject of debate over the last few years. This latest decision further fuels the discussion surrounding the balance between club and country commitments for star players. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 12:51:48', '2024-04-25 12:51:48'),
(12091, 12091, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) was declared closed for an indefinite period on Thursday as students burst into protests demanding road safety after the deaths of two fellows in a fatal road accident on April 22.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision to close the university was taken in the 151st emergency meeting of the academic council led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, said the university’s Deputy Director (coordination) Fazlur Rahman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All academic activities including exams will remain suspended during the period, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The male students were asked to vacate dormitories by 5pm on Thursday and the female students by 9am on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two Cuet students—Shanto Saha, a 3rd year student and Tawfiq Hasan, a 2nd year student of Civil engineering department, died when a bus of ‘Shah Amanat’ paribahan hit a motorbike on Chattogram-Kaptai road at Zianagar in Rangunia upazila on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As soon as the news spread, some Cuet students vandalised three buses and set one more on fire on that day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The students took to the streets boycotting classes and examinations and continued their protests till Wednesday blocking the Chattogram-Kaptai road by setting fire on logs and tyres to press home their 9 point demand for safe road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They demanded arrest of the bus driver and his assistant and their exemplary punishment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other demands include providing compensation to the deceased and bearing the medical expenses of the student injured in the accident, establishment of modern treatment centre with all facilities on the campus, proving ambulances with modern equipment, stopping movement of all local buses including Shah Amanat and AB Travels on the road, examining liscences of the buses and CNG-run auto-rickshaws that ply the road , making the Student Welfare Council under accountable and forming students representative group, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bus driver Md Tazul Islam was arrested from the Kotwali area of Chattogram city on Wednesday afternoon,</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 12:59:59', '2024-04-25 12:59:59'),
(12092, 12092, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday accused the Awami League government of pursuing a \'destructive\' development policy in the name of development, causing environmental degradation across the country.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The scorching heat in Dhaka has surpassed all the previous records. This was not supposed to happen as there are many rivers like Turag, Buriganga and Shitalakshya around Dhaka. The reality is that encroachers have grabbed these rivers. They have filled up almost every river in the country. It is possible during the rule of an autocratic regime.” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Expressing concern over the public suffering caused by a severe heatwave sweeping the country, the BNP leader also said the rising temperatures are a result of the current regime\'s anti-environmental activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi came up with the comments while distributing bottled water, saline, and juice to pedestrians, day labourers, rickshaw pullers, street vendors, and other working-class of people in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP\'s Dhaka South City unit organised the programme to alleviate public suffering as temperatures reach unprecedented levels. The unusually high temperatures pose grave risks to public health, especially heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and dehydration-induced diarrhoea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi said the green experts and scientists have repeatedly advised the government not to set up coal-based power plants. “But the anti-mass prime minister has ignored their advice and instead embarked on mega projects in the name of development for indulging in massive corruption.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said the government is setting up a coal-based thermal power plant in Patuakhali\'s Kalapara area by ignoring the opinion of environmental experts which poses a serious threat to the biodiversity of the entire Barishal region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Due to the construction of thermal power plants, coconut trees are no longer bearing fruit in the coastal areas of Patuakhali and adjacent regions of Barishal. There was a time when coconuts grew abundantly in those areas, but now even the rivers lack fish,\" the BNP leader said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also highlighted the extreme damage caused to the biodiversity of the Sundarbans by the Rampal coal-fired thermal power project.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Sundarbans, often referred to as the lungs of Bangladesh, is now struggling for survival alongside its iconic inhabitants like the world-renowned Royal Bengal tiger, crocodiles of the Pasur River, and the graceful deer due to Rampal power plant,” Rizvi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the government has no focus on creating a livable environment for the people of the country as it does not think that people are the source of power. “So, they can do anything, including destroying our environment, forest and rivers”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About the upcoming upazila polls, the BNP leader said the government is now going to hold \'upazila elections with dummy candidates similar to the 12th parliamentary elections, reports unb</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the ruling party MPs have created their own reigns in every parliamentary area ahead of the upazila elections. “Even, the Awami League leaders are also not getting any chance to contest the elections. The MPs\' reigns have been established with the wives, brothers, and brothers-in-law of ministers and MPs.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 13:33:45', '2024-04-25 13:33:45');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12093, 12093, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said his country has proven the West doesn’t have a monopoly on technology while inaugurating a hydropower and irrigation project in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raisi is the first Iranian leader to visit Sri Lanka since former President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad visited the country in 2008.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Western countries tried to convince all others that knowledge and technology is exclusive to those countries,” Raisi said, addressing Sri Lanka\'s President Ranil Wickremesinghe and other top officials. He added that the “idea” was rooted in “colonialism and arrogance” and that Iran was now able to share its knowledge with others, currently having projects in 20 countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Uma Oya project, in the central Badulla district, was constructed with Iranian technical assistance. Valued at $514 million, it was started in 2010 by Iran’s FARAB engineering group and Iran initially provided $50 million. But in 2013, funding could not be continued because of international sanctions against Iran. The Sri Lankan government then decided to complete the project with its own funds using the same Iranian contractor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project was scheduled for completion in 2015 but was delayed by international sanctions against Iran, technical issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, the government said in a statement ahead of Raisi’s visit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project will add 290 GWh of electricity annually to the national grid and irrigate 4,500 hectares (11,100 acres) of new land and 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of existing agricultural land.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our enemies did not want Iran to develop and progress ... so the will and determination of the Iranian people were realized and our enemies were disappointed,” Raisi said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raisi and Wickremesinghe are to witness the signing of five memoranda of understanding and are scheduled to issue a joint statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raisi arrived in Sri Lanka from Pakistan, where the two countries agreed to strengthen economic and security cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Indian Ocean island nation declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with more than $83 billion in debt — more than half of it to foreign creditors. Wickremesinghe\'s government secured an IMF four-year bailout package to rescue the country from its worst economic crisis.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite improving economic indicators, Wickremesinghe - who came to power in 2022 - faces public backlash over heavy taxes and the high cost of living. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 13:46:01', '2024-04-25 13:46:01'),
(12094, 12094, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>TikTok\'s chief executive said on Wednesday the social media company expects to win a legal challenge to block legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden that he said would ban its popular short video app used by 170 million Americans.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Rest assured - we aren\'t going anywhere,\" CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a video posted moments after Biden signed the bill that gives China-based ByteDance 270 days to divest TikTok\'s U.S. assets or face a ban. \"The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail again.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden\'s signing sets a Jan. 19 deadline for a sale - one day before his term is set to expire - but he could extend the deadline by three months if he determines ByteDance is making progress. Biden is seeking a second term against former President Donald Trump.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We don\'t want to see a ban,\" White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday. \"This is about PRC ownership,\" she added, referring to the People\'s Republic of China.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2020, Trump was blocked by the courts in his bid to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat, a unit of Tencent (0700.HK), opens new tab, in the United States. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has reversed course and said on Monday that Biden was \"pushing\" for a ban on TikTok and would be the one responsible if a ban were imposed, urging voters to take notice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Make no mistake - this is a ban on TikTok,\" Chew said, emphasizing that TikTok would continue to operate as the company challenges the restrictions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many experts question if any potential buyer has the financial resources to buy TikTok and if China and U.S. government agencies would approve a sale.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Driven by widespread worries among U.S. lawmakers that China could access Americans\' data or surveil them with the app, the bill was overwhelmingly passed late on Tuesday by the U.S. Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives approved it on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The four-year battle over TikTok is a significant front in a war over the internet and technology between Washington and Beijing. Last week, Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab said China had ordered it to remove Meta Platforms\' (META.O), opens new tab WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China over Chinese national security concerns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 14:01:14', '2024-04-25 14:01:14'),
(12095, 12095, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>French President Emmanuel Macron called on Thursday for stronger, more integrated European defences as he outlined his vision for a more assertive European Union on the global stage.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">In a speech at the Sorbonne University in Paris, he also said the continent must not become a vassal of the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There is a risk our Europe could die. We are not equipped to face the risks,\" Macron said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With just three years left of his second and final term in office, Macron, 46, wants to show his critics he retains the energy and fresh thinking that helped propel him into the presidency in 2017 and that he has not become a lame duck leader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the speech lasting nearly two hours, he warned that military, economic and other pressures could weaken and fragment the 27-nation EU.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia must not be allowed to win in Ukraine, he said, calling for a boost in Europe\'s cybersecurity capacity, closer defence ties with post-Brexit Britain, and the creation of a European academy to train high-ranking military personnel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Europeans should give preference to buying European military equipment, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We must produce more, we must produce faster, and we must produce as Europeans,\" Macron said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The speech won a positive response from Macron\'s main EU partner, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with whom he has often clashed on defence and trade issues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"France and Germany want Europe to be strong,\" Scholz said in a post. \"Your speech contains good ideas on how we can achieve this.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Macron has long called for European \"strategic autonomy\" involving less reliance on the United States, a stance that has gained greater resonance in the face of Donald Trump\'s bid to return to the White House. Trump has often accused Europe of free loading on defence at the United States\' expense.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Europe \"must show that it is never a vassal of the United States and that it also knows how to talk to all the other regions of the world,\" Macron said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many EU officials believe there is currently no credible alternative to the U.S. military umbrella. Source: Reuters </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 15:06:13', '2024-04-25 15:06:29'),
(12096, 12096, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Anger is “an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage,” according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We all know what anger is, and we’ve all felt it, whether as a fleeting annoyance or as full-fledged rage. Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ready to get your anger under control? Start by considering these 7 anger management tips.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>1. Think before you speak</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the heat of the moment, it\'s easy to say something you\'ll later regret. Take a few moments to collect your thoughts before saying anything. Also allow others involved in the situation to do the same.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>2. Once you\'re calm, express your concerns</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As soon as you\'re thinking clearly, express your frustration in an assertive but nonconfrontational way. State your concerns and needs clearly and directly, without hurting others or trying to control them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>3. Get some exercise</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Physical activity can help reduce stress that can cause you to become angry. If you feel your anger escalating, go for a brisk walk or run. Or spend some time doing other enjoyable physical activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><i>4. Take a timeout</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Timeouts aren\'t just for kids. Give yourself short breaks during times of the day that tend to be stressful. A few moments of quiet time might help you feel better prepared to handle what\'s ahead without getting irritated or angry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><i><br></i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><i>5. Identify possible solutions</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Instead of focusing on what made you mad, work on resolving the issue at hand. Does your child\'s messy room make you upset? Close the door. Is your partner late for dinner every night? Schedule meals later in the evening. Or agree to eat on your own a few times a week. Also, understand that some things are simply out of your control. Try to be realistic about what you can and cannot change. Remind yourself that anger won\'t fix anything and might only make it worse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><i>6. Stick with \'I\' statements</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Criticizing or placing blame might only increase tension. Instead, use \"I\" statements to describe the problem. Be respectful and specific. For example, say, \"I\'m upset that you left the table without offering to help with the dishes\" instead of \"You never do any housework.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><i>7. Use humor to release tension</i></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lightening up can help diffuse tension. Use humor to help you face what\'s making you angry and, possibly, any unrealistic expectations you have for how things should go. Avoid sarcasm, though — it can hurt feelings and make things worse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Remember, you can’t eliminate anger - and it wouldn’t be a good idea if you could. In spite of all your efforts, things will happen that will cause you anger; and sometimes it will be justifiable anger. Life will be filled with frustration, pain, loss, and the unpredictable actions of others.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd/fas</div>', '<p><font color=\"#085294\" style=\"\"><b>&nbsp;control-anger</b></font><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 15:25:42', '2024-04-25 15:25:42'),
(12097, 12097, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Hospitals across Khulna are struggling to accommodate an influx of patients as a severe heatwave continues to affect the region. Key healthcare facilities, including Khulna Medical College Hospital, Khulna Sadar Hospital, Khulna Children\'s Hospital, and Khulna Infectious Disease Hospital, have reached full capacity, forcing patients to occupy floors, corridors, and even stairways due to a lack of available beds.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The situation is particularly dire at the government-run Khulna Infectious Disease Hospital located in Mirerdanga, where the number of diarrheal patients has alarmingly increased. With no pediatric specialists or consultants available, children suffering from diarrhea are being deprived of adequate medical care, putting significant strain on their families.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite sufficient supplies of medicine and saline, the hospital faces a critical shortage of medical staff, nurses, and ward boys, compounded by its deteriorating infrastructure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From the beginning of the month, a sharp rise in cases of vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea has been reported. As of April 24, the hospital has admitted over 350 diarrheal patients, with an additional 10 to 15 patients seeking outpatient care daily. The hospital, designed with only 20 beds, has 10 allocated for diarrheal patients. The number of beds for diarrheal patients has been increased to 14 through the efforts of the acting officer. However, there are no separate wards for males and females, nor any cabins.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Khulna Children\'s Hospital, the situation has worsened further. Al-Amin Rakib, an administrative officer at the hospital, reported that while the outpatient department previously handled around 400 patients daily, the figure has surged to 700 to 800 children over the last week. Despite having 275 beds, the hospital is currently accommodating twice as many patients suffering from fever, colds, and diarrhea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A distressed father, Rahim Sheikh, from Botiaghata, shared his ordeal of his three-year-old daughter Anika suffering from diarrhea due to the heat. Having arrived at the hospital at 8 am, he had yet to see a doctor by late morning. The director of Khulna Medical College Hospital, Dr. Husain Shafayat, echoed the severity of the situation, stating the hospital was operating at three times its capacity with no space left to admit new patients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">As the heatwave shows no signs of relenting, the healthcare crisis in Khulna continues to escalate, with medical facilities urgently requiring additional resources and support to manage the overwhelming patient load. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 15:30:11', '2024-04-25 15:30:11'),
(12098, 12098, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>System loss in gas distribution segment has been brought down to 7.5 percent now from a 22 percent two years before.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid disclosed this while visiting the headquarters of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited in the city on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Now our target is to bring the system loss to a zero level in the next two years, \" he said, giving a description of the recent moves of the Titas Gas Company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Titas has been the largest entity in the gas distribution segment having about 2.8 million retail consumers, out of a total 4.8 million of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The state minister said that in the last two years a total of 865,000 illegal gas connections have been snapped. Of this, 336 are industrial connections, 475 commercial connections, 97 captive power plants, 13 CNG stations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A total of 989 kilometers of illegal pipelines have been removed and Tk 604 crore has been fined from the illegal consumers”, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Briefing reporters, Nasrul said the government has been intolerant in taking action against illegal connections, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He, however, admitted that some influential quarters including local lawmakers, public representatives of different levels have been the main impediments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“But mind it, the minister of the energy and power ministry is the Prime Minister herself and she has strong directives to remain uncompromising in this regard, \" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker and Titas managing director Engr. Md. Haronur Rashid Mullah were present on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nasrul informed that the Titras Gas Company has initiated a move to implement a Tk 12,000 crore project in the areas under Dhaka and Narayanganj cities to replace the old pipelines to stop gas leakages.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apart from this, Titas Gas has been negotiating with different donor agencies including Asian Development Bank, World Bank and JBIC of Japan to install pre-paid gas meters to reduce system loss in the gas consumption.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath also said that all the distribution and transmission companies have installed meters to ensure accountability in gas trading among them.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-25 15:49:34', '2024-04-25 15:49:34'),
(12099, 12099, '<div align=\"left\"><p dir=\"ltr\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The construction of a new port in Gaza and an accompanying U.S. military-built pier offshore are underway, but the complex plan to bring more desperately needed food to Palestinian civilians is still mired in fears over security and how the humanitarian aid will be delivered.</span><br></p></div><div align=\"left\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Israeli-developed port, for example, has already been attacked by mortar fire, sending high-ranking U.N. officials scrambling for shelter this week, and there is still no solid decision on when the aid deliveries will actually begin.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">While satellite photos show major port construction along the shore near Gaza City, aid groups are making it clear that they have broad concerns about their safety and reservations about how Israeli forces will handle security.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Sonali Korde, an official with the U.S. Agency for International Development, said key agreements for security and handling the aid deliveries are still being negotiated. Those include how Israeli forces will operate in Gaza to ensure that aid workers are not harmed.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">“We need to see steps implemented. And the humanitarian community and IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) continue to talk and engage and iterate and improve the system so that everyone feels safe and secure in this very difficult operating environment,” Korde said.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">A senior U.S. military official said Thursday the U.S. is on track to begin delivering aid using the new port and pier by early May. The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public, said deliveries through the sea route initially will total about 90 trucks a day and could quickly increase to about 150 trucks daily.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The senior official acknowledged, however, that the final installation of the U.S.-built causeway onto the beach at the port will be governed by the security situation, which is assessed daily. The Israeli Defense Force has a brigade — thousands of soldiers — as well as ships and aircraft dedicated to protecting the deliveries, the official said.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Asked about the recent mortar attack, the miliary official said the U.S. assesses that it had nothing to do with the humanitarian mission, adding that security around the port will be “far more robust” when the deliveries start.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">In addition, the U.S. has rehearsed offensive and defensive measures to ensure U.S. troops working at the pier and those on the floating platform several miles off shore are all protected.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Aid groups have been shaken by the deaths of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in an Israeli airstrike on April 1 as they traveled in clearly marked vehicles on a delivery mission authorized by Israel. The killings have hardened sentiment among some aid groups that the international community should focus instead on pushing Israel to ease obstacles to the delivery of aid on land routes by truck.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The World Central Kitchen staff, who were honored at a memorial service Thursday in Washington, are among more than 200 humanitarian workers killed in Gaza, a toll the U.N. says is three times higher than any previous number for aid workers in a single year of any war.</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Development of the port and pier comes as Israel faces widespread international criticism over the slow trickle of aid into the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations says at least a quarter of the population sits on the brink of starvation. - AP</p>\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\">bnbd/fas</p></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-26 02:58:17', '2024-04-26 02:58:17'),
(12100, 12100, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the leaders and activists of Awami League to work for the development of Bangladesh and its people.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“You should work for the development of the country and its people,” she said when a delegation of Thailand Awami League paid a courtesy call on her at her place of residence.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s Speechwriter Md. Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>The President of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, asked them to spread the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Father of the Nation was killed untimely but his ideals remained among us. That is why I’ve been working to implement his ideals,” she said, adding that Bangabandhu had dreamt to bring smiles to the faces of poor and destitute people of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the remarkable progress and development Bangladesh witnessed in the last 15 years, the premier said it has been possible to attain the progress as they (her party) are in power uninterruptedly for a long time.</div><div><br></div><div>The leaders and activists told the Prime Minister that many Bangladeshis have accepted the citizenship of Thailand, but they are keen to keep the dual citizenship. They sought the PM’s intervention for maintaining dual citizenship. Source : UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-26 13:03:33', '2024-04-26 13:03:33'),
(12101, 12101, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As the country grapples with an intense heatwave, the government has announced the reopening of primary school academic activities starting Sunday, April 28.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Primary and Mass Education Ministry, through a notification signed by Senior Information Officer Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin, outlined the operational adjustments to accommodate the sweltering conditions.</div><div><br></div><div>School hours will be limited to the cooler morning hours, from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. For schools operating in two shifts, the first shift will run from 8:00 am to 9:30 am and the second from 9:45 am to 11:30 am.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Despite these changes, pre-primary level classes will remain closed until further notice, and daily school assemblies will be suspended to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision follows a similar action taken for secondary level schools and colleges, which are set to reopen on the same day, April 28.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The resumption comes after an extended closure initially planned until April 27 due to the prolonged hot weather following the Eid holidays. Outdoor activities and those requiring sun exposure at these institutions will continue to be limited.</div><div><br></div><div>To make up for educational disruptions caused by the heatwave and other interruptions, classes will also be conducted on Saturdays until further notice, according to the ministry\'s notification.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecasted that the current heatwave conditions, which recorded a high of 42.7 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga on Friday, may persist for another 72 hours starting Thursday morning. The government\'s proactive measures aim to balance educational needs with health and safety concerns during this challenging climate period. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 08:44:05', '2024-04-27 08:44:05'),
(12102, 12102, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said Bangladesh and Thailand have the opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, food security, tourism, public health, energy and ICT.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">I strongly feel that we have the opportunity to strengthen our cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, food security, tourism, public health, energy, ICT, people-to-people contacts and connectivity, and also under the BIMSTEC, she said, addressing the official luncheon meeting hosted by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at his office, the Government House, here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the two leaders had a tete-a-tete (one-to-one meeting) and then they led their respective sides at a bilateral meeting there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Five bilateral documents - an agreement, three memorandums of understanding MoU) and a letter of intent (LOI) - were signed in presence of the two prime ministers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the luncheon, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its relations with Thailand as an immediate neighbour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Our friendship is deeply rooted in historical, linguistic, and common cultural heritage. The warm and cordial relations between our two friendly countries are ever-growing in multi-faceted areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, sustainable development, people-to-people contacts, and connectivity, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh premier said that Prime Minister Thavisin and she discussed at length the bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">We agreed to make all efforts to enhance our bilateral trade and encourage more interactions between the public and private entities of the two countries. Likewise, we must make all efforts to promote and facilitate bilateral investments, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The agreement and MoUs that Dhaka and Bangkok signed today (Friday) would provide a solid framework for enhancing bilateral cooperation, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about her visit, Sheikh Hasina said the visit is part of broader focus on the neighbourhood policy, which has provided an excellent opportunity for the two countries to further renew the momentum in the bilateral relations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">I am confident that this visit will go a long way in deepening the relations between our two countries, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said that she firmly believes this visit would provide the much-needed impetus to the bilateral relations to its full potential, reports BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This official visit will remain a milestone in our bilateral relations. It has ushered in a new era of fruitful partnership between our two countries. We need to sustain the renewed momentum in our relationship for the mutual benefit of our people and countries in the days ahead, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before joining the luncheon, Sheikh Hasina visited a Thai handicrafts exhibition at the Government House. She was accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Bangabandhu\'s grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 10:08:59', '2024-04-27 10:08:59'),
(12103, 12103, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A premature Palestinian infant, rescued from her mother\'s womb shortly after the woman was killed in an Israeli airstrike, has died, her uncle said Friday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sabreen Jouda died in a Gaza hospital on Thursday after her health deteriorated and medical teams were unable to save her, said her uncle, Rami al-Sheikh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sabreen\'s home in the southern Gaza city of Rafah was hit by an Israeli airstrike shortly before midnight Saturday. Her parents and 4-year-old sister were killed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">First responders took the bodies to a nearby hospital, where medical workers performed an emergency cesarean section on her mother, Sabreen al-Sakani, who was 30 weeks\' pregnant. The infant was kept in an incubator in a neonatal intensive care unit at another hospital until she died five days later.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al-Sheikh told The Associated Press that Sabreen was buried next to her father on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We were attached to this baby in a crazy way,\" he said, speaking near Sabreen\'s grave in a cemetery in Rafah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"God had taken something from us but given us something in return\" with the baby surviving after her family died, he said. \"But (now) he has taken them all. My brother\'s family is completely wiped out. It\'s been deleted from the civil registry. There is no trace of him left behind.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Israel-Hamas war, according to local health officials, who say about two-thirds of the dead are women and children. The health officials don\'t differentiate among combatants and civilians in their count.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel declared war on Hamas and unleashed a pulverizing air and ground offensive in Gaza in response to the militants\' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. The militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took another 250 hostage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than half of Gaza\'s 2.3 million people have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for a possible offensive in the city. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 11:33:13', '2024-04-27 11:33:13'),
(12104, 12104, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Columbia University students who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their encampment until their demands are met.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement after two days of exhaustive negotiations came as Columbia’s president faced harsh criticism from faculty — something that has been seen at several other universities where professors and staff similarly condemned leadership over the use of police against demonstrators, leading to fierce clashes, injuries and hundreds of arrests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tensions add pressure on school officials from California to Massachusetts who are scrambling to resolve the protests as May graduation ceremonies near.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities all over the U.S. are demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus, and safety concerns have prompted some of the heavier-handed approaches.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In one crackdown, in Denver, police swept through an encampment Friday at the Auraria Campus, which hosts three universities and colleges. Forty protesters who set up there the day before were arrested on what the campus said were trespassing charges for violating a camping ban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Columbia, student negotiators representing the encampment said that after meetings Thursday and Friday, the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although there was progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We will not rest until Columbia divests,” said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Columbia officials had said earlier that talks were showing progress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have our demands; they have theirs,” university spokesperson Ben Chang said, adding that if the talks fail, Columbia will have to consider other options.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Columbia\'s president, Minouche Shafik, faced a significant — but largely symbolic — rebuke from faculty Friday but retained the support of trustees, who have the power to hire or fire the president.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A report by the university senate’s executive committee, which represents faculty, found Shafik and her administration took “many actions and decisions that have harmed Columbia University.” Those included calling in police and letting students be arrested without consulting faculty, failing to defend the institution in the face of external pressures, misrepresenting and suspending student protest groups and hiring private investigators.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The faculty have completely lost confidence in President Shafik’s ability to lead this organization,” said Ege Yumusak, a philosophy lecturer who is part of a faculty team protecting the encampment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, Chang said in the evening that “we are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senate’s constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also Friday, student protester Khymani James walked back comments made in an online video in January that recently received new attention. James said in the video that “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and people should be grateful James wasn’t killing them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What I said was wrong,” James said in a statement. “Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">James, who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment as a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protest organizers said James\' comments didn’t reflect their values. They declined to describe James’ level of involvement with the demonstration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the opposite coast, protesters at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, barricaded themselves inside a building for the fifth day Friday. The administration gave them until 5 p.m. to leave and “not be immediately arrested,” a deadline that came and went.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">University officials did not immediately respond to a request for an update or provide information on what they planned to do, and the campus has been closed for the remainder of the semester.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Arizona State University, protesters pitched tents, including some that police dismantled, and at least one person was handcuffed and taken away Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police previously clashed with protesters Thursday at Indiana University, Bloomington, where 34 were arrested. There were about 36 arrests at Ohio State, and one at the University of Connecticut.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The president of Portland State University took a different approach Friday, announcing a forum to discuss protesters’ concerns and a pause on further gifts and grants from Boeing, after students asked that the school cut ties with the aerospace company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The University of Southern California canceled its May 10 graduation ceremony Thursday, a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested on campus. The university said it will still host dozens of commencement events, including all the traditional individual school ceremonies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Elsewhere in New York, about a dozen protesters spent the night in tents and sleeping bags inside a building at the Fashion Institute of Technology.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Protesters also stayed overnight at the encampment at George Washington University. Officials said in a statement that those who remained were trespassing on private property and disciplinary actions would be pursued against students involved in the unauthorized demonstrations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At Emory University in Atlanta, video that circulated widely on social media showed two women who identified themselves as professors being detained, with one of them slammed to the ground by an officer as a second one pushed her chest and face onto a concrete sidewalk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">University President Gregory Fenves said via email that some videos of clashes were “shocking” and he was “horrified that members of our community had to experience and witness such interactions.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fenves blamed the campus unrest on “highly organized, outside protesters” who he said arrived in vans, put up tents and took over the quad. But in an earlier statement, school officials said that 20 of the 28 people arrested were members of the university community.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the U.S. Education Department has launched civil rights investigations into dozens of universities and schools in response to complaints of antisemitism or Islamophobia. Among those under investigation are many colleges facing protests, including Harvard and Columbia. - AP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 12:30:14', '2024-04-27 12:30:14'),
(12105, 12105, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Ministry of Labour and Employment today announced the recipients of the \'Green Factory Award 2023\', spotlighting 29 factories recognised for their environmentally friendly operations.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a press conference held at Srom Bhaban in the capital, Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, State Minister for Labour and Employment, unveiled the list.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He emphasised the government\'s dedication to promoting green industrial practices and ensuring that all factories adhere to sustainable and environmentally sound operations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A major initiative has been taken to make all the factories green and environment-friendly, stated Chowdhury. He also expressed a commitment to eradicating irregularities and corruption within the ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abdur Rahim Khan, Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, noted that approximately 200 factories in the country have achieved global recognition for their eco-friendly practices, with the number continuing to grow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The \'Green Factory Award-2023\' encompasses a diverse range of industries, with the 29 factories spanning across 12 different sectors. This recognition underscores the significant strides being made in Bangladesh\'s industrial sector towards environmental sustainability and operational excellence. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 13:01:46', '2024-04-27 13:01:46');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12107, 12107, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The ongoing heat wave condition and drought have posed a serious threat to the production of litchi, a mouth-watering summer fruit, in Pabna district.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pabna’s Iswardi upazila is known as one of the leading litchi production zones in the country. But this year, farmers and traders are fearing losses as small litchi pods are falling from the trees due to the prevailing heat wave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the beginning of this season, litchi farmers had expected a bumper production of litchi but 50% of buds had fallen due to the heavy rains with hails in the middle of Chaitra (Bangla) month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, due to the extreme heat at the beginning of summer, a large part of the litchi pods are now falling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If summer heat continues, the litchi farmers have to count a huge loss this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the wholesale traders who had bought the orchards with the sprouting of trees have become worried over possible losses this season.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year, a total of 4,721 hectares of land have been brought under litchi cultivation and among these, 3,150 hectares are in Ishwardi upazila of the district.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also set a target to produce 48,801 metric tonnes of litchi this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a recent visit to some litchi orchards, the UNB correspondent found that at the beginning of the month of Falgun, there were enough buds coming in each litchi tree. Seeing a lot of buds on trees, the traders bought the orchards at a higher price in advance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But due to the ongoing drought and untimely rains with hailstorm at the end of Chaitra, most of the buds have been damaged.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirajul Sheikh, a litchi grower of Ishwardi upazila, said about 40-50 percent litchi buds were destroyed during hailstorm but now a large portion of litchi pods are dropping due to the prevailing heat wave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manirul, a trader, said he had bought a litchi orchard at a cost of Tk 25 lakh but he is too frustrated. He is now doubtful whether he will be able to sell litchi worth Tk 10 lakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though the DAE officials suggested the farmers to spray water and continue irrigation but farmers said it is not possible to spray water in vast tract of land that was brought under litchi cultivation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the DAE officials are still expecting bumper production this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Mehedi, a litchi grower and trader, said the biggest economic activity of the farmers of Ishwardi upazila depends on litchi production. Farmers of the upazila will be severely affected if they don’t get expected output .</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jamal Uddin, deputy director of Pabna DAE, said this year, litchi trees saw profuse flowering and if litchi comes from half of those it will be huge, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, some litchi are being damaged due to drought and the current heat wave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Farmers are being suggested to spray water on the upper side of the litchi trees and irrigate the lands, he added.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 13:06:37', '2024-04-27 13:06:37'),
(12108, 12108, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Awami League and its affiliated organisations have paid homage to&nbsp; Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq at his tomb on the occasion of his 62nd death anniversary.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tributes were paid first on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and then by the Bangladesh Awami League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and other senior leaders of the party were present at that time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking on the occasion, Quader said that national leader Sher-e-Bangla was one of those who took politics to the masses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AL leader said that farmers in Bengal’s rural areas would never forget Sher-e-Bangla for protecting them from moneylenders through the Tenancy Act and Debt Settlement Board.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League Dhaka South City unit, Jubo League, Swechasebak League, Tanti League, Dhaka University Chhatra League and various affiliated organisations of Awami League paid tribute later. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 13:09:06', '2024-04-27 13:09:06'),
(12109, 12109, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As the summer heatwave continues, the risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration becomes a concern. Like adults, children can suffer from severe heat-related illnesses. Therefore, parents and caregivers should be cautious, especially for school-going children who stay outside the home for hours. Here are some essential summer tips to ensure the well-being of school-going children during the hot months.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">How to Keep School-going Children Healthy During Summer Heat Waves</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stay Hydrated</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ensuring children stay hydrated is crucial during a heatwave. Parents and caregivers should encourage children to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, focusing on water as the primary source of hydration. It would be wise to avoid serving children sugary or caffeinated beverages that can contribute to dehydration.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While leaving for school, it is necessary to provide children water bottles and remind them to take regular sips, even if they are not feeling thirsty. Offer water-rich fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, and oranges as healthy snacks to help keep children hydrated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dress Appropriately</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing of breathable fabrics like cotton or linen can help children stay cool. It is highly recommended to opt for light-coloured clothes that reflect sunlight rather than dark colours that absorb heat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Furthermore, while staying outdoors children can wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to protect their faces and eyes from the sun\'s harmful rays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seek Shade&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Children might need to stay outdoors for diverse purposes, like waiting for a school bus. During such situations, children should be encouraged to seek shade or canopies to minimise direct exposure to the sun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Apply Sunscreen Liberally</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunscreen application is another crucial aspect of sun protection. Like adults, children can use broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30. Before going to school or other places, kids need to apply sunscreens generously to their exposed skin, including the face, neck, arms, and legs. Nowadays many reputed brands produce child-friendly sunscreen products.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, or more frequently if children are swimming or sweating heavily. Parents and caregivers should teach children how to apply sunscreen properly and encourage them to build their sun protection routine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Plan Outdoor Activities Wisely</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While planning schedules for active outdoor games and sports during the warmer months, parents should pay attention to the matter that children stay safe from overheating or sunburn. However, when planning outdoor activities, it\'s essential to schedule them during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon, to avoid the peak heat hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Caregivers should guide children to play in shaded areas, such as parks with plenty of trees, or bring portable shade structures like pop-up tents or sun umbrellas to prevent sunburn and heat-related illnesses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While playing, sweat should be wiped off immediately. Additionally, encouraging regular play breaks in shaded areas allows children to rest and hydrate. It is essential to prevent heat-related illnesses.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stay Indoors During Peak Heat</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During extreme heat, it is best to stay indoors in air-conditioned or well-ventilated spaces for children to avoid heat-related illnesses. It would be thoughtful for the parents and caregivers to plan indoor activities like board games, arts and crafts, or movie marathons to keep children entertained and safe from the heat.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Educate About Heat-Related Illnesses</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is essential to teach children about the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, etc.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Parents and caregivers should teach children to speak up if they are feeling unwell and remind them of the importance of seeking help from a trusted adult if they experience any symptoms of heat-related illness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Use Cooling Strategies</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Implementing cooling strategies like taking cool showers or baths, using fans or air conditioning, and applying cold compresses to the skin can help children beat the heat and stay comfortable indoors.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Parents and caregivers can freeze damp washcloths or water bottles and place them on pulse points like the wrists, neck, and temples to help lower the body temperature of the children. It can make their mind and body cool after returning home from school or outdoors during the heat waves.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regular Baths</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bathing plays a vital role in maintaining cleanliness. It is important to avoid allowing children to drink or bathe in ice-cold water during hot weather. Instead, offer them water at room temperature or slightly cool.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When bathing, use water at a comfortable temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, to avoid shocking their system.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stay Connected</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Staying connected with children, caregivers, and school staff during a heatwave is essential for assuring everyone\'s safety. Keep lines of communication open with children, caregivers, and school staff during summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sharing information about heat safety tips and encouraging everyone to look out for each other helps create a supportive environment where everyone can stay cool, hydrated, and healthy during hot weather.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thus, parents and caregivers can minimise the risk of heat-related illnesses in children at home, community space, school, playground, or other places.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bottom Lines</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Implementing summer safety for school-going children during a heatwave is paramount to their well-being and health. Parents, caregivers, and school staff can help mitigate the risks associated with hot weather, by prioritising hydration, sun protection, appropriate clothing, and staying cool indoors during peak heat hours.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Educating children about heat-related illnesses and empowering them to recognise signs of distress is equally important. By working together and staying aware, the wellbeing and health safety of school children can be assured during the summer months. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', '<p><b><font color=\"#085294\">Summer Tips&nbsp;</font></b><br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 13:29:06', '2024-04-27 13:29:06'),
(12110, 12110, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A high-level Egyptian delegation was in Israel for talks on Friday amid a new diplomatic push for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit followed a trip to Cairo on Thursday by Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet domestic intelligence service head Ronen Bar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials in Israel described the latest moves as “an attempt by Egypt to restart the talks” after previous mediation efforts led by Qatar broke down. They told the Egyptian delegation that Israel was ready to give hostage negotiations “one last chance” to reach a deal before moving forward with an invasion of the southern city of Rafah.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Israel told Egypt that it is serious about preparations for the operation in Rafah and that it will not let Hamas drag its feet,” one official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Egypt is concerned about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees from Gaza if the war continues with the long-threatened Israeli offensive into Rafah, and has taken an increasingly active role in the negotiations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Egyptians are really picking up the mantle on this. Egypt wants to see progress, not least because it’s worried about a prospective Rafah operation,” the official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel was increasingly looking past Qatar as a main broker, according to the official, after it failed to respond to Israeli demands to expel Hamas leaders from its territory or curb their finances.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“Qatar is still involved but in a lesser capacity,” the official said. “It’s clear to everyone they failed to deliver, even when it came to expelling Hamas or even shutting down their bank accounts.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamas officials said they still considered Qatar a key mediator, alongside Egypt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he saw fresh momentum in the talks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I believe that there is a renewed effort … to try to find a way forward,” he said “Do I think that there is … new life in these hostage talks? I believe there is.”  - Arab News</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 14:18:38', '2024-04-27 14:18:53'),
(12111, 12111, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Yemen’s Houthis have damaged an oil tanker and downed another MQ-9 Reaper drone of the United States as they promise more attacks in opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Iran-aligned group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said in his latest televised video address early on Saturday that “British oil ship Andromeda Star” was targeted in the Red Sea with naval missiles and was directly hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US military confirmed that the group fired three antiship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea at multiple targets and damaged MV Andromeda Star. The vessel was recently sold to a company registered in the Seychelles, Reuters reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“MV Andromeda Star reports minor damage, but is continuing its voyage,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X, adding there were no injuries or damage reported by the maritime military coalition led by the US that is deployed in the area to counter attacks from Yemen.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Houthi military spokesman also said its air defence forces in Yemen also shot down an MQ-9 Reaper attack drone of the US military with a missile in the airspace of the Saada governorate “while it was carrying out hostile missions”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US military did not comment on the drone, but US broadcaster CBS News confirmed that an MQ-9, which costs about $30m, “crashed” inside Yemen early on Friday and said an investigation is under way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the third US attack drone shot down by the Houthis since the start of the war on Gaza, with the first brought down in November, followed by another in February.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Yemeni group made no comments about further attacks on vessels in its nearby waterways, but the US military said the anti-ship missiles fired by the Houthis also targeted MV MAISHA, an Antigua/Barbados-flagged, Liberia-operated vessel. It reported no damage. - Al Jazeera </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 15:23:34', '2024-04-27 15:23:46'),
(12112, 12112, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday alleged that Bangladesh has now become a gas chamber as a result of unplanned urbanization.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh is now a valley of death due to a hoax development of the current dummy government,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader also accused the government of putting lives in jeopardy through deforestation, silting up of rivers and canals and setting up thermal and coal-run power plants by pursuing unplanned urbanisation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh has now been turned into a gas chamber,” he observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi came up with the remarks while distributing bottled water and saline among pedestrians in the capital\'s Mirpur area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As part of its 7-day programme, Dhaka North City unit BNP arranged the programme to assuage public suffering amidst the ongoing severe heatwave across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Rizvi said the government is setting up thermal power plants in different areas by ignoring the opinion of environmental experts, causing a serious threat to the biodiversity of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Tees are no longer bearing fruit in these&nbsp; areas…People belonging to Awami League are filling the ponds, canals, rivers and water bodies.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that the ruling party leaders are creating a second home by siphoning off huge money abroad by indulging in plundering.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">”The government of Sheikh Hasina has turned Bangladesh into a den of looting. As a result, they’re not able to import goods from abroad due to dollar crisis. The country has been ruined by corruption and looting,” BNP leader said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Slamming the Prime Minister, he said Sheikh Hasina has snatched democracy and people\'s all rights. “Because of this, people can now no longer exercise their right to vote. Parliament has now become an entertainment house.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He bemoaned that democracy-loving people have been still sacrificing their lives for establishing the voting rights even after 52 years of independence of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Later in the day, Rizvi along with BNP leaders and activists distributed bottled water and saline among pedestrians in the city’s Shantinagar area.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-27 17:09:53', '2024-04-27 17:09:53'),
(12113, 12113, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A 48-hour transport strike initiated by the Brihattor Chattogram Ganaparibahan Malik Sramik Oikkyo Parishad began this morning (April 28, 2024), significantly disrupting daily life in the port city amidst a severe heatwave. The strike, which affects buses, minibuses, human haulers, autorickshaws, and other three-wheelers, has led to considerable difficulties for commuters across the city.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Impact on Commuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From early in the morning, commuters, including office workers, students, and senior citizens, were seen waiting for long periods at several points in the port city due to the scarcity of mass transportation. The streets showed a markedly decreased traffic flow, with most vehicles off the roads in response to the strike call.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Transport workers confirmed that no long-distance buses departed from Chattogram today. Md Musa, the member secretary of the transport body, stated that movement of buses and three-wheeler vehicles has been suspended since 6 am. Buses from other parts of the country are also prohibited from entering Chattogram during the strike period.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Background of the Strike</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The strike was called following an incident where students of the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) reportedly set buses on fire in protest after two of their peers were killed in a road accident. The students, Shanto Saha and Tawfiq Hasan, both from the Civil Engineering department, died when a bus hit their motorbike on the Chattogram-Kaptai road on April 22.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In retaliation, some CUET students vandalized three buses and set another on fire. The protests escalated over the following days, leading to the university\'s closure and the postponement of academic activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Demands and Protests</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The transport workers\' strike is a protest against the damage inflicted on their vehicles and calls for compensation for the burnt buses, along with the arrest of the accused students. The strike encompasses Chattogram city, district, Cox’s Bazar, and three hilly districts. It aims to press home a four-point demand, emphasizing the need for justice and reparations from the damages incurred during the student protests.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emergency Services Exempt</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the widespread disruption, the strike organizers say that emergency vehicles, including ambulances, will not be affected by the strike. The transport strike is scheduled to conclude at 6 am on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">University Response and Continued Tensions</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CUET administration attempted to quell the unrest by meeting with the protesting students, who assured they would halt their demonstrations and return to academic activities. However, following an emergency syndicate committee meeting on April 26, CUET authorities decided to keep the campus closed until May 9. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 08:53:32', '2024-04-28 08:53:32'),
(12114, 12114, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to return to Bangladesh on Monday (April 29) after a productive six-day visit to Thailand, initiated at the invitation of her Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavisin. This visit, aimed at bolstering bilateral and multilateral ties, marks a significant step in the relationship between the two nations.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On April 24, Prime Minister Hasina was warmly welcomed at Don Mueang International Airport with a ceremonial 19-gun salute. Her visit included a mix of bilateral discussions and multilateral engagements, emphasising deepening cooperation across several sectors.</div><div><br></div><div>During her stay, the highlight was on April 26 when she met with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin at the Government House in Bangkok. The meeting was fruitful, resulting in the signing of five critical documents that promise enhanced collaboration. These included agreements on visa exemption for official passport holders, energy cooperation, mutual assistance in customs matters, tourism cooperation, and a Letter of Intent to kick-start negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Hasina also took the opportunity to address the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on April 25. Her speech, delivered at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, highlighted her vision for regional cooperation and development.</div><div><br></div><div>A personal highlight of the visit was on April 25, when Prime Minister Hasina met with the King and Queen of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, at the Amphorn Satharn Throne Hall in Dusit Palace. This courtesy call underscored the warm relations between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>Reflecting on the significance of her visit during an official luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Thavisin, Sheikh Hasina said, “This official visit will remain a milestone in our bilateral relations. It has ushered in a new era of fruitful partnership between our two countries.”</div><div><br></div><div>As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prepares to return home, the agreements signed and the discussions held during her visit are set to pave the way for a strengthened partnership between Bangladesh and Thailand, promising mutual benefits and enhanced cooperation in the years to come. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 08:56:16', '2024-04-28 08:56:16'),
(12115, 12115, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two operatives of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) were killed in an anti-terror combing operation conducted by Bangladesh Army in Bandarban on Sunday.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The operation was conducted in the remote Baklai area under Ruma upazila of Bandarban, said a media release issued by Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Three firearms, huge amounts of ammunition, walkie-talkie and other materials were recovered during the operation, said the ISPR.</div><div><br></div><div>However, details about the deceased could not be known immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On April 23, another KNF operative was killed in a clash with law enforcers in Munlai Para area of Ruma upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>On April 2, the separatist group abducted Sonali Bank’s Ruma upazila branch manager, Md Nezam Uddin, and tried to loot Tk 1.5 crore from the vault of the bank.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The following day, they carried out robberies at Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank branches in Thanchi upazila of Bandarban.</div><div><br></div><div>On April 4, the abducted manager was rescued from Bathel Para area of Bandarban through the mediation of Rapid Action Battalion.</div><div><br></div><div>On April 7, in response to a surge of criminal activities, including high-profile bank robbery and abduction, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed announced a comprehensive joint operation in Bandarban.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the inception of the operation, the joint forces have so far arrested 72 KNF members and their associates. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 09:07:12', '2024-04-28 09:07:12'),
(12116, 12116, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a warning that the ongoing heat wave may persist for 72 hours starting Sunday morning.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Due to increasing moisture incursion, the discomfort may increase,\" said the Met office.</div><div><br></div><div>This announcement follows earlier alerts issued on April 19, 22 and 25.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 10:03:35', '2024-04-28 10:03:35'),
(12117, 12117, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Since its inauguration, the Padma Bridge has significantly boosted government revenue, collecting a staggering Tk 1500 crore in tolls from the myriad of vehicles that have traversed this architectural marvel.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amirul Islam Chowdhury, additional director of the Padma Bridge Site office, reported, “As of Saturday at 11:59 pm, a total of Tk 1,502,62,15,900 in tolls has been collected, with 1,12,91,095 vehicles having crossed the bridge since its opening.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bridge first opened to traffic on June 25, 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Detailed traffic analysis shows that approximately 56,01,232 vehicles used the Mawa entry point, while 56,89,863 vehicles crossed at the Jajira point.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A notable record was set on April 9 of this year when the bridge saw its highest single-day toll collection, amassing Tk 4.90 crore from 45,204 vehicles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The bridge was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 25, 2023 and was opened to traffic the following morning, marking a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure development and economic enhancement. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 10:07:19', '2024-04-28 10:07:19'),
(12118, 12118, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, recently liberated from Somali pirates, is scheduled to depart Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh today (April 28, 2024) at noon, officials confirmed.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The vessel, which had been hijacked for 33 days, successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal at Al-Hamriya Port yesterday. The owner, KSRM Group, announced that the vessel and its crew of 23 sailors are expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mizanul Islam, a spokesperson for the Chattogram-based KSRM Group, reported that the loading operations were completed yesterday, and the vessel is now ready to embark on its journey back to Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from pirate captivity. Distinguished guests including Mohammad Abu Jafar, the Bangladesh Ambassador, and officials from SR Shipping, the vessel\'s operating company, were present to welcome the crew upon their arrival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pirates took control of the vessel and its crew, holding them until a ransom of Tk 55 crore facilitated their release on the night of April 13.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the release, MV Abdullah headed to Al-Hamriya Port under the escort of an EU NAVFOR warship, navigating through approximately 480 nautical miles of high-risk areas along the Somali coast and the Red Sea before reaching the safety of the United Arab Emirates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This voyage marks a significant step towards recovery after the harrowing pirate attack, with the crew looking forward to a safe return to their homeland. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 10:27:11', '2024-04-28 10:27:11'),
(12119, 12119, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP on Sunday slammed the government for imposing restrictions on journalists\' access to the Bangladesh Bank offices, saying the move was taken to hide the corruption and plunder perpetrated by Awami League MPs and their close associates.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a demonstration, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also said a huge amount of money has been looted from different banks, and the perpetrators are none other than MPs and ministers of the Awami League, or their close associates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Journalists have now been restricted from entering the Bangladesh Bank so that they can’t divulge information about this looting and corruption. Because criminals always want to hide their sins,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi strongly denounced the imposition of the restrictions on journalists’ access to the central bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A group of former lenders and workers of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Swechchasebak Dal staged the demonstration in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office demanding the unconditional release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and party leaders Habib-un-Nabi Sohel and Abdul Qader Bhuiyan Jewel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Recently, the Bangladesh Bank imposed restrictions on journalists\' access to its offices, sparking protests by media workers and various organisations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mezbaul Haque, the bank\'s spokesperson, announced on Thursday that journalists will now require a specific permit issued by the bank to visit officials at its building. This move prohibits journalists from freely entering any department of the central bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rizvi said BNP leaders and workers, and other truth revealers, are now in jail, while those who engage in bank robbery, looting, repression against women and children, grabbing people’s land and houses, encroaching upon rivers, canals, and water bodies, and perpetrating injustice and vote robbery are on the prowl across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He claimed that it is now proved that ruling party leaders are indulging in all sorts of misdeeds and bloodletting incidents all over the country by staying in power illegally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader alleged that Awami League leaders and workers have been given an unwritten free license to kill the country’s people, loot money and engage in various misdeeds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It’s a regime of plundering and rampant corruption, fostering thieves and looters. If they remain in power any longer, they will sell all the houses, land, and property of the people of the country,\" he observed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader called upon the country’s people to be vocal against the misdeeds and corruption of the government and the ruling party leaders and workers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said their party will continue its movement until the fall of the current government of Sheikh Hasina, braving all adversities. “No people will have any security and any rights if this regime is not ousted.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 12:19:46', '2024-04-28 12:19:46'),
(12120, 12120, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two teachers died possibly from ‘heat stroke’ in Chattogram and Jashore districts on Sunday (April 28, 2024) morning when sever heat wave is scorching the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In Chattogram, madasha teacher Maulana Md. Mostak Ahmed Kutubi Alkaderi, 55, fell unconscious while going to his workplacefrom his home in the Mohra area of Chandgaon.</div><div><br></div><div>Kutubi Alkaderi, son of late Khalilur Rahman of Kutubdia Lemshikhali in Cox\'s Bazar district and father of&nbsp; two sons and one daughter, used to work at Khitapchar Azizia Mabudia Alim Madrasha in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses said when the madrasha teacher boarded the ferry at Kalurghat around 9am suddenly he collapsed.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctors declared him dead.</div><div><br></div><div>In Jashore, Ahsan Habib, an assistant teacher of Ahmedabad High School, died from apparent heat stroke on Sunday in sadar upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>AZM Parvez Masud, headmaster of the school, said Habib fell sick around 9 am when he went to school after working in a field.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was taken to Jashore General Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>The body was kept at Jashore General Hospital morgue for autopsy, said Abdur Razzak, officer-in-charge of Jashore Kotwali Police Station.</div><div><br></div><div>The reason behind the death will be known after autopsy, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 12:24:18', '2024-04-28 12:24:18'),
(12121, 12121, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Nepal hosted an investment summit Sunday in hopes of attracting much-needed foreign investment, especially in developing hydropower projects to produce more electricity that it can sell to neighboring countries.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several foreign investors were attending the two-day meetings in the capital, Kathmandu, where Nepali officials urged investment in developing hydropower projects and in other areas like tourism and industry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nepal is home to eight of the tallest mountain peaks in the world and has several rivers flowing down from them, bringing huge hydropower potential. But only a few projects have been built in the poor south Asian nation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our hydropower potential holds the promise of abundant renewable and clean energy supply,” Nepal’s prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, told the delegates. However, he said, “only 3,200 megawatts have been harnessed so far and only about 5,568 megawatt large-scale projects are under construction or in the pipeline.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This explicitly shows the enormous opportunities to invest in the hydropower sector in Nepal,” Dahal said, adding that the existing and planned cross-border transmission line with India and China aids energy exchange within the region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Nepal has signed agreements or memoranda of understanding with China, India and Bangladesh for power trade or cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nepali officials are also hoping to attract more investment in the tourism sector in the Himalayan nation, where the industry is struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“This summit will provide a platform for networking opportunities among the policy makers, investors, experts and stakeholders to share ideas and views as well as encourage joint ventures in areas such as industry and infrastructure development,” said Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nepal has said the main objective is to project the country as an emerging destination for private sector investment and to highlight recent reforms in enhancing the investment climate and ensuring regulatory frameworks and support for foreign as well as domestic investment. - AP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 12:54:37', '2024-04-28 12:54:37');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12122, 12122, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The UK is building a war memorial to the millions of Muslim soldiers who served alongside British and Commonwealth forces during the two world wars, Sky News reported.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 13.2-meter-tall monument, which has been several years in the planning, will stand at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Built from brick and terracotta it will be inscribed with the personal stories of the soldiers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About 2.5 million Muslim soldiers and laborers served in the militaries of the Allied powers during the First World War and about 5.5 million in the Second World War.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Benny O’Looney, the memorial’s architect, said: “The idea is, as you approach the memorial, it draws you in. And you can see there’s more detail, more information, more craftsmanship.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The idea is to show a panorama of the Muslim soldiers’ service in the world war from gritty 1914 — this incredible narrative of plugging the gap and saving the expeditionary forces on the Western Front.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The inspiration for the design, which features Islamic calligraphy, came from journeys to the Indian subcontinent, O’Looney said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The monument will be erected on a site already containing memorials to Sikhs, Gurkhas and others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Irfan Malik, a doctor from Nottingham whose ancestors served in both world wars, said: “I’m so glad we are near to fruition now, so that we can remember this forgotten history of the Muslim soldiers in both of the great wars and looking at Muslim contributions globally as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Both of my great-grandfathers — Capt. Ghulam Mohammad and Subedar (roughly equivalent to warrant officer) Mohammad Khan — were part of the Great War and my two grandfathers were part of the Second World War, serving in Burma, reports Arab News</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They all descended from Dulmial village, which is based in the salt range in Punjab in present-day Pakistan, a very famous military village.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The memorial would serve as a “symbol of remembrance of those campaigns, the sacrifices made and also an opportunity to educate our younger generation to improve community cohesion in this country,” Malik said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 13:13:55', '2024-04-28 13:13:55'),
(12123, 12123, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russia’s defence ministry on Sunday claimed its forces had taken control of another village in eastern Ukraine, as Moscow’s troops press their advantage in manpower and ammunition on the battlefield.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia’s forces have made notable gains in the eastern Donetsk region over the last week, prompting rare criticism by Ukrainian military bloggers of the country’s armed forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As the result of active operations, the ‘Centre’ troop unit liberated the village of Novobakhmutivka in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” Russia’s defence ministry said in its daily battlefield briefing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The village is around 10km north of Avdiivka, which Russia’s forces captured in February after one of the bloodiest battles of the two-year conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Deep State Telegram channel, close to Ukraine’s armed forces, earlier this week blamed the leaders of Ukrainian units in the area for the “collapse of defences throughout the region, causing considerable losses.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow said on Saturday that its troops around Donetsk had managed to drive “deep” into Ukrainian defensive lines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine’s army leaders have conceded Russia has had some “tactical successes” in the area and that its own positions had deteriorated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine’s head of intelligence at the ministry of defence Kyrylo Budanov said this month that the battlefield situation is likely to worsen for Ukraine around mid-May to early June.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv is awaiting the arrival of billions of dollars in US weapons, which it hopes will stabilise the situation on the sprawling front lines. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 13:28:17', '2024-04-28 13:28:17'),
(12124, 12124, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The extent of loadshedding crossed 1860 MW on Sunday, a new high in power shortage in at least a decade, on the heels of new record in power generation.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The recent highest power generation in the country was recorded at 16,233 MW at 9pm on Monday last (April 22). But despite that loadshedding continued across the country, as the prevailing heatwave increases the demand for electricity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The amount of loadshedding is the difference between the amount of electricity generated and its demand, when the former is in deficit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official data of the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) at the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) shows that the loadshedding reached 1864 MW at 12 noon Sunday, the day’s peak for electricity demand&nbsp; amid the sweltering heat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, rural level officials of different power utilities believe the extent of load shedding is far more than the official figure shown by NLDC as local interruptions in power supply don’t always come to the book.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Power outages at the rural areas are so frequent that if any interruption takes place, consumers have to wait several hours to get electricity at both day and night,” an official of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“The extent of loadshedding might even be more than 2000 MW if local outages are taken into account,” he added, requesting anonymity to speak as the issue is considered sensitive.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to official sources, the maximum burden of loadshedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in capital Dhaka, and other large cities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reports from different areas said the extent of load shedding is aggravating the plight of rural people amid the sweltering heat this summer.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NLDC records also show power supply on Sunday started with 1,789 MW at 1am and then at one stage came down to 13019 MW at 7 am. But again it took a U-turn upwards and the extent of loadshedding was also increasing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials apprehend, the extent of load shedding may go up further in the evening peak hours when normally demand goes up.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both the data from the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and PGCB show that the country\'s day’s demand forecast was set at 16,900 MW and evening demand at 15,500 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla’s official data shows that the country’s gas production was 3,105 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for about 4000 MMCFD.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The power plants received a supply of 1423 MMCFD gas against their demand for 2316.9 MMCFD, the data shows. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 14:02:42', '2024-04-28 14:02:42'),
(12125, 12125, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amidst the boiling heat gripping the nation, residents of Sylhet breathed a sigh of relief as a bout of rain brings some relief from the relentless heat.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sylhet Meteorological Department recorded 84.4 millimetres of rainfall in the past 24 hours, starting 6pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shah Md Sajib Hossain, assistant meteorologist of the Meteorological Department, said that this situation of rainfall may continue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places in 24 hours commencing 6pm on Saturday, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, a very severe heat wave is sweeping over the district of Chuadanga and a severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Jashore and Kushtia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka &amp; Barishal divisions and the rest parts of Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the districts of Dinajpur, Rangamati, Chandpur, Feni &amp; Bandarban and it may continue, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 14:11:24', '2024-04-28 14:11:24'),
(12126, 12126, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar has been appointed deputy prime minister, the ministry of foreign affairs said on Sunday in a post on X.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Prime Minister has been pleased to designate Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Prime Minister with immediate effect,” a Pakistan government gazette posted by the foreign ministry read.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dar will continue in his role as foreign minister, Pakistani media said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The appointment comes a month after Pakistan’s parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister after a national election marred by mobile internet shutdown, arrests, and violence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan struggled for over four months to lock in a stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund last summer when Dar was finance minister, and it took the intervention of his prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to secure a last-ditch deal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dar has also regularly criticised the IMF on public platforms in the middle of negotiations, and has long favoured market interventions to prop up the Pakistani rupee – something the IMF has warned against. - Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 14:35:47', '2024-04-28 14:35:47'),
(12127, 12127, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The BNP has revoked the expulsion order against Romana Ahmed, the organizing secretary of its Meherpur district unit, as she stayed away from participating in the first phase of the upazila elections, expressing regret for defying the party\'s decision.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party decided to withdraw the expulsion order since Romana offered an apology during a press conference for participating in the upazila polls as a vice-chairman candidate, said a press release, signed by BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu, on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on Friday, the BNP expelled its 73 grassroots leaders, including Romana, for participating in the first phase of upcoming upazila elections violating the party\'s decision.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later on Saturday, the party expelled its three more grassroots leaders for taking part in the upazila elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party said punitive actions were taken against its grassroots leaders as per the party’s constitution.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the party press release, the leaders of BNP and its associate bodies who are contesting for the post of chairman, vice chairman and female vice chairman in the first phase of upazila polls in violation of the party\'s decision have been expelled from all party positions, including its primary membership.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 152 upazilas across the country will go to polls in the first phase on May 8 as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The elections to 492 upazilas will take place in four phases. The second phase of upazila polls will be held on May 23 while the third phase on May 29 and the fourth phase on June 5.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP high command earlier decided not to join any elections under the current government and the Election Commission. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 14:47:26', '2024-04-28 14:47:26'),
(12128, 12128, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 23 members of Nigeria’s civilian joint task force were killed on Saturday in separate attacks by militants and an armed kidnapping gang in the north, two officials from the force said on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In northeast Borno state, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency, suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters used an improvised explosive device (IED) to blow up a vehicle carrying the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) team, a local force chairman said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The CJTF was first formed in 2013 to protect communities in the northeast and help the military fight Boko Haram and later its offshoot ISWAP. The force has since been extended to other northern states that are grappling with armed kidnapping gangs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tijjanima Umar, CJTF chairman for Gamboru Ngala area near the border with Cameroon, said his team was travelling to Borno state capital Maiduguri when they drove over the IED.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As the mine blew up, nine of them died instantly…while two other people had severe injuries and were immediately taken to hospital for treatment,” Umar told Reuters by phone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Nigerian military was not immediately available to comment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although severely curtailed by Nigerian security forces, Boko Haram and ISWAP still carry out deadly attacks against civilians and the military.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In northwestern Soko state, 14 CJTF members were killed and several were missing following an ambush by gunmen on Saturday, task force sector commandant Ismail Haruna told Reuters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Haruna said the CJTF members were killed in Sokoto’s Isa local government area, where they had raided and destroyed a bush camp belonging to a known armed kidnapping gang leader, reports Reuters&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The gang quickly regrouped and ambushed the CJTF as they drove back to Sokoto state capital, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 14:51:21', '2024-04-28 14:51:21'),
(12129, 12129, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">German police on Friday used violence against peaceful pro-Palestine protesters in Berlin, an activist said.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is Germany, the heart of Europe,\" Yasemin Acar, who was beaten up by police, told Anadolu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They beat us violently in front of parliament, arrested us, and we were hospitalized,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Acar was released after identification and was treated at the hospital due to an injury to her arm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not clear if her arm will be put in a cast, but she said she is trying to get better.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police in Berlin dismantled the Support for Gaza camp next to the Chancellery and opposite the Bundestag. Many people were detained in the violent confrontation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the incident, she said she reached the sit-in after someone told her on the phone that the protesters were being asked to leave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As soon as I arrived there, the police already saw (me). We started raising slogans. When I said: \'Freedom for Palestine,\' the police pointed their finger at me.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Then 10-15 policemen came, all men by the way. They pulled my head and one of them hit my nose.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I told them I couldn\'t breathe. But they didn\'t listen and told me to \'shut up.\'</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So human rights, and being a woman has no value anymore.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In detention, she said, they were taken to an office-like area set up nearby.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They said: \'We will put you in prison.\' I protested because I knew my rights. Because I raised my voice, they tried to silence me after that,\" she said, adding that she was kept there for a few minutes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about the rise in violence in Germany, she said: “Of course, we took to the streets for Palestine, but we are also taking to the streets against the oppression in Germany right now, because the oppression is so great.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I wonder if the next time we organize something like a camp again, will they take out their guns and try to shoot us? We live in fear of that,” she said, adding that she will file a criminal complaint against the police. - Anadolu Agency </div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 14:55:23', '2024-04-28 14:56:12'),
(12130, 12130, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amid the ongoing heat wave, educational activities of all educational institutions under secondary level and vocational educational institutions in Dhaka, Chuadanga, Jashore, Khulna and Rajshahi districts have been suspended for April 29 (Monday).</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the wake of ongoing sweltering heat, the Education Ministry issued a notice in this regard after consulting with the Health Ministry and Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Sunday, said a handout signed by MA Khayer, public relation officer of the Education Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the educational institutions which have air conditioner facilities can keep their institutions open.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Further decision in this regard will be known on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Classes at all primary, secondary schools and colleges resumed on Sunday after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays and its subsequent extension due to the heat wave sweeping the country since the first week of April.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The educational institutions reopened today although there is no remarkable change in the heat wave condition, worrying the guardians, especially those of primary level students.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has issued a warning that the ongoing heat wave may persist for 72 hours starting Sunday morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Schools and colleges were scheduled to reopen on April 21 after the end of Eid holidays but the closure was extended till April 27 due to sweltering heat across the country caused by heat waves. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"34\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 15:05:04', '2024-04-28 15:05:04'),
(12131, 12131, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>India Women opened their Bangladesh tour with a decisive 45-run win in the first T20I at Sylhet on Sunday.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Electing to bat first, India posted a competitive 145 for 7, anchored by contributions from Shafali Verma (31), Yastika Bhatia (36), and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (30). Bangladesh\'s Rabeya Khan was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 conceding 23 runs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In reply, Bangladesh\'s chase faltered early, losing wickets at regular intervals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Renuka Singh, who took three for 18 runs and Pooja Vastrakar, who scalped two for 25 runs, were instrumental in dismantling the top order of Bangladesh.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite a fifty from captain Nigar Sultana (51), Bangladesh never recovered and ultimately finished on 101 for eight.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India\'s strong start began to wobble with Smriti Mandhana\'s early dismissal (9). However, Shefali and Yastika forged a solid partnership to revive the innings. Bangladesh struck back through Rabeya Khan, removing both batters in quick succession. Captain Kaur\'s knock then boosted the total before a flurry of late wickets kept India under 150.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh\'s chase got off to a disastrous start, with Renuka Singh striking twice in the first few overs. Skipper Nigar offered a bit of resistance, scoring a gritty half-century. However, consistent wickets and disciplined Indian bowling stifled the run flow, making the required rate climb steadily.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The remaining matches will take place on April 30, May 2, 6 and 9. All the matches will be played in Sylhet. Source: UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 15:37:09', '2024-04-28 15:37:09'),
(12132, 12132, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today urged the expatriate Bangladeshis to take action against anti-Bangladesh propaganda in line with the local laws of their respective host countries.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He made this call while inaugurating Austria Awami League\'s own office in Helbegtus, District No. 20, Vienna, Austria, on Sunday morning, said a foreign ministry\'s press release here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Today, under the leadership of Bangabandhu\'s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh is advancing at an unstoppable speed on the road to prosperity. To stop this progress, anti-liberation forces are sitting in Europe and spreading propaganda and hatching conspiracy,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even when the prime minister of Pakistan is lauding the development of Bangladesh, the leaders of BNP do not see the development, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They are engaged in anti-nation conspiracies by employing paid agents abroad,\" said Hasan, who is also the joint secretary general of Awami League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister thanked the expatriates for contributing to the development of the country by sending remittances and urged them to send remittances through proper channels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President of Austria Awami League Khandkar Hafizur Nasim presided over the ceremony while General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Shyamal moderated the event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All European Awami League President M. Nazrul Islam, Austria Awami League Vice President Ruhi Das Saha, Ratan Saha, Billal Hossain, Saiful Islam Jasim, Journalist Nayan Hossain and Austria Bangabandhu Parishad President Robin Mohammad Ali were also present. Source: BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-28 16:13:12', '2024-04-28 16:13:12'),
(12133, 12133, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A heatwave sweeping through Bangladesh has left importers at Dinajpur\'s Hili land port grappling with significant losses as scorching temperatures are causing imported potatoes from India to rot. This situation highlights a critical lack of infrastructure at the land port.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Harun-ur-Rashid, president of the Hili Land Port Import-Export Group, expressed concerns over the lack of cold storage facilities, which has become a pressing issue with the current climate conditions.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">\"To meet local demand, traders imported potatoes after the government\'s green light. Typically, these potatoes are stored in warehouses for two to three days before distribution nationwide. However, the heat has accelerated spoilage, undermining our operations,\" Rashid explained.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The adverse effects of the heat are not only causing physical damage to the potatoes but also deterring wholesalers from purchasing the stock, further straining the importers. Rashid highlighted the need for governmental intervention. \"If the affected importers are not compensated through incentives, it could deter future imports during crises, which the government needs to address,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the wholesale market of the Hili land port area, imported Indian potatoes are currently selling for Tk 38-40 per kg, while locally sourced potatoes fetch around Tk 48 per kg. Despite the lower price, consumer preference leans towards local varieties.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Siraj Hossain, a representative for the importers, noted that local potatoes are generally more expensive than those imported from India. However, the intense heat has led to substantial spoilage, with two to three kilograms of potatoes rotting per sack. \"The recent price surge in Indian potatoes further complicates matters. A cold storage facility here could have mitigated these losses significantly,\" Hossain stated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asadur Rahman, a local resident, reported that rotten potatoes are being dumped beside the Dangapara-Chhatni road, raising environmental and health concerns.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Echoing Hossain\'s sentiments, Sohrab Hossain Mallik, public relations officer at the privately-owned Panama Hili Port Link Limited, emphasized the urgent need for cold storage facilities to preserve perishable imports like potatoes. This infrastructure would not only prevent spoilage but also ensure the viability of import operations during extreme weather conditions. According to UNB reports</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 08:48:09', '2024-04-29 08:48:09'),
(12134, 12134, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Monday framed charges against 33 accused in case over the killing of Awami League leader Zahidul Islam Tipu and a female college student in Shahjahanpur area around two years back.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trial in the case began formally through framing the charges.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka Special Judge Court-Judge Ali Hossain passed the order after rejecting an appeal for excluding the names of the accused from the charges.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also set May 21 to record testimony of the witnesses in the case, public prosecutor Md Rafik Uddin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On April 25, a hearing on the appeal for exclusion of the accused was held while the court set April 29 for framing the charges against the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka Metropolitan South unit Organizing Secretary of Awami League Golam Ashraf Talukder, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) ward councillor and Awami League leader Maruf Ahmed Mansur, expelled president of ward No 10 Jubo League Maruf Reza Sagor, Motijheel Thana unit of Jatiya Party leader Juber Alam Khan Robin, former convenor of Habibullah Bahar College unit Chhatra League Sohel Shahriar, former general secretary of Motijheel Thana unit of Chhatra League Khairul Islam Matbor and former president of ward No-11 unit of Jubo League Kamruzzaman Babu, Sumon Shikder Musa, Masum Muhammad Akash were among the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the night of March 24, Tipu, who was on a microbus, and Samia Afrin Priti, a 22-year-old college student, who was returning home on a cycle rickshaw were killed in firing in front of Islami Bank Hospital at Shahjahanpur in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tipu was a former general secretary of the AL Motijheel committee and Priti was a student of Begum Badrunnesa Government College. Tipu’s driver was also injured in the firing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were all stuck in a traffic jam in the area when a biker wearing a helmet and a mask appeared from nowhere and fired at them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The next day, a case was filed against unidentified people over the double murder.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On June 5 last year, the investigation office of the case submitted a charge sheet against 33 people. Source: UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"42\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 09:36:49', '2024-04-29 09:36:49'),
(12135, 12135, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The government plans to substantially increase public investments across key sectors such as road, rail, bridge, shipping, civil aviation, and telecommunications. These initiatives are strategically aimed at transforming Bangladesh into an upper middle-income country by 2031 and a smart developed country by 2041.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the \'Medium Term Macroeconomic Policy Statement (2023-24 to 2025-26)\', the government plans to allocate Tk 963.9 billion in the fiscal year 2024-25, escalating to Tk 1060.3 billion in 2025-26. This increase follows an investment of Tk 876.3 billion for the current fiscal year, emphasising a significant boost in funding for various development programs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The policy document highlights the critical role of an integrated and cost-effective transport and communication system in fostering economic growth, enhancing trade, and ensuring social integration. It states that an efficient transport and logistics system is essential for smooth supply chain management and to effectively compete on a global scale.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Specifically, the Road Transport and Highways Division is implementing projects to establish an advanced and sustainable road transport system, including the construction of multi-lane highways, elevated expressways, and new bridges.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These efforts are complemented by plans to widen 1100 km of highways, repair and maintain 1250 km, and rebuild 450 km of highways, along with 7300 meters of bridges and culverts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Dhaka city, the government is focusing on reducing traffic congestion by advancing the metro rail lines, a move poised to significantly improve urban mobility.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The railway sector is also undergoing transformation under a 30-year master plan aimed at making it a dependable, affordable, modern, and people-friendly mode of transport. Initiatives include connecting every district with a railway network, upgrading tracks, and modernising the signaling system. By FY 2025-26, the government aims to construct 275 km of new railway track and reconstruct 210 km of existing lines.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The document also outlines ambitious plans for the water transport system, noting its importance in the integrated multi-modal transport framework. The Ministry of Shipping is executing extensive programs for the enhancement of inland waterways, seaports, and land ports, along with significant dredging efforts to maintain river navigability.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Amidst rising demand for air travel, both domestically and internationally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism is undertaking projects to expand passenger handling capacities and enhance facilities at airports. These upgrades are part of a broader strategy to position Bangladesh as a regional hub for international passenger transport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These comprehensive plans not only aim to modernize Bangladesh\'s infrastructure but also serve as a cornerstone for the country\'s ambitious economic development goals. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 09:56:45', '2024-04-29 09:56:45'),
(12136, 12136, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea on Monday condemned the US for shipping longer-range tactical missiles to Ukraine to use against Russia, denouncing Washington as a \"harasser\" of peace that has been \"aggravating\" the war by providing Kyiv with such weapons.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US confirmed last week that it has sent a \"significant\" number of Army Tactical Missile Systems missiles to Ukraine for use inside the Ukrainian territory following Russia\'s use of North Korean ballistic missiles against Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An unnamed director at the Foreign Military Affairs Department of North Korea\'s Defense Ministry said in a statement that Washington cannot turn the tide of the war with such a \"mean\" policy, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Long-range missiles offered by the US will never tip the scale in favor of Ukraine on the battlefield but result in fanning the reckless confrontational hysteria of (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy puppet clique,\" read the English-language statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The official termed the delivery of missiles to Ukraine a bid \"to tip the scales of the war.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The US can never defeat the heroic Russian army and people with any latest weaponry or military support,\" the statement contended.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea is among a few countries that have expressed its support for Russia in the war with Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\'Landmines installed inter-Korean road\'</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Neighboring South Korea has accused North Korea of installing landmines on an inter-Korean road within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which separates the two Koreas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Citing an unnamed military official, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported that the South Korean military detected North Korea laying mines on the unpaved road inside the DMZ late last year near Arrowhead Hill in Cheorwon, 85 kilometers (53 miles) northeast of Seoul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The path was created under a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement to connect the South and the North for joint efforts to excavate remains of those killed near the hill during the 1950-53 Korean War. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 10:21:07', '2024-04-29 10:21:07');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(12137, 12137, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The White House on Sunday said U.S. President Joe Biden had again spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as pressure builds on Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a cease-fire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The White House said that Biden reiterated his “clear position” as Israel plans to invade Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah despite global concern for more than 1 million Palestinians sheltering there. The U.S. opposes the invasion on humanitarian grounds, straining relations between the allies. Israel is among the countries U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit as he returns to the Middle East on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden also stressed that progress in delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza be “sustained and enhanced,” according to the statement. The call lasted just under an hour, and they agreed the onus remains on Hamas to accept the latest offer in negotiations, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official wasn’t authorized to comment publicly. There was no comment from Netanyahu’s office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A senior official from key intermediary Qatar, meanwhile, urged Israel and Hamas to show “more commitment and more seriousness” in negotiations. Qatar, which hosts Hamas’ headquarters in Doha, was instrumental along with the U.S. and Egypt in helping negotiate a brief halt to the fighting in November that led to the release of dozens of hostages. But in a sign of frustration, Qatar this month said that it was reassessing its role.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An Israeli delegation is expected in Egypt in the coming days to discuss the latest proposals in negotiations, and senior Hamas official Basem Naim said in a message to The Associated Press that a delegation from the militant group will also head to Cairo. Egypt’s state-owned Al Qahera News satellite television channel said that the delegation would arrive on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The comments by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari in interviews with the liberal daily Haaretz and Israeli public broadcaster Kan were published and aired Saturday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al-Ansari expressed disappointment with Hamas and Israel, saying each side has made decisions based on political interests and not with civilians’ welfare in mind. He didn’t reveal details on the talks other than to say they have “effectively stopped,” with “both sides entrenched in their positions.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Al-Ansari’s remarks came after an Egyptian delegation discussed with Israeli officials a “new vision” for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss developments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Egyptian official said that Israeli officials are open to discussing establishing a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as part of the second phase of a deal. Israel has refused to end the war until it defeats Hamas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The second phase would start after the release of civilian and sick hostages, and would include negotiating the release of soldiers, the official added. Senior Palestinian prisoners would be released and a reconstruction process launched.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Negotiations earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages held by Hamas in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A letter written by Biden and 17 other world leaders urged Hamas to release their citizens immediately. In recent days, Hamas has released new videos of three hostages, an apparent push for Israel to make concessions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The growing pressure for Hamas and Israel to reach a cease-fire deal is also meant to avert an Israeli attack on Rafah, the city on the border with Egypt where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is seeking shelter. Israel has massed dozens of tanks and armored vehicles. The planned incursion has raised global alarm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Only a small strike is all it takes to force everyone to leave Palestine,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asserted to the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia, adding that he believed an invasion would happen within days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC that Israel “assured us they won’t go into Rafah until we’ve had a chance to really share our perspectives and concerns with them. So, we’ll see where that goes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli troop buildup may also be a pressure tactic on Hamas in talks. Israel sees Rafah as Hamas’ last major stronghold. It vows to destroy the group’s military and governing capabilities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aid groups have warned that an invasion of Rafah would worsen the already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza, where hunger is widespread. About 400 tons of aid arrived Sunday at the Israeli port of Ashdod — the largest shipment yet by sea via Cyprus — according to the United Arab Emirates. It wasn’t immediately clear how or when it would be delivered into Gaza.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also on Sunday, World Central Kitchen said that it would resume operations in Gaza on Monday, ending a four-week suspension after Israeli military drones killed seven of its aid workers. The organization has 276 trucks ready to enter through the Rafah crossing and will also send trucks into Gaza from Jordan, a statement said. It’s also examining if the Ashdod port can be used to offload supplies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, who say another 250 people were taken hostage. Hamas and other groups are holding about 130 people, including the remains of about 30, Israeli authorities say.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Israel’s retaliatory assault on Hamas has killed more than 34,000 people, most of them women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants in their tally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israeli military blames Hamas for civilian casualties, accusing it of embedding in residential and public areas. It says it has killed at least 12,000 militants, without providing evidence. - AP&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 10:44:19', '2024-04-29 10:44:19'),
(12138, 12138, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amid the intense heat in different parts of the country, Chuadanga experienced 43.0 degrees Celsius temperature on Monday, the highest in 10 years.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of Chuadanga Weather Observatory Centre, said they have recorded 43 degrees Celsius temperature at 3 pm in Chuadanga and it may rise after evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the highest temperature recorded in the past 10 years in the district, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On May 21, 2014, Chuadanga recorded 43.2degrees Celsius temperature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chuadanga has been experiencing extreme heat weather since middle of the month of April, hampering the regular activities of people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, there is no possibility of rainfall in the next two days in the district and the temperature may rise or remain unchanged, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, “Very severe heat wave is sweeping in Jashore and Rajshahi districts and severe heat wave is prevailing in parts of Khulna division, Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Naogaon, Pabna and Nilphamari districts. Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping in Barishal division, parts of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and Bandarban districts.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to the increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Country’s highest temperature was recorded at 42.2 degree Celsius in Jashore district on Sunday and 18 mm rains were recorded in Sunamganj till 6 am on Monday. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 10:48:03', '2024-04-29 10:48:03'),
(12139, 12139, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">On April 24, 2024, the South Korean cinema landscape was rocked by the explosive release of \"The Roundup: Punishment,\" the fourth installment of the highly acclaimed crime-action franchise. This latest chapter has not only captivated a massive audience but also shattered box office records, establishing itself as a monumental success in the history of Korean film.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Inside the Storyline of ‘The Roundup: Punishment’</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Set in the bustling metropolis of Seoul, the narrative of \"The Roundup: Punishment\" unwinds around Lieutenant Ma Seok-do, portrayed by the charismatic Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee internationally. Ma Seok-do is a figure driven by a deep-seated desire for justice, his life entwined with the dark underbelly of the city\'s criminal enterprises.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The film introduces Baek Chang-gi, a menacing antagonist with a complex past. Once a member of the Korean special forces, Baek, played by Kim Mu-yeol, has since become the tyrannical leader of an illicit online gambling ring. His character is intricately crafted, presenting a formidable challenge to Ma\'s quest for justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adding to the complexity of the villainous cadre, Lee Dong-hwi delivers a chilling performance as Jang Dong-cheol, an IT prodigy and the young CEO of a thriving cryptocurrency company. His genius is overshadowed by his malevolent ambitions, making him a pivotal figure in the unfolding drama.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Park Ji-hwan reprises his role as Jang Yi-soo, infusing the film with both heart and humor. As a secondary hero, his character’s evolution brings a deeper, more textured layer to the climax, enhancing the narrative’s richness.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Visionaries Behind the Film</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The genius behind the camera is director Heo Myung-haeng, whose background as a seasoned stunt choreographer, including notable work on \"Train to Busan,\" infuses the film with authenticity and visceral thrill. His direction ensures that each scene is meticulously crafted to maintain tension and drive the story forward.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The dual role of Ma Dong-seok as both lead actor and co-producer allows him to shape the film’s narrative and thematic elements. His deep understanding of the genre and character dynamics enriches the film’s authenticity and appeal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Screenwriter Oh Sang-ho crafts a tightly woven plot that balances intense action with emotional depth. Cinematographer Lee Sung-je captures the gritty aesthetics of Seoul’s urban landscape, while editor Kim Sun-min ensures the film’s pace maintains its gripping momentum. Complementing these visuals, the soundtrack by Yoon Il-sang not only enhances the scenes but also deepens the viewer\'s immersion into the film\'s dramatic world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Record-Breaking Box Office Performance</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Upon its release, \"The Roundup: Punishment\" immediately claimed the number one spot at the South Korean box office. It attracted 821,631 viewers on its opening day, generating a revenue of USD 4,911,392. This achievement set a new record for the highest opening of any film in 2024 within South Korea, surpassing the opening numbers of its predecessors and signaling a new era of dominance for the franchise.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The film\'s momentum continued as it quickly amassed a total gross of USD 8,511,327 from 1,335,673 admissions by its second day. By April 27, just three days post-launch, it captured 92.7 percent of all ticket reservations at the local box office, overshadowing other international releases and solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Critical Review: A Mastery of Crime-Action Dynamics</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Roundup: Punishment\" excels in its exploration of moral ambiguity, a hallmark of the franchise. Ma Seok-do, the rugged protagonist, operates in a realm where the lines between right and wrong are often blurred. His methods, which include extorting criminals and employing unorthodox interrogation techniques, showcase a complex character who is both feared and revered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The antagonists of the film, including the flamboyant and cunning tech mogul Jang and his brutal enforcer Baek, are characterized by their ruthlessness and deceptive charms. Their confrontations with Ma are among the film\'s highlights, featuring intense, blood-soaked battles that push the boundaries of the crime-action genre.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This installment dives into darker territories, with a level of violence that is both raw and impactful. The climax, a harrowing confrontation aboard an airplane, is particularly gripping, showcasing Ma’s most brutal and emotionally charged battle yet. The sequence not only leaves audiences on the edge of their seats but also sets the stage for future installments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adding a layer of levity to the intense narrative is Jang Yi-soo, whose misadventures and aspirations provide comic relief and a human touch to the storyline. His interactions with Ma, filled with witty banter and unlikely camaraderie, offer a respite from the relentless tension, making the film as heartwarming as it is thrilling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Verdict: A Cinematic Triumph</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The Roundup: Punishment\" stands as a testament to the skill and dedication of its creators. It offers everything fans of the genre could hope for: high-stakes drama, complex characters, and a masterful blend of action and emotion. The film not only continues the legacy of its predecessors but also raises the bar for future entries in the franchise. With plans already in place for a fifth installment, the saga promises to keep delivering high-quality entertainment to its growing legion of fans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In essence, \"The Roundup: Punishment\" is not merely a film; it is a milestone in Korean cinema, demonstrating the potential of the crime-action genre to engage and excite audiences worldwide. Its success is a clear indicator of the series’ quality and enduring appeal. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 10:53:20', '2024-04-29 10:53:20'),
(12140, 12140, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least four people were killed and dozens more injured after multiple tornadoes wreaked havoc in the central state of Oklahoma in the United States.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tornadoes caused extensive damage in the town of Sulphur, home to about 5,000 people, flattened buildings, threw vehicles into the air and ripped the roofs from houses.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“You just can’t believe the destruction,” Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said during a visit to the hard-hit town on Sunday afternoon. “It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A four-month-old baby was among the dead, Hughes County Emergency Management Director Mike Dockrey told Oklahoma television station KOCO.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stitt said about 30 people were injured, including some who were in a bar when the tornado struck.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hospitals across the state reported about 100 injuries, including people apparently cut or struck by debris, and more than 20,000 residents were still without electricity on Sunday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stitt issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 12 counties due to the severe weather, while in a call with the Oklahoma governor, President Joe Biden offered the federal government’s full support with recovery efforts, the White House said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The National Weather Service (NWS) reported that 38 possible tornadoes hit the area and that the worst of the storms rolled through Central Oklahoma on Saturday into early Sunday morning, spreading into northwest Texas, western Missouri and Kansas. Source: NEWS AGENCIES</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 11:44:13', '2024-04-29 11:44:13'),
(12141, 12141, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court on Monday asked the authorities concerned to keep primary and secondary level educational institutions except those with air conditioner closed until Thursday due to extreme heat.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the suo moto order.</div><div><br></div><div>The educational institutions which have air conditioners, universities, A and O level exams and public examinations will remain out of the purview of the order.</div><div><br></div><div>Md Manir Uddin, a Supreme Court lawyer, drew the attention of the court about the news of death and sickness of people including teachers and students after the reopening of the educational institutions amid the heat alert across the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Classes at all primary, secondary schools and colleges resumed on Sunday after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays and its subsequent extension due to heat wave, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Schools and colleges were scheduled to reopen on April 21 after the end of Eid holidays but the closure was extended till April 27 due to sweltering heat.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 12:04:15', '2024-04-29 12:04:15'),
(12142, 12142, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court (HC) on Monday directed the authorities concerned to take effective measures to stop the price hike of medicine by drug companies on their own will.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">HC Justice Md Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order after an initial hearing of a petition submitted by Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in the public interest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The court also issued a rule asking why the inaction by the Directorate General of Drug Administration to fix the price of medicine as per section 30 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act-2023 won’t be declared illegal.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moreover, the HC sought to know why directives wouldn’t be given to set prices of all medicines through formulating a rule as per section 76 of the act.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The health secretary, director general of Health Services and director general of Drug Administration, director general of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI),&nbsp; director general of Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection, and chairman of Bangladesh Competition Commission were made respondents to the rule.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua stood for the petitioner in the court while Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy, Assistant Attorney Generals Selim Azad and Anis Ul Mawa represented the state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the hearing, lawyer Jyotirmoy told the media that the HC directed to stop import of raw materials for drug production from abroad and sale of foreign medicine by the drug companies, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He informed that the CAB submitted the petition after several media outlets reported ”price of medicine shot up by upto 140 percent in two weeks”.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prices of all kinds of medicine including antibiotic tablets, insulin and injections for diabetic patients were hiked by the drug companies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, the drug companies held the devaluation of local currency against dollar and the increase in the price of raw materials in the international market responsible.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the price hike of gas and electricity was also blamed, they claimed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though the government has authority to fix the prices of medicines through a gazette notification it has not issued any such gazette notification since 2000. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 13:27:10', '2024-04-29 13:27:10'),
(12143, 12143, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As temperatures soared to a sweltering 43 degrees Celsius, Bangladesh faced unprecedented power shortages on Monday, with load shedding peaking at around 3200 MW — marking the highest record of power cuts in recent times.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials from the power utilities disclosed that at 2 pm on Monday, the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) at the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) reported a record shortfall of 3196 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the peak hours of the day, the country\'s power generation stood at 12,753 MW against a demand of 16,200 MW, resulting in a deficiency of 3,447 MW. This shortfall was anticipated to worsen during the evening peak hours, with demand expected to exceed 17,200 MW.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The situation on Sunday also saw significant load shedding, with 1864 MW reported at noon. The highest power generation recently was recorded at 16,233 MW at 9 pm last Monday (April 22); however, ongoing load shedding persisted across the country due to the increased electricity demand fueled by the ongoing heatwave.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rural areas, in particular, have been disproportionately affected. Officials from different power utilities at the rural level argue that the extent of load shedding is considerably underreported. Interruptions in the rural power supply often go unrecorded, exacerbating the situation for consumers who may face several hours without electricity during both day and night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to an official from the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB), \"Power outages in rural areas are so frequent that any interruption means consumers have to wait several hours to get electricity back.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Official sources indicate that the majority of the load shedding burden is strategically shifted to rural areas to prevent power outages in the capital Dhaka, and other major cities. This policy decision has significantly aggravated the hardships faced by rural populations amid the intense heat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moreover, state-owned Petrobangla’s latest figures reveal that the country’s gas production stands at 3,105 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), significantly below the demand of about 4000 MMCFD. This gas shortage has led to several power plants, especially those reliant on gas, halting production, further straining the power supply during this critical period. - UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 13:30:09', '2024-04-29 13:30:09'),
(12144, 12144, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted rains or thunder showers in parts of the country including Dhaka and also decline in temperature from May 2.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Rains and thundershowers are expected in Chattogram, Sylhet, Mymensingh divisions and some other parts of the country including Dhaka division from May 2,”Dr Abul Kalam Mollik, a meteorologist of BMD, told UNB on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Temperature will come down due to rainfall, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Very severe heat wave is sweeping Jashore and Rajshahi districts and severe heat wave is prevailing in&nbsp; parts of Khulna division, Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Naogaon, Pabna &amp; Nilphamari districts. Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping Barishal division, parts of Dhaka, Rajshahi &amp; Rangpur divisions, Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni &amp; Bandarban districts, “said a BMD bulletin on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram &amp; Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Country’s highest temperature was recorded at 42.2 degree Celsius in Jashore district&nbsp; on Sunday and 18 mm rains were recorded in Sunmaganj till 6 am on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 13:33:13', '2024-04-29 13:33:13'),
(12145, 12145, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has called upon the international community to get away with any new weapons let alone autonomous weapons for the sake of humanity.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was speaking at an international conference titled ‘Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation’ in Vienna.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs is hosting the international conference “Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons Systems and the Challenge of Regulation” on April 29-30 in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasan participated in a high-level panel discussion on the challenges of regulating the autonomous weapon systems, where Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco, Norwegian State Secretary Eivind Vad Petersson and President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric Egger also joined as co-panelists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister also underscored the importance of benevolent application of AI in agriculture, medical science, space exploration, climate change, job creation, etc. for the benefit of mankind, and not in weapon systems to wipe out humanity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He posed a question about what would happen to international peace and security, if the non-state actors and terrorist organisations get access to AI-driven autonomous weapon systems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He highlighted the importance of preserving human control over the use of force.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He underscored that machines with the power and discretion to take human lives must be prohibited by legally binding international laws both for AI and autonomous weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He suggested setting global norms to effectively regulate the autonomous weapons systems. Highlighting the precarious situation in Gaza, he also cautioned the international community against opening a new front of conflicts and tensions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ministry of European and International Affairs of Austria has organised the conference and it is being participated by more than 800 delegates from over 120&nbsp; states, UN bodies, rights groups and INGOs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The increased autonomy of weapons through the introduction of artificial intelligence will fundamentally transform armed conflicts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Autonomous weapons systems (AWS) raise profound questions from a legal, ethical, humanitarian and security perspective.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Humanity is at a crossroads and must come together to address the fundamental challenge of regulating these weapons, said the host country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the first-ever UN General Assembly resolution on lethal autonomous weapons systems in 2023, an overwhelming majority of States underlined the urgent need for the international community to address the challenges and concerns raised by autonomous weapons systems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Austria is hosting the conference in the hope of further advancing the debate on an international regulation of AWS, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All States, the United Nations, the ICRC, international and regional organisations, representatives of academia, think tanks, industry and civil society are invited to participate and to discuss the fundamental issues and various challenges related to AWS and their international regulation.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 14:20:17', '2024-04-29 14:20:17'),
(12146, 12146, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Bangladeshi banks taking the plunge into commencing offshore operations are offering lucrative benefits for non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to deposit their earnings in foreign exchange (mainly dollar) with them.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Bank (BB) has given verbal directives to the scheduled banks in this regard to enhance the stock of US dollars, a shortage of which is hampering the economy in various ways.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In line with this instruction, banks have started an extra effort to collect foreign currency, especially the US dollar from sophisticated and rich families who may be settled abroad but maintain ties with Bangladesh, through offshore banking.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Full government guarantee is being given on the deposit along with higher interest rate as an incentive,” said Selim RF Hussain, Chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Again no tax will be charged. If banks give better interest rates, provide better services, we hope a good quantity of dollars would be deposited,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, \"We want Bangladeshis who are abroad to bring their foreign currency to Bangladesh legally. We will also give them a good interest rate.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India has become very successful in this sector in the last 5-7 years. Many countries including the Philippines and Thailand have done it well, he pointed out, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have also launched now if all banks understand it well, we will get good results if we can promote it in various ways including product development and marketing,” said Hussain, also the managing director of BRAC Bank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, \"Many banks have started promotion. Dollar Savings Abroad is another client site. They are not the ones from whom we get remittances. These are those who are a little higher level, doctors, engineers, lawyers.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, “We are trying to bring dollars from those who are professionals.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Many people of Bangladesh are now citizens of other rich countries. We will also bring foreign exchange from them. Because we are giving good interest rates,” he pointed out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ABB chairman pointed to the City Bank as the early leader in the entire sector in this regard, having already raked in some $30-40 million. But he insists these are still early days.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s just getting started. Gradually everyone will start (offshore banking),\" said Hussain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"33\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 14:25:50', '2024-04-29 14:25:50'),
(12147, 12147, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Humza Yousaf has resigned as the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and Scotland’s first minister.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The move comes soon after Yousaf ended the SNP’s alliance with the Scottish Greens, which triggered two no-confidence votes put forward by opposition parties that Yousaf looked likely to lose.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I am not willing to trade my values and principles or do deals with whomever simply for retaining power,” Yousaf said during a televised announcement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The pro-independence SNP’s fortunes have faltered amid a funding scandal and the resignation of Nicola Sturgeon as party leader last year. An internal struggle has followed over how progressive the party should pitch its policies as it seeks to woo back voters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this month, Yousaf said he was “quite confident” that he could win a no-confidence vote. However, by Monday, his offer of talks with other parties to bolster his minority government was uncertain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Muslim head of a major political party and Scotland’s youngest elected leader, Yousaf said he had “underestimated” the level of hurt after ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I have concluded that repairing the relationship across the political divide can only be done with someone else at the helm,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yousaf’s resignation as SNP leader triggers a search for his successor and consequently new first minister. The Scottish Parliament would need to back any replacement in the post within 28 days. An election would be held if no majority is reached.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his resignation speech, Yousaf called for the leadership contest to find his replacement to start as soon as possible. He will remain in place as first minister until then. According to Al Jazeera reports&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 14:36:16', '2024-04-29 14:36:16'),
(12148, 12148, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged the government is working to instill a climate of fear across society, as a means to perpetuate its grip on power, by continuing to arrest opposition leaders and activists and throwing them in jail indefinitely. </b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, the most senior BNP leader active in the country also said the Awami League regime has become even more \'reckless, authoritarian and oppressive\' after seizing power through what he termed \'the sham election\' of January 7.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the \'usurper\' government has unleashed a wave of repression and persecution against the leaders and activists of BNP and other pro-democratic opposition parties and dissenters to maintain its illegal power.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul issued the statement as some leaders of BNP and its associate bodies, including Jubo Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku, were sent to jail in different “false, fabricated and politically motivated” cases.   </div><div><br></div><div>He said the latest instances of jailing of opposition leaders and activists depict a continuous trend of repression by the Awami League-led government, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“The entire country has been turned into a prison by sending the opposition leaders and activists to jail. Those engaged in the democratic struggle are being deprived of justice; the principles of the rule of law and good governance have vanished from the country,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said a totalitarian anarchy has spread in the country. “The illegal regime of the Awami League is spreading panic and intimidation from cities to villages across the nation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul voiced deep concern over the jailing of opposition leaders and activists throughout the country, even long prison sentences ensured through dictated verdicts in ‘false’ cases.</div><div><br></div><div>He demanded the unconditional release of Sultan Salauddin Tuku, as well as other jailed BNP leaders and workers, as well as the withdrawal of the false, fabricated and baseless charges brought against them.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 14:44:39', '2024-04-29 14:45:06'),
(12149, 12149, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>China expressed its keenness to import mango from Bangladesh this year, said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese Ambassador came up with the information while talking to the Agriculture Minister Dr Md. Abdus Shahid at the Secretariat on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An expert delegation from China will likely visit the country, specifically the mango orchards and production facilities, in the first week of June.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh will approve the export of mangoes based on the report of the Chinese delegation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Additional secretary to the Agriculture Ministry Moloy Chowdhury, joint secretary Md Mahmudur Rahman were present there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Expecting Chinese investment in the agriculture sector, the minister said Bangladesh needs the modern and technical assistance to modernise and mechanise agriculture sector, especially, the country\'s farmers need China\'s cooperation so that the farmers can get modern agricultural machinery at low price as we can purchase machines from China at a relatively low price.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, the Agriculture Minister met Ambassador of the Netherlands in Bangladesh Irma van Dueren.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting stressed the need for strengthening mutual cooperation in the agriculture sector and working together on strengthening agricultural research and technology exchange.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting also discussed the construction and launch of onion storage in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka at the initiative of the Netherlands government.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Onions can be stored throughout the year in this storage, which will be inaugurated officially on May 2, reports UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Noting that onion is an important crop of Bangladesh, the minister said “To become self-sufficient in onion, we are emphasizing on increasing onion production and preservation.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The initiative of the Netherlands government will play a very helpful role in this regard.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2024-04-29 14:57:07', '2024-04-29 14:57:07');
