INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5280, 5280, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nearly a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the battlefield has narrowed and stiff resistance has forced Moscow to scale back its military goals. But the diplomatic consequences of the war still reverberate worldwide.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fighting has reshaped global alliances, renewed old anxieties and breathed new life into NATO and the bond between Europe and the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The invasion drew Moscow closer to Beijing and the pariah states of Iran and North Korea. It also raised broad questions about sovereignty, security and the use of military power, while intensifying fears about China’s designs on Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The war underscores the interrelationship between diplomacy and the use of force in a way that has not been thought about in quite the same fashion for many, many years,” said Ian Lesser, vice president of the German Marshall Fund think tank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, it “marked the complete end of the post-Cold War world,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last month in a speech at Johns Hopkins University. “It has come to light that globalization and interdependence alone cannot serve as a guarantor for peace and development across the globe.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Ukraine is an “integral part” of Russian history that never achieved “real statehood” — a stance that echoes Chinese President Xi Jinping’s position on Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some six months after the invasion of Ukraine, China issued a white paper on Taiwan, saying the island “has been an integral part of China’s territory since ancient times.” The paper said Beijing seeks “peaceful reunification” but “will not renounce the use of force.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s designs on Taiwan date to well before the war in Ukraine, but China stepped up its pressure over the past year or more, including firing ballistic missiles over the island and into Japanese waters in August in response to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If Russia is allowed to succeed in Ukraine, it could further embolden countries like China, with its visions of an international order “that diverge from ours and that we can never accept,” Kishida said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He pledged to use Japan’s presidency of the G7 this year to strengthen “the unity of like-minded countries” against Russian aggression.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If we let this unilateral change of the status quo by force go unchallenged, it will happen elsewhere in the world, including Asia,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be far more complicated than Russia’s attack on Ukraine, said Euan Graham, a Singapore-based expert with the International Institute for Strategic Studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Russia\'s incompetent performance on the battlefield in Ukraine has to give pause to any military or senior political leader in China about an adventure on a much more ambitious scale with Taiwan,” Graham said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the fear is real. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen extended the nation’s compulsory military service in a December announcement that referenced the war in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They’ve drawn the lesson from Ukraine that you need to have a larger military reserve if there is a conflict,” Graham said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea, which has threatened to preemptively use nuclear weapons in a broad range of scenarios, was already a regional concern. But Russia’s suggestion that it could use nuclear weapons in Ukraine fueled new worries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea, which is under the protection of the American “nuclear umbrella,” last year expanded exercises with the U.S. military that had been downsized under the Trump administration. South Korea is also seeking stronger assurances that Washington will swiftly use its nuclear capabilities in the face of a North Korean nuclear attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has been strongly supportive of neighboring Russia. Late last year, the U.S. accused Pyongyang of supplying Russia with artillery shells.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Iran has also been helping Russia militarily, providing the bomb-carrying drones Moscow uses to strike power plants and civilian sites throughout Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Western allies have cooperated closely in their responses to the war, a major diplomatic challenge has been to convince much of the rest of the world of the invasion’s significance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Only a handful of countries in Asia have taken tough action against Moscow, and many abstained from the United Nations resolution condemning the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just weeks before the invasion, China declared a “no limits” friendship with Russia. It has refused to criticize the war and has drawn closer to Russia, buying more of its oil and gas and helping Moscow to offset Western sanctions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But there are signs of “complicated fault lines” in the China-Russia relationship, Jude Blanchette, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a call with reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During September talks in Uzbekistan, the Chinese president raised unspecified “concerns” with Putin over the invasion, though at the same time promised “strong support” to Russia’s “core interests.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I think if Xi Jinping could snap his fingers, he would like to see the war end but in a way that Russia comes out of this with Putin in power and Russia continuing to be a strong strategic partner,” Blanchette said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India, which is heavily reliant on Russia for military equipment, also abstained from the U.N. resolution and has continued to purchase Russian oil.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But as regional rival China moves closer to Russia, India has quietly drifted toward the U.S., especially within the four Quad nations that also include Japan and Australia, said Viraj Solanki, a London-based expert with the IISS think tank.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Europe, the invasion has reinvigorated NATO after a barrage of criticism from Donald Trump during his presidency that led French President Emmanuel Macron to declare the alliance had experienced “brain death.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NATO member countries and allies have rallied to support Ukraine, with several changing policies that prohibited the export of weapons to countries in conflict. Perhaps most remarkably, Germany shed post-World War II taboos and provided Leopard battle tanks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war also prompted Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership, which most experts think will be approved this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NATO last year singled out China for the first time as a strategic challenge, although not a direct adversary. The alliance warned about China’s growing military ambitions, its confrontational rhetoric and its increasingly close ties to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beyond NATO, the war has also underscored the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and European Union, which Lesser said has been “absolutely critical” to sanctions and export controls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China insists that it is the U.S. that started the Ukraine crisis, partially through NATO’s expansion into more Eastern European countries. Beijing has also criticized the alliance for suggesting the war could influence China’s actions in Asia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“NATO claims to be a regional defense organization, but it keeps breaking through the territory and field, stirring up conflicts, creating tension, exaggerating threats and encouraging confrontation,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war’s long-term effects on global diplomacy are difficult to predict. But Lesser said one thing is certain: It will be “very hard for Russia to recover from the damage to its reputation on many levels.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A core group of countries such as Syria, North Korea, Iran and Venezuela “may be inclined to stick with Russia,” he said. But in terms of broader diplomacy, Russia’s reputation ”has experienced an enormous blow.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 10:25:20', '2023-02-18 10:25:20'),
(5281, 5281, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine has exposed the dangers of Europe\'s over-reliance on authoritarian regimes and should serve as a lesson, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will tell the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We should not make the same mistake with China and other authoritarian regimes,\" he will warn, according to a preview of his speech seen by AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 10:42:18', '2023-02-18 10:42:18'),
(5282, 5282, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The body of former Ghana international Christian Atsu has been found after a devastating earthquake in Turkey, local media reported Saturday, quoting his manager.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Atsu, 31, was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were initial reports the former Chelsea and Newcastle player had been rescued a day after the quake, but these turned out to be false.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His manager in Turkey, Murat Uzunmehmet, told DHA news agency on Saturday that his body had been found under the rubble in the Turkish southern province of Hatay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have reached his lifeless body. His belongings are still being removed. His phone was also found,\" Uzunmehmet told DHA.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ghana\'s ministry of foreign affairs said it had \"received the unfortunate news\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The elder brother and twin sister of Christian Atsu and an officer of the (Ghanaian) embassy were present at the site when the body was recovered,\" the ministry said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ghana said it was working with the Turkish government to organise the transport of the body back to Atsu\'s home country for burial.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Midfielder Atsu spent four seasons at Chelsea before a permanent transfer to Newcastle in 2017. He signed last September for Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chelsea issued a statement declaring: \"It is with enormous sadness that Chelsea Football Club receives the news that Christian Atsu is confirmed as one of the many victims of the dreadful earthquake in Turkey and Syria.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Newcastle also paid hommage to \"a talented player and a special person\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The club added: \"He will always be fondly remembered by our players, staff and supporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Initially joining on loan, he played a key role in the Magpies squad that secured the Championship title in 2017 before making a permanent move to help us establish our place back in the Premier League.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Search and rescue workers found Atsu\'s body where he was staying at Ronesans Residence, a block of high-rise luxury flats that toppled over in Antakya city in Hatay.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish police arrested the building\'s contractor at Istanbul airport last week as he appeared to be heading to Montenegro, according to state news agency Anadolu. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 11:11:56', '2023-02-18 11:11:56'),
(5283, 5283, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">South Korea’s military said North Korea on Saturday fired one suspected long-range missile from its capital toward the sea, a day after it threatened to take strong measures against South Korea and the U.S. over their joint military exercises.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said the ballistic missile was fired at around 5:22 p.m. from an area in Sunan, the site of Pyongyang\'s international airport. It didn\'t immediately say where the weapon landed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Friday threatened with \"unprecedently\" strong action against its rivals, after South Korea announced a series of planned military exercises with the United States aimed at sharpening their response to the North’s growing threats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Toshiro Ino, Japan’s vice minister for defense, said the missile was expected have landed in waters within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Oshima island. Oshima lies off the western coast of the northernmost main island of Hokkaido.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are doing our utmost, working closely with the U.S., to gain information, analyze and take appropriate vigilance and surveillance measures to protect the lives and property of our people,” he told reporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The launch was North Korea’s first since Jan. 1, when it test-fired a short-range weapon. It followed a massive military parade in Pyongyang last week, where troops rolled out more than a dozen intercontinental ballistic missiles as leader Kim Jong Un watched in delight from a balcony.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The unprecedented number of missiles underscored a continuation of expansion of his country’s military capabilities despite limited resources while negotiations with Washington remain stalemated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those missiles included a new system experts say is possibly linked to the North’s stated desire to acquire a solid-fuel ICBM. North Korea’s existing ICBMs, including Hwasong-17s, use liquid propellants that require pre-launch injections and cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods. A solid-fuel alternative would take less time to prepare and is easier to move around on vehicles, providing less opportunity to be spotted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It wasn’t immediately clear whether Saturday’s launch involved a solid-fuel system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“North Korean missile firings are often tests of technologies under development, and it will be notable if Pyongyang claims progress with a long-range solid-fuel missile,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. “The Kim regime may also tout this launch as a response to U.S. defense cooperation with South Korea and sanctions diplomacy at the United Nations.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea is coming off a record year in weapons demonstrations with more than 70 ballistic missiles fired, including ICBMs with potential range to reach the U.S. mainland. The North also conducted a slew of launches it described as simulated nuclear attacks against South Korean and U.S. targets in response to the allies’ resumption of large-scale joint military exercise that had been downsized for years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea’s missile tests have been punctuated by threats of preemptive nuclear attacks against South Korea or the United States over what it perceives as a broad range of scenarios that put its leadership under threat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim doubled down on his nuclear push entering 2023, calling for an “exponential increase” in the country’s nuclear warheads, mass production of battlefield tactical nuclear weapons targeting “enemy” South Korea and the development of more advanced ICBMs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North Korean statement on Friday accused Washington and Seoul of planning more than 20 rounds of military drills this year, including large-scale field exercises, and described its rivals as “the arch-criminals deliberately disrupting regional peace and stability.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The statement came hours after South Korea’s Defense Ministry officials told lawmakers that Seoul and Washington will hold an annual computer-simulated combined training in mid-March. The 11-day training would reflect North Korea’s nuclear threats, as well as unspecified lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Heo Tae-keun, South Korea’s deputy minister of national defense policy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Heo said the two countries will also conduct joint field exercises in mid-March that would be bigger than those held in the past few years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea and the U.S. will also hold a one-day tabletop exercise next week at the Pentagon to sharpen a response to a potential use of nuclear weapons by North Korea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The exercise, scheduled for Wednesday, would set up possible scenarios where North Korea uses nuclear weapons, explore how to cope with them militarily and formulate crisis management plans, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has traditionally described U.S.-South Korea military exercises as rehearsals for a potential invasion, while the allies insist that their drills are defensive in nature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States and South Korea had downsized or canceled some of their major drills in recent years, first to support the former Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts with Pyongyang and then because of COVID-19. But North Korea’s growing nuclear threats have raised the urgency for South Korea and Japan to strengthen their defense postures in line with their alliances with the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea has been seeking reassurances that United States will swiftly and decisively use its nuclear capabilities to protect its ally in face of a North Korean nuclear attack. In addition to expanding and evolving military exercises with South Korea, the United States has also expressed commitment to increase its deployment of strategic military assets like fighter jets and aircraft carriers to the Korean Peninsula in a show of strength.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In December, Japan made a major break from its strictly self-defense-only post-World War II principle, adopting a new national security strategy that includes preemptive strikes and cruise missiles to counter growing threats from North Korea, China and Russia. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 11:48:49', '2023-02-18 11:48:49'),
(5284, 5284, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the 2.34km Mirpur-Kalshi flyover for vehicular movement at a function at Kalshi intersection adjoining Balur ground in the city at 10am tomorrow.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka north city Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Dhaka-16 lawmaker Md Elias Uddin Mollah, Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim are expected to join the inaugural ceremony, among others.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the Road Widening and Development from ECB Square to Mirpur and Construction of Flyover on Kalshi Circle Project, the 2335 meter long flyover has been built and a 3.70 km stretch of road from the ECB square to Kalshi has been widened.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On January 9, 2018, the project got the ECNEC’s approval.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">DNCC and Bangladesh Army (24 Engineer Construction Brigade) implemented the project at a cost of around Taka 1,012 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the project details, the flyover looks like an English alphabet ‘Y’. The previously four lane roads have been widened to six lanes in view to ease passenger commute.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main four-lane flyover runs from ECB square towards Kalshi and Mirpur DOHS, while a two-lane ramp descends from Kalshi intersection to Kalshi Road.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) public relations office, the project also includes extension of a PC girder bridge, construction of two foot over-bridges, a public toilet, two police boxes, a 7.40 kilometer RCC drain and saucer drain, a 1755 meter RCC pipe drain, retaining wall, 3383 meter communication duct, 800000 linear meter sand compaction pile, separate cycle lane, and six bus bays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project is expected to ease travel among the areas of Mirpur, DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Airport. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 12:03:19', '2023-02-18 12:03:19'),
(5285, 5285, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">After their latest coordinated programme in all cities and unions, main opposition BNP and like-minded parties will next march in all 64 districts on February 25 (next Saturday) to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP senior leaders announced the fresh programme while launching today\'s march across 11 metropolitan cities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The programme is meant for registering a protest against the rise in the prices of power and gas and essential items and mounting pressure on the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition and to accept the party’s 10-point demand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas launched the march programme in Mymensingh, while others of the same committee led the marches elsewhere, including Gayeshwar Chandra Roy in Narayanganj, Nazrul Islam Khan in Sylhet, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury in Chattogram, Selima Rahman in Barishal, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku in Rajshahi, vice-chairmen Barkat Ullah Bulu in Khulna, Mohammad Shahjahan in Cumilla, AZM Zahid Hossain in Gazipur, Shamsuzzaman Dudu in Faridpur and joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal in Rangpur and announced fresh programme.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the 12-party alliance that has sprung out of BNP\'s old 20-party coalition, also marched in the capital near Fakirapool Water Tank and announced a similar programme for February 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">From December last year, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances started a simultaneous movement to bring down the government, or at least realise the all-important caretaker or non-party provision ahead of the next election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, the leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units observed march programme in five areas in the capital since January 28.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The party also observed a march programme in all unions across the country on February 11 amid the allegations of attacks and obstruction by the ruling party activists and law enforcers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP’s Dhaka north and south city units organised separate marches on Friday while a similar programme was observed in 11 other divisional cities today (Saturday). UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 14:26:50', '2023-02-18 14:26:50'),
(5286, 5286, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A man has surrendered to police after allegedly killing his wife at Ghashipara in Dinajpur town on Friday.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deceased is Sumaiya Akhter, 27, and the man who surrendered is Manowar Hossain, 33, resident of Gurgolay area of Dinajpur.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station Tanvirul Islam said that Sumaiya, daughter of Abdul Khalek, resident of College para in Sujalpur area under Birganj upazila of the district got married to Manowar a month ago.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Manowar lived on the third floor of a rented house in the area and the victim is his second wife.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Friday night, Manowar strangled Sumaiya to death and kept the body in a wardrobe of the house for about 14-hours, OC said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, he went to the Kotwali police station and surrendered to police at around 12.30am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police recovered the body from the house and sent it to Dinajpur M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police is trying to unearth the motive behind the killing, the OC added. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-18 14:32:18', '2023-02-18 14:32:18'),
(5287, 5287, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover to vehicular movement. The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 2,335m long flyover has been built under the Road Widening and Development Project from ECB Square to Mirpur and the Construction of Flyover on Kalshi Circle Project, which got ECNEC approval on January 9, 2018.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the project, 3.70km stretch of road from the ECB square to Kalshi was also widened.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and the Bangladesh Army (24 Engineer Construction Brigade) implemented the project at a cost of around Tk 1,012 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the project details, the flyover looks like the English alphabet ‘Y’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The previously four-lane roads have been widened to six lanes to ease commute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main four-lane flyover runs from ECB square towards Kalshi and Mirpur DOHS, while a two-lane ramp descends from Kalshi intersection to Kalshi Road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project also includes extension of a PC girder bridge, construction of two foot bridges, a public toilet, two police boxes, a 7.40 km RCC drain and saucer drain, a 1755m RCC pipe drain, retaining wall, 3383m communication duct, 8 lakh-linear metre sand compaction pile, separate cycle lane, and six bus bays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On her arrival at the venue, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah, and Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim welcomed her. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 07:08:40', '2023-02-19 07:08:40'),
(5288, 5288, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A small plane with four people on board has crashed in central Philippines where rescuers were searching for survivors on Sunday, an aviation official said.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Cessna 340 aircraft went missing early Saturday morning shortly after departing for Manila from Bicol International Airport, south of the capital, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plane was carrying two passengers, a pilot and a crew member, the aviation regulator added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A local search and rescue team has identified a possible crash site near the airport, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The problem is the weather is bad and it hampers the visibility of the ground search,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The aviation accident comes less than a month after another Cessna plane went missing on January 24 in the northern province of Isabela. A search for that plane\'s wreckage is still ongoing, Apolonio said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a separate incident, two Philippine airforce aviators were also killed in a training exercise last month when their SF260 Marchetti plane plummeted onto a rice paddy in Bataan province, near Manila. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 07:11:45', '2023-02-19 07:11:45'),
(5289, 5289, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea said Sunday its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test was meant to further bolster its “fatal” nuclear attack capacity against its rivals, as it threatened additional powerful steps in response to the planned military training between the United States and South Korea.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Saturday’s ICBM test, the North’s first missile test since Jan. 1, signals its leader Kim Jong Un is using his rivals’ drills as a chance to expand his country’s nuclear capability to enhance its leverage in future dealings with the United States. An expert says North Korea may seek to hold regular operational exercises involving its ICBMs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said its launch of the existing Hwasong-15 ICBM was organized “suddenly” without prior notice at Kim\'s direct order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">KCNA said the launch was designed to verify the weapon’s reliability and the combat readiness of the country’s nuclear force. It said the missile was fired at a high angle and reached a maximum altitude of about 5,770 kilometers (3,585 miles), flying a distance of about 990 kilometers (615 miles) during a 67-minute flight before accurately hitting a pre-set area in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The steep-angle launch was apparently aimed at avoiding neighboring countries. The flight details reported by North Korea, which roughly matched the launch information previously assessed by its neighbors, show the weapon is theoretically capable of reaching the mainland U.S. if fired at a standard trajectory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hwasong-15 launch demonstrated the North’s “powerful physical nuclear deterrent” and its efforts to “turn its capacity of fatal nuclear counterattack on the hostile forces” into an extremely strong one that cannot be countered, KCNA said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whether North Korea has a functioning nuclear-tipped ICBM is still a source of outside debate, as some experts say the North hasn’t mastered a technology to protect warheads from the severe conditions of atmospheric reentry. The North has claimed to have acquired such a technology.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hwasong-15 is one of North Korea’s three existing ICBMs, all of which use liquid propellants that require pre-launch injections and cannot remain fueled for extended periods. The North is pushing to build a solid-fueled ICBM, which would be more mobile and harder-to-detect before its launch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Kim Jong Un has likely determined that the technical reliability of the country’s liquid propellant ICBM force has been sufficiently tested and evaluated to now allow for regular operational exercises of this kind,” said Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at Korea Aerospace University in South Korea, said that North Korea appeared to have launched an upgraded version of the Hwasong-15 ICBM. Chang said the information provided by North Korea showed the missile will likely have a longer potential range than the standard Hwasong-15.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North’s launch came a day after it vowed an “unprecedentedly” strong response over a series of military drills that Seoul and Washington plan in coming weeks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a separate statement Sunday, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, accused South Korea and the United States of “openly showing their dangerous greed and attempt to gain the military upper hand and predominant position in the Korean Peninsula.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I warn that we will watch every movement of the enemy and take corresponding and very powerful and overwhelming counteraction against its every move hostile to us,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has steadfastly slammed regular South Korea-U.S. military trainings as an invasion rehearsal though the allies say their exercises are defensive in nature. Some analysts say North Korea often uses South Korea-U.S. drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenals, which it believes is essential to win sanctions relief from the U.S.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“By now, we know that any action taken by the U.S. and South Korea — however justified from the vantage point of defense and deterrence against (North Korea’s) reckless behavior — will be construed and protested as an act of hostility by North Korea,” said Soo Kim, a security analyst at the California-based RAND Corporation. “There will always be fodder for (Kim Jong Un’s) weapons provocations.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“With nuclear weapons in tow and having mastered the art of coercion and bullying, Kim does not need ‘self-defense.’ But pitting the U.S. and South Korea as the aggressors allows Kim to justify his weapons development,” Soo Kim said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the U.S. will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korea and Japan. South Korea’s presidential National Security Council said it will seek to strengthen its “overwhelming response capacity” against potential North Korean aggression based on the military alliance with the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The South Korean and U.S. militaries plan to hold a table-top exercise this week to hone a joint response to a potential use of nuclear weapons by North Korea. The allies are also to conduct another joint computer simulated exercise and field training in March.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan, meeting on the sidelines of a security conference in Germany on Saturday, agreed to boost a trilateral cooperation involving the United States and exchanged in-depth views on the issue of Japan’s colonial-era mobilization of forced Korean laborers — a key sticking point in efforts to improve their ties, according to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">South Korea and Japan are both key U.S. allies but often spat over issues stemming from Tokyo’s 1910-45 colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula. But North Korea’s recent missile testing spree is pushing the two countries to explore how to reinforce their security cooperation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, North Korea set an annual record with the launch of more than 70 missiles. North Korea has said many of those weapons tests were a warning over previous U.S.-South Korean military drills. It also passed a law that allows it to use nuclear weapons preemptively in a broad range of scenarios.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kim Jong Un entered 2023 with a call for an “exponential increase” of the country’s nuclear warheads, mass production of battlefield tactical nuclear weapons targeting South Korea and the development of more advanced ICBMs targeting the U.S. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 07:34:21', '2023-02-19 07:34:21');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5290, 5290, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government would build Dhaka as a \"Smart City\" as she opened the Kalshi Flyover and a six-lane road from ECB square to Kalshi to the traffic at Mirpur in the area.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We will build Dhaka as a Smart City,\" she said while addressing a public rally at Kalshi Balur Math here after opening the flyover and the road unveiling a plaque.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said her government has taken plan keeping people\'s welfare in mind.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the rally, she also announced to rename the Kalshi flyover after Harun Mollah due to his glorious contribution to the Liberation War and all the democratic and progressive movements of the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main problem of Dhaka city is not to have better connectivity between its East and West, the premier said, adding her government has attached priority to the development of communication system in this part of the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said this 2.34km Kalshi flyover and 3.70 km widened and developed six-lane road from the ECB square would ease the communication in Mirpur, DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Manikdi, Matikata, Bhashantek, Banani, Uttara and the Airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The traffic jam of Dhaka would decline significantly after opening the Kalshi Flyover and the six-lane road following the metro rail, she hoped.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About measures taken for the development of Dhaka North City, Sheikh Hasina said as many as 23 projects involving TK 3,500 crore have been implemented in the last 12 years since Dhaka city was divided into two parts in 2011.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said 16 projects worth over Tk 3000 crore have also been implemented in Dhaka South City Corporation over the years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She mentioned that under the projects, development of communication and infrastructures in the capital including its beautification, improvement of water supply management, construction and development of footpath and waste management alongside roads, bridges and flyovers were made.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the function, the prime minister has announced to build Kalshi Balur Math as an amusement park with having playground for the children and youths and walkways for the movement of the aged persons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, said her government would make the democracy strengthened and well-protected and thus build the fate of the people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to vote rigging by the BNP-Jamaat alliance in February 15, 1996 election, she said the people of the country dislodged them from the power within one and a half month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The people of the country never accepted those who came to power through vote rigging,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister said the BNP-Jamaat clique wanted to manipulate election through vote rigging after incorporating 1.23 crore fake votes in 2006, but the people forced them to stop it through the movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the rally, she took Kalshi flyover to reach her official Ganabhaban residence in city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ECNEC on Jan 9, 2018 approved the project, under which, a 3.70 km stretch of road from the ECB square to Kalshi was widened, while the 2.34 km long Kalshi flyover was constructed at the Kalshi intersection under the Local Government Division of the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Bangladesh Army (24 Engineer Construction Brigade) implemented the project at a cost of around Taka 1,012 crore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The construction work of the project started on January in 2018 and it was completed four months prior to the stipulated time in June, 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the project details, the flyover looks like an English alphabet \'Y\'. The previously four lane roads have been widened to six lanes to ease passenger commute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The main four-lane flyover runs from ECB square towards Kalshi and Mirpur DOHS, while a two-lane ramp descends from Kalshi intersection to Kalshi Road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The project also includes extension of a PC girder bridge, construction of two foot over-bridges, a public toilet, two police boxes, a 7.40 kilometer RCC drain and saucer drain, a 1755 meter RCC pipe drain, retaining wall, 3383 meter communication duct, 800000 linear meter sand compaction pile, separate bicycle lanes, and six bus bays.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least two overhead footbridges with escalators have been constructed next to the flyover.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 lawmaker Md Elias Uddin Mollah spoke at the rally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee, and Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim, were present on the dais.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Commander of 24 Engineer Construction Brigade gave a brief presentation on the Kalshi Flyover and the six-lane road.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A video documentary on the Kalshi flyover and road project was also screened at the function. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 07:53:24', '2023-02-19 07:53:24'),
(5291, 5291, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Turkey was already battling runaway inflation and relying on rich allies for funding to keep its economy afloat when a massive earthquake killed tens of thousands, razed entire cities and left millions needing urgent help.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, it must pour billions of dollars into rebuilding 11 southeastern provinces flattened by the February 6 tremor -- the worst disaster of its post-Ottoman history.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That money will have to come on top of the billions of dollars in election promises that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made in the run-up to crucial polls still tentatively planned for May 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">All this cash could turbo-charge consumer spending and industrial production -- two key indicators of economic growth.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The problem for Erdogan, however, is that Turkey is very short of funds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The central bank\'s vanishing coffers have been replenished by assistance from Russia and oil-rich Gulf states, which has helped Turkey spend tens of billions of dollars propping up the lira in the past few years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But economists believe that money is only sufficient to keep Turkey\'s finances in order -- and the troubled lira from collapsing -- until the May polls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, Erdogan must repair some $84.1 billion in quake damage, according to an estimate from a prominent business group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other experts\' estimates are more conservative, putting the total closer to $10 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Reconstruction boost -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With elections in mind, Erdogan has already promised to provide new homes to the millions affected within a year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Should he find the cash, leaning heavily again on foreign donors, Erdogan will need to allocate much of it to the construction sector to rebuild parts of Turkey from the ground up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although contractors are now being blamed for following lax standards that allowed so many buildings to crumble, Erdogan relied on the sector to modernise much of the country with airports, roads and hospitals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The boost to output from reconstruction activities may largely offset the negative impact of the disruption to economic activity,\" the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the overall economy, at least, there are glimmers of hope.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The area affected is one of Turkey\'s least developed, contributing only nine percent to gross domestic product (GDP).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But Turkey\'s agricultural production could take a hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Unay Tamgac, associate professor of economics at Ankara\'s TOBB ETU University, said the region creates 14.3 percent of Turkey\'s total agriculture, fishing and forestry output.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The region is a global exporter of food such as apricots, she added, warning there could be a knock-on effect on prices.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN\'s Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned of disruptions to basic food production in Turkey and Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Better than 1999? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The quake also damaged energy facilities, infrastructure, transportation, irrigation and logistics, added Tamgac.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some look back to history for guidance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mahmoud Mohieldin, an executive director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said the 7.8-magnitude tremor could hurt the economy less than a 7.6-magnitude quake in 1999, which claimed more than 17,000 lives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An IMF spokesperson later said Mohieldin was speaking in a private capacity and not representing the fund\'s official view.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Turkish economy weakened by around 0.5 to 1.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999. But that tremor hit the country\'s industrial heartland -- including economic powerhouse Istanbul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The economy quickly rebounded, however, growing by 1.5 percent of GDP in 2000 thanks to reconstruction efforts, the EBRD said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last week\'s quake also \"did not affect areas farther west favoured by foreign tourists, who have become one of Turkey\'s most important sources of foreign exchange\", Wolfango Piccoli, an analyst at Teneo consultancy, said in a note.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Headwinds -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The focus, then, is where Erdogan will get the cash to spend on rebuilding.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s clear there will be a need for foreign currency,\" said Baki Demirel, associate professor of economy at Yalova University, since Turkey will now import more.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey\'s sovereign debt levels are relatively low, meaning the government has some leeway to issue long-term debt.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the downside, foreign investors have shunned Turkey because of Erdogan\'s unorthodox economic views, which include an ill-fated attempt to fight inflation by slashing interest rates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When the quake hit, Turkey\'s annual inflation rate had slowed from a two-decade high of 85 percent last year to 58 percent.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With all the headwinds, economists agree the economy will stall in the coming year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Despite the uncertainty and different factors at play, such as global economic conditions and internal political expectations, the Turkish economy is likely to stagnate or grow below its natural rate,\" economist Murat Kubilay wrote in a note online. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 08:08:42', '2023-02-19 08:08:42'),
(5292, 5292, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a fugitive accused -- in a double murder case in Dinajpur -- from Kurigram on Saturday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accused, Monirul Islam, was on the run for 24 days after the murders in Ghoraghat area of Dinajpur on January 25.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Arafat Islam, commander of RAB-13, said that Monowar Hossain Mim, 25, and Rakib Hossain Mondal were hacked to death over a land dispute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Azhar Ali, another main accused in the case, was arrested 24 hours after the murders. The rest of the accused were also arrested, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The accuseds\' houses was set on fire by enraged neighbours the day after the murders. Incidentally, homes of 40 families were completely destroyed in the incident, reports UNB’s Dinajpur correspondent. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 08:28:28', '2023-02-19 08:28:28'),
(5293, 5293, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that the aim of her government is to preserve democracy and improve the fate of the people.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Preserving democracy and developing the fate of the people is our aim,” she said while inaugurating the Mirpur-Kalshi flyover in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The flyover has been constructed to ease commute in Mirpur, Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi, Kalshi, Mahakhali, Banani, Uttara and Dhaka airport.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister opened the flyover to traffic from a function at Kalshi intersection, adjoining Balur Math, in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that after much struggle, AL has been able to ensure people’s voting rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“People have voted for AL. We won in the 2008 election; we were again elected by the people in 2014 and 2018. AL came to power elected by the votes of people,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina said that people of Bangladesh are aware of their voting rights, and if anyone rigged elections, they would never accept that.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, she said that everyone remembers the February 15, 1996 election during which BNP tried to hold onto power through rigging votes, and Khaleda Zia declared herself as the prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People did not accept that, the PM said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“March 30 of the same year, Khaleda Zia was compelled to resign due to a mass movement,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister recalled that similar incident happened when BNP was in the office after 2001.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that BNP included 1.23 crore of fake voters in the voter list and declared the 2006 election which was supposed to be held in January, 2007.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that many were elected uncontested, while people realised that their votes will be rigged. They initiated a movement again and Khaleda Zia was ousted, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that in 2008 election, BNP managed to bag 29 seats out of 300. Later, they won another seat in a by-election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We came to power repeatedly through the votes of the people, by attaining their trust and confidence, and developing the country,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sheikh Hasina, also the AL chief, said that her party believes in the empowerment of people while BNP is trying to confuse people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that Bangladesh is on the highway of development and the government has been able to develop Bangladesh as AL has been in power for a long time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that Bangladesh, by 2041, will be a developed, prosperous and ‘Smart Bangladesh’.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have formulated a plan for that and are devising the five-year plan based on that to take the country forward. Bangladesh will never look back. It will never be dependent on anyone. We will produce our own food, develop the country, and will not beg to anyone,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that economic recession and food scarcity have engulfed the whole world, where even the fates of developed countries are at stake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that the land in Bangladesh is fertile, and urged all once again to utilize all arable land in cultivation. “Not a single inch of land should be left out from cultivation activities. Produce whatever you can. We will meet our demands and if necessary, we will help others.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and Dhaka-16 MP Md Elias Uddin Mollah also spoke at the programme. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 09:01:05', '2023-02-19 09:01:05'),
(5294, 5294, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A Dhaka court on Sunday fixed February 26 to hold hearing on charge framing in Niko graft case against BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Judge Sheikh Hafizur Rahman passed the order at a temporary courtroom of the Dhaka Special Judge\'s Court-9 at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Appearing on behalf of Khaleda Zia, lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali sought exemption from filing charges against her. As the hearing did not end today, the court re-fixed the date.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against five including Begum Khaleda Zia with Tejgaon police station on December 9, 2007 for abusing power in signing a deal with Canadian company Niko for exploring and extracting gas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ACC on May 5 in 2008 submitted the charge-sheet against 11 people including Khaleda Zia. The ACC accused them of incurring a loss of more than Taka 13 thousand crore of state exchequer by that deal. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 09:47:32', '2023-02-19 09:47:32'),
(5295, 5295, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said 113 actions have been identified to deal with 14 types of disasters by dividing Bangladesh into 11 regions under eight sectors in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP).&nbsp;</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Of these, 80 are considered as high priority ones and 23 medium priority actions. To implement the activities identified in the NAP by 2050, we will require about US$ 230 billion,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The environment minister revealed the information at a workshop titled \'Consultation Workshop on Dissemination and Brainstorming of NAP Implementation\' at the auditorium of the Department of Environment (DoE) here.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chaired by Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed the p[rogramme was addressed, among others, by eminent water expert and Professor Emeritus Dr Ainun Nishat, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) of ministry Md Moniruzzaman and DoE Director General Dr Abdul Hamid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The NAP was presented jointly by Deputy Secretary Dharitri Kumar Sarkar and DoE Director Mirza Shawkat Ali.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The high officials, who were present at the workshop, placed their respective suggestions for implementation of NAP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking as the chief guest, Shahab Uddin said the plan submitted to the UNFCCC on 31 October 2022 is not only a national report but it will also highlight Bangladesh\'s position in the global arena in terms of climate adaptation.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This plan will be implemented by accepting everyone\'s valuable opinions. The NAP will be effective in adopting and implementing long-term integrated adaptation activities to address climate change in Bangladesh,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister said the NAP identifies specific adaptation needs for Bangladesh and appropriate strategies to implement those.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition to infrastructural development to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change, more emphasis will be given on increasing the adaptive capacity of people living in vulnerable areas, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shahab Uddin said adaptation activities identified in the NAP will be adopted and implemented through collective efforts to combat climate change.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said his ministry will continue to make joint efforts with various ministries, organisations and stakeholders to ensure sustainable development in Bangladesh. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 10:24:07', '2023-02-19 10:24:07'),
(5296, 5296, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can take part in politics, but she is barred from contesting in the next general election because of her conviction for corruption, Law Minister Anisul Huq said on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government will not interfere in her doing politics, the minister said adding “Whether she will do politics or not, it’s her personal matter.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The minister was talking to reporters after attending an orientation course held at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI) in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The constitution states that any person who has been sentenced to two years of imprisonment cannot participate in the elections. There is nothing new to say,” said Anisul.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BNP leader has been convicted of cases of corruption in Zia Orphanage Trust and sentenced to 10 years in jail. In another corruption case involving Zia Charitable Trust she has been given seven years of imprisonment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her sentences have been suspended by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on humanitarian grounds because of her poor health. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 11:29:06', '2023-02-19 11:29:06'),
(5297, 5297, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruq on Sunday said that there is no possibility of terrorist attack on the Language Martyrs Day or International Mother Language Day as DMP has taken all necessary preparations to ensure security.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have brought the entire area from Palashi to Doel Chattar under CCTV cameras’ surveillance to ensure security. The area will be monitored by CCTV cameras from the police control room,” the commissioner said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Golam Faruq made these remarks while answering to questions from journalists about the overall security measures taken on the occasion of Amar Ekushe February.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The program has been divided into two parts. The President, the Prime Minister, cabinet members and diplomatic personnel will pay their respects to the martyrs first. Then, it will be opened to the general public”, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People will enter through Palashi and exit through Doel Chattar to pay respect to language martyrs, said the DMP&nbsp; commissioner adding that no bags or other stuff will not be allowed to carry. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 11:37:58', '2023-02-19 11:37:58'),
(5298, 5298, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government will start Vitamin A plus campaign across the country on Monday with a target to provide Vitamin A plus capsule to 2,20 crore children, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Under the programme, 25 lakh children aged between 6 to 11 months will be fed blue colour A plus capsule while 1.95 crore children aged between 12 to 59 months will be fed red colour capsule, he said while speaking at a programme at the Ministry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government started the Vitamin A plus campaign in 2010 and children are fed the capsule twice a year, he said adding “Now only 0.04% children are affected with the night blindness disease due to Vitamin A deficiency.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Already the capsule has been sent to the central drug store, districts, city corporations and publicity about the progrmame has been launched through private and government TV channels and national dailies, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 2.40 lakh volunteers will work at 1.20 lakh centres while 40,000 health workers will participate in the campaign, said the minister. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 12:21:34', '2023-02-19 12:21:34'),
(5299, 5299, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The fundamental problem of Jagannath University (JnU) Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujeeb Hall is increasing day by day.  Apart from non-availability of gas, lift problems, lack of quality food, this time the problem of drinking water has been added.  For almost a week, the water filters on several floors of the sixteen-storey hall have been broken.  And the filters which are good at high pressure are also slowly filtering the water</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is known that many people are suffering from allergic problems after drinking the dining water  However, if you approach the authorities to solve the problem, the authorities say to submit the application first.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"> There is 1 water filter in the ground floor dining room of Begum Fazilatunnecha Mujib student hall, 1 small filter for students on every floor from 3rd floor to 16th floor.  There are only 13 water filters against about 1500 students in the hall.  And since one filter is not enough against about half a hundred students per floor, there is always a lot of pressure on the filters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The water filters on floors three to ten have been broken for about a week.  So that many students are forced to collect water from the filter on the upper floor and many are drinking water from the outside or the filter of the dining room.  However, many students are suffering from allergic problems after drinking the dining water and many have rashes on their bodies.  It is also uncertain when this problem will be solved.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The students complained that when they told the authorities about these problems, they asked them to give an empty application after listening to everything.  It\'s over when you apply.  Does not take any initiative.  Now we have to worry about food and water.  And teachers in charge of supervision are often not available to report problems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to experts, if you drink iron water more than the tolerable level or if you cannot drink clean water, it can cause serious damage to various organs of the human body including bone infection, liver cirrhosis.  This damage to the human body is gradual and is not immediately noticeable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Farhana Karim , a resident student of the hall, says the filter is too little against the requirement.  There is a lot of damage on it  Now we have to go from 3rd floor to 12th floor to fetch water.  There is a crowd naturally.  I had two days of dining water  Then the allergy increases in the body.  Not only should the filter be fixed but also increased  It will also reduce the pressure in the filter, which will be beneficial for us.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another resident student said that she has to read more at night  I went to the 9th and 10th floor and saw the same condition of the filter there.  If there is no quality food, there is no good environment, on top of that, now the problem has started with water.  It should be resolved quickly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When asked about this, Jagannath University Begum Fazilatunnecha Mujib Hall Provost Professor Dr.  Shamima Begum said, I am sick.  Appropriate measures will be taken to resolve the matter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'Mahamudur Rahman Najid', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 12:46:48', '2023-02-20 09:48:04'),
(5300, 5300, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A fire broke out on the seventh floor of a multistorey building in the capital\'s Gulshan Sunday evening, the fire service said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fortunately, no casualties were reported till the filling of this report.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seven people have been rescued so far from the building, Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters\' media cell, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The fire began at 6:59pm in a 12-storey building in Gulshan-2. However, the reasons for the fire mishap and the extent of damage could not immediately be confirmed,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the visuals emerging from the site, huge flames coupled with thick clouds of black smoke were seen billowing out of the building.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On information, 13 firefighting units responded to the blaze, and the responders are trying to tame the flames, Anwarul said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 16:32:33', '2023-02-19 16:32:33'),
(5301, 5301, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A route map has been finalised for going to the Central Shaheed Minar on February 21 to pay respect to language martyrs.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka University\'s Central Coordination Committee finalised the route map which will be effective from 8pm on February 20 (Monday).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the map, visitors can enter the Central Shaheed Minar through DU BUET DMC triangle in front of Salimullah Muslim Hall, Jagannath Hall and can exit through the main gate of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Doyel Crossing of Dhaka University.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other roads on the campus area will be closed from 8.00 pm on Monday (February 20).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the map, people can enter the university area using the Azimpur graveyard road and the old High Court road, Doyel Crossing, Bangla Academy, TSC crossing, the road beside the VC\'s residence, New Market crossing and the north gate of Azimpur graveyard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The road on the east side of Jagannath Hall from TSC and the road to Chankharpool from Doyel Crossing will remain closed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka University authorities arranged a press conference at the Abdul Motin Virtual classroom of Dhaka University on Sunday noon where they disclosed the route map and overall preparation taken to mark the Language Martyrs Day on February 21.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Everything is going on well, and we hope we will be able to mark the 21st February with great enthusiasm. All the preparations have been completed and some minor preparations are yet to be taken,\" DU VC Professor Akhtaruzzaman told the press conference.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other organisations will pay their homage at the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar after the President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker show their respects, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, this year there will be no restriction on personal homage paying, as every individual will be given the chance to pay their homage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a recent visit at the Central Shaheed Minar premises, it is seen that the premises of the altar has been washed and painted. The area has been decorated with colourful lights while check posts have been set up to ensure the security of the visitors.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Law enforcement agencies are monitoring the area through multiple CCTV cameras.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A temporary control room has been set up in front of Law Faculty by the Police and Rab to monitor the area and take action instantly in case of any emergency.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the other hand, the teachers and the students of Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University were seen busy to give their finishing touches on the graffiti and on other art works.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tawhidul Islam, a third-year student of Drawing and Painting Department of Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University, who has been doing wall painting for the last two days, told UNB that, “The preparations are almost complete. The only remaining thing is the graffiti on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar. The remaining portion will be finished within the given time.\" UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-19 16:38:32', '2023-02-19 16:38:32');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5302, 5302, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday urged the United Nations to help Bangladesh in relocating Rohingyas to Bhashanchar island.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She made the plea while UN resident coordinator Gwyn Lewis called on her at her official residence, Ganabhaban.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam told reporters that the prime minister mentioned that over one million Myanmar nationals, Rohingyas, are now a big burden for Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Their return to their homeland soon is uncertain, so I am requesting the UN to help Bangladesh relocate the Rohingyas to Bhashanchar,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this connection, she mentioned that the island has been organised and developed to provide better living condition for the Myanmar nationals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that it has a cyclone shelter, employment opportunities on limited scale and education facilities for the children in their mother language.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said that the Rohingyas who are living in camps in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar have already outnumbered the local people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“They have created problems for the living and livelihoods of the local Bangladesh people,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also said that some of the Rohingyas are involved in various types of anti-social activities like human and drug trafficking, internal conflicts and militant activities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In this situation, as their scope to return to their homeland soon is uncertain, their living standard will be upgraded if they relocate on Bhashanchar island where they will get better environment to live,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said that forcibly displaced Rohingyas are living in an inhumane condition in Cox’s bazar amid uncertainty about their repatriation soon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has so far moved about 30,000 Rohingyas to Bhasanchar to ease crowding in the camps in Cox\'s Bazar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Rohingyas, the minority Muslims in Myanmar, fled to neighbouring Bangladesh mostly in 2017 to escape killings, arson and rape unleashed by the country\'s military junta.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Diplomatic efforts at safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland have so far failed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The issues of UN-set MDGs and SDGs were also discussed during the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina said that she herself attended the events during the adoption of the agenda of MDGs and SDGs where Bangladesh played a proper role.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that necessary measures have been taken to implement SDGs and issues relating to Bangladesh have been incorporated in the country’s five-year and perspective plans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pointing out a number of challenges in implementing the SDGs due to Ukraine-Russia war followed by sanctions and counter-sanctions, the prime minister said that the war after the Covid-19 pandemic situation has created some obstacles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the government has been working to implement the SDGs, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said the government has been continuing with the provision of free books, stipends and scholarships to students for promotion of education. School feeding programmers have also been introduced.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about women empowerment, she said that the present government has ensured female representatives on the local government bodies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, job opportunities have also been created for the female to attract them to education, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said that as a result now the parents are more interested to send their daughters to educational institutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, the PM said that girls are now outnumbering the boys in schools, while almost cent percent enrolment has been achieved in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During the meeting, the UN resident coordinator highly appreciated Bangladesh’s stunning progress and achievements in socio-economic front as well as in women’s empowerment, girl’s education, and in achieving MDGs and SDGs, spokesperson Nazrul said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Gwyn Lewis assured that the UN will remain beside Bangladesh in the days ahead in overcoming various challenges like it had been in the past.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About child labor situation in the country Hasina said there is no such case in formal sectors as it has been almost abolished although there might be some in informal areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the climate change, the prime minister said that her government has undertaken adaptation and mitigation programmers to face its adverse impact and has constructed cyclone tolerant houses as well as created green belts along the coastal areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">About measures to fight climate change the PM said they have taken adaptation and mitigation programme for making Bangladesh climate change resistant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh is building climate resistant houses and green belt along the coastal areas as measures to fight the climate change impacts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said Bangladesh set up a Climate Trust Fund with its own finance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She however expressed dissatisfaction over the climate promises made by the rich nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The rich countries are giving promises, but they are not complying with those,\" she said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'Newsdesk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 08:37:44', '2023-02-20 08:37:44'),
(5303, 5303, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The death toll from Sunday’s fire at an apartment block in Gulshan-2 increased to two as another victim died on Monday morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Raju Mia Shikder, who sustained injuries during the fire incident, died at a hospital in the capital, said Deputy Commissioner (Gulshan division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Abdul Ahad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The fire that quickly tore through the apartment block Sunday evening was brought under control after four hours.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anwar Hossain, who used to work in the 12- storeyed building,&nbsp; was killed after the deadly fire engulfed it.&nbsp; Also, 22 people – nine men, 12 women, and one child –were rescued.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The fire broke out on the seventh floor of a 12-storey building in Gulshan-2 at 6:59pm. However, the reasons for the fire mishap and the extent of damage could not immediately be confirmed,\"&nbsp; Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell, said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'Newsdesk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 08:42:32', '2023-02-20 08:42:32'),
(5304, 5304, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">With demolishing the district town’s last movie theater, Feni now has no cinema hall left.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dulal Cinema Hall, Feni town’s last remaining movie theater, was demolished last Wednesday (February 15, 2023) due to a steep decline in the number of audiences. A multi-storey shopping mall will be built on the site where the cinema hall stood.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Safiuddin Belal, owner of Dulal Cinema Hall said, “We had to seek assistance from law enforcement to tackle the crowd during screening of blockbusters such as ‘Beder Meye Josna’ and \'Rupban\'.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"However, the number of audiences started declining after 2015,\" Belal told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The cinema hall had eight \"VIP\" seats (tickets for each cost Tk 100). It also had 80 \"first-class\" seats (Tk 60 each).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Belal said that \"second\" and \"third-class\" seats had been discontinued for the past three years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were six cinema halls in the town and the adjacent Dagonbhuiya upazila. One after another, curtains fell on Feni district’s silver screens as the owners were left with no choice but to demolish them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lack of quality films, coupled with the steep decline in audience, killed the town’s cinema hall business.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The four cinema halls in Feni town were Dulal Cinema Hall, Surat Mahal, Bilashi Cinema Hall, and Kanan Cinema Hall. There were two other cinema halls — Beauty Cinema Hall in Fulghazi upazila and Jharna Cinema Hall in Dagonbhuiyan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Thousands of movie lovers from the district’s remote areas used to flock to these halls to see films with their families and friends.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 1952, sports organizer Khairul Eshak opened Dulal Cinema Hall on Feni town’s Railway Station Road. Years later, Afzalur Rahman opened the Surat cinema hall in the city’s Zero Point area. However, the hall was demolished and later replaced by Feni Super Market after Afzalur Rahman’s son Bacchu Mia took over the ownership after his father’s death in 2003.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Feni\'s Kanan cinema hall opened in Masterpara Mor around 1978, under the ownership of Azad Peyara and Momtazul Huq Bhuiyan. The hall was in operation until the owners went out of business during the Covid-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bilashi, one of the four cinema halls in Feni city, was built around 1980 by Nur Mia. The hall was later rented out to the city’s local commissioner, Omar Faruk, after the death of Nur Mia. Faruk left the business due to losses in 2002, and since then, the hall has been closed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Surat and Dulal cinema halls were the top choices of the audience due to their safer and cleaner environment. According to reports, at least 700–800 tickets were sold per show.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The other cinema halls used to attract 400–600 viewers per show. At least 10,000-12,000 viewers used to watch films at the four cinema halls in Feni every day on average. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'Newsdesk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 08:48:56', '2023-02-20 08:48:56'),
(5305, 5305, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The nation is set to observe the \'Shaheed Dibash\' (Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day on Tuesday with due respect.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">People from all walks of life will pay glowing tributes to the memories of the language movement martyrs, the valiant sons of the soil who made supreme sacrifice to establish the rights of the mother tongue, Bangla, in 1952.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The day will also be observed around the world as the UNESCO recognised the \'February 21 (Ekushey February)\' as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The government has already taken extensive programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the nation to pay respect to language martyrs by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar beside Dhaka Medical College and Hospital at one minute past zero hour.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both the president and the premier will issue separate messages paying rich tributes to those who embraced martyrdom on the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The day is a public holiday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In observance of the day, the Central Shaheed Minar premises is being decorated with paintings, graffiti, buntings and selected verses on the mother language.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Tight security measures have been enforced around the main altar of the Shaheed Minar, its adjoining areas and Azimpur graveyard of the language martyrs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different political-social-cultural-professional organizations, including the ruling Awami League, have taken various programmes such as seminars and cultural functions, to observe the Amar (immortal) Ekushey in a befitting manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Cultural Affairs Ministry has drawn up an elaborate programme to observe the day at national level.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The programme was finalized following an inter-ministerial meeting recently with State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid in the chair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The national flags will be kept half-mast in a proper manner having accurate size at all the buildings of government, semi-government, autonomous and private organisations and educational institutions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In line with the national programmes, all educational institutions, local government bodies, district and upazila administrations, Bangladesh missions abroad will take proper measures to observe the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fateha and Qurankhwani will be offered at Azimpur graveyard and special prayers will be arranged at all worship places across the country seeking eternal peace of the language martyrs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Proper measures will be taken to strengthen the security system in and around all the venues, including the Central Shaheed Minar, and Dhaka University campus adjoining areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the occasion, road islands and other important places in the capital will be decorated with festoons inscribed with letters of different languages including Bangla.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Public and private mass media will take necessary measures to carry out awareness programmes on pronouncing names of language martyrs properly, protecting significance of the Shaheed Dibash, upholding the dignity of Shaheed Minar and placing wreaths at Shaheed Minar in a disciplined manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The newspapers will publish special supplements.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Uninterrupted power and water supply will be ensured around the Central Shaheed Minar and its adjoining areas while required numbers of mobile toilets will be set up in the areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Streets will be kept neat and clean and water will be sprayed on streets to control dust. In order to ensure emergency medical services, medical camps will be set up in the Shaheed Minar areas and a sufficient number of ambulances will be kept ready to this end.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh missions abroad will organize different programmes, including placing wreaths at Shaheed Minar, discussions on Bangabandhu and Language Movement, and book and photo exhibitions where diplomats of different countries and Bangladeshi expatriates will join.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, messages of the president, the prime minister, foreign minister, state minister for foreign affairs and state minister for cultural affairs also will be read out at the missions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mass Communication Department will stage mobile musical function on streets through trucks and on waterways in Dhaka city\'s surrounding areas through water vessels and films and documentaries will be screened at district and upazila levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Department of Films and Publications will publish three types of posters, marking the Amar Ekushey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Marking the day, Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Kabi Nazrul Institute, National Book Centre, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh National Museum, Department of Archaeology, Department of Public Libraries, International Mother Language Institute, Department of Archives and Library, Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institute, three districts in hill tracts, Tribal Cultural Academy in Birishiri of Netrokona, Rajshahi Divisional Ethnic Minority Cultural Academy (RDEMCA), Manipuri Lalitkala Academy, Cox\'s Bazar Cultural Centre and other organizations and institutions will organize book fairs, discussions, seminars, symposiums, poem recitation, drawing and hand writing competitions and screen documentaries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Children, students, senior citizens and the children with special needs could visit the National Museum and its affiliated branch museums and all the archeological sites and museums under the Department of Archaeology free of cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Awami League has drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day in a befitting manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To mark the day, national and party flags will be kept half-mast and black flags will be hoisted atop of the AL\'s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue and Bangabandhu Bhaban and other unit offices of the party across the country at 6:30 am on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other programmes include wearing of black badges and later bringing out Provat Feri from south gate of New Market as a mark of profound respect to the Language Movement martyrs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League leaders and workers will pay homage to the language movement martyrs by placing wreaths at Azimpur graveyard in the morning. Later, they will also pay homage at the Central Shaheed Minar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, a discussion will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at 3:30pm on February 22 to mark the day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will chair the discussion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Party\'s General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has urged all leaders and workers of the party, associate and like-minded bodies to observe the day in a befitting manner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 21 in 1952, Salam, Rafique, Shafique, Jabbar and Barkat embraced martyrdom in police firing in front of the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as they took to the street to intensify the campaign to establish Bangla as the state language of the then Pakistan, sowing the seeds of subsequent movements for the country\'s independence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were killed as police opened fire on students demonstrating under the All-Party Students Action Committee against conspiracies of Pakistani rulers to declare \"Urdu\" as the only state language.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The movement for Bangla, however, did not stop and Pakistan government on February 29, 1956 was compelled to recognise Bangla as one of the state languages besides Urdu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision, however, could not stop the movement against repression and misrule of Pakistani government that subsequently led the Bangalee to the War of Independence and the emergence of Bangladesh. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 09:04:35', '2023-02-20 09:04:35'),
(5306, 5306, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday denounced attempts to undermine the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the historic Language Movement.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangabandhu was jailed for waging the Language Movement. Why was he in jail (at that time) if he had no contribution?” she asked.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said this after conferring the \"Ekushey Padak 2023\" to 19 eminent personalities and two organizations in recognition of their contributions to the 1952 language movement, art, culture, journalism and journalism.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She handed over the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second highest civilian award, at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;Hasina said the ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan, which inspired the freedom fighters to make their supreme sacrifice, and the historic 7th March speech were banned after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib in 1975.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Actually his name was obliterated from history. Not only that, his contribution to the Language Movement was erased,” she said, adding that even some scholars said he had no contribution since he was in jail at that time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM said Bangabandhu was arrested on three occasions within months after the emergence of Pakistan as a country. Arrested in 1949, he was not released until February 27, 1952, she noted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While he was in jail, student leaders used to meet him and received his instructions regarding the Language Movement, she said adding that it can be learnt reading the books ‘Oshomapto Attojiboni’ (Unfinished Memories) of Bangabandhu and ‘Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Bangabandhu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The specific dates, names of student leaders who met Bangabandhu and his role during the Language Movement can largely be learnt from the 113-130 pages of the Volume-II of the secret documents book.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM extended her sincere thanks to the awardees and noted personalities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Cultural Affairs Ministry organised the event on the occasion of ‘Amar Ekushey’ and International Mother Language Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the award recipients, Khaleda Manzoor-e Khuda, freedom fighter AKM Shamsul Haque (posthumous), and Haji Mohammad Majibor Rahman received the award for their roles in the Language Movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf received the prestigious award for their contributions in acting, while Manoranjan Ghoshal, Gazi Abdul Hakim and Fazal-e-Khuda (posthumous) for music, Jayanto Chattopadhyay for recitation, Nawazish Ali Khan for Shilpakala (arts), and Kanak Chanpa Chakma for painting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Momtaz Uddin (posthumously) was given the award in the Liberation War category, Md Shah Alamgir (posthumously) in journalism, Dr Md Abdul Majid in research, Professor Dr Mazharul Islam (posthumously) in education, Saidul Haque in social service, Advocate Manjurul Islam (posthumously) and Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously) in politics, and Dr Maniruzzaman in language and literature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh National Museum received the award in the category of education and Bidyanondo Foundation in social service.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each awardee received a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a cheque worth Tk four lakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid chaired the award giving ceremony, while Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain conducted it and read out the citations of the award recipients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cultural Affairs Secretary Md. Abul Monsur delivered the welcome address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ekushey Padak was introduced in the memory of the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 09:08:55', '2023-02-20 09:08:55'),
(5307, 5307, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Islamic University issued an open notice for all of its students with a view to gathering information regarding the ragging incident reportedly by the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts on the campus in Kushtia on February 12nigh.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A press release, signed by IU information and public relations office deputy registrar Rashiduzzaman Khan Tutul, was issued in this regard on Saturday night.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the press release, the university administration has issued the open notice for all to gather information from them for fair investigation of the ragging incident. If anyone has any evidence or information about the torture of female students, he/she should be asked to submit it, in written form or in person, to the probe body convener Professor Reba Mondol of law department of the university on Monday around 11:00am.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The identity of the informant will be kept confidential, the press release added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Campus sources said that the fresher student of IU finance and banking department was brought to the campus under tight security on Saturday to testify before the inquiry committee as per the High Court directive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She was later taken directly to the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall to testify in front of the inquiry committees appointed by the university authorities and the hall administration from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victim left the campus after her meeting with the probe committees formed by the hall authorities and the university administration, IU proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Four other students of the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall of the university also told the probe body that they were also tortured and intimidated by IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts in the last few months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They also demanded their immediate punishment to the probe bodies so that they could not dare to do such a heinous act in the future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking to UNB, the victim said, \"I have told the investigation committee whatever happened to me. I want fair justice for the accused involved in the incident,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ataur Rahman, father of the victim, said that the university administration assured them that legal action would be taken against the accused after a fair investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But he demands immediate punishment of the accused.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Three other accused, Israt Jahan Mim of law department, Halima Khatun Urmi of fine arts department and Maobiya of finance and banking department, also took part in the ragging incident along with Ontora, a group of eye witnesses said on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 12 night, a group of BCL activists led by Ontora and her cohorts including Tabassum went to the victim’s room and reportedly assaulted and tortured her.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on her mobile phone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The BCL leader also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complainant.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The victim lodged a written complaint with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and the hall provost, demanding punishment of those involved in the incident on February 14.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A writ petition was also filed by Gazi Mohammad Mohsin, an alumnus of the university and a lawyer, with the High Court on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC on the same day ordered the accused to leave the hall and the university administration to look into the matter seriously, and submit a report in this regard within the next 10 days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also asked the deputy commissioner of Kushtia to form a three-member probe body to further inquire into the incident, and submit a report within the next seven days.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Accused BCL leader Ontara and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 09:55:29', '2023-02-20 09:55:29'),
(5308, 5308, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir BNP Secretary General has admitted to the United Hospital in the capital.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shayrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP\'s media cell, confirmed this information at 12:30 this noon (Monday).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that while working in the BNP Chairperson\'s political office at Gulshan in the capital, the Secretary General suddenly felt ill. He was immediately admitted to the United Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shayrul Kabir said that Mirza Fakhrul was admitted under the senior doctor of United Hospital\'s cardiology department Professor Muminuzzaman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mirza Fakhrul returned home on Thursday after receiving treatment in Singapore Supreme Versular and International Clini.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 10:10:08', '2023-02-20 10:10:08'),
(5309, 5309, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit Monday to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a gesture of solidarity that comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden delivered remarks at met with Zelensky at Mariinsky Palace to announce an additional half billion dollars in U.S. assistance and to reassure Ukraine of American and allied support as the conflict continues.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 10:51:14', '2023-02-20 10:51:14'),
(5310, 5310, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The National Moon Sighting Committee will hold a meeting tomorrow to fix the date of holy Shab-e-Barat of Hijri 1444 after reviewing reports on moon sighting of Shaban month.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The meeting will be held at Islamic Foundation conference room in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 6.20pm, said a release.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Religious Affairs Mohammad Faridul Haque Khan will preside over the meeting, an official release said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;People are requested to inform the committee about moon sighting over following telephone numbers - 02-223381725,02-41050912,02-41050916 and 02-41050917- or through fax numbers - 02-223383397 and 02-95559, or to contact deputy Commissioner of respective district or concerned Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), it added. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 11:25:31', '2023-02-20 11:25:31'),
(5311, 5311, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court has banned the streaming of “Faraaz” – an Indian film based on the 2016 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan – on online platforms in Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The HC bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir today passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed against the screening of the movie directed by Hansal Mehta.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Barrister Rokan Uddin Mahmud and the lawyer Ahsanul Karim stood for the petitioner at the court. Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar represented the state.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The petition was filed against the streaming of the film online and screening at movie theatres by Ruba Ahmed, mother of Abinta Kabir who was one of the victims of the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As the film is yet to be approved by the Censor Board, today’s directive does not mention a ban on screening in cinema halls,” the petitioner’s lawyer Ahsanul Karim told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Produced by T-Series and Benaras Media Works, “Faraaz” is loosely based on the terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1, 2016. At least 22 people, including 17 foreign nationals, were killed in the attack. Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain and Abinta Kabir were among the victims alongside Tarishi Jain and Ishrat Akhond.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two police officers were also killed in the attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the trailer of Hansal Mehta’s much-talked-about Bollywood film “Faraaz” was released, Ruba Ahmed took to the media to express her objections to releasing and promoting the film in Bangladesh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ahmed, alongside the mother of Tarishi Jain, an Indian national who was killed in the attack, has also fought a legal battle at Delhi High Court to stop the release of “Faraaz”. However, the Indian court refused to block the film which was released in theatres across India on February 3. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 11:44:05', '2023-02-20 11:44:05'),
(5312, 5312, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today conferred ‘Ekushey Padak 2023’ to 19 eminent personalities and two organizations in recognition of their contributions to various fields.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She handed over the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second highest civilian award, at a ceremony at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Cultural Affairs Ministry organised the event on the occasion of ‘Amar Ekushey’ and International Mother Language Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the award recipients, Khaleda Manzoor-e Khuda, freedom fighter AKM Shamsul Haque (posthumous), and Haji Mohammad Majibor Rahman received the award for their roles in the Language Movement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Masud Ali Khan and Shimul Yusuf received the prestigious award for their contributions in acting, while Manoranjan Ghoshal, Gazi Abdul Hakim and Fazal-e-Khuda (posthumous) for music, Jayanto Chattopadhyay for recitation, Nawazish Ali Khan for Shilpakala (arts), and Kanak Chanpa Chakma for painting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, Momtaz Uddin (posthumously) was given the award in the Liberation War category, Md Shah Alamgir (posthumously) in journalism, Dr Md Abdul Majid in research, Professor Dr Mazharul Islam (posthumously) in education, Saidul Haque in social service, Advocate Manjurul Islam (posthumously) and Akhter Uddin Mia (posthumously) in politics, and Dr Maniruzzaman in language and literature.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh National Museum received the award in the category of education and Bidyanondo Foundation in social service.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each awardee received a gold medal, a certificate of honour, and a cheque worth Tk four lakh.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid chaired the award giving ceremony, while Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain conducted it and read out the citations of the award recipients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cultural Affairs Secretary Md. Abul Monsur delivered the welcome address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ekushey Padak was introduced in the memory of the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 11:55:54', '2023-02-20 11:55:54'),
(5313, 5313, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">One more dengue patient died and four people were hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till Monday morning.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">With the new number, the official death toll from dengue rose to nine this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Of the new patients, two were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, it added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Twenty-six dengue patients, including 15 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">So far, the DGHS has recorded 699 dengue cases and 664 recoveries this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year. UNB&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 12:12:36', '2023-02-20 12:12:36');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5314, 5314, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Monday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a striking gesture of solidarity that comes days before the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the country.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking alongside Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace, Biden recalled the fears nearly a year ago that Russia’s invasion forces might quickly take the Ukrainian capital. “One year later, Kyiv stands,” Biden said, jamming his finger for emphasis on his podium decorated with the U.S. and Ukrainian flags. “And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands. The Americans stand with you, and the world stands with you.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukraine visit comes at a crucial moment in the war as Biden looks to keep allies unified in their support for Ukraine as the war is expected to intensify with both sides preparing for spring offensives. Zelenskyy is pressing allies to speed up delivery of pledged weapon systems and is calling on the West to deliver fighter jets to Ukraine — something that Biden to date has declined to do.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Kyiv, Biden announced an additional half-billion dollars in U.S. assistance — on top of the more than $50 billion already provided — including shells for howitzers, anti-tank missiles, air surveillance radars and other aid but no new advanced weaponry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine has also been pushing for battlefield systems that would allow its forces to strike Russian targets that have been moved back from frontline areas, out of the range of HIMARS missiles that have already been delivered. Zelenskyy said he and Biden spoke about “long-range weapons and the weapons that may still be supplied to Ukraine even though it wasn’t supplied before.” But he did not detail any new commitments.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Our negotiations were very fruitful,” Zelenskyy added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden also got a short firsthand taste of the terror that Ukrainians have lived with for close to a year, as air raids sirens howled over the capital just as he and Zelenskyy were exiting the gold-domed St. Michael’s Cathedral, which they visited together. Looking solemn, they continued unperturbed as they laid a wreath and held a moment of silence at the Wall of Remembrance honoring Ukrainian soldiers killed since 2014.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden’s mission with his visit to Kyiv, which comes ahead of a scheduled trip to Warsaw, Poland, is to underscore that the United States is prepared to stick with Ukraine “as long as it takes” to repel Russian forces even as public opinion polling suggests that U.S. and allied support for providing weaponry and direct economic assistance has started to soften. For Zelenskyy, the symbolism of having the U.S. president stand side by side with him on Ukrainian land as the anniversary nears is no small thing as he prods the U.S. and European allies to provide more advanced weaponry and to step up the pace of delivery.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I thought it was critical that there not be any doubt, none whatsoever, about U.S. support for Ukraine in the war,” Biden said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden’s visit marked an act of defiance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had hoped his military would swiftly overrun Kyiv within days. Biden recalled speaking with Zelenskyy on the night of the invasion, saying, “That dark night one year ago, the world was literally at the time bracing for the fall of Kyiv. Perhaps even the end of Ukraine.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A year later, the Ukrainian capital remains firmly in Ukrainian control, and a semblance of normalcy has returned to the city as the fighting has concentrated in the country’s east, punctuated by cruise missile and drone attacks against military and civilian infrastructure.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden warned that the “brutal and unjust war” is far from won. “The cost that Ukraine has had to bear has been extraordinarily high. And the sacrifices have been far too great,” Biden said. “We know that there’ll be very difficult days and weeks and years ahead. But Russia’s aim was to wipe Ukraine off the map. Putin’s war of conquest is failing.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“He’s counting on us not sticking together,” Biden said of the Russian leader. ”He thought he could outlast us. I don’t think he’s thinking that right now. God knows what he’s thinking, but I don’t think he’s thinking that. But he’s just been plain wrong. Plain wrong.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The trip gave Biden an opportunity to get a firsthand look at the devastation the Russian invasion has caused on Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainian troops and civilians have been killed, millions of refugees have fled the war, and Ukraine has suffered tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure damage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden pledged long-term support for Ukraine, saying that “freedom is priceless. It’s worth fighting for for as long as it takes.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“And that’s how long we’re going to be with you, Mr. President, for as long as it takes,” Biden promised. Zelenskyy, speaking in English, responded: “We’ll do it.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian leader, wearing a black sweatshirt, as has become his wartime habit, said through an interpreter that the “wide discussion” in their meeting “brings us closer to the victory” — hopefully, he added, this year.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Right now, in Ukraine, the destiny of the international order ... is decided,” Zelenskyy said. He added words of gratitude to Biden and to the American people for their support. “Ukraine is grateful to you, Mr. President, to all the U.S. citizens, to all those who cherish freedom just as we cherish them.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though Western surface-to-air missile systems have bolstered Ukraine’s defensives, the visit marked the rare occasion when a U.S. president has traveled to a conflict zone where the U.S. or its allies did not have control over the airspace. The White House would not go into specifics but said that “basic communication with the Russians occurred to ensure deconfliction” shortly before Biden’s visit in an effort to avoid any miscalculation that could bring the two nuclear-armed nations into direct conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The U.S. military does not have a presence in Ukraine other than a small detachment of Marines guarding the embassy in Kyiv, making Biden’s visit more complicated than other recent visits by prior U.S. leaders to war zones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Biden was in Ukraine, U.S. surveillance planes, including E-3 Sentry airborne radar and an electronic RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, were keeping watch over Kyiv from Polish airspace.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speculation has been building for weeks that Biden would pay a visit to Ukraine around the Feb. 24 anniversary of the Russian invasion. But the White House repeatedly had said that no presidential trip to Ukraine was planned, even after the Poland visit was announced earlier this month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since early morning on Monday many main streets and central blocks in Kyiv were cordoned without any official explanation. Later people started sharing videos of long motorcades of cars driving along the streets where the access was restricted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the White House, planning for Biden’s visit to Kyiv was tightly held — with a relatively small group of aides briefed on the plans — because of security concerns. The president traveled with an usually small entourage, with just a few senior aides and two journalists, to maintain secrecy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked by a reporter on Friday if Biden might include stops beyond Poland, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby replied, “Right now, the trip is going to be in Warsaw.”&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moments later — and without prompting — Kirby added, “I said ‘right now.’ The trip will be in -- to Warsaw. I didn’t want to make it sound like I was alluding to a change to it.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden quietly departed from Joint Base Andrews near Washington shortly at 4:15 a.m. on Sunday, making a stop at Ramstein Air Base in Germany before making his way into Ukraine. He arrived in Kyiv at 8 a.m. on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other western leaders have made the trip to Kyiv since the start of the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In June, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi traveled together by night train to Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Kyiv in November shortly after taking office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is Biden’s first visit to a war zone as president. His recent predecessors, Donald Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, made surprise visits to Afghanistan and Iraq during their presidencies to meet with U.S. troops and those countries’ leaders. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 12:18:03', '2023-02-20 12:18:03'),
(5315, 5315, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Banks will provide a special benefit of Tk0.50 for each US dollar to repatriate the export income of December and January by February 28.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A meeting of managing directors (MDs) of state-owned and private banks has decided that the special benefit of an additional Tk0.50 against each dollar of export earnings will be given for the month of January as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision has been taken to increase US dollar flow in the domestic money market, sources said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier this facility was given in respect of export earnings monetization for the months of November and December.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BRAC Bank MD Salim RF Hossain told UNB that Tk 0.50 extra will be given against every dollar if the income of the exports that were made in December and January is repatriated by February 28.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this case, exporters will get Tk103.50 per dollar, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, on February 1, the dollar rate was pegged for the last time in cashing export bills. It was then decided that the banks would pay Tk103 per dollar to repatriate the export earnings. Before this the rate was Tk102 per dollar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, Bangladesh Foreign Exchange Dealers Association (BAFEDA) has nothing to do with the decision to pay this extra Tk0.50, said the executive secretary of the organization, Abul Hashem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is not obligatory, but banks can provide a Tk103.5 rate for repatriation if they (banks) wish, he said. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 15:10:31', '2023-02-20 15:10:31'),
(5316, 5316, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said that BNP has always been good at staging violent movement and it is now moving towards creating chaos again.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He made the remarks while visiting the stall of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Amar Ekushey Book Fair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader, also the roads and bridges minister, said BNP wants to do politics with the support of the foreigners. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia is not eligible for election. But if she wants to do politics, she can, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP is creating chaos in the name of movement while Awami League is working for the security of the people, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stating that there is no fear of violence in the next general election, Quader said that the BNP has lost its way and is now sinking in the march, and they have no other option but to take part in the election for political survival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Many people are required to hold a rally or meeting but two or four are enough for a conflict,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also mentioned BNP learned the lesson of terrorism from the past and they can create a conflict again.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Those who do not have democracy at home, why would they want the country\'s democracy,\" he wondered.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said that the current Election Commissioner is completely different from the earlier ones. The EC has been elected through a legal process. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-20 15:14:41', '2023-02-20 15:14:41'),
(5317, 5317, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Three people have died after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday, weeks after a deadly quake devastated the region.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 680 people have been injured in Turkey and Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkey\'s disaster and emergency agency Afad said the tremor occurred at 20:04 local time (17:04 GMT), followed by dozens of aftershocks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 7.8-magnitude quake struck the same area on 6 February, killing more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those killed by Monday\'s tremor were found in Antakya, Defne, and Samandagi, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu said, urging people not to enter potentially dangerous buildings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Soylu said 213 people had been injured in Turkey.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Witnesses told the Reuters news agency there had been further damage to buildings in Antakya, while the mayor of Hatay, in southern Turkey, said people were trapped under rubble.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I thought the earth was going to split open under my feet,\" Muna al-Omar, a local resident, told Reuters, crying as she held her seven-year-old son. She was in a tent in a park in central Antakya when the latest earthquake hit, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish authorities have recorded more than 6,000 aftershocks since the 6 February earthquake, but the BBC\'s team in the region said the latest tremor felt much stronger than previous ones.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 470 injured people had visited hospitals after the quake, which was also reportedly felt in Egypt and Lebanon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Afad said there were 32 aftershocks following Monday\'s tremor, the largest of which had a magnitude of 5.8.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is fear and panic in the streets - lines of ambulances and rescue crews are trying to get to some of the worst affected areas where the walls of badly damaged buildings have collapsed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A number of structures that were left standing after the tremor on 6 February have now crumbled, including a bridge. Many cracks in roads have become deep scars making it more difficult for the emergency services to get where they may be needed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AFP journalist reported on scenes of panic in Antakya, the capital of Hatay Province which was already devastated by the previous earthquake - with the latest tremors raising clouds of dust in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The walls of buildings also crumbled, AFP reports, with several apparently injured people calling for help.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ali Mazlum said he was looking for the bodies of family members from the previous earthquake when the latest one hit.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You don\'t know what to do... we grabbed each other and right in front of us, the walls started to fall. It felt like the earth was opening up to swallow us up,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a tweet, Afad initially urged people to stay away from coastlines as a precaution against the risk of rising sea levels, although the warning was later removed. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 01:42:38', '2023-02-21 01:42:38'),
(5318, 5318, '<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The US will back Ukraine in its fight against Russia for \"as long as it takes\" President Joe Biden said as he made an unannounced and symbolic visit to the capital, Kyiv.</b></p><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have every confidence you\'re going to continue to prevail,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Biden\'s first trip to Ukraine as president came days before the first anniversary of Russia\'s invasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said President Putin had been \"dead wrong\" to think Russia could outlast Ukraine and its Western allies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the pair visited a memorial to soldiers who have died in the nine years since Russia annexed Crimea and its proxy forces captured parts of the eastern Donbas region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Biden\'s presence was intended to reaffirm America\'s \"unwavering commitment to Ukraine\'s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity\", according to a White House statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The New York Times reported that he took a 10-hour train journey from Poland to reach Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He left Ukraine on Monday to travel to Poland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the visit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine valued at $450m (£373m), including ammunition for howitzers and the Himars rocket system, Javelin missiles, and air surveillance radars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US will also provide Kyiv with an extra $10m (£8.3m) in emergency assistance \"to keep Ukraine\'s energy infrastructure up and running\", Mr Blinken said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A new wave of sanctions against individuals and companies \"that are trying to evade or backfill Russia\'s war machine\" will also be announced later this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Zelensky said: \"The results of this visit will surely be seen and will surely be reflected on the battlefield in liberating our territories.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his nightly address on Monday, Mr Zelensky said it was a \"symbolic day\" that showed \"how important Ukraine is to the world\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also said that the two leaders had discussed the possibility of sending other weapons that so far had not been supplied.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Zelensky has repeatedly called for F-16 fighter jets, something the US and other allies have so far stopped short of approving.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">National security adviser Jake Sullivan - who was among President Biden\'s entourage - said the US notified Russia about the trip a few hours before President Biden\'s departure for \"deconfliction purposes\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He refused to comment on how Moscow had responded to the news.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">White House officials said planning for the trip had been happening for \"months\", and that a final decision to travel was made on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a scene that added drama to the most high-profile visit to Ukraine since the war began, air raid sirens wailed while President Biden and Mr Zelensky were in St Michael\'s Cathedral in central Kyiv. The sirens sound regularly in Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While other world leaders have visited Ukraine over the past year, the US president\'s appearance in the capital during a war in which American soldiers aren\'t fighting is a show of unity at a time when Russia says Western support for Ukraine is waning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit was welcomed by Ukrainians in Kyiv.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I\'m so grateful for his support - it means so much to us,\" Roksoliana Gera told the BBC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I appreciate his courage, that he took on this challenge and came to show the support of the American nation.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Oleksandra Soloviova said the visit was an \"important sign for the whole world\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"For Russia first of all, it shows the US supports us and will continue supporting us, with sanctions and military equipment,\" she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Ukrainian president\'s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said that the visit had been strategic as well as historic. \"Many issues are being solved and those that have stalled will be accelerated,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US is one of Ukraine\'s biggest allies and has so far announced $24.9bn (£20.6bn) in military assistance, according to the US state department.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In January, Mr Biden announced that the US would send 31 battle tanks and longer-range missiles are also on their way.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, there is a growing political divide in the US over the amount of aid Kyiv should receive in future.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Biden\'s visit to Kyiv comes ahead of a three-day visit to Poland.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There he will meet with the country\'s President, Andrzej Duda, and with Eastern European members of the Nato military alliance. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 01:47:06', '2023-02-21 01:47:06'),
(5319, 5319, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tonight paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar marking ‘Amar Ekushey’ -- the International Mother Language Day and Shaheed Dibosh.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">They placed floral wreaths at the Central Shahid Minar here at one minute past midnight.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived at the Shaheed Minar seven minutes before the clock struck 12. On her arrival, she was received by Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Later, the Prime Minister and the VC received the President when he arrived four minutes before the zero hour.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina proceeded to the altar of the Central Shaheed Minar together as the immortal song on Amar Ekushey—\'Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushey February’-- was playing.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">President, PM lead nation in paying tribute to Language Movement heroes.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The President was the first to lay the wreath. Just after the President, the Prime Minister placed the wreath at the Shaheed Minar.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">They stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the language heroes.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Ministers, advisers to the Prime Minister, MPs, the chiefs of the three services, diplomats, senior Awami League leaders, high civil and military officials were present on the occasion.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Flanked by Cabinet members and senior leaders of the party, Sheikh Hasina, also the President of Awami League, later placed another wreath at the Shaheed Minar on behalf of the party.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury also paid tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement by placing a wreath at the Shaheed Minar. UNB</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 02:30:11', '2023-02-21 02:30:11'),
(5320, 5320, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Youth-centric brand realme realme has said it will showcase the latest addition to its flagship GT series, GT3, at the upcoming tech show Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Chinese smartphone maker said it will launch GT 3 at the MWC – the industry\'s largest and most influential connectivity event – in Spain\'s Barcelona on February 28 at 9pm Bangladesh time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">GT3 will come with 240W charging technology, the world\'s fastest charging power, realme said Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The event will also be streamed live on YouTube. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"5\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 02:52:29', '2023-02-21 02:52:29'),
(5321, 5321, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was one of the key figures behind organizing the Language Movement, for which he had to languish in jail, Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy wrote.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Along with a tribute video, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, posted on his verified Facebook profile yesterday, Sajeeb Wazed wrote: “On November 17, 1999, February 21 was proclaimed as the International Mother Language Day with 188 countries approving of the bill placed at an UNESCO assembly in Paris.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“On impact, the world has been observing the International Mother Language Day since February 21, 2000.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The history of Language Movement is traced back to the birth of Pakistan as a state,” he wrote.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Since the partition, the Pakistani rulers had employed a spectrum of measures to annihilate Bengali culture, art, and literature. That cycle of injustice heavily moved then young leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who later would turn into the Father of the Nation. He was one of the key figures behind organizing the Language Movement for which he had to languish in jail.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Upholding the glory of Bangla language was the mission he undertook himself around and finally led the nation to earn its freedom.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That movement paved the path for our freedom and liberation. Following in his footsteps, his daughter Sheikh Hasina’s efforts earned our language another crown. Today February 21 is a cherished day across the entire planet,” Sajeeb Wazed wrote. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 02:56:45', '2023-02-21 02:56:45'),
(5322, 5322, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin are set to give duelling speeches Tuesday promising two starkly differing takes on Russia\'s Ukraine invasion, a day after the US president\'s surprise visit to Kyiv.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday -- pledging fresh arms deliveries and \"unwavering\" American support -- days before the first anniversary of Russian tanks rolling over the border.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,\" he said at the Mariinsky Palace, the Ukrainian president\'s official residence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And on Tuesday, from Warsaw\'s historic Royal Castle, he will \"make it clear that the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine... for as long as it takes\", according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who spoke to reporters last week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a visit to rally Washington\'s eastern European allies, Biden will also meet Polish President Andrzej Duda on Tuesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He will also speak by phone with the leaders of Britain, France and Italy, the White House has said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due in Washington on March 3.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"You\'ll hear messages in the president\'s speech that will certainly resonate with the American people, certainly will resonate with our allies and partners, without question resonate with the Polish people,\" Kirby said of the Warsaw address.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"And I would suspect that you\'ll hear him messaging Mr Putin as well, as well as the Russian people.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Chinese concern -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin will speak in Moscow a few hours earlier, according to the Kremlin, delivering a state-of-the-nation address that will be largely devoted to the conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In previous addresses, he has railed against NATO\'s perceived threat to Russia, and drawn on his country\'s history to buttress his rationale for launching the invasion, and sticking with it in the face of unexpected Ukrainian resistance.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When it was launched, the so-called special military operation was planned to be a rapid conquest, leading to capitulation and the installation of a pro-Russian regime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Putin thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided,\" Biden said Monday. \"He thought he could outlast us.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"He\'s just been plain wrong,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Tuesday China said it was \"deeply concerned\" about the war, which it said was \"intensifying and even getting out of control\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Foreign Minister Qin Gan said Beijing would \"work with the international community to promote dialogue and consultation, address the concerns of all parties and seek common security\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"At the same time, we urge the countries concerned to stop adding fuel to the fire as soon as possible, to stop shifting the blame to China,\" Qin said, following US claims that Beijing may be considering sending arms to Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the latest estimates from Norway, the conflict has wounded or killed 180,000 Russian soldiers and 100,000 Ukrainian troops.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other Western sources estimate the war has caused 150,000 casualties on each side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- New US military aid -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has provided Ukraine with far more assistance than any other NATO country, with military, economic, humanitarian and other aid now exceeding $100 billion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During his Kyiv stop -- the first Ukraine trip by a US president since 2008 -- Biden promised $500 million in fresh arms deliveries, mentioning in particular artillery ammunition, howitzers and Javelin anti-tank missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The same day, Japan offered $5.5 billion worth of support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden\'s visit was organised in conditions of extraordinary secrecy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He left Washington in the early hours of Sunday in a plane that had been parked discreetly beside a hangar in the dark with shades drawn, and landed in Poland on Sunday evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was driven up to the train platform and quickly boarded the 10-hour overnight service to Kyiv, arriving at 8:00 am local time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington notified Russia about the trip \"some hours before his departure for deconfliction purposes\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- \'Good sign\' for Ukrainians -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said it was \"unprecedented\" in modern times for a US president to visit the capital of a country at war in which the US military \"does not control the critical infrastructure\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kyiv residents said they were delighted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This means that the Americans are clearly and irrevocably on our side,\" said 50-year-old Oksana Shylo.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s a good sign for the Ukrainian people, for Ukraine\'s victory,\" said businessman Vladyslav Denysenko, 27.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky said he and Biden also discussed the possibility of supplying \"long range weapons\" to Ukraine, a long-standing request from Kyiv that has been met with reticence in Washington where there is concern that they could be used to strike deep inside Russian territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelensky hailed the visit as a key sign of support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This conversation brings us closer to victory,\" he said, calling the trip and the promise of additional US arms supplies \"an unequivocal signal that Russian attempts to win will have no chance\". AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 03:46:32', '2023-02-21 03:46:32'),
(5323, 5323, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A breakup can leave you in a very painful state of mind, especially if the relationship ended on a bitter note. Moving on from a broken relationship can be tougher for some people than others and they may develop poor self-esteem and depressed state of mind. It doesn\'t matter whether you initiated the breakup or your partner did. Navigating life after breakup is an arduous task.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>When you are trying to come to terms with your breakup all kinds of negative feelings like pain, anger, betrayal and sadness grip you and living life afresh becomes a big struggle. The way forward after a relationship goes sour is to move on and meet new people. But it\'s much easier said than done.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>One of the best ways to come out of these trying times is to stay connected with your friends and family. They can certainly not fill the void but can help you to stay positive.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Sometimes breakups are very hard, especially when they come as a terrible shock. It is natural to go through a lot of painful emotions during this phase. You may experience physical symptoms such as headaches or chest pain from time to time. These physical symptoms should lessen over time, but if they don\'t, there\'s a possibility that you might have depression,\" says Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Senior Psychiatrist and Founder, Manasthali.</div><div><br></div><div>On the last day of Anti Valentine\'s Week, face your fears and take the final step towards your healing post breakup. Dr Kapoor shares effective tips to help you with post breakup depression.</div><div><br></div><div>1. Take time to grieve: It\'s normal to feel overwhelmed with emotions after a breakup. Allow yourself to process your emotions and take the time to grieve.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Avoid social media: It is normal that you might be tempted to check up on your ex\'s profile. But be careful; this will always trigger bad feelings and slow down your recovery.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Avoid your ex: It is very hard but not impossible, especially if you have kids. After a breakup, try not to contact your ex in any situation.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Talk to someone: Trying to talk to a trusted friend or family member can help you to get your emotions out and can provide you with a sense of comfort and support.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Go easy on yourself: A breakup can hurt your self-esteem and break you into pieces. Instead of dwelling on what you did wrong, try to learn from your mistakes. That’ll help you in the future and boost your confidence.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Do some exercise: Exercise releases endorphins, which can help to improve your mood. Even a simple walk or jog can help to lift your spirits.</div><div><br></div><div>7. Practice self-care: Take care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, and make time for relaxation.</div><div><br></div><div>8. Look forward to the future. Thinking about your next relationship or focusing on yourself might help you feel hopeful going forward. HT</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 03:58:49', '2023-02-21 03:58:49');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5324, 5324, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two weeks after a deadly earthquake struck Syria, only a trickle of UN aid has entered the rebel-held northwest of the war-ravaged country, with the slow pace sparking outrage and anger.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 7.8-magnitude quake killed more than 44,000 people in Turkey and Syria, including 3,600 in Syria, piling more misery on a population who activists say has been abandoned by the world in the midst of tragedy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- How does UN aid reach the northwest? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than four million people live in areas outside government control in Syria\'s north and northwest, 90 per cent of whom depend on aid to survive.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Yet the first UN aid convoy crossed into the area on February 9 -- three days after the quake struck -- and carried tents and other relief for 5,000 that had been expected before the earthquake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The UN largely delivers relief to Syria\'s northwest via neighbouring Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing -- the only way for aid to enter without Damascus\' permission.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The number of UN-approved crossings has shrunk from four in 2014 after years of pressure from regime allies China and Russia at the UN Security Council.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the road leading to Bab al-Hawa briefly damaged after the quake and aid workers in the devastated areas also affected, international pressure mounted for relief to pour in.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 13, the United Nations said Damascus had allowed it to also use Bab al-Salama and Al-Rai crossings for three months.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish-backed rebels operate the two crossings in the northern Aleppo province, while the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group controls Bab al-Hawa in the Idlib region.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite the additional crossings, relief workers say the UN aid deliveries remain insufficient.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the quake struck, the UN said it sent nearly 200 trucks to northwest Syria -- less than the weekly average of 145 recorded in 2022 according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syria\'s White Helmets rescue group which operates in rebel-held areas have slammed the UN\'s slow response, calling it a \"crime\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 12, UN relief chief Martin Griffiths acknowledged the body had \"failed the people of northwest Syria\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said Monday that 10 aid trucks had crossed at the Al-Rai border point.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This is the first UN convoy through this border crossing since the Government of Syria agreed to its use for aid deliveries, which now brings us to three fully operating border crossings for the United Nations.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- How do aid groups send relief? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">International aid groups are not bound by the UN\'s cross-border aid mechanism and can truck aid through other crossings with Turkey\'s approval.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">International organisations also provide funding to aid groups in the northwest to \"buy what they need either from the local market or from Turkey through commercial crossings\", said Racha Nasreddine of ActionAid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But with millions made homeless by the quake, stocks of blankets, food and tents were quickly depleted.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although donations poured in, local groups struggled to secure necessities as prices of basic goods shot up at home while roads leading to Turkey were damaged in the tremor, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And while planeloads of foreign aid flooded regime-held areas after the quake, Syria\'s northwest was largely left to fend for itself.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Who is blocking relief to the northwest? -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad does not control crossing points with Turkey, the United Nations sought its approval to use them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syria and its ally Russia have long insisted that all relief pass through regime-controlled areas and Moscow has threatened to veto the UN cross-border mechanism at past security council meetings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many aid groups say they do not trust Syrian authorities to dispatch aid to areas under rival control.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 10, the Assad regime said it approved the delivery of humanitarian aid directly from government-held territory to rebel areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But the head of the jihadist HTS group, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has said he would refuse any aid crossing going that route.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nearly three million people, most of whom have been displaced by Syria\'s war, live in the Idlib region under HTS control, while 1.1 million reside in areas of northern Aleppo held by Turkish proxies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish troops and about 30 Ankara-backed groups control border areas administered by local councils affiliated with nearby Turkish governorates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Rival Kurdish authorities that rule swathes of the northeast sent 30 fuel tankers to northern Aleppo, but the convoy had to turn back after failing to get the greenlight to cross. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 04:49:03', '2023-02-21 04:49:03'),
(5325, 5325, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A reunion with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday serves as a reminder to Liverpool fans of the failings that put their lives at risk at last year\'s final in Paris.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Madrid\'s 1-0 win at the Stade de France on May 28 was overshadowed by the scenes surrounding European football\'s showpiece event.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kick-off was delayed by 37 minutes as fans struggled to access the stadium after being funnelled into overcrowded bottlenecks on approach.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police then fired tear gas towards thousands of supporters locked behind metal fences on the perimeter to the stadium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An independent report, commissioned by UEFA and published last week, found European football\'s governing body bore \"primary responsibility\" for failures which \"almost led to disaster\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were no fatalities in the French capital, but there was still a physical and mental price to pay for both the lack of organisation on the part of the authorities before the match and mudslinging towards supporters in the aftermath.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ted Morris, chair of the Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association, described the scenes he witnessed as a \"carnival of horror.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For many Liverpool fans the scenes brought back memories of a crush at Hillsborough Stadium in 1989 that resulted in the deaths of 97 supporters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some remain too scarred to return to watching matches live, even in the familiar surroundings of Anfield.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I think we\'re still all suffering from the aftereffects of the final,\" Joe Blott, chair of Liverpool supporters group Spirit of Shankly, told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Many people I know and other people are struggling to get to the game now as a consequence of the crowd management.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Mental health support -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance has seen a spike in fans seeking mental health support since events at the Stade de France.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liverpool have worked together with mental health charities and put funding in place to help those struggling with flashbacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s vitally important that supporters know there is help out there if they feel they need it,\" said Liverpool chief executive Billy Hogan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Working together with a number of expert mental health organisations, and with the support of (Liverpool\'s director of public health) Matt Ashton\'s expertise, this resource is still available to all fans.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It not only signposts people where to go for support but also offers advice to those dealing with the ongoing effects of such a distressing event.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">UEFA initially tried to pin the blame for the delayed kick-off on Liverpool fans arriving late despite thousands having been held for hours outside the stadium.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">European football\'s governing body finally apologised last week, but wounds remain open among the Liverpool support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Champions League anthem is expected to be disrupted before kick-off of Tuesday\'s last 16, first leg tie.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It\'s good that the truth is out there,\" said Gareth Robertson, a 25-year-old student outside Anfield on Monday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"But they (UEFA) tried to get away with blaming Liverpool fans.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Local member of parliament and Liverpool fan Ian Byrne has called on UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to resign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Liverpool\'s form on the field has also suffered this season with the Champions League the Reds\' last realistic chance of winning a trophy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And Byrne believes Anfield\'s famous atmosphere has been anaesthetised by the aftermath of Paris.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"So many people are still damaged by what they experienced,\" Byrne told AFP.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I feel people are at the game under anaesthetic. It feels like all the passion has been sucked out.\" AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 05:31:01', '2023-02-21 05:31:01'),
(5326, 5326, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The 230 kV grid line from Aminbazar-Agargaon failed at 5:50 am today — leading to no electricity in the western part of Dhaka city, including the entire Mohammadpur and Mirpur areas.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials from both Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited&nbsp; (PGCB) confirmed the development.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The grid transmission line tripped at 5:50 am,” Badruddoza Sumon, Public Relation Officer of the PGCB told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Further explaining, he said due to the dense fog, sometimes grid lines can break down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is not a technical fault of the system, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He informed that the PGCB engineers are trying hard to restore the system by checking transmission towers.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Aminbazar-Mohammadpur grid line is one of the main sources supplying electricity to some of Dhaka city’s important establishments, including the Prime Minister’s official residence and Dhaka cantonment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Power supply continued through alternative sources to those important establishments although regular consumers are without electricity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Maniruzzaman, executive engineer of the Mohammadpur power distribution division of the DPDC, said power supply could not be restored until 9 am. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 05:52:27', '2023-02-21 05:52:27'),
(5327, 5327, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The US Supreme Court on Tuesday will consider a law that since 1996 has protected tech companies from lawsuits related to content posted on their platforms.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The nine justices will examine a case related to the November 2015 attacks in Paris and their ruling, expected by June 30, could have huge repercussions for the future of the internet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case stems from a complaint against Google filed by the relatives of Nohemi Gonzalez, one of the 130 victims of the attacks in the French capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US citizen was studying in France and was murdered at the Belle Equipe bar by attackers from the Islamic State group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her family blame Google-owned YouTube for having recommended videos from the jihadist group to users, helping along the call to violence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the family, \"by recommend[ing] ISIS videos to users, Google assists ISIS in spreading its message and thus provides material support to ISIS,\" a legal brief said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The complaint was dismissed by the federal courts on behalf of a law, known as Section 230, which was passed when the Internet was in its infancy and has become one of its pillars.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Section 230 states that in the US internet companies cannot be considered publishers and have legal immunity for the content posted on their platforms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The novelty of the Gonzalez case is that the complainants are isolating algorithms as the cause of the harm, arguing that the highly complex recommendation systems perfected by big platforms fall out of the scope of Section 230.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The selection of the users to whom ISIS videos were recommended was determined by computer algorithms created and implemented by YouTube,\" the Gonzalez family legal brief said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Supreme Court passes over the vast majority of the cases that come its way, and hearing this one indicates there is a willingness to modify the landmark law.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Big tech cold sweat -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prospect of the Supreme Court even tinkering with Section 230 is causing cold sweats in the tech world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the legal filing, Google pleaded that the court \"not undercut a central building block of the modern internet.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Recommendation algorithms are what make it possible to find the needles in humanity\'s largest haystack,\" Google said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Allowing platforms to be sued for their algorithms, \"would expose them to liability for third-party content virtually all the time,\" said Facebook owner Meta in its own brief, adding that recommendations serve to organize uploaded content.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, the top court in the US will continue its consideration of a very similar case, but this time asking if platforms should be subject to anti-terrorism laws.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the past, several of the Supreme Court justices have expressed a willingness to move the lines on Section 230, which is increasingly contested given the backlash against big tech in recent years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2021, the very conservative Clarence Thomas lamented that \"many courts have construed the law broadly to confer sweeping immunity on some of the largest companies in the world.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lawmakers in US Congress are very politically divided and unable to pass legislation that would update a law that was enacted when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was 11 years old and Google did not exist.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Given the deep political divide, it therefore seems likely that the Supreme Court will move the lines faster than Congress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">But for now, \"nobody knows exactly how,\" said Tom Wheeler, an expert at the Brookings Institution think tank. \"That\'s why it\'s important to see how the hearing goes,\" he told AFP. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 06:47:38', '2023-02-21 06:47:38'),
(5328, 5328, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was discharged from a city hospital on Monday around nine hours after being admitted there.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul returned to his Uttara residence as doctors at United Hospital discharged him at around 9:30pm after assessing his medical reports and health condition, BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said the physicians advised the BNP secretary general to rest at home.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier in the day, the BNP secretary general was admitted to the hospital at about 12:30pm as he fell sick at the party chairperson\'s Gulshan office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul was taken to the high dependency unit of the cardiology department of the hospital under Professor Muminuzzaman.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, he underwent some medical tests and no major complication was detected.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhrul has been suffering from various health complications, including diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems that worsened during his recent imprisonment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He returned home on Thursday from Singapore after receiving medical treatment there for a week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On February 10, Fakhrul and his wife went there for a follow-up checkup and treatment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 76-year-old received treatment at Singapore National University Hospital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On December 9, a team of the Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and party standing committee member Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital, a day before the party\'s much-talked about rally in the capital.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj on January 9 and received treatment at Evercare Hospital for two days before going to Singapore.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In 2015, while incarcerated, Fakhrul was diagnosed with a block in the internal carotid artery of his neck.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After his release, he went to Singapore for treatment. Since then, he needs to go to Singapore every year for follow-up treatment. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 07:04:14', '2023-02-21 07:04:14'),
(5329, 5329, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the communal and militant forces are trying to rise again in the country under the leadership of BNP.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"BNP is the home for communal-violence and militancy. Communal forces are working under the leadership of BNP. It is trying to create arson terrorism again,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader said these after paying rich tributes to the language martyrs by placing wreaths at Azimpur graveyard here on the occasion of Shaheed Dibash (Martyrs Day) and the International Mother Language Day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response to the allegation of BNP leaders that \'Awami League has destroyed the election system by establishing one-party rule\', the veteran AL leader said that the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BaKSAL) was formed in 1975.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was not a party. It was a national party comprising several political parties,\" he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"I would like to remind BNP once again that Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP, joined BaKSAL by giving application to BaKSAL chairman Sheikh Mujibur Rahman officially,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP has no rights to slander that party which Ziaur Rahman joined by giving application, Quader added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He urged the pro-liberation forces to work together under the leadership of people-friendly leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to combat against arson terrorists.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The AL general secretary also demanded for making Bangla, mother tongue of around 30 crore people across the world, as the official language of the United Nations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, an AL-delegation led by AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader laid wreaths there in memory of language heroes at Azimpur graveyard.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, AL Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organising Secretaries Ahmed Hossain and Advocate Afzal Hossain, Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Science and Technology Affairs Secretary Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, Relief and Social Welfare Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, Agriculture and Cooperative Affairs Secretary Faridun Nahar Laili, Population and Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana and Deputy Publicity Secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim were preset, among others, on the occasion. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"4\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 07:31:54', '2023-02-21 07:31:54'),
(5330, 5330, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A new 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday killed three people and injured more than 200 in parts of Turkey laid waste two weeks ago by a massive quake that killed tens of thousands, authorities said. More buildings collapsed, trapping some people, while scores of injuries were recorded in neighboring Syria too.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Monday\'s earthquake was centered in the town of Defne, in Turkey\'s Hatay province, one the worst-hit regions in the magnitude 7.8 quake that struck on Feb. 6. It was felt in Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Israel and as far away as Egypt, and followed by a second, magnitude 5.8 temblor.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said three people were killed and 213 injured. Search and rescue efforts were underway in three collapsed buildings where six people were believed trapped.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Hatay, police rescued one person trapped inside a three-story building and were trying to reach three others inside, HaberTurk television reported. It said those trapped included movers helping people shift furniture and other belongings from the building that was damaged in the massive quake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Syria\'s state news agency, SANA, reported that six people were injured in Aleppo by falling debris. The White Helmets, northwest Syria’s civil defense organization, reported more than 130 injuries, most of them non-life threatening, including fractures and cases of people fainting from fear, while a number of buildings in areas already damaged by the quake collapsed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Feb. 6 quake killed nearly 45,000 people in both countries — the vast majority of them in Turkey, where more than a million and a half people are in temporary shelters. Turkish authorities have recorded more than 6,000 aftershocks since.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">HaberTurk journalists reporting from Hatay said they were jolted violently by Monday\'s quake and held onto to each other to avoid falling.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Turkish city of Adana, eyewitness Alejandro Malaver said people left homes for the streets, carrying blankets into their cars. Malaver said everyone is really scared and “no one wants to get back into their houses.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mehmet Salhaoglullari, from a village near Samandag, said he was eating at a restaurant when the building began to shake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We all threw ourselves outside and we continued to shake outside,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the Syrian city of Idlib, frightened residents were preparing to sleep in parks and other public places, while fuel lines formed at gas stations as people attempted to get as far as possible from any buildings that might collapse.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Syrian American Medical Society, which runs hospitals in northern Syria, said it had treated a number of patients — including a 7-year-old boy — who suffered heart attacks brought on by fear following the new quake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Hatay earlier on Monday, and said his government would begin constructing close to 200,000 new homes in the quake-devastated region as early as next month.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan said the new buildings will be no taller than three or four stories, built on firmer ground and to higher standards and in consultation with “geophysics, geotechnical, geology and seismology professors” and other experts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Turkish leader said destroyed cultural monuments would be rebuilt in accordance with their “historic and cultural texture.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Erdogan said around 1.6 million people are currently being housed in temporary shelters.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Turkish disaster management agency AFAD on Monday raised the number of confirmed fatalities from the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey to 41,156. That increased the overall death toll in both Turkey and Syria to 44,844.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Search and rescue operations for survivors have been called off in most of the quake zone, but AFAD chief Yunus Sezer said earlier that search teams were continuing their efforts in more than a dozen collapsed buildings — mostly in Hatay province.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were no signs of anyone being alive under the rubble since three members of one family — a mother, father and 12-year-old boy — were extracted from a collapsed building in Hatay on Saturday. The boy later died.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Authorities said more than 110,000 buildings across 11 quake-hit Turkish provinces were either destroyed or so severely damaged by the Feb. 6 quake that they need to be torn down.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The European Union’s health agency warned Monday of the risk of disease outbreaks in the coming weeks. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Controls said that “food and water-borne diseases, respiratory infections and vaccine-preventable infections are a risk in the upcoming period, with the potential to cause outbreaks, particularly as survivors are moving to temporary shelters.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A surge of cholera cases in the affected areas is a significant possibility in the coming weeks,” it said, noting that authorities in northwestern Syria have reported thousands of cases of the disease since last September and a planned vaccination campaign was delayed due to the quake. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 08:37:38', '2023-02-21 08:37:38'),
(5331, 5331, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Akshay Kumar and Honey Singh came together for an impromptu version of the song Kudi Chamkeeli from the upcoming movie Selfiee. The song from the actor\'s next film was released on Saturday. Kudi Chamkeeli has been sung, written and composed by Honey for Selfiee. The singer-composer also made a cameo in the music video alongside Akshay and his co-star Diana Penty.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sharing the video on Instagram, Akshay wrote, \"Presenting the on-air version of Kudi Chamkeeli featuring @yoyohoneysingh and me. We didn’t do bad on the three chair challenge, did we? How about you guys give it a try? I’ll of course repost (upside down face emoji).\" Akshay wore a white shirt with grey pants and sunglasses. Honey Singh was seen in a black T-shirt with a brown jacket and pants. He also sported sunglasses inside the jet.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fans commented on Akshay and Honey\'s \'amateur\' production. One Instagram user wrote, adding some laughing face with tears emojis, \"Me: who\'s looking at Honey Singh changing seats in reflection.\" While another fan complimented the duo and said, \"King of music industry and Khiladi of Bollywood.\" Yet another fan shared, \"In dono ko 9 saal baad dekh kar kitni khushi hui hai (It is so good to see them together after nine years).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Selfiee, directed by Raj Mehta, is the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Driving Licence (2019), which starred Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu. Akshay and Prithviraj have also produced the upcoming film which is releasing theatrically on February 24.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides Akshay and Diana, the Hindi film also features Emraan Hashmi and Nushrratt Bharuccha. The film revolves around a superstar, played by Akshay, and his fan, who happens to be a police officer played by Emraan. Akshay\'s character needs to acquire a driving licence urgently and Emraan\'s character agrees to help. Unfortunately, things sour between the two and there is a major feud that develops. Selfiee is produced by Dharma Productions, Magic Frames, Prithviraj, Cape of Good Films and Star Studios.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Selfiee is the first film of Akshay\'s to release this year. He also has OMG 2 – Oh My God! 2, the Hindi remake of Soorarai Pottru, and the biopic of Jaswant Singh Gill lined up to release. The actor is also making a cameo in the Marathi film Vedat Marathe Veer Daudale Saat as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 09:00:01', '2023-02-21 09:00:01'),
(5332, 5332, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said the vow of great 21st February is to resist those who nurture the attackers of language, culture and heritage and want to take back to that hostile ideology.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The minister told reporters after placing rich tributes to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement on the occasion of Amar Ekushey and the International Mother Language Day at the Central Shaheed Minar here this morning.</div><div><br></div><div>AL Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Aminul Islam Amin was present.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan said, \"On this day in 1952, our predecessors including Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabbar established the claim of our language by sacrificing their lives. And our struggle of freedom had started from there. On that day, the Pakistani ruler attacked our language, culture and heritage.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He said it is regrettably true that those who hold their ideology and want to hurt the culture and language are doing politics in Bangladesh even after 51 years of independence, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>Hasan also said that BNP does politics with the anti-liberation force Jamaat, the party which doesn\'t believe in our culture and language rather believes in Pakistan ideology. For this, attacks were carried on our language-culture after independence and BNP was the main patron.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 10:13:44', '2023-02-21 10:13:44'),
(5333, 5333, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two pink river dolphins, a mother and her calf, were rescued from a Colombian river where the endangered mammals were trapped in shallow water, the navy said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A navy video released on Monday shows several officers carrying the dolphins in a makeshift hammock, others checking the mammals\' condition and spraying them with water.</div><div><br></div><div>Timing was critical. Experts moved the dolphins out of the river, quickly checked their condition on the riverbank, and released them into deeper water within 17 minutes, Erika Gomez of the Omacha Foundation, which took part in the rescue, told AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>Community members alerted authorities to the distressed dolphins in eastern Colombia\'s Meta River, an Orinoco tributary near the Venezuela border, last week, Gomez said. Security forces, environmental authorities and NGOs were involved in the rescue.</div><div><br></div><div>The freshwater mammals -- whose scientific name is Inia geoffrensis -- live mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco river systems. Their habitat includes parts of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.</div><div><br></div><div>The pink river dolphin, which can weigh up to 220 kilograms (485 pounds), has been classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2018.</div><div><br></div><div>Fishing is the main killer of the dolphins in Colombia, according to the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute.</div><div><br></div><div>Mercury contamination and global warming, which has altered the flow of the rivers, also threaten the dolphins. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 10:54:13', '2023-02-21 10:54:13'),
(5334, 5334, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday blamed the West for the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, after Kyiv\'s allies promised to send new weapons to Ukraine, reports AFP&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The responsibility for fuelling the Ukrainian conflict, for its escalation, for the number of victims... lies completely with Western elites,\" Putin said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 11:12:54', '2023-02-21 11:12:54'),
(5335, 5335, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>More than 8,000 civilians have been killed since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago, the UN Human Rights Office said on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The new toll represents a significant upward revision from the previous tally of 7,199 killed since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb 24, the UN report said. Around 90% of the victims were killed by explosive weapons, it added.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN human rights mission in Ukraine, which has dozens of monitors in the country, said it expects the real toll to be \"considerably higher\" than the official tally since corroboration work is ongoing. Source: Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 11:44:52', '2023-02-21 11:44:52'),
(5336, 5336, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll in Turkey and Syria rose to eight in a new and powerful earthquake that struck two weeks after a devastating temblor killed nearly 45,000 people, authorities and media said on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Turkey’s disaster management authority said six people were killed and 294 others were injured with 18 in critical condition after Monday’s 6.4-magnitude quake. In Syria, a woman and a girl died as a result of panic during the earthquake in the provinces of Hama and Tartus, pro-government media outlets said.</div><div><br></div><div>The earthquake’s epicenter was in the town of Defne, in Turkey’s Hatay province, which borders Syria. It was also felt in Jordan, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and as far away as Egypt, and followed by a second, magnitude 5.8 temblor, and dozens of aftershocks.</div><div><br></div><div>Hatay was one of the worst-hit provinces in Turkey in the magnitude 7.8 quake that struck on Feb. 6. Thousands of buildings were destroyed in the province and Monday’s quake further damaged buildings. The governor’s office in Antakya, Hatay’s historic heart, was also damaged.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials have warned quake victims to not go into the remains of their homes, but people have done so to retrieve what they can. They were caught up in the new quake.</div><div><br></div><div>The majority of deaths in the massive February 6 quake, which was followed by a 7.5 temblor nine hours later, were in Turkey with at least 41,156 people killed. The epicenter was in southern Kahramanmaras province. Authorities said more than 110,000 buildings across 11 quake-hit Turkish provinces were either destroyed or so severely damaged that they need to be torn down.</div><div><br></div><div>In government-held Syria, a girl died in the western town of Safita, Al-Watan daily reported while a woman was killed in the central city of Hama that was already affected by the Feb. 6 earthquake, Sham FM radio station said.</div><div><br></div><div>The White Helmets, northwest Syria’s civil defense organization, said about 190 people suffered different injuries in rebel-held northwest Syria mostly cases or broken bones and bruises. It said that several flimsy buildings collapsed, adding that there were no cases in which people were stuck under the rubble. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 12:05:09', '2023-02-21 12:05:09'),
(5337, 5337, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, her spokesman told AFP, where she is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Meloni, who took office in October, has repeatedly expressed a desire to visit Ukraine to demonstrate her government\'s support following Russia\'s invasion almost exactly one year ago.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO member Italy has provided cash and weapons to help Ukraine, and earlier this month agreed to send mobile surface-to-air missile systems that it has jointly developed with France.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have provided financial, military, humanitarian and civilian support\" to Kyiv \"and Ukraine can certainly count on Italy because we have shown since the start... that we were here (for Kyiv) and we will continue to be here,\" Meloni said at a press conference in Warsaw on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, has also distanced herself from the more pro-Russian partners in her governing coalition.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party, has in the past spoken admiringly of Vladimir Putin and even worn a T-shirt bearing the Russian president\'s face.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile former premier Silvio Berlusconi, whose Forza Italia party is the junior partner in the coalition, has sought to shift blame for the war away from Moscow, most recently earlier this week when he criticised Zelensky.</div><div><br></div><div>Meloni\'s office responded by emphasising its \"firm and committed\" support for Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>Former Italian premier Mario Draghi visited Kyiv in June 2022 with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 13:14:37', '2023-02-21 13:14:37'),
(5338, 5338, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Australia opening batsman David Warner will return home from India and miss the last two Tests after an elbow fracture and concussion, Cricket Australia said Tuesday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It is the second injury blow in two days for struggling Australia, who are 2-0 down in the four-Test series.</div><div><br></div><div>Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was sent home Monday after failing to recover from an Achilles tendon injury.</div><div><br></div><div>Warner was hit on the helmet shortly after being struck on the elbow on the opening day of the second Test defeat in Delhi. He was replaced by concussion substitute Matt Renshaw.</div><div><br></div><div>Warner, who scored just 26 runs as Australia lost both of the opening two matches, will miss the third and fourth Tests at Indore and Ahmedabad but it is hoped he can return for the subsequent one-day series.</div><div><br></div><div>\"David Warner has been ruled out of the Test tour of India and will return home,\" a Cricket Australia statement said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"After further assessment, he will require a period of rehabilitation which will preclude any further involvement in the remainder of the Test series.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It is currently anticipated that he will return to India for the three one-day internationals which follow the Test series.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Australia captain Pat Cummins has also flown home because of a family illness but is expected to return in time for the third Test, which starts on March 1. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 13:42:11', '2023-02-21 13:42:11');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5339, 5339, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said that Bangladesh would renew its efforts for making Bangla one of the official languages of the United Nations when the global body will go through a greater reform.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He said there is huge involvement of funds in the process, and it needs to think whether spending such a huge amount of money every year will be logical at this moment though they have the love, respect and desire for Bangla to become UN’s official language.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“We thought about it and worked on it. We estimated around five to six years ago that it will require Tk 800 crore annually,” Shahriar told reporters after attending a programme at Foreign Service Academy marking the International Mother Language Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He hoped that Bangladesh will have that capacity but at this moment, opinions might not be there in favour of such a plan.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations has six official languages - Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in February 2021, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said there is no opposition from the member countries to Bangla as another official language of the United Nations, but the UN has said it does not have money to fund it.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN authorities have said they would need $600 million per year for making a new official language functional in the UN system, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangla should be named an official United Nations language to reflect the vast number of its speakers and its heritage in literature and history, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the UN General Assembly in 2010, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Since Bangla [also known as Bengali] is spoken by nearly 300 million people worldwide, has a rich history in literature, history and in other fields. Our Parliament adopted a resolution requesting the UN to declare Bangla as one of its official languages,” she added. “I fervently appeal to you all for acceptance of our very legitimate request.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 14:23:48', '2023-02-21 14:23:48'),
(5340, 5340, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday stressed the need for research to preserve, revitalise and develop the mother languages of the world as many languages are being lost.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“I always put emphasis on research. The reason is that enrichment of anything is not possible without research,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said this while inaugurating a four-day programme of the International Mother Language Institute at Segunbagicha to mark the Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day-2023.</div><div><br></div><div>She said the government will take steps to provide fellowship for language research in the International Mother Language Institute.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think this institute has a responsibility to preserve all the languages of the world, conduct research on these and know the history of languages. I think it can be done,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said she, if needed, will arrange funds to provide fellowship for language researchers.</div><div><br></div><div>She said today Bangladesh has attained food autarky thanks to research. “Now research is extensively needed in different sectors including science and health,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>In this context, the PM said the government provides fellowship and stipends to 24 million students in Bangladesh and free textbooks to the school students.</div><div><br></div><div>She said her government raised the literacy rate to 65.5 percent from only 45 percent during the 1996-2001 tenure and got an award from UNESCO for this achievement at that time. Then her government formed a fund with the award money to provide stipend for higher education.</div><div><br></div><div>“Coming in power in 2009, now we’ve raised the literacy rate to 75.2 percent. So, we are advancing (in terms of education),” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Many languages in different countries are being lost…We want the engendered languages of the world to be preserved here and research to be conducted on these. We’re giving the utmost importance to research. I want International Mother Language Institute to make a huge contribution to preserve the languages,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said the country’s children should learn one or two foreign languages alongside learning own language.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that English has turned as the dominant medium of international communication now, she said, “Alongside it, I think it is very essential to learn own language. Our children can learn one or two other languages alongside the own language.”</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said she laid the foundation stone of the International Mother Language Institute during the visit of the then UN general secretary Kofi Annan in 2001, but the subsequent BNP-Jamaat government stopped its works.</div><div><br></div><div>She thanked the 2001-2006 BNP government for stopping its works saying that otherwise her government didn’t get scope to develop this institute as per her design.</div><div><br></div><div>“From the one perspective, they did a good job. I would like to thank them as I could develop this institute as per my choice after coming in power for the second term. So, I thank them for stopping it,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina recalled the contribution of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to the Language Movement in 1952.</div><div><br></div><div>In the event, Hasina, also chief patron of the institute, handed over the international mother language national medals and the international mother language international medals to four recipients.</div><div><br></div><div>Habibur Rahman and Ranjit Sinha were awarded with the national medals, while Mahendra Kumar Mitra and Mother Language Lovers of World Society, Vancouver, Canada were conferred with the international medals in recognition of their extraordinary contribution for the preservation, revitalisation and development of mother languages.</div><div><br></div><div>President of the Mother Language Lovers of World Society Md Aminul Islam received the medal on behalf of the Society.</div><div><br></div><div>Education Minister Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhoury (Nowfel) and Head of the Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Susan Maree Vize spoke on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Professor Dr Pabitra Sarkar, Former Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, India, presented the keynote paper focusing on ‘the necessity of multilingual education in the multilingual world.’</div><div><br></div><div>Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division Suleman Khan gave the welcome address and Director General of the International Mother Language Institute Professor Dr Hakim Arif delivered the vote of thanks.</div><div><br></div><div>At the outset of the programme, a one-minute silence was observed to show respect to the language movement heroes for their sacrifice.</div><div><br></div><div>In the event, a video documentary titled “Bangabandhu and Language Movement” was screened.</div><div><br></div><div>Children from different countries including Bangladesh, India, Australia, Algeria, Japan, China, Russia and France greeted the Prime Minister in their own mother languages on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day, according to UNB reports.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 14:42:07', '2023-02-21 14:42:07'),
(5341, 5341, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least six people were injured in a clash between two groups of Sramik League, one of Awami League’s front organisations, over placing wreaths at the central Shaheed Minar in Manikganj Sadar Upazila on Tuesday.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The clash erupted between the followers of Sramik League leaders Abdul Jalil and Babul Sarkar around 9:00am in front of the central Shaheed Minar at Manikganj Govt High School. Later, the Jubo League and the Shecchashebok League also got involved in the fight.</div><div><br></div><div>Jubo League leaders Nazmul and Pradip Basu, Shecchashebok League leader Kajal and Sramik League leader Kader were among the injured.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>According to police and party sources, a long-standing dispute has been going on between Abdul Jalil and Babul Sarkar over the leadership of district Sramik League. Both claim themselves as president of the district Sramik League.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday morning, leaders and activists from Awami League’s front organisations gathered around Manikganj’s central Shaheed Minar to pay their homage to the&nbsp; 1952 Language Movement martyrs.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Later,&nbsp; district AL’s former additional secretary Sultanul Azam Khan announced the name of Abdul Jalil as the Shecchashebok League leader to place wreaths at the Shaheed Minar triggering protest from Babul Sarkar’s followers. Protests led to a massive clash between the two groups.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior party leaders and police officers intervened to bring the situation under control about half an hour later.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>District Awami League\'s General Secretary Abdus Salam termed the incident \"unexpected\" and said disciplinary action would be taken against those who were involved in the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdur Rouf, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, told UNB that no complaint was immediately filed in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>“However, the senior leaders of the district Awami League have managed to reach a compromise between the two groups,” he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>District Awami League\'s General Secretary Abdus Salam termed the incident \"unexpected\" and said disciplinary action would be taken against those who were involved in the clash.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdur Rouf, officer-in-charge of Kaliganj Police Station, told UNB that no complaint was immediately filed in this regard, reports UNB,</div><div><br></div><div>“However, the senior leaders of the district Awami League have managed to reach a compromise between the two groups,” he also said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 14:44:50', '2023-02-21 14:44:50'),
(5342, 5342, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A clash broke out in Chattogram University in the first hour of 21st February between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League over paying tributes at Shaheed Minar.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The clash erupted at around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, which left 20 activists injured, said the leaders of the two groups.</div><div><br></div><div>According to campus sources, these two groups- ‘brothers’ and ‘Moku’- are sub-factions of BCL’s CU unit’s Bijoy group.</div><div><br></div><div>While the leaders and activists of ‘brothers’ group were on their way to the university’s central Shaheed Minar the activists of ‘Moku’ group tried to bar them from going there, triggering the violence.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the injured was transferred to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Delwar, an officer at CU Medical Centre, said a total of 20 people received treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>Delwar Hossain, a leader of a faction of Bijoy group said, “They had taken over our rooms. When we tried to talk about it, the situation turned violent.”</div><div><br></div><div>“They were trying to evict some of our activists from Alaol Hall for several days now and started chasing us today when we were going to the hall,” Hossain said.</div><div><br></div><div>Several leaders and activists from the ‘brothers’ group claimed they were attacked while carrying wreaths to the Shaheed Minar.</div><div><br></div><div>Although the groups were engaged in the clash for nearly two hours no one from the university administration was reportedly present there.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Shahidul Islam, acting Proctor of the university, said proctorial body and police went there and controlled the situation upon receiving information, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“We will look into the matter seriously if there’s a written complaint,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-21 14:49:42', '2023-02-21 14:49:42'),
(5343, 5343, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Vladimir Putin has sharpened his vitriol towards the West as President Joe Biden, fresh from a visit to Kyiv, praised Western democracy for standing up to naked Russian aggression.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a week heavy with events ahead of Friday\'s anniversary of Russia\'s Ukraine invasion, Mr Putin spoke first.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The West had enabled Nazi Germany, he claimed, and had turned Ukraine into a neo-Nazi regime that was \"anti-Russia\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hours later Mr Biden said autocrats understood only one word: \"No, no, no!\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Putin thought the world would roll over, he was wrong,\" he said, vowing that Nato was more united than ever. Kyiv stood strong, proud, tall and free and Western support for Ukraine would not fail, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Welcoming him to Warsaw\'s royal castle, Polish President Andrzej Duda said that by travelling to Kyiv Mr Biden had shown the free world did not fear anything. Nato\'s role was to defend and support the free world and Ukraine \"must win this war\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Putin\'s speech barely touched on the progress of Russia\'s military in Ukraine and there was no indication of how the war might end. The main news involving Russia\'s military came from Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who accused the chief of staff and defence minister of trying to destroy his group and starve it of weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia\'s president did announce he was suspending the New Start nuclear arms control treaty signed with the US in 2010. The deal caps nuclear warhead numbers and Nato, and UK leaders have urged him to reconsider.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He also declared he had put new ground-based systems on combat duty. He had already threatened last year to use \"all means at our disposal\" to protect Russia and territory it has seized in Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Truth was an early casualty of Mr Putin\'s lengthy speech, at an exhibition centre a stone\'s throw from the Kremlin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They were the ones who started the war... we\'re using force to stop it,\" President Putin asserted in his address to both houses of Russia\'s parliament.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No Western troops have been on the ground in Ukraine, but Russia\'s foreign ministry appeared to double down on the claim when it summoned US ambassador Lynne Tracy on Tuesday, saying that Washington should take steps to withdraw \"US-Nato military and equipment\" from Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Putin has blamed the West and Nato countless times in the past, and he reprised many of his claims from his TV address on the day of the invasion a year ago. He reminded Russians of the war in Iraq and the bombing of Belgrade, but steered clear of Russia\'s long and devastating role in the Syrian civil war, its invasion of neighbouring Georgia or landgrab in Crimea.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As he spoke there was a deadly reminder of the human cost of Europe\'s most deadly invasion since World War Two.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Six people died and many more were wounded as Russian shells hit Kherson city, liberated from Russian troops last November. A bus stop, a pharmacy and residential areas were hit in the city centre and local media said a kindergarten was among the buildings that came under attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his nightly address on Tuesday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia\'s attacks \"did not and could not have any military purpose\", and were instead intended to sow \"terror\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added that Ukrainian forces were maintaining their positions on the front line in eastern Ukraine - where the bulk of the current fighting is taking place - despite facing great pressure. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 02:10:10', '2023-02-22 02:10:10'),
(5344, 5344, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The former face of Mexico\'s war on drugs has been convicted by a US jury of drug trafficking.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Genaro García Luna, once Mexico\'s security minister, was found guilty of taking millions of dollars from Mexico\'s biggest crime group, the Sinaloa drug cartel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">García Luna - who was arrested in the state of Texas in 2019 - had pleaded not guilty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 54-year-old could face life in prison.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At a minimum, García Luna will serve the mandatory minimum of 20 years, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The verdict came after a four-week trial and three days of jury deliberation in the US District Court in Brooklyn, New York.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prosecutors said the former head of the Mexican equivalent of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations accepted millions of dollars stuffed in briefcases and delivered by members of Joaquín \"El Chapo\" Guzmán\'s Sinaloa drug cartel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">García Luna, who moved to the US after leaving office, is the highest-ranking Mexican official ever to be tried in the US.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Twitter, a spokesperson for current Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, praised the decision and took aim at former Mexican President Felipe Calderón.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">García Luna served under Mr Calderón, who oversaw a crackdown on drug cartels beginning in 2006.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Justice has arrived for the former squire of Felipe Calderón,\" Mr Ramirez Cuevas wrote. \"The crimes against our people will never be forgotten.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ioan Grillo, a Mexico-based British author and expert on Mexico\'s criminal underworld, told BBC News the conviction has \"big implications\" for both the US and Mexico governments\' fight against corruption and organised crime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"This could encourage prosecutors to go after other cases,\" he said. \"They took a certain risk by not having physical evidence and convicting him on testimony from drug traffickers.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He added García Luna\'s conviction could also help dissuade Mexican officials from being \"openly corrupt\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If you\'re a Mexican agent, you\'ll be thinking about how much you expose yourself to the Americans,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ex-minister - widely considered the architect of Mexico\'s war on drugs - was said to have shared information with the Sinaloa drug cartel about its rivals and warned the group about law enforcement operations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">García Luna denied the allegations.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The claims against García Luna\'s involvement with the Sinaloa cartel first came to light during a trial against Guzmán, who was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years in 2019.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A former cartel member named Jesus \"Rey\" Zambada testified during Guzmán\'s trial that he had delivered millions of dollars in payments to García Luna.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The case against the former minister was built on the testimony of nine cooperating witnesses, mostly convicted cartel members, including Zambada.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">García Luna declined to testify at the trial, but his wife, Linda Cristina Pereyra, took the stand and attempted to downplay their finances and lifestyle.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In her closing argument, US prosecutor Saritha Komatireddy said the Sinaloa cartel could not have built a \"global cocaine empire\" without García Luna\'s aid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"They paid the defendant bribes for protection,\" she said. \"And they got what they paid for.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">García Luna\'s lawyers argued the witnesses were testifying against him to \"save themselves\" after committing \"horrific crimes\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence official, said the conviction would come as no surprise to those closely following the trial in Mexico.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It was certainly enough to convince the jury, although many others will be unconvinced,\" he told BBC News.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The conviction could \"complicate some parts\" of US-Mexico cooperation, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"There won\'t be any sort of rupture or open dispute,\" he added. \"But ... it will be known that the US has its eyes on Mexican officials. For some, that will make things difficult.\" BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 02:14:15', '2023-02-22 02:14:15'),
(5345, 5345, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka’s air quality is in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning (February 22, 2023).</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 163 at 9:20 am, the capital of Bangladesh ranked eighth in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">India’s Delhi, Iraq’s Baghdad and Ghana’s Accra occupied the first, second and third spots, with AQI scores of 342, 198 and 191 respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘’very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is \'hazardous\', posing severe health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">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.&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;</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. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 04:12:55', '2023-02-22 04:12:55'),
(5346, 5346, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Moscow’s participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States, announcing the move Tuesday in a bitter speech in which he made clear he would not change his strategy in the war in Ukraine.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin emphasized, however, that Russia isn’t withdrawing from the pact yet, and hours after his address the Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respect the treaty\'s caps on nuclear weapons. It also said Russia would continue to exchange information about test launches of ballistic missiles per earlier agreements with the United States.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his long-delayed state-of-the-nation address, Putin cast his country — and Ukraine — as victims of Western double-dealing and said it was Russia, not Ukraine, fighting for its very existence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We aren’t fighting the Ukrainian people,” Putin said ahead of the war’s first anniversary Friday. “The Ukrainian people have become hostages of the Kyiv regime and its Western masters, which have effectively occupied the country.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The speech reiterated a litany of grievances he has frequently offered as justification for the widely condemned military campaign, while vowing no military letup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Along with limits on the number of nuclear weapons, the 2010 New START envisages broad inspections of nuclear sites. Putin said Russia should stand ready to resume nuclear weapons tests if the U.S. does so, a move that would end a global ban on such tests in place since the Cold War era.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded by calling for Russia and the United States to return to dialogue immediately because “a world without nuclear arms control is a far more dangerous and unstable one.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Moscow’s decision to suspend participation in the treaty as “really unfortunate and very irresponsible.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We’ll be watching carefully to see what Russia actually does,” he said while visiting Greece.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun called on the U.S. and Russia to “continue to negotiate with each other in finding a good solution.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Poland a day after his surprise visit to Ukraine, did not mention the START suspension but blasted Putin for the invasion. He pledged continued support for Ukraine despite “hard and bitter days ahead.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever,” Biden said at Warsaw\'s landmark Royal Castle before a cheering crowd of Poles and Ukrainian refugees.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin\'s announcement was the second time in recent days the Ukraine war showed it could spread into perilous new terrain, after Blinken told China over the weekend that it would be a “serious problem” if Beijing provided arms and ammunition to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China and Russia have aligned their foreign policies to oppose Washington. Beijing has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion or atrocities against civilians in Ukraine, while strongly criticizing Western economic sanctions on Moscow. Late last year, Russia and China held joint naval drills.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The deputy head of Ukraine’s intelligence service, Vadym Skibitskyi, told The Associated Press his agency hasn’t seen any signs so far that China is providing weapons to Moscow.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and made a dash toward Kyiv, apparently expecting to overrun the capital quickly. But stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces — supported by Western weapons — turned back Moscow\'s troops. While Ukraine has reclaimed many areas initially seized by Russia, the sides have become bogged down elsewhere.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war has revived the divide between Russia and the West, reinvigorated the NATO alliance, and created the biggest threat to Putin\'s rule of more than two decades.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Tuesday\'s speech, Putin again offered his own version of recent history, discounting Ukraine\'s arguments that it needed Western help to thwart a Russian military takeover. He has repeatedly depicted NATO’s expansion to include countries close to Russia as an existential threat to his country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It’s they who have started the war. And we are using force to end it,” he said before an audience of lawmakers, officials and soldiers, and broadcast on all state TV channels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was in Ukraine on Tuesday, said she wished Putin had taken a different approach.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“What we heard this morning was propaganda that we already know,” Meloni said in English. “He says (Russia) worked on diplomacy to avoid the conflict, but the truth is that there is somebody who is the invader and somebody who is defending itself.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also meeting with Zelenskyy was the newly appointed chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, who led a delegation for the first time since the start of the war and since Republicans won control of the House of Representatives.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chairman Mike McCaul and a handful of other GOP lawmakers said they had a productive meeting about what Zelenskyy needs for winning the war. He provided them with a list of weapons, including longer-range artillery and air-to-surface systems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting comes as some hard-right Republicans are vowing to block future U.S. aid to Ukraine. “We have seen time and again the majority of Republicans and Democrats support our assistance to Ukraine,” McCaul said in a statement. “But the Biden administration needs to lay out their long-term strategy.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin denied any wrongdoing in Ukraine, even after Kremlin forces struck civilian targets, including hospitals, and are widely accused of war crimes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Zelenskyy cited fresh attacks on Ukrainian civilians Tuesday, and downplayed Putin’s speech.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I have not watched it, because during this time there were missile strikes on Kherson. Twenty-one people were wounded and six were killed,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin also accused the West of taking aim at Russian culture, religion and values. He fired another broadside at Western gender policies that he described as efforts to destroy “traditional” values.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">And he said Western sanctions hadn’t “achieved anything and will not achieve anything.” He blasted Russian tycoons who kept their assets in the West and saw them confiscated or frozen as part of the sanctions.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Believe me, ordinary people had no sympathy for those who lost their yachts, palaces and other assets abroad,” Putin said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Russia’s Constitution mandates that the president deliver the state-of-the-nation speech annually, Putin never gave one in 2022. Last year, the Kremlin also canceled two other big annual events — Putin’s news conference and a highly scripted phone-in marathon taking questions from the public.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reflecting the Kremlin\'s clampdown on free speech and press, it barred in-person coverage of the address by media from “unfriendly” countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and those in the European Union. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 04:16:38', '2023-02-22 04:16:38'),
(5347, 5347, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">North Korea\'s latest missile launches are a demonstration of the country\'s avowed ability to use nuclear force against South Korea and the mainland U.S. How immediate is that threat?</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea claims its nuclear forces are capable of destroying its rivals, and often follows its provocative weapons tests with launch details. But many foreign experts call the North’s claims propaganda and suggest that the country is not yet capable of hitting the United States or its allies with a nuclear weapon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There’s no question that North Korea has nuclear bombs, and that it has missiles that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea and Japan within striking distance. What’s not yet clear is whether the country has mastered the tricky engineering required to join the bombs and the missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has demonstrated that it has missiles that could fly far enough to reach deep into the continental U.S., but it\'s not clear whether they can survive reentering the Earth\'s atmosphere on arrival.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea said it launched a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile on Saturday to verify the weapon’s reliability and the combat readiness of the country’s nuclear forces. It’s one of three kinds of ICBMs the country has developed, along with the Hwasong-14 and Hwasong-17. All three are liquid-fueled, and North Korea has portrayed them all as nuclear-capable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Launched almost straight up to avoid the territories of neighbors, the weapon reached a maximum altitude of about 5,770 kilometers (3,585 miles) and flew 990 kilometers (615 miles), according to North Korean state media. The reported flight details suggest the missile could travel 13,000 kilometers (8,080 miles) or beyond if launched on a normal trajectory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These days, North Korea has been disclosing information about its launches in a very detailed manner to try to let others believe what they’ve done is genuine,” analyst Shin Jong-woo at South Korea’s Defense and Security Forum said. “But I think that’s part of their propaganda.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are questions on whether North Korea has acquired the technology to shield warheads from the high-temperature, high-stress environment of atmospheric reentry.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A South Korean biennial defense document released last week said it’s not clear whether the missiles can survive reentry, because all of North Korea’s ICBM tests have so far been made on high angles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute, said a normal trajectory would cause greater stress, as a warhead would spend a longer time passing through altitudes with high air density.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korean state media said the launch was made “suddenly” after a surprise order from leader Kim Jong Un.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Kim regime’s claims of short-notice launches are thus intended to demonstrate not only the development of strategic and tactical nuclear forces but also the operational capability to use them,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a military parade earlier this month, North Korea showcased around a dozen ICBMs, an unprecedented number that suggested progress in its efforts to mass-produce powerful weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among them were huge canister-sealed missiles that experts say were likely a version of a solid-fuel ICBM that North Korea has been trying to develop in recent years. Solid-fueled systems allow missiles to be mobile on the ground and make them faster to launch.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea likely has dozens of nuclear warheads. The question is whether they are small enough to fit on a missile.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea has so far performed six underground nuclear test explosions to manufacture warheads that it can place on missiles. Outside estimates of the number of North Korean nuclear warheads vary widely, ranging from 20-60 to up to about 115.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In a 2021 interview with 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, renowned nuclear physicist Siegfried Hecker, who has visited North Korea’s main Yongbyon nuclear complex numerous times, said that “20 to 60 is possible, with the most likely number being 45.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some experts argue that North Korea has likely already built miniaturized nuclear warheads to be mounted on missiles, citing the number of years the country has spent on its nuclear and missile programs. But others say North Korea is still years away from producing such warheads.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“After its sixth nuclear test, people accepted that North Korea really will have nuclear weapons. But they are still debating whether it has warhead miniaturization technology,” Shin, the analyst, said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The North described its sixth nuclear test in 2017 as a detonation of a thermonuclear bomb built for ICBMs. It created a tremor that measured magnitude 6.3, and some studies put its estimated explosive yield at about 50 to 140 kilotons of TNT. In comparison, the pair of atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II — which killed a total of more than 210,000 people — yielded explosions equivalent to about 15 and 20 kilotons of TNT, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The biennial South Korean defense document said North Korea is estimated to have 70 kilograms (154 pounds) of weapons-grade plutonium. Some observers say that\'s enough for about 9-18 bombs. The document estimated that North Korea has “a considerable amount of” highly enriched uranium as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea’s Yongbyon complex has facilities to produce both plutonium and highly enriched uranium, the two main ingredients to build nuclear weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Plutonium plants are generally large and generate a lot of heat, making them easier to detect. But a uranium enrichment plant is more compact and can be easily hidden from satellite cameras. North Korea is believed to be running at least one additional covert uranium enrichment facility, in addition to one at its Yongbyon complex.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Following the collapse of diplomacy with then-U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, Kim sped up the development of short-range solid-fuel, nuclear-capable missiles designed to strike key targets in South Korea, including U.S. military bases there.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The so-called “tactical” nuclear weapons include what North Korea calls “super-large” 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers that it tested Monday. South Korea describes the weapon as a short-range missile system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korean state media said its new artillery system can carry nuclear warheads, and that four rockets would be enough to wipe out an enemy airfield. The statement drew quick outside doubts about whether the weapons are indeed nuclear-capable.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The North Korean claim doesn’t make sense to some extent. ... Why do they need four tactical nuclear weapons to destroy just one airfield?” Shin, the analyst, said. “Also, which country would disclose such attack scenarios via state media?”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Other new North Korean short-range systems include missiles that were apparently modeled after the Russian Iskander mobile ballistic system or outwardly resemble the U.S. MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System. Launched from land vehicles, these missiles are designed to be maneuverable and fly at low altitudes, theoretically giving them a better chance of defeating South Korean and U.S. missile defense systems.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whether North Korea has an ability to arm short-range missiles with nuclear warheads has not been independently confirmed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While North Korea may be able to place simple nuclear warheads on some of its older missiles, including Scuds or Rodong missiles, it would likely require further technology advancements and nuclear tests to build smaller and more advanced warheads that can be installed on its newer tactical systems, said Lee, the expert.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">North Korea also has an intermediate-range, nuclear-capable Hwasong-12 missile capable of reaching Guam, a major U.S. military hub in the Pacific. It has been developing a family of mid-range, solid-fuel Pukguksong missiles which are designed to be fired from submarines or land vehicles. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 04:54:59', '2023-02-22 04:54:59'),
(5348, 5348, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Muslims in Bangladesh will observe the holy Shab-e-Barat on the night of March 7 as the Shaban moon was sighted in the country’s sky on Tuesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As the moon was sighted, the month of Shaban will begin from February 22.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee, held at the conference room of Baitul Mukarram, in the evening.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan presided over the meeting.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The announcement was made after analysing data collected from the district administrations, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and Space Research and Remote Sensing Institute.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shab-e-Barat is observed on the 15th night of the Arabic month of Shaban. Muslims offer special prayers, recite the holy Quran, and take part in other religious rituals. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"7\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 04:59:34', '2023-02-22 04:59:34');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5349, 5349, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Global consulting giant McKinsey plans to let go 2,000 of its employees, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The round of layoffs would be one of the company\'s biggest ever, according to Bloomberg, which said the firm had increased headcount from 28,000 to 45,000 over the past five years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Citing anonymous sources, Bloomberg said the number of employees affected could still change, and are expected to primarily target administrative staff who do not interact directly with clients.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">McKinsey is seeking to centralize its support services for its consultants in a bid to save money after having recruited heavily in recent years.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Founded almost 100 years ago in Chicago and now operating in more than 130 countries, the consultancy had a record revenue of $15 billion in 2021, and exceeded that figure in 2022, according to a Bloomberg source.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many large US companies, especially in the tech sector, have rolled out layoffs in recent months, following years of rapid growth fueled by the accelerated digital transition during the pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The layoffs come two years after McKinsey\'s approximately 650 senior partners chose Bob Sternfels to replace Kevin Sneader at the helm of the company.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sneader\'s short tenure atop McKinsey was marked by US lawsuits accusing the company of having contributed to the nation\'s deadly opioid crisis through work with pharmaceutical companies, such as OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">McKinsey agreed in February 2021 to pay $573 million to settle those lawsuits.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The company did not immediately respond to a request from AFP. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 05:14:44', '2023-02-22 05:14:44'),
(5350, 5350, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in an anti-crime drive detained an alleged woman drug peddler with 400 grams of heroin from a village in the district last night.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The detainee was identified as Elina Begum, 29, wife of late Masud Rana of Veemdanga Madarpur village under Godagari upazila in the district, RAB sources said this morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a raid in her residence at around 8:30 pm and nabbed her with the contraband item.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The person along with the seized goods was handed over to Godagari Model Police Station with a case in this connection. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 05:36:15', '2023-02-22 05:36:15'),
(5351, 5351, '<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia said Tuesday it will observe curbs imposed by the New START treaty, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow was suspending participation in the arms pact with the United States.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Russia intends to adhere to a responsible approach and will continue to strictly comply with the quantitative restrictions on strategic offensive arms stipulated by it (New START) within the life cycle of the treaty,\" Russia\'s foreign ministry said in a statement.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The treaty, the last nuclear arms control pact between the world\'s two main nuclear powers, had been extended until early 2026.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign ministry said Putin\'s decision came following the \"destructive actions\" of the United States, which it accused of violating the agreement that was first signed in 2010.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministry pointed to Washington\'s \"extreme hostility\" and its \"overt course of malicious escalation of the conflict in Ukraine\", where Russia is waging a military campaign.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said Washington, which financially and militarily backs Kyiv, created a \"fundamentally different security environment\" for Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Among the other listed reasons for the suspension, Moscow said Washington \"violated the central provisions\" of the treaty.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It said Washington \"renamed\" strategic offensive weapons so they \"no longer to fall under treaty definitions\" or \"declared them converted without giving the Russian side the chance to reliably verify\" the results.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ministry, however, added that Russia\'s decision to suspend the treaty is \"reversible\" but Washington \"must show political will\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow said in August that it was suspending US inspections of its military sites under New START. It said it was responding to American obstruction of inspections by Russia, a charge denied by Washington. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/k h</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 06:20:41', '2023-02-22 06:20:41'),
(5352, 5352, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">At least 82 people died in gas explosion-related fires in Narayanganj over the last three years, according to police and fire service. This excludes the number of victims of such fire incidents who died while receiving treatment.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although gas pipeline leaks and cylinder explosions are the leading causes of these recorded fires, threats still persist. A blast in Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque of Narayanganj killed 37 on September 4, 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There have also been accusations of irregularities in the investigation process, and the accused in the majority of cases remain uncharged due to the slow process of investigation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to police and fire service, there were 104 gas explosion-related fire incidents in Narayanganj district in 2022. Sixty-nine of them were caused by flaws in the gas pipeline, 34 incidents were reportedly caused by cylinder and air conditioner blasts. A total of 18 people, including children, died and 25 were injured in those incidents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There were 114 gas explosion-related fire incidents in 2021. Pipeline flaws were responsible for 96 incidents. That year, 20 people were killed and more than 50 were injured.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A total of 44 people died and 26 were injured in 106 gas explosion-related fire incidents in 2020. Seventy-one incidents were caused by gas line faults, while the rest were caused by cylinder and air conditioner blasts. That year, 37 people died in a massive explosion at the Pashchim Talla Baitus Salam Mosque.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Locals of the district say that the authorities show concern for a few days following an incident. But their efforts to address these threats got nipped in the bud every time, they said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Locals reportedly file complaints about gas leaks, but no significant action is taken to address this serious issue.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fire Service and Civil Defence officials said that the negligence of Titas gas authorities and lack of awareness among locals are to blame for many incidents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fakhruddin, deputy director of Narayanganj Fire Service, said, “We urge residents to stay cautious and inspect their gas pipelines for leaks.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mamunur Rashid, deputy general manager of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited in Narayanganj, said, “Gas pipelines inside the homes are the responsibility of the consumers. All we do is distribute the lines.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The majority of fire incidents are caused by faults in house lines. Gas leaks cause explosions when burners are left on,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Customers need to be cautious and should never leave gas stoves on,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chai Lau Marma, additional superintendent of police (Crime and Operations) in Narayanganj, said, “We file cases in response to complaints. After investigating, we put the names on the chargesheet and file in court.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Narayanganj residents urged the government to take measures to address these fire risks promptly. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 06:25:42', '2023-02-22 06:25:42'),
(5353, 5353, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Reports of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis player Sania Mirza\'s alleged divorce have been circulating since last year. While neither Shoaib nor Sania have publicly addressed their alleged breakup, rumours about Shoaib\'s relationship with Pakistani actor Ayesha Omar have also been making news.&nbsp;</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, in a new interview on former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar\'s chat show, Ayesha addressed being blamed for Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik\'s divorce rumours, and clarified she would \'never be attracted\' to a married man.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ayesha\'s name has been linked to Shoaib Malik\'s amid reports of his alleged divorce, since the two appeared together in a 2021 photoshoot. Pictures of the two from the photoshoot were widely shared on social media last year. There were also rumours that Shoaib will marry Ayesha, which the Pakistani actor refuted last year. Now, a clip of her responding to Shoaib Akhtar\'s question about her equation with Shoaib Malik on an episode of his chat show is being widely shared online.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">When asked about her alleged affair with Shoaib, Ayesha said, \"I will never be attracted to a married or committed man ever. Everyone knows me... that goes without saying.\" When Shoaib Akhtar called her photoshoot with Shoaib Malik \'very revealing\', Ayesha asked, \"Who said that?\" The host then said, \"Yeh controversy bahut badi ho gayi (it became a big controversy).\" Ayesha then told him, \"Woh yahan nahi thi, across the border this (Not here, but in India, this became a controversy).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last year, Ayesha broke her silence over her alleged relationship with Shoaib Malik as she responded to a person\'s comment on an Instagram post that asked her, \"Kya aap dono ka shadi ka program hai (Do you guys plan to get married)?\" As per a report by The Times of India at the time, Ayesha had said, \"Jee nahin. Bilkul nahi. Un kee shadi hoe we hai aur wo apni biwi kay sath bohut khush hai. Main donon @realshoaibmalik aur @saniamirza kee bohat respect kartee hoon (No, absolutely not. He is married and he is happy with his wife. I respect @realshoaibmalik and @saniamirza a lot).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shoaib and Sania married in 2010 and have been staying in Dubai since then. They welcomed their son Izhaan in 2018. According to reports, Sania and Shoaib have allegedly ended their relationship, and are co-parenting their son Izhaan. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 07:04:40', '2023-02-22 07:04:40'),
(5354, 5354, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">By-election to the Chattogram-8 constituency – left vacant following the death of Awami League MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed – will be held on April 27, 2023.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Election Commission (EC) Secretary Jahangir Alam announced the schedule of the by-election today.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the schedule, the last date for submitting nomination papers is March 27, while the date for scrutinising nomination papers is March 29, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 5.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voting will start at 8 am on April 27 and will continue till 4 pm.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moslem Uddin, a freedom fighter and also president of Chattogram South unit of Awami League, breathed his last at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on February 6. He was 75.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He was elected as an MP on January 13, 2020 – in the vacant seat following the death of former Chattogram-8 MP Moinuddin Khan Badal. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 07:24:10', '2023-02-22 07:24:10'),
(5355, 5355, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">While both Real Madrid and Liverpool are rightly considered Champions League royalty, there can only be one king.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Down by two goals after 14 minutes at Anfield, defending champion Madrid came back to win 5-2 on Tuesday and take a commanding lead into the second leg of the round of 16 matchup.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vinicius Jr. and Karim Benzema scored two goals each to stun the hosts — Liverpool conceded four goals in a home European match for the first time — and confirm the Spanish giant will take some stopping in its defense of the trophy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We played with personality, we produced goals. We want this Champions League again,\" Benzema said. “And that produced a match which was lovely to play in and for those who were watching.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If anything, this Madrid team looks more complete than the one that beat Jurgen Klopp\'s team in last year’s Paris final. Yet this win echoed the memorable comebacks that led to that record-extending 14th Champions League title.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was the chaotic defending that allowed Liverpool to race into a 2-0 lead as Darwin Nunez struck with a backheel in the fourth minute and Mohamed Salah doubled the advantage thanks to Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ blunder.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Then came the rousing fightback, led by one of European soccer’s emerging stars in Vinicius and sealed by an aging icon in Benzema.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Eder Militao was also on the scoresheet when he headed Madrid into a 3-2 lead just after halftime.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 22-year-old Vinicius became the youngest player to score two goals against Liverpool at Anfield since Johan Cruyff for Ajax in 1966 when the Dutch great was 19.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Brazil international is establishing himself as Madrid’s star player and, in the face of a typically daunting Anfield atmosphere, he rose to the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Vinicius right now in my opinion is the most decisive player in world football, the man who can make the biggest difference and if he can keep this consistency let\'s hope he can continue in this vein,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Just as the visitors looked in danger of buckling under the pressure, Vinicius produced a moment of magic with his first goal in the 21st.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Exchanging passes with Benzema just inside the box, there didn’t look to be any obvious danger until he flashed a low shot through a crowd of legs and into the bottom corner.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vinicius evened the score in the 36th when Alisson’s attempted kick rebounded straight off him and looped into an empty net.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the goal was a moment of good fortune, it was also a measure of the panic he sparked in Liverpool’s defense that Alisson was rushed into making the mistake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two minutes after halftime, Madrid took the lead when Militao headed in Luka Modric’s free kick from the left.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It went from bad to worse for Liverpool as the 35-year-old Benzema, the inspiration for Madrid’s triumph last year, got in on the act.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">His shot was deflected off Joe Gomez in the 55th to make 4-2 and he added and fifth when rounding Alisson in the 67th.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It had all started so well for Liverpool, which went into the game with confidence after back-to-back wins against Everton and Newcastle in the Premier League.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Those victories had sparked hope of an unlikely run in Europe and came just in time for the ultimate test of trying to halt Madrid.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nunez struck early to shock the visitors before Salah capitalized on Courtois’ mis-control to tap in from close range in the 14th.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The home fans were rocking until Vinicius sparked a comeback that looks likely to propel Madrid to the quarterfinals.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I think Carlo thinks the tie is over and I think it as well in the moment,\" Klopp said afterward. \"But the closer you get to the game, the bigger our chances become. Tonight 5-2 they are pretty good in counter attacking and we have to go there and take some risks to score three goals. We go there to try and win the game.” AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 07:37:20', '2023-02-22 07:37:20'),
(5356, 5356, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Rain or thunder shower accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely at one or two places over Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions and Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria disricts, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said Wednesday.</b></span><br></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, it said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during late night till morning.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged and day temperature may fall slightly over the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 16.8 degrees Celsius in Tetulia in 24 hours till 6 am Wednesday. The highest temperature was recorded at 32.0 degrees Celsius in Chandpur. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 08:11:24', '2023-02-22 08:11:24'),
(5357, 5357, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">For many people, living a healthy lifestyle entails more than just eating a nutritious meal and getting adequate exercise; it also includes vitamins, supplements and additional nutritional items. However, despite widespread myth in people regards their potential advantages, there is less understanding of their potential adverse effects.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In fact, health experts reveal that employing these supplements when not required or when taken in excess may result in a adverse effects to the body and may lead one to the hospital. When it comes to supplements, people say, “What is the harm in taking them? There are no side effects, let’s take them.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There is so much buzz about their potential advantages that it can be difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction as we all know that vitamins and minerals are vital for health. Further, they are optimally available in a balanced meal and can be generated in our body with optimal exercises and right exposure to sunlight.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shruti Tapiawala, Nephrology and Renal Transplant Physician at Global Hospitals in Mumbai\'s Parel, explained, “By not following a balanced diet, doing regular exercises and spending time outdoors, vitamin and mineral deficiencies crop up and people resort to taking them in pill, capsule, or powder form, especially in megadoses, which is neither necessary nor without dangers. Example, excessive Vit D3 can cause toxicity and high calcium levels causing irregularities of heart, brain and kidneys.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She added, “An example for medical indication for supplements is as follows- A systematic evaluation of the possible effects of dietary supplements on cardiovascular health, including heart attack and stroke, found that only omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid were useful in preventing heart disease. This will add to a low-salt diet, dietary adjustments benefit in heart ailments.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asserting that our body needs certain nutrients, she said, “Your body repairs and regenerates cells and tissues on a regular basis. The body has a robust system of generating cells and destroying/scavenging defective or old cells when their life span is over.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The nutrients derived from food and its metabolism are used to perform the day-to-day functions of all endocrine organs, make chemicals required for brain, heart and gastrointestinal function, and also provide minerals to the bones for bone health.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Does our food contain everything? Dr Shruti Tapiawala answered, “Yes if one eats a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, lentils (dals), pulses, cereals, dairy products, body can absorb and process the required vitamins and minerals. Further exercising in morning sunlight and getting fresh air ( oxygen ) will help the strengthening of bones and muscles.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about what you should know before taking a supplement, she said, “While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in charge of dietary supplement regulation, no safety testing or FDA clearance is necessary before a new supplement can be sold. Furthermore, there are no restrictions that nutritional supplement packaging mention potential side effects, nor are there maximum pill size standards (a clear risk for older people).&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For one reason, nutritional supplements, as well as over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs, can occasionally interfere with one another. One should always take a supplement only when a deficiency is proven and based on that prescription given by doctors.” HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 09:02:30', '2023-02-22 09:02:30'),
(5358, 5358, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A 14-year-old boy was killed and 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League over establishing supremacy at Charkasia village in Raipur upazila of Laxmipur district on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Russel Hossain, son of Manir Hossain Bhuttu of the village, was stabbed to death in a fierce clash between two rival factions of AL, said Mahfuzzaman Ashraf, officer-in-charge of Laxmipur police station.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahjalal Rahul, joint general secretary of Charbongshi union unit AL and Nazrul Islam, a member of the same AL unit had been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy in the area, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>As a sequel to the enmity, the supporters of both groups equipped with sharp weapons, attacked each other in Miarhat area in the morning, leaving Russel dead on the spot and 10 others wounded.</div><div><br></div><div>The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. They recovered the body from the spot.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional police have been deployed to avert further trouble. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 09:19:30', '2023-02-22 09:19:30'),
(5359, 5359, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amid shrining birth rate, Chinese provinces are changing their marriage leave policies, Hindustan Times reported.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>As Chine moves away from the usual minimum paid marriage leave of three days, now young newlyweds will get a paid marriage leave of 30 days, quoting a statement by Communist Party mouthpiece People\'s Daily Health.</div><div><br></div><div>The change is aimed at encouraging young couples to get married and have children. While some China provinces are giving 30 days of marriage leave, others have a provision of leave for about 10 days.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Gansu and Shanxi provinces are giving give 30 days, while Shanghai 10 and Sichuan still only three, Reuters reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Dean of the Social Development Research Institute of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Yang Haiyang said, \"Extending marriage leave is one of the effective ways of increasing the fertility rate,\".</div><div><br></div><div>\"The extension of marriage leave is mainly in some provinces and cities with relatively slow economic development,\" Yang Haiyang added.</div><div><br></div><div>China\'s population has declined owing to the country enforcing a strict one-child policy from 1980 to 2015. In 2022, China recorded its lowest ever birth rate of 6.77 births per 1,000 people which experts believe has resulted in financial impact on the country\'s economy.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The country also faces the cumbersome challenge of unprecedented and rapid population ageing.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 09:58:41', '2023-02-22 09:58:41'),
(5360, 5360, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) says it has arrested the Nayeb-e-Amir of the militant group Jama\'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya from Sayedabad area of Dhaka.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The arrestee was identified as Mohibullah alias “Bholar Shayekh”.</div><div><br></div><div>Acting on a tip-off, a team of CTTC unit conducted a drive at Sayedabad bus terminal and arrested Mohibullah with two mobile phone sets and a laptop on Tuesday evening, CTTC unit chief Md Asaduzzaman said at a press briefing held at DMP media centre today.</div><div><br></div><div>When briefing, Asaduzzaman said Mohibullah used to deliver sermons and inspire members of the militant group after taking them into the hill districts.</div><div><br></div><div>His main target was to psychologically prepare the new recruits for “jihad” after misinterpreting religious scripture, the CTTC chief said.</div><div><br></div><div>After living in the Chattogram Hill Tracts region for some time, Mohibullah returned to Dhaka and carried out different activities including intensifying communication through encrypted messaging app, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohibullah also had a number of meetings with top leaders of militant groups for strengthening activities in Dhaka, Sylhet and Kishoreganj. He also used to go to madrasas in Hathazari of Chattogram district, said Asaduzzaman.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohibullah was also an active member of the banned extremist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad Bangladesh (HuJI-B) when he was a student of a madrasa in Hathazari and took “jihadi training” with other members of HuJI-B. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 10:11:03', '2023-02-22 10:11:03'),
(5361, 5361, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Nearly 1 million people applied for international protection in the European Union in 2022, according to data published Wednesday, bringing the number of asylum requests to a level not seen since the refugee crisis of 2015-2016.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The EU agency for asylum said 966,000 asylum applications were made in the 27 EU countries as well as in Norway and Switzerland last year, up 50% from 2021. That doesn\'t include more than 4 million Ukrainian refugees who were granted temporary protection in the EU, a special mechanism activated to avoid collapsing already backlogged asylum systems.</div><div><br></div><div>The European agency linked the increase to continuing easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions, increasing food insecurity and conflicts in many parts of the world. Though most asylum-seekers enter the EU legally, mainly by plane with travel visas, some also crossed the EU\'s land and sea borders without permission, mainly through the Western Balkans and the Mediterranean.</div><div><br></div><div>After more than a decade of war and economic collapse in their country, Syrians continued to be the top nationality of asylum-seekers in Europe with more than 130,000 applications. They were followed closely by Afghans fleeing the spiraling security, humanitarian and financial troubles that followed the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with 129,000 requests.</div><div><br></div><div>Coming in third were applicants from Turkey who doubled in numbers with 55,000 requests. Soaring inflation and “democratic backsliding” were among the factors believed to have caused the increase, the agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>In many places, reception centers are overwhelmed, leaving asylum-seekers in the streets.</div><div><br></div><div>The recent earthquake that killed nearly 46,000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless in Turkey and Syria has raised fears of a potential surge in irregular border crossings into Greece.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Germany offered earlier this month to temporarily ease visa restrictions to some quake survivors while Spain promised to resettle a small group of 100 vulnerable Syrian refugees from Turkey, which is home to 4 million refugees.</div><div><br></div><div>Venezuelans, Colombians, Bangladeshis and Georgians applied for asylum in record numbers last year, as did Moroccans, Tunisians and Egyptians. Some 4% of asylum-seekers in 2022 claimed to be unaccompanied minors.</div><div><br></div><div>The European agency didn\'t say which EU countries received the most applications last year. But an internal EU migration report seen by the Associated Press lists Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Italy as the top five.</div><div><br></div><div>Asylum authorities issued decisions on more than 600,000 applications last year but they received even more new cases, adding to the existing backlog. Of the applications analyzed, 40% were granted refugee status or subsidiary protection, mostly for Syrian, Belarusian, Eritrean, Yemeni, and Malian applicants, as well as for most of the Ukrainians who chose to apply for asylum instead of temporary protection. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 11:22:22', '2023-02-22 11:22:22'),
(5362, 5362, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President M Abdul Hamid asked all concerned, including the university authorities, to develop the young generation as skilled manpower in science and information technology (IT) to face the new challenges of the 21st century at the national and international levels.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“There is no alternative to acquiring skills to survive in this competitive world. The science and applied education should be expanded from primary to higher levels,” he told the \"Sixth Convocation 2023\" of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) at Mirpur Cantonment.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The President, also the university’s chancellor, added: “Skilled human resources should be developed through analytical and applicable education. Only getting certificates through memorizing notes will not do.”</div><div><br></div><div>Chief of Army Staff (CAS) General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed was the convocation speaker at the 6th convocation of BUP where over 29,892 graduates, meantime, have already come out successfully since it was established on June 05, 2008 as the 31st public university.</div><div><br></div><div>Education Minister of Dr. Dipu Moni, MP, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, MP, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, members of parliament (MPs), BUP Vice-Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam, chiefs of the three services and BUP pro-VCs, treasurer and registrar, among others, were present there.</div><div><br></div><div>On the occasion, 36 graduates were awarded “Chancellor Gold Medal” while 29 others, concluding 25 students from in-house faculties and four from affiliated institutes got “Vice-Chancellor Gold Medal”&nbsp;</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Stressing on the quality education with research activities as the first step in building a nation, the President said it (quality education) is the main means of economic development, intellectual growth, non-communal sense of life and above all profound patriotism.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“Curriculum should be designed in line with the existing labour market as there is no substitute for demand-based and work-oriented education at present,” Abdul Hamid mentioned.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>He advised the BUP authority to give importance to research and ensure transparency and accountability in every work of the university to make it a \'Centre of Excellence\'.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The Chancellor directed the university teachers to dedicate themselves to teaching and keep in mind that “education without joy cannot bring any benefit.”</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have to keep ourselves up-to-date by absorbing the new concepts and strategies invented in various subjects coping with the times,\" he observed.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Appreciating the BUP authority’s relentless efforts to provide quality higher education, the Chancellor said the BUP admission tests, other examinations and its result process, are being done through the \'University Comprehensive Management Software System\'.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the needs of the era, the BUP would continue its activities in providing technology-based education in various fields of knowledge and science, he hoped.</div><div><br></div><div>Congratulating the graduates for obtaining the degree, the President advised them to remember that ‘education is not limited only to obtaining a degree but the real success of a graduate depends on how a student can take advantage of it in personal, holistic and professional life.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to the prevailing world situation, Hamid said, under the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country\'s economy is moving towards the right direction.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>“We need to increase the flow of foreign exchange to save the country from the global recession due to the outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.&nbsp; And this should be done through increasing exports and overseas employment,” he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The President suggested the graduates for taking preparation in sustaining the global competition as well as establishing themselves as entrepreneurs, reports BSS</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Today’s graduates will work for people’s welfare, imbued with the spirit of 1971 Liberation War and&nbsp; patriotism, to build a hunger-and poverty-free, happy, rich and self-reliant Bangladesh, envisioned earlier by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he hoped.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 11:54:31', '2023-02-22 11:54:31'),
(5363, 5363, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four people sustained burn injuries as a fire broke out in a house apparently due to leakage in the gas pipeline at Behakoir in Sonargaon upazila of Narayanganj district on Tuesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The injured were identified as Sajeeb, 27, Mamun Mia, 32, Rubel, 30 and Zakaria, 34.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahbub Alam, officer-in-charge of Sonargaon Police Station, said the fire broke out in the house of one Baker when one of the victims tried lit cigarette at the kitchen of the house, leaving them injured.</div><div><br></div><div>First they were taken to Sonargaon Upazila Health Complex and then shifted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>The fire might have originated from the gas accumulated in the kitchen of the house, said police.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 14:14:53', '2023-02-22 14:14:53'),
(5364, 5364, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) today approved separate proposals for procuring some 1.60 crore litres of soybean oil and 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer to meet the growing demand in the country.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The approval came from the 7th meeting of the CCGP in this year held virtually with Finance Minster AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.</div><div><br></div><div>Briefing reporters virtually after the meeting, Cabinet Division additional secretary Sayeed Mahbub Khan informed that the day\'s meeting approved a total of seven proposals.</div><div><br></div><div>He informed that following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Commerce, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) would procure some 1.10 crore litres of soybean oil from Meghna Edible Oil Refinery Ltd under local open tender method at a cost of around Taka 190.24 crore where per litre soybean oil would cost Taka 172.95 against the previous price of Taka 177.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the TCB would also procure some 50 lakh litres of soybean oil from UN Trading, Dhaka under local direct tender method with around Taka 86.40 crore where per litre oil would cost Taka 172.8 against the previous price of Taka 178.45.</div><div><br></div><div>Mahbub said that following two separate proposals from the Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) would procure some 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from KAFCO, Bangladesh with around Taka 110.20 crore where per ton fertilizer would cost $345.125 against the previous price of $500.125.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the BCIC would also procure some 30,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea fertilizer from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia at a cost of around Taka 115.53 crore. Under this consignment, per ton fertilizer would cost $361.83 against the previous per ton price of $470.</div><div><br></div><div>He also informed that the day\'s CCGP meeting approved a proposal from the Power Division under which the M/S J&amp;C Impex Ltd.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka has been awarded the contract for collecting and installing related machineries of gas turbine for Shikalbaha 150MW peaking power plant and for providing necessary consultancy services with around Taka 91.85 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The Cabinet Division additional secretary said that the package number PW-03 under the project for Cox\'s Bazar-Teknaf Road Development (2nd revised) has been awarded to Max Infrastructure Ltd with around Taka 169.48 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the meeting also approved a variation proposal of the Road Transport and Highways Division. - BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 14:45:54', '2023-02-22 14:45:54'),
(5365, 5365, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>North Korea could test-fire intercontinental ballistic missiles on a lower, longer trajectory and conduct its seventh nuclear test this year to perfect its weapons capabilities, South Korean lawmakers said on Wednesday, citing intelligence officials.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>North Korea has so far conducted ICBM tests only on lofted trajectories, but has already secured capabilities to launch them at a normal angle, enabling them to fly much further, the lawmakers said after a briefing by Seoul\'s National Intelligence Service (NIS).</div><div><br></div><div>The lawmakers said Pyongyang might undertake an ICBM test on a normal trajectory to pressure the United States, which has conducted military drills in the region recently and plans more large exercises in the coming months.</div><div><br></div><div>The briefing came as the US, South Korean and Japanese navies staged joint tactical drills on Wednesday in waters between the Asian neighbours.</div><div><br></div><div>A Japanese escort vessel and US and South Korean destroyers joined the training aimed at stepping up trilateral ballistic missile responses, Tokyo\'s defence ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>North Korea fired an ICBM on Saturday and two more short-range ballistic missiles on Monday, with the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un threatening to use the Pacific as a \"firing range\" depending on US behaviour.</div><div><br></div><div>\"ICBMs have not been launched at a normal angle so far, but North Korea has all the capabilities and seems to be preparing a timeline to boost the pressure effect on the United States,\" Yoo Sang-bum, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, told reporters after the briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>North Korea is also likely to carry out what would be its first nuclear test since 2017 and launch a spy satellite this year but it has yet to master the technology to equip multiple rocket launchers with atomic devices, Yoo said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There is a possibility for a seventh test which would be essential to complete the miniaturization and lightening of weight of nuclear bombs,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Youn Kun-young, another member of the committee, said North Korea might also develop solid fuel-based ICBMs this year, and confirmed the defence ministry\'s report that Chinese spy balloons did not enter South Korean airspace.</div><div><br></div><div>Also on Wednesday, North Korea\'s foreign ministry said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been \"extremely unfair, unbalanced\" on its missile tests.</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres condemned the North\'s latest ICBM launch, urging it to immediately halt further provocative actions, comply with Security Council resolutions banning such tests and return to denuclearization talks.</div><div><br></div><div>He \"should clearly understand that his unreasonable and prejudiced stand on the Korean peninsula issue is acting as a factor inciting the hostile acts of the US and its followers,\" Kim Son Gyong, Pyongyang\'s vice foreign minister for international organizations, said in a statement carried by state media KCNA, reports Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>\"In case a situation unwished by anyone arises on the Korean peninsula ... (Guterres) can never be free from the heavy responsibility for it.\"</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 15:23:37', '2023-02-22 15:23:37'),
(5366, 5366, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Saudi Arabian government is going to introduce biometric Visa system from this year for the Hajj pilgrims of Bangladesh.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to a notification issued here today, under the new system, pilgrims from Bangladesh must submit visa applications through biometric method in order to perform Hajj this year.</div><div><br></div><div>The required preparations are being made in order to process visa applications using biometric technology, the notification added. Pilgrims are requested to keep their passports with them instead of submitting to the Ashkona Hajj Office, reports BSS</div><div><br></div><div>Those who have already submitted their passports are urged to return them back. All concerned will be notified when visa process starts, the notification also added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 15:53:14', '2023-02-22 15:53:14');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5367, 5367, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the planned construction of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Pedestrian Underpass is going to be a landmark achievement of the country.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“This is reduce traffic jam and accident,” she said while witnessing the presentation on the project at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher Briefed the reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>The 1070-metre pedestrian underpass will connect the first, second and third terminals of the airport, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and metro rail station and Ashkona Haji Camp.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina expressed her satisfaction with the design and overall aspects of the project.</div><div><br></div><div>After seeing the presentation of the project, the prime minister said that it is very beautiful and everything she wanted is there</div><div><br></div><div>She said that people will be able to get off the train and get on the plane, the environment will also be better.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that this project should be unique, beautiful and sustainable keeping in mind that people can get services easily.</div><div><br></div><div>Army Headquarters 24 Engineer Construction Brigade will implement this project.</div><div><br></div><div>The cost of this underpass will be Tk 1183.87 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The underpass will have escalators, elevators as well as airport-like buggies.</div><div><br></div><div>The underpass will have AC as well as natural light and ventilation. Ventilation will be provided for natural oxygen flow in case of power failure.</div><div><br></div><div>There will be eight exit and entry points. At the same time there will be fire fighting system. About 1.5 lakh liters of water will be kept in reserve.</div><div><br></div><div>The language movement, the great liberation war, the life and work of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the culture of Bangladesh will be highlighted in the underpass tunnel. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-22 16:26:14', '2023-02-22 16:26:14'),
(5368, 5368, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">UN head António Guterres has condemned Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine as an \"affront\" to the world\'s collective conscience at a meeting of the General Assembly nearly one year on.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meeting was debating a motion backed by Ukraine and its allies demanding Russia pull out immediately and unconditionally.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ukraine hopes that by supporting the motion countries will show solidarity.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kremlin has accused the West of wanting to defeat Russia at any cost.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vasily Nebenzya, the Kremlin\'s ambassador to the UN, said the US and its allies were prepared to plunge the entire world into war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian President Vladimir Putin sent up to 200,000 soldiers into Ukraine on 24 February 2022 in the biggest European invasion since the end of World War Two.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The devastating war that ensued has left at least 7,199 civilians dead and thousands of others injured, according to a UN estimate, while Russia and Ukraine have each seen at least 100,000 of their soldiers killed or injured, according to the US military.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">More than 13 million people were made refugees abroad or displaced inside Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Putin\'s claim that his operation was needed to \"demilitarise and denazify\" Ukraine, a country with historic ties to Russia, was dismissed by Ukraine and its allies as a ruse for an unprovoked attack.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"That invasion is an affront to our collective conscience,\" Mr Guterres told the General Assembly. \"It is a violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The possible consequences of a \"spiralling conflict\" were, he said, a \"clear and present danger\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Guterres said the war was \"fanning regional instability and fuelling global tensions and divisions, while diverting attention and resources from other crises and pressing global issues\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There had, he said, been \"implicit threats to use nuclear weapons\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is high time to step back from the brink,\" he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Complacency will only deepen the crisis, while further eroding our shared principles proclaimed in the Charter. War is not the solution. War is the problem. People in Ukraine are suffering enormously. Ukrainians, Russians and people far beyond need peace.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sixty countries have sponsored the resolution, which stresses \"the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Guterres was speaking after Russia\'s President Vladimir Putin gave a speech blaming the West for the war.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In his address to the nation on Tuesday, Mr Putin also announced Russia\'s decision to suspend a key nuclear arms treaty after US President Joe Biden, fresh from a surprise visit to Kyiv, praised Western democracy for standing up to Russian aggression.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mr Biden has called the decision to suspend the treaty, designed by the US and Russia in 2010 to prevent nuclear war, a big mistake.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, Mr Putin met China\'s top foreign policy official, Wang Yi, in Moscow and said co-operation with Beijing was \"very important to stabilise the international situation\". The visit marked an end to China\'s claim to neutrality regarding the war in Ukraine. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 03:11:02', '2023-02-23 03:11:02'),
(5369, 5369, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An earthquake of about 7.2 magnitude occurred in Tajikistan at around 8:37 a.m. (0037 GMT), at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), Chinese state television CCTV reported on Thursday，citing the China Earthquake Networks Center.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The epicenter is about 82 km from the nearest border with China and was strongly felt in Kashgar and Artux in the western part of the Xinjiang region, CCTV reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The average elevation within 5 km of the epicenter is about 4,655 meters (15,300 feet), according to CCTV. Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 03:17:02', '2023-02-23 03:17:02'),
(5370, 5370, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin bolstered their respective alliances with NATO and China, days before the first anniversary of Moscow\'s invasion of Ukraine.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Global tensions between superpowers were highlighted on a day of diplomacy in Warsaw and Moscow on Wednesday. Biden promised that the United States \"will defend literally every inch of NATO\", the military alliance that includes some Eastern European countries bordering Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin said Chinese leader Xi Jinping would visit Russia, saying relations had reached \"new frontiers.\" Washington is concerned Beijing could provide material support for Moscow\'s war in Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24 last year and has become the biggest land conflict in Europe since World War Two.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The war has displaced millions, left Ukrainian cities, towns and villages in ruins and disrupted the global economy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin, in an address to mark Thursday\'s Defender of the Fatherland public holiday, said Russia will continue to pay increased attention to boosting its nuclear forces and will begin mass deliveries of Zirkon sea-launched hypersonic missiles. Russia is due to begin military exercises with China in South Africa on Friday and has sent a frigate equipped with the hypersonic missiles.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia would also keep equipping its armed forces with advanced equipment and is boosting production of conventional weapons, Putin said in the remarks issued by the Kremlin early on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, Putin welcomed China\'s top diplomat, Wang Yi, to the Kremlin, and Wang also met separately with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. TASS news agency quoted Wang as saying China would \"firmly adhere to an objective and impartial position and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lavrov and Wang had not discussed a reported Chinese peace plan, the Russian foreign ministry said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The relationship between China and Russia, Wang said through an interpreter, was not directed against any third party but in a clear jab at the United States he said the countries would \"not succumb to pressure from third parties.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>EASTERN FLANK OF NATO</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Warsaw, Biden met with leaders of nine Eastern European countries that during the Cold War were either aligned with Moscow or part of the former Soviet Union. Some of them now are among the strongest supporters of military aid to Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"As NATO\'s eastern flank, you are the front line of our collective defence. You know better than anyone what is at stake in this conflict. Not just for Ukraine, but for the freedom of democracies throughout Europe and around the world,\" Biden said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Kremlin says it regards NATO, which could soon expand to include Sweden and Finland, as an existential threat to Russia. On his trip this week, which included a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Biden rejected Russia\'s contention that the West wants to control or destroy it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meanwhile, at a meeting on Wednesday of the 193-member United Nations General Assembly to mark the Ukraine war\'s anniversary, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced Russia\'s invasion as a violation of the founding U.N. Charter and international law and called out Moscow\'s threats about possible use of nuclear weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In two speeches last September Putin indicated that he would, if needed, use nuclear weapons to defend Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"We have heard implicit threats to use nuclear weapons. The so-called tactical use of nuclear weapons is utterly unacceptable. It is high time to step back from the brink,\" Guterres said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Putin suspended the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on nuclear arms control with the United States on Tuesday, accusing Washington of turning the war into a global conflict by arming Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Moscow would stick to agreed limits on nuclear missiles and keep informing the United States about changes in its deployments, a senior Russian defence ministry official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Biden said in an ABC News interview that he saw no change in Moscow\'s nuclear posture and did not think Putin\'s remarks meant Russia was thinking of using nuclear weapons.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked about Russia\'s suspension of participation in New START, Biden called it \"a big mistake\" but said, \"I don\'t read into that that he\'s thinking of using nuclear weapons or anything like that.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>BATTLEFIELD</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia, trying to secure full control of two eastern provinces forming Ukraine\'s Donbas industrial region, has launched repeated assaults. Russian troops managed to break through Ukrainian defences near the town of Kreminna on Tuesday but were pushed back and lost some of their heavy equipment, a senior Ukrainian official said on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kreminna is about 70 km (43.5 miles) north of Bakhmut, focus of the fiercest Russian attacks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia controls around a fifth of Ukraine a year after starting what it called a \"special military operation\" to protect Russian security. Ukraine and its Western allies have described the invasion as an imperial-style land grab. Reuters</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 03:32:02', '2023-02-23 03:32:02'),
(5371, 5371, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal as Inter Milan beat 10-man Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lukaku converted a rebound after his first effort had bounced off the post in the 86th minute at the San Siro.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Porto had a double chance at 0-0, but Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana denied both Zaidu Sanusi and Mehdi Taremi.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visitors had Otavio sent off in the 78th minute for two bookable offences and could not keep Inter out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The second leg takes place at Porto\'s Estadio do Dragao on Tuesday, 14 March.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lukaku, who has played for Chelsea, West Brom, Everton and Manchester United, came on in the 58th minute for ex-Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko and became the match-winner after he reacted quickest when his header hit the woodwork.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Both sides will regret missed chances. Inter, second in Serie A, nearly scored in the last minute of the first half but Alessandro Bastoni\'s header was tipped over by Diogo Costa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hakan Calhanoglu had also seen an earlier header pushed over, with Lautaro Martinez heading over when unmarked from six yards out.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Porto also had their moments when it was goalless, but Mateus Uribe and Taremi missed opportunities.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Second in Portugal\'s Primeira Liga, Sergio Conceicao\'s side had Otavio sent off after he had been booked for dissent in the first half and then shown a second yellow card for a foul on Calhanoglu.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Otavio will now miss the second leg, but Porto will still fancy their chances of overturning the deficit at home in three weeks\' time. BBC</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 03:45:50', '2023-02-23 03:45:50'),
(5372, 5372, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia and China showcased their deepening ties Wednesday in meetings others are watching for signs that Beijing might offer the Kremlin stronger support for its war in Ukraine.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The visit by Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party\'s most senior foreign policy official, to Moscow comes as the conflict in Ukraine continues to upend the global diplomatic order.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War, and ties between China and the U.S. are also under serious strain. Moscow suspended its participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with Washington this week. And the U.S. expressed concern that China could provide arms and ammunition to Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at the start of talks with Wang, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed ties between the two countries and added that the Kremlin expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian leader, whose own rule over Russia is imperiled by the war, noted escalating international tensions, adding that “in this context, cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the global arena is particularly important for stabilizing the international situation.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Also read: No economic ‘knockout’ yet from West’s sanctions on Russia</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While Wang said “Chinese-Russian relations aren’t directed against any third countries and certainly can’t be subject to pressure from any third countries,” the specter of the war and how it has galvanized the West and deepened its divide with Russia hung over his meeting with Putin.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For instance, Wang emphasized that Moscow and Beijing both support “multipolarity and democratization of international relations” — a reference to their shared goal of countering the perceived U.S. dominance in global affairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier Wednesday, Wang held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “Our ties have continued to develop dynamically, and despite high turbulence in the global arena, we have shown the readiness to speak in defense of each other’s interests,” Lavrov said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wang responded in kind, underlining Beijing\'s focus on deepening ties with Russia — a relationship it has said has “no limits.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has pointedly refused to criticize the invasion of Ukraine while echoing Moscow\'s claim that the U.S. and NATO were to blame for provoking the Kremlin . The government in Beijing also has blasted the sanctions imposed on Russia after it invaded Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia, in turn, has staunchly supported China amid tensions with the U.S. over Taiwan.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The two nations have held military drills showcasing their defense ties. China, Russia and South Africa are holding naval drills in the Indian Ocean this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A Russian frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov, arrived in Cape Town in recent days sporting the letters Z and V on its sides, letters that mark Russian weapons on the front lines in Ukraine and are used as a patriotic symbol in Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The rapprochement has worried the West. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said any Chinese involvement in the Kremlin’s war effort would be a “serious problem.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked Wednesday whether NATO has any indication that China might provide arms or other support to Russia’s war, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also told The Associated Press in Warsaw, Poland:</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We have seen some signs that they may be planning for that and of course NATO allies, the United States, have been warning against it because this is something that should not happen. China should not support Russia’s illegal war.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Stoltenberg said potential Chinese assistance would amount to providing “(direct) support to a blatant violation of international law, and of course (as) a member of the U.N. security council China should not in any way support violation of the U.N. charter, or international law.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Government-backed scholars in China shrugged off Washington\'s warnings over Beijing\'s relationship with Moscow as a reflection of what they described as a polarizing and distorted U.S. view.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Global Times quoted Zhang Hong, associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying the U.S. and its allies have looked at the Russia-Ukraine conflict through “colored glasses.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“It seems like anyone who talks with Russia will be seen as siding with Moscow in Russia-Ukraine conflict,” the English-language Chinese newspaper quoted Zhang as saying.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wang\'s talks with Lavrov followed his meeting Tuesday with Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, who called for closer cooperation with Beijing to counter what he described as Western efforts to maintain dominance by thwarting an alliance between China and Russia.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While China recently has emphasized its close ties with Moscow, it also has to tread carefully to avoid an escalation of tensions with the West as it looks to stimulate its economy following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Isolation from the West is not something (Beijing) wants to risk,” Yu Jie, senior research fellow for China in the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, a British think tank, said in comments published Wednesday. “President Xi and his colleagues have begun to realize that cooperation with Russia comes with substantial limits to avoid undermining China’s own political priorities and longer-term economic interests.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Wang\'s trip to Moscow took place against a backdrop of grinding battles in Ukraine, with neither side appearing to gain momentum. Ukraine’s presidential office said at least seven civilians were killed between Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During a speech at a patriotic concert, Putin on Wednesday hailed Russia\'s “heroic” troops and claimed Moscow\'s forces were fighting for the country\'s “historic frontiers” to protect its “interests, people, culture, language and territory.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“When we stand together, we have no equals,” he shouted to enthusiastic crowds at a Moscow sports arena.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The growing relationship between China and Russia is another example of how the war could spread into perilous new terrain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another was Putin’s announcement Tuesday that Russia would suspend its participation in the New START Treaty, raising new concerns about the fate of the arms pact, which was already on life support.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Last fall, Moscow decided to allow the resumption of U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites but refused to hold a scheduled round of consultations under the pact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The lower house of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday quickly endorsed Putin’s move to suspend the treaty, with officials and lawmakers casting it as an 11th-hour warning to Washington.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reflecting Beijing\'s cautious stance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the treaty was key to peace and stability and that China hopes “the two sides will properly resolve their differences.\" AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 04:13:53', '2023-02-23 04:13:53'),
(5373, 5373, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A new study using NASA\'s Chandra X-ray Observatory has tracked two pairs of supermassive black holes in dwarf galaxies on collision courses, NASA said on Wednesday.</b></span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">This is the first evidence for such an impending encounter, providing scientists with important information about the growth of black holes in the early universe, according to NASA.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Dwarf galaxies by definition contain stars with a total mass less than about 3 billion times that of the sun, according to NASA.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Astronomers have long suspected that dwarf galaxies merge, particularly in the relatively early universe, in order to grow into the larger galaxies seen today. However, current technology cannot observe the first generation of dwarf galaxy mergers because they are extraordinarily faint at their great distances, according to NASA.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">The new study overcame these challenges by implementing a systematic survey of deep Chandra X-ray observations and comparing them with infrared data from NASA\'s Wide Infrared Survey Explorer and optical data from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">U.S. astronomers searched for pairs of bright X-ray sources in colliding dwarf galaxies as evidence of two black holes, and discovered two examples.</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">One pair is in the galaxy cluster Abell 133 located 760 million light-years from Earth. The other is in the Abell 1758S galaxy cluster, which is about 3.2 billion light-years away. Both pairs show structures that are characteristic signs of galaxy collisions, according to NASA. XINHUA</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"18\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 04:50:06', '2023-02-23 04:50:06'),
(5374, 5374, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">An eleven-year-old girl in Cambodia has died from bird flu, the country\'s first fatality from the virus in years, health authorities said.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The World Health Organization has called for vigilance after the recent detection of bird flu in mammals, but has stressed that the risk to humans is low.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The girl in Cambodia fell ill on February 16 with a fever, cough and sore throat, and later died in hospital, Cambodia\'s Communicable Disease Control Department said Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It did not specify the time of death, but said that test results delivered on Wednesday confirmed that the girl -- who was from Prey Veng province -- was \"positive for H5N1\", referring to the bird flu virus.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The disease typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since late 2021, Europe has been gripped by its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, with North and South America also experiencing severe outbreaks.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This has led to the culling of tens of millions of domestic poultry worldwide, many with the H5N1 strain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The global outbreak is also responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of wild birds.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The recent detection of the disease in a number of mammals, including foxes, otters, minks, sea lions and even grizzly bears, has sparked concern that humans could be more at risk.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"The recent spillover to mammals needs to be monitored closely,\" WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this month, stressing that \"for the moment, WHO assesses the risk to humans as low\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Globally, there have been more than 450 fatal bird flu cases since 2003, according to the WHO. AFP</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 04:55:15', '2023-02-23 04:55:15'),
(5375, 5375, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone this morning.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 161 at 8:55am this morning, the capital of Bangladesh ranked eighth in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\', particularly for sensitive groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Thailand’s Chiang Mai occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 196, 177 and 166, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'poor\', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 05:28:58', '2023-02-23 05:28:58'),
(5376, 5376, '<p style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Israeli army launched air strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip at dawn on Thursday, an AFP journalist said, after rockets were fired from the territory into Israel about two hours earlier.</span><br></p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">Shortly after 6:00 am local time (0400 GMT), black smoke rose over one of the targeted locations north of Gaza City. In a statement sent to the press a few minutes later, the Israeli army said that it was \"carrying out strikes in the Gaza Strip\". AFP</p><p style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</p>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 05:57:53', '2023-02-23 05:57:53'),
(5377, 5377, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A cricket legend Sourav Ganguly former president of Indian Cricket Control Board (BCCI), is due in Dhaka today (February 23).</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The objective of his arrival is to attend grand inauguration of DNCC Mayor Cup-2023 Season-2.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka North City Corporation has organised the tournament and confirmed arrival of Ganguly.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Logo unveiling of the programme is going to be held at a five-star hotel in the capital at 3:00pm presided over by DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">&nbsp;bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 06:33:45', '2023-02-23 06:33:45'),
(5378, 5378, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Hrithik Roshan is seen posing with a stuntman named Mansoor Ali Khan on the set of his film Vikram Vedha (2022) in an old photo. On Thursday, a paparazzo shared the throwback photo on Instagram leaving fans of late Sushant Singh Rajput mindblown as they called Hrithik\'s stuntman a \'replica of SSR (Sushant Singh Rajput)\'.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fans could not get over Mansoor\'s uncanny resemblance to Sushant, and flooded the comments section of the paparazzo\'s post with comments about the late actor, who died in 2020.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The photo featured Hrithik Roshan and Mansoor in identical black shirts and trousers as they filmed for Vikram Vedha. Fans said Mansoor looked just like a xerox copy of Sushant, only with messy long hair and a beard. A fan commented, \"Oh my God, replica of SSR (Sushant Singh Rajput).\"&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another one wrote, \"Stuntman resembles SSR.\" Another fan commented, \"The fact that he looks like SSR, also his name is Mansoor, Sushant\'s character\'s name from Kedarnath (2018)!\" One more commented, \"Ek pal ko laga Sushant hai Hritik ke sath (for a moment I felt it was Sushant with Hrithik).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The photo was originally posted by Mansoor on Instagram last month as he wished Hrithik on his birthday. In his caption, he had written, \"Happy Birthday bhai Hrithik Roshan. You are a super star with pure heart, so grounded and so humble, so caring, so loving person. You always appreciate and respect others talent!! Also a super friendly human…\" A person had commented on his post at the time, \"Yeh toh Sushant hai bhai (brother, this is Sushant).\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Vikram Vedha, directed by Pushkar-Gayathri, was the Hindi remake of their 2017 Tamil film of the same name. The original film featured R Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Shraddha Srinath.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It was released in 2017 and was a box office hit. Along with Hrithik, the film\'s Hindi remake also featured Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte. Hrithik is now working on an action film with Anil Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, titled Fighter. It is directed by filmmaker Siddharth Anand. HT</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 07:11:59', '2023-02-23 07:11:59'),
(5379, 5379, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released today in a report by United Nations (UN) agencies.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report, ‘Trends in maternal mortality’, reveals alarming setbacks for women’s health over recent years, as maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world who lack access to high quality, respectful health care,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights,” he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report, which tracks maternal deaths nationally, regionally and globally from 2000 to 2020, shows there were an estimated 287,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2020. This marks only a slight decrease from 309,000 in 2016 when the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect. While the report presents some significant progress in reducing maternal deaths between 2000 and 2015, gains largely stalled, or in some cases even reversed, after this point.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In two of the eight UN regions – Europe and Northern America, and Latin America and the Caribbean – the maternal mortality rate increased from 2016 to 2020, by 17% and 15% respectively. Elsewhere, the rate stagnated.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report notes, however, that progress is possible.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For example, two regions – Australia and New Zealand, and Central and Southern Asia – experienced significant declines (by 35% and 16% respectively) in their maternal mortality rates during the same period, as did 31 countries across the world.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“For millions of families, the miracle of childbirth is marred by the tragedy of maternal deaths,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“No mother should have to fear for her life while bringing a baby into the world, especially when the knowledge and tools to treat common complications exist. Equity in healthcare gives every mother, no matter who they are or where they are, a fair chance at a safe delivery and a healthy future with their family.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In total numbers, maternal deaths continue to be largely concentrated in the poorest parts of the world and in countries affected by conflict. In 2020, about 70% of all maternal deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In nine countries facing severe humanitarian crises, maternal mortality rates were more than double the world average (551 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 223 globally).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“This report provides yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to double down on our commitment to women and adolescent health,” said Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank, and Director of the Global Financing Facility.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“With immediate action, more investments in primary health care and stronger, more resilient health systems, we can save lives, improve health and well-being, and advance the rights of and opportunities for women and adolescents.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe abortion, and underlying conditions that can be aggravated by pregnancy (such as HIV/AIDS and malaria) are the leading causes of maternal deaths. These are all largely preventable and treatable with access to high-quality and respectful healthcare.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Community-centered primary health care can meet the needs of women, children and adolescents and enable equitable access to critical services such as assisted births and pre- and postnatal care, childhood vaccinations, nutrition and family planning. However, underfunding of primary health care systems, a lack of trained health care workers, and weak supply chains for medical products are threatening progress.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Roughly a third of women do not have even four of the recommended eight antenatal checks or receive essential postnatal care, while some 270 million women lack access to modern family planning methods.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Exercising control over their reproductive health – particularly decisions about if and when to have children – is critical to ensure that women can plan and space childbearing and protect their health. Inequities related to income, education, race or ethnicity further increase risks for marginalized pregnant women, who have the least access to essential maternity care but are most likely to experience underlying health problems in pregnancy.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It is unacceptable that so many women continue to die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth. Over 280,000 fatalities in a single year is unconscionable,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“We can and must do better by urgently investing in family planning and filling the global shortage of 900,000 midwives so that every woman can get the lifesaving care she needs. We have the tools, knowledge and resources to end preventable maternal deaths; what we need now is the political will.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The COVID-19 pandemic may have further held back progress on maternal health. Noting the current data series ends in 2020, more data will be needed to show the true impacts of the pandemic on maternal deaths. However, COVID-19 infections can increase risks during pregnancy, so countries should take action to ensure pregnant women and those planning pregnancies have access to COVID-19 vaccines and effective antenatal care.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Reducing maternal mortality remains one of the most pressing global health challenges,” said John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Ending preventable maternal deaths and providing universal access to quality maternal health care require sustained national and international efforts and unwavering commitments, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every mother, everywhere, survives childbirth, so that she and her children can thrive.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The report reveals that the world must significantly accelerate progress to meet global targets for reducing maternal deaths, or risk the lives of over 1 million more women by 2030. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"6\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 07:50:44', '2023-02-23 07:50:44');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(5380, 5380, '<div><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced its search for a new assistant coach for the national cricket team.</b><br></div><div><br></div><div>BCB President Nazmul Hasan said they are expecting applications from local coaches as well.</div><div><br></div><div>The BCB recently appointed Chandika Hathurusinghe as the head coach of the Bangladesh team for the second time, following his initial tenure from 2014 to 2017.</div><div><br></div><div>After confirming Hathurusinghe\'s appointment, the BCB has been actively searching for an assistant coach.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have been looking for an assistant to Chandika,\" Nazmul told the media on Wednesday. \"We have issued a notice. And we encourage local coaches to apply for this post. We really want someone from the local coaching community to take up this role.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The BCB will assign a local coach for other posts if it does not find a suitable assistant coach from local applicants, Nazmul said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hathurusinghe, who spoke to the media for the first time in his second stint as the national team coach of Bangladesh, said he is looking forward to developing a game plan that will suit the Bangladesh team better.</div><div><br></div><div>The 54-year-old coach also acknowledged that the Bangladesh team has demonstrated their strength in ODIs over the years, but still need to improve their performance in longer and shorter versions.</div><div><br></div><div>During Hathurusinghe\'s first tenure, the Bangladesh team achieved historic success in ODIs, including a memorable victory against England in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and successful home series against Pakistan, India, and South Africa.</div><div><br></div><div>In the same period, Bangladesh also registered Test wins against England and Australia at home.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh team is currently gearing up to face England in a home series that comprises three ODIs and three T20Is, scheduled to begin on March 1 in Dhaka. UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 07:59:44', '2023-02-23 07:59:44'),
(5381, 5381, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Grameenphone users have been experiencing network disruptions in several areas since this morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many GP customers posted on social media that they are facing problems while sending SMS and making phone calls.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Contacted, Khairul Basher, Head of Communications, GP, said, “We sincerely apologize for the temporary difficulty in making calls due to multiple fiber optics cables being cut. Our team is prioritizing this issue and working relentlessly to resolve the problem at the earliest.” UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 08:06:50', '2023-02-23 08:06:50'),
(5382, 5382, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">A case has been filed against 10 people in connection with the death of a teenage boy during a clash between two factions of Awami League in Raipur upazila of Laxmipur district on Wednesday.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fatema Begum, mother of diseased Russel Hossain,14, filed the case against Awami League leader BM Shahjalal and 9 others on Wednesday night, said Shipon Barua, officer-in-charge of Raipur Police Station.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Police also arrested five people after the clash from the spot, said the OC.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They were shown arrested in the case. Four other arrestees were identified as Rahul, general secretary of Charbongshi union unit Awami League, Shohag, Faruk and Sumon Shikdar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Russel Hossain, son of Manir Hossain Bhuttu was killed and 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League over establishing supremacy at Charkasia village in Raipur upazila. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 08:40:35', '2023-02-23 08:40:35'),
(5383, 5383, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked agriculturists to carry on their efforts to increase food yield keeping in mind the adverse global circumstances and climate change.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>\"In view of the (global) situation, we have to produce our crops,\" she said, opening golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>She added that climate change phenomenon also required Bangladesh to produce new crop varieties alongside the traditional crops.</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>Sheikh Hasina inaugurated Bangabandhu-Pierre Elliot Trudeau Agricultural Technology Centre at BRRI in Gazipur coinciding with the BRRI golden jubilee celebrations.</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>The premier, however, acknowledged with happiness that Bangladesh not only set an example in food grain production, but also in different kind of vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products.</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>She said since the country was going to enter the era of fourth industrial revolution (4IR), her government has taken initiatives to develop skilled human resources.</div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>\"To keep pace (with the 4IR), we have to learn about nano-technology, bio-informatics, machines, internet of things and new agriculture technologies and have to produce these technologies as well,\" she added.</div><div><br></div><div>With Agriculture Minister Dr. Muhammad Abdur Razzaque in the chair, BRRI Director General Dr. Md. Shahjahan Kabir delivered the welcome address.</div><div><br></div><div>Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Executive Chairman Dr. Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, International Rice Research Institute Director General Jean Balie, Global Institute for Food Security Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Steven Webb, among others, also spoke.</div><div><br></div><div>Liberation War Affairs Minister A K M Mozammel Huq and State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel were also present.</div><div><br></div><div>A documentary titled \"50 years of BRRI\'s pride and success\" was screened at the function.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, after arrival at the BRRI, the prime minister paid homage to the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>She also inaugurated Bangabandhu-Pierre Elliot Trudeau Agricultural Technology Centre at BRRI.</div><div><br></div><div>The center has been set up at BRRI following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council aiming to cooperate on multidisciplinary research, training and development partnership to ensure sustainable food security.</div><div><br></div><div>Subsequently, the premier also released balloons and pigeons marking the BRRI golden jubilee.</div><div><br></div><div>She, as well, took part in different programmes including tree plantations, inspection of BRRI laboratories, its various innovations and a cultural event titled \"Dhan-Kabbya\".</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister unveiled the cover of five research publications of BRRI and BARC. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 09:45:08', '2023-02-23 09:45:08'),
(5384, 5384, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Tajikistan on Thursday morning, with tremors strongly shaking parts of neighbouring China.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The quake hit around 8.37am Beijing local time at a depth of 6 miles, Chinese state media CCTV reported, citing the China Earthquake Networks Center.</div><div><br></div><div>The epicentre was located nearly 82km from the nearest border with China and was felt across the Xinjiang region, including Kashgar and Artux.</div><div><br></div><div>The epicentre appeared to be in Gorno-Badakhshan, a semi-autonomous and sparsely populated eastern region dominated by the towering Pamir Mountains.</div><div><br></div><div>So far there have been no reports of injuries or casualties.</div><div><br></div><div>The region was hit by two aftershocks of magnitude 5 and 4.6 about 20 minutes after the initial jolt.</div><div><br></div><div>The USGS estimated that “little or no population” would be exposed to landslides from the quake. - Independent&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment Desk', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 09:57:23', '2023-02-23 09:57:23'),
(5385, 5385, '<div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Tarique Rahman (acting chairman of BNP), who has been convicted in cases and has been living in London, and his associates including then intelligence officials in Bangladesh held ties with the separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua, according to a report published today by India Today.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The report quotes Major General Gaganjit Singh, former deputy director general of India’s Defense Intelligence Agency, recalling the 2004 ten-truck arms and ammunition haul in Chattogram. According to Singh, the arms supply was done through the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat alliance.</div><div><br></div><div>ULFA and a few other rebel organisations in northeast India were intended to use the large consignment of weapons seized in Chattogram in April 2004, according to Major General Singh.</div><div><br></div><div>Sing’s disclosure in the India Today report comes after ULFA commander Anup Chetia in a recent interview said that the weapons were intended for other rebel groups in addition to his group. Chetia was arrested in Dhaka in 1997; he was the general secretary of ULFA at the time.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Singh, the architect of the entire conspiracy to get weaponry in order to intensify the separatist campaign in India’s Assam was ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua.</div><div><br></div><div>“But he was operating in close coordination with DGFI and some NSI officials who had close links with Tarique Rahman and his cronies in what was then referred to as Hawa Bhaban (political office of BNP),” the ex-intel officer said.</div><div><br></div><div>The huge consignment of arms were being supplied, taking advantage of the BNP-Jamaat alliance, using Bangladesh “as a sanctuary,” Singh was quoted by India Today.</div><div><br></div><div>According to former BBC correspondent Subir Bhaumik, who reported on the Chattogram arms haul, Singh was closely involved in the operation to trace the passage of the weapons consignment.</div><div><br></div><div>As per reports, during the BNP-Jamaat government (2001-2006), Hawa Bhaban gained notoriety as the most influential and alternative power house from which Tarique, along with his confidants, gave the go-ahead for a number of reprehensible plots, including the grenade attack on then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>The India Today report quotes Singh as saying, “Paresh Barua was operating from a hotel in GEC Mor in Chittagong, not far from field intelligence unit of DGFI. We had all the details of the arrival of the weapons at the CFL jetty.” His sources in Bangladesh informed the police that the arms consignment had landed, adds the report.</div><div><br></div><div>“The police had no idea this was meant for ULFA and other rebels because the DGFI had been secretive about the whole operation. As the police swung into action to seize the weapons, the media also rushed in. The whole thing blew up on the face of the BNP government,” Singh said.</div><div><br></div><div>Detailed examination of the 10-truck arms haul case verdict and mainstream media reports point to hardcore radicals chosen and facilitated by Tarique, who enjoyed the highest level of official patronage to carry out such heinous schemes, the report says. ‍Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 11:08:02', '2023-02-23 11:08:02'),
(5386, 5386, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United Nations’ educational, scientific and cultural agency chief on Wednesday called for a global dialogue to find ways to regulate social media companies and limit their role in the spreading of misinformation around the world.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Audrey Azoulay, the director general of UNESCO, addressed a gathering of lawmakers, journalists and civil societies from around the world to discuss ways to regulate social media platforms such as Twitter and others to help make the internet a safer, fact-based space.</div><div><br></div><div>The two-day conference in Paris aims to formulate guidelines that would help regulators, governments and businesses manage content that undermines democracy and human rights, while supporting freedom of expression and promoting access to accurate and reliable information.</div><div><br></div><div>The global dialogue should provide the legal tools and principles of accountability and responsibility for social media companies to contribute to the “public good,” Azoulay said in an interview with The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She added: “It would limit the risks that we see today, that we live today, disinformation (and) conspiracy theories spreading faster than the truth.”</div><div><br></div><div>The European Union last year passed landmark legislation that will compel big tech companies like Google and Facebook parent Meta to police their platforms more strictly to protect European users from hate speech, disinformation and harmful content.</div><div><br></div><div>The Digital Services Act is one of the EU’s three significant laws targeting the tech industry.</div><div><br></div><div>In the United States, the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission have filed major antitrust actions against Google and Facebook, although Congress remains politically divided on efforts to address online disinformation, competition, privacy and more. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 14:02:57', '2023-02-23 14:02:57'),
(5387, 5387, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has said that the Bangladeshi products are capable of gaining trust of the Saudi Arabia buyers since the country has gained capacity to supply world class products in the global market in comparatively less price.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The commerce minister said this while addressing the inaugural session of the three-day \"Bangladeshi Products Exhibition 2023\" as the chief guest held at Saudi Arabia\'s capital Riyadh on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Javed Patwary and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president Faruque Hassan spoke on the occasion presided over by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) vice chairman AHM Ahsan, said a press release.</div><div><br></div><div>Terming Saudi Arabia as a trusted friend of Bangladesh, Tipu said that Saudi Arabia is also a large trade and development partner of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that the demand for Bangladeshi products in the market of Saudi Arabia is growing day by day, he said that this huge potential should be tapped.</div><div><br></div><div>The commerce minister mentioned that the present Awami League government has been providing necessary support to the businesses to extend trade and commerce.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The reputation of Bangladeshi products has spread across the globe for which the export of Bangladeshi items is growing day by day,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Tipu also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Saudi King, the Crown Prince and also to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for extending all necessary support to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>He hoped that the Kingdom would continue to extend all possible support for boosting trade and commerce between the two countries.</div><div><br></div><div>The commerce minister also stressed the need for holding fair in various parts of the world projecting the Bangladeshi products to attract attention of the global buyers.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official data, Bangladesh exported goods worth $290 million to Saudi Arabia in the last fiscal year (FY22) which is 12 percent higher than the previous fiscal year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 30 firms are taking part in the exhibition highlighting RMG, pharmaceuticals, and leather goods products. Source: BSS</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 14:32:51', '2023-02-23 14:32:51'),
(5388, 5388, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">US President Biden appeared to trip and fall Wednesday while he was climbing the steps to board Air Force One in Warsaw, Poland, according to video of the incident, Fox News reported.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The video shows Biden falling near the top of the staircase on the airport tarmac before catching himself, turning to wave and entering the aircraft. It remains unclear what might have caused Biden to trip on the steps, Fox News reported.</div><div><br></div><div>The incident occurred shortly after the president wrapped up his trip to Eastern Europe to visit Ukraine and Poland. Biden is slated to return to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening aboard the plane.</div><div>The White House didn\'t immediately respond to a request for comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Biden\'s apparent fall on the steps leading to Air Force One comes nearly two years after he similarly fell on the same steps at Joint Base Andrews.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 14:39:03', '2023-02-23 14:39:03'),
(5389, 5389, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that there is no scope for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to do politics as she has been convicted in graft cases.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Obaidul Quader said this while replying to journalists during a joint meeting of AL at its Bangabandhu Avenue central office in the capital on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Why has Khaleda Zia\'s jail sentence been suspended? She is sick. If she was not ill, she would have been in jail. A convict has no scope to do politics,\" he said.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>The joint meeting was held between AL central leaders and presidents and general secretaries of Dhaka city north and south units and associate bodies of AL, reports BSS.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said Khaleda Zia didn\'t get release from his jail sentence. But her jail sentence has been suspended several times on humanitarian grounds, he said, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina showed the generosity.</div><div><br></div><div>He said BNP also knew it very well that there is no scope for Khaleda Zia to do politics and that is why they made the party\'s senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman as its acting chairman.</div><div><br></div><div>As Khaleda Zia is not valid to do politics, she has been dropped, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Castigating BNP, the AL general secretary said BNP has given birth to terrorism in the country. When they were in power, they carried out terrorist acts, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP carried out attacks on the then Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina, wherever she went, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 15:51:59', '2023-02-23 15:51:59'),
(5390, 5390, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Stating that the Law Minister’s recent comment on their party chairperson Khaleda Zia has created confusion in the public mind, BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Thursday said she will definitely do politics if a favourable environment is created.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“They (government) are giving different statements at times (over Khaleda’s scope to do politics). They’re creating a smoke screen over the issue,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters after a meeting between the liaison committees of BNP and Ganatantra Mancha at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, Tuku said the Prime Minister once threatened that Khaleda Zia will be sent to jail again if she does politics. “Now her law minister is saying that there’s no barrier for Khaleda Zia to do politics. You (journalists) say which one we’ll accept.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also said they are not interested in what the ministers are saying about Khaleda Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>“I think it is an insignificant matter. Begum Khaleda Zia did politics, became a leader from the field of politics, and became the Prime Minister thrice…Begum Khaleda Zia will definitely do politics if a favourable environment is created,” Tuku said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said people don’t understand what the government wants to mean as the ruling party leaders are making contradictory comments over Khaleda’s right to do politics. “BNP is least bothered about the ruling party leaders’ comments on the matter,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier at an event in the capital on Sunday, the law minister said the BNP chairperson can take part in politics, but she is barred from contesting the next general election because of her conviction for corruption.</div><div><br></div><div>The government will not interfere if she does politics, the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Whether she will do politics or not, it’s her personal matter,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In the meeting, Tuku said they discussed the issue of growing anarchy in the education sector by the Chhatra League.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Different untoward incidents are happening on the campus. We’re deeply concerned as the way the education system is being collapsed and our girls are being targeted and repressed on every campus,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of their simultaneous movement, the BNP leader said they will announce action programmes against the anarchy on the campus in the future. “We call upon the students to come forward in this regard.”</div><div><br></div><div>In over an hour-long meeting, the leaders of the BNP and Ganatantra Mancha also discussed their next course of action and the joint declaration of the simultaneous movement.</div><div><br></div><div>Ganatantra Mancha leader Hasnat Quayum said, \"We have discussed finalising the joint declaration of our simultaneous movement. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with the joint declaration in a very short time,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikay Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Junaid Saki, Gano Odhikar Parishad member secretary Nurul Haque Nur, among others, was there.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-23 16:16:47', '2023-02-23 16:16:47'),
(5391, 5391, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">China, a firm Russian ally, has called for a cease-fire between Ukraine and Moscow and the opening of peace talks as part of a 12-point proposal to end the conflict.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The plan issued Friday morning by the Foreign Ministry also urges the end of Western sanctions imposed on Russia, measures to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities, the establishment of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, and steps to ensure the export of grain after disruptions caused global food prices to spike.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has claimed to be neutral in the conflict, but it has a “no limits” relationship with Russia and has refused to criticize its invasion of Ukraine over even refer to it as such, while accusing the West of provoking the conflict and “fanning the flames\" by providing Ukraine with defensive arms.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to oppose the U.S.-led liberal international order. Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the strength of those ties when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow this week.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China has also been accused by the U.S. of possibly preparing to provide Russia with military aid, something Beijing says lacks evidence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Given China\'s positions, that throws doubt on whether its 12-point proposal has any hope of going ahead — or whether China is seen as an honest broker.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Before the proposal was released, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it an important first step.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I think that, in general, the fact that China started talking about peace in Ukraine, I think that it is not bad. It is important for us that all states are on our side, on the side of justice,” he said at a news conference Friday with Spain\'s prime minister.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier Thursday that the U.S. would reserve judgment but that China’s allegiance with Russia meant it was not a neutral mediator. “We would like to see nothing more than a just and durable peace ... but we are skeptical that reports of a proposal like this will be a constructive path forward,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Price added that the U.S. hopes “all countries that have a relationship with Russia unlike the one that we have will use that leverage, will use that influence to push Russia meaningfully and usefully to end this brutal war of aggression. (China) is in a position to do that in ways that we just aren’t.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The peace proposal mainly elaborated on long-held Chinese positions, including referring to the need that all countries\' “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity be effectively guaranteed.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also called an end to the “Cold War mentality\" — it\'s standard term for what it regards as U.S. hegemony and interference in other countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“A country’s security cannot be at the expense of other countries’ security, and regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs,” the proposal said. “The legitimate security interests and concerns of all countries should be taken seriously and properly addressed.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">China abstained Thursday when the U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces. It is one of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous resolutions on Ukraine.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The resolution, drafted by Ukraine in consultation with its allies, passed 141-7 with 32 abstentions, sending a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that appears to leave Russia more isolated than ever.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">While China has not been openly critical of Moscow, it has said that the present conflict is “not something it wishes to see,” and has repeatedly said any use of nuclear weapons would be completely unacceptable, in an implied repudiation of Putin’s statement that Russia would use “all available means” to protect its territory.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“There are no winners in conflict wars,\" the proposal said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“All parties should maintain rationality and restraint ... support Russia and Ukraine to meet each other, resume direct dialogue as soon as possible, gradually promote the de-escalation and relaxation of the situation, and finally reach a comprehensive ceasefire,\" it said. AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 07:11:25', '2023-02-24 07:11:25'),
(5392, 5392, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Dhaka\'s air quality continued to be in the \'unhealthy\' zone on Friday morning.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">With an air quality index (AQI) score of 161 at 8:45am, the metropolis ranked eighth in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered \'unhealthy\', particularly for sensitive groups.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russia’s Krasnoyarsk, Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Mumbai occupied the first, second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 271, 191 and 175, respectively.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be \'poor\', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered \'hazardous\', posing serious health risks to residents.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 07:15:01', '2023-02-24 07:15:01'),
(5393, 5393, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia launched a rescue ship on Friday for two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut whose original ride home sprang a dangerous leak while parked at the International Space Station.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The new, empty Soyuz capsule should arrive at the orbiting lab on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The capsule leak in December was blamed on a micrometeorite that punctured an external radiator, draining it of coolant. The same thing appeared to happen again earlier this month, this time on a docked Russian cargo ship. Camera views showed a small hole in each spacecraft.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Russian Space Agency delayed the launch of the replacement Soyuz, looking for any manufacturing defects. No issues were found, and the agency proceeded with Friday\'s predawn launch from Kazakhstan of the capsule with bundles of supplies strapped into the three seats.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Given the urgent need for this capsule, two top NASA officials traveled from the U.S. to observe the launch in person. To everyone\'s relief, the capsule safely reached orbit nine minutes after liftoff — “a perfect ride to orbit,” NASA Mission Control\'s Rob Navias reported from Houston.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Officials had determined it was too risky to bring NASA’s Frank Rubio and Russia’s Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin back in their damaged Soyuz next month as originally planned. With no coolant, the cabin temperature would spike during the trip back to Earth, potentially damaging computers and other equipment, and exposing the suited-up crew to excessive heat.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Until the new Soyuz pulls up, emergency plans call for Rubio to switch to a SpaceX crew capsule that’s docked at the space station. Prokopyev and Petelin remain assigned to their damaged Soyuz in the unlikely need for a fast getaway. Having one less person on board would keep the temperature down to a hopefully manageable level, Russian engineers concluded.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The damaged Soyuz will return to Earth with no one aboard by the end of March, so engineers can examine it.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The three men launched in this Soyuz last September on what should have been a six-month mission. They\'ll now stay in space for a full year, until a new capsule is ready for their crew replacements for liftoff in September. It was their Soyuz that just launched with no one on board.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The damaged supply ship was filled with trash and cut loose over the weekend, burning up in the atmosphere as originally planned.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“The Russians are continuing to take a really close look” at both spacecraft leaks, NASA\'s deputy space station program manager Dana Weigel told reporters earlier this week. “They\'re looking at everything ... to try to understand that.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">NASA has a fresh crew of four launching atop a SpaceX rocket early Monday morning from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. SpaceX\'s William Gerstenmaier said the four astronauts returning to Earth in a few weeks already have inspected the Dragon capsule that will carry them home and “it all checked out fine.\" AP/UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"1\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 07:20:55', '2023-02-24 07:20:55'),
(5394, 5394, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the country’s health sector has witnessed significant progress despite various limitations over the last 14 years.</span><br></b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh is now almost self-sufficient in cardiac care. Bangladesh has the capacity to treat 95 to 98 percent of cardiovascular diseases as skilled manpower, modern technology and equipment are available here in the country,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier said this in a video message aired in the 3rd International Scientific Conference arranged by Bangladesh Cardiovascular Research Foundation (BCRF) in the city.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She also opened the two-day conference being held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said healthcare has now become much more accessible and reached the doorsteps of common people.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“As the country\'s cardiologists and doctors provide better medical services to the patients in the country, the people of the country are benefiting and thus (the country’s) foreign currency is being saved,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said work is underway to set up a full-fledged pediatric cardiac unit in Dhaka for better treatment of pediatric cardiac patients in the country. “Plans have been taken to extend such facilities to other government hospitals as well,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">To increase the scope of pediatric cardiac treatment, the scope to produce pediatric cardiologists has been enhanced as a full-fledged pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiac surgery unit was set up at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said the PM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A 500-bed world-class \'Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research Institute\' has been established in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;The premier stressed the need for focusing on preventive measures regarding cardiovascular diseases as the number of cardiac patients is on rise in the country.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;“The number of cardiac patients is increasing day by day in the country due to various reasons including diet, lack of physical work, smoking and excessive diabetes. Along with the development of cardiovascular disease care, we also need to pay attention to preventive measures,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM Hasina said cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in Bangladesh and all over the world. According to the World Health Organization, some 17.9 million people die every year in the world due to cardiovascular diseases.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“About 27 percent of total deaths in Bangladesh are caused by cardiovascular diseases. At present, 10 children per thousand are suffering from cardiovascular diseases in the country. One in five young people in Bangladesh is at risk of heart disease,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Focusing on her government’s steps for the development of the health sector, the PM said it has taken a plan to build a medical college in every district. The number of medical colleges rose to 115 now from 50 ones in 2009, while the number of MBBS course seats went up to 10,789 from only 2,050 in 2009, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said her government will build a medical university in every division and four medical universities have already been set up.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pointing to the participants, their participation in the 3rd Scientific Conference has created a unique opportunity to share knowledge and experiences among cardiac specialists. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 08:28:35', '2023-02-24 08:28:35'),
(5395, 5395, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The England men\'s cricket team landed in Dhaka on Friday morning for their first tour of Bangladesh since 2016.</b><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The tour, which was originally scheduled for September and October 2021 but postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consists of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) to be played in Dhaka and Chattogram.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">England captain Jos Buttler, who stated in December 2022 that he was looking forward to leading the world champions in Bangladesh, a country where they have not won an ODI series since 2010. He anticipates a challenging contest from the hosts.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Bangladesh team has already begun preparations for the series starting on March 1 in Dhaka. Tamim Iqbal will lead Bangladesh in the ODI series, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) having already announced the squad for the contest.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Chandika Hathurusingha will be coaching the Bangladesh team during the series. BCB reappointed Hathurusingha as the head coach for a two-year period following the departure of Russell Domingo. Hathurusingha will be in charge of all three formats of the game and expressed his happiness at returning to Bangladesh, hoping to continue his good work with the team.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first two ODIs will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on March 1 and 3, with the third ODI taking place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on March 6. All the ODIs will begin at 2:30 PM local time.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The T20I series will start on March 9 at Chattogram, followed by two more matches on March 12 and 14 in Dhaka. All T20Is will begin at 6:00 PM local time. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 08:41:28', '2023-02-24 08:41:28'),
(5396, 5396, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate 44 projects during her daylong visit to Gopalganj tomorrow.</b></span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier is also likely to lay foundation stones of five other projects.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The 44 projects include two rural piped water supply schemes - one at Dumuria union under Tungipara upazila and another one at Ramshil union under Kotalipara upazila, 24 meter RCC girder bridge on Gopalpur UP Office-Kajulia UP via Boraihati Polshair Bazar Road and 99 meter girder bridge on Kushli GC-Dharabashail GC via Mitradanga, Sonakhali Road in Tungipara upazila, four-storey Shuagram Bohumukhi High School at Kotalipara, three-storey girls hostel (100 beds) at Sheikh Hasina Adarsha Degree College at Kotalipara, four-storey academic building of Kotalipara SN Institution, Kotalipara Poura Kitchen Market and Kotalipara Upazila Parishad built Sheikh Russel Library at Bhangarhat Talimpur Telihati High School at Kotalipara upazila, \'Mukta Manch\' on the ancestral home of poet Sukanta Bhattacharya at Kotalipara, flood shelter center at Uttar Kotalipara Rammohon High School at Kotalipara, one-storey commercial building having 10-storey foundation at Boro Bazar in Gopalganj Sadar.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The prime minister will lay foundation stones of Gopalganj Zilla Tathya Complex Bhaban and Kotalipara Model Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre under Public Works Department, Radhaganj Union Bhangarhat Bazar Development and Mural Construction on 1971 Liberation War at Koralipara Upazila under Local Government Engineering Department and building Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman\'s mural at 11 union parishads under Kotalipara Upazila Parishad. BSS</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-02-24 10:14:21', '2023-02-24 10:14:21');
