INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10316, 10316, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bollywood producer, director Karan Johar, who has always been upfront about his mental health struggles, recently opened up about his experience with anxiety during a press conference for his programme “Koffee With Karan 8”.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“What happens to me or anybody else, it can happen to anybody. It doesn\'t mean you need a trigger, sometimes it is a result of many things, sometimes there\'s a trigger. When I spoke about my anxiety, it was to share a part of life that exists. That exists today as well, while I speak. I\'ve no fear in saying that I\'m on medication,” PTI quoted Karan Johar as saying, reports NDTV.</div><div><br></div><div>Karan Johar and actress Deepika Padukone discussed their mental health experiences on an earlier episode of “Koffee With Karan 8”. Karan Johar discussed his \"legit (anxiety) attack\" during the unveiling of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) earlier this year.</div><div><br></div><div>“The legit attack I had was at the NMACC launch. I remember Varun Dhawan was staring at me. I was sweating. I didn\'t even realise my face was full of sweat. Varun came and he was like, \'Are you okay?\' My hands were shaking. And then he took me to an empty room. I first thought it was a cardiac arrest. I didn\'t know what I was going through. I got out of my jacket, which was long and elaborate. I just left in half an hour. I went back home and I just went to my bed and I cried. I didn\'t know why I was crying,” Johar said recalling the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>“Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”, “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna”, “My Name Is Khan”, and “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” are among the films Karan Johar directed.</div><div><br></div><div>“Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani”, starring Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, was his latest film which became a blockbuster. Karan Johar is also producing a film starring Kartik Aaryan and another project with Sidharth Malhotra, according to the report.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 08:41:05', '2023-12-06 08:41:05'),
(10317, 10317, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The death toll in Kenya from relentless El Nino-induced floods has surged to 160, with 529,120 people displaced from 105,824 households, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"A concerted push to distribute essential supplies, including food and non-food items, continues by road and through airlifts and airdrops in inaccessible areas in 19 affected counties. Evacuation efforts are also ongoing with Kenya Navy boats and the Kenya Coast Guard Service,\" said Mwaura.</div><div><br></div><div>In response to the escalating crisis, the government has been compelled to establish nine additional camps in Tana River County, Migori, Homa Bay and Voi as a means to accommodate the displaced population grappling with the aftermath of the floods.</div><div><br></div><div>The ongoing rains in Kenya have unleashed a cascade of challenges, with widespread flooding, landslides and mudslides wreaking havoc across the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The impact on infrastructure is significant, with numerous roads rendered impassable, disrupting transportation of people and relief efforts,\" Mwaura added</div><div><br></div><div>Among the damaged facilities are 36 submerged schools.</div><div><br></div><div>Kenya is not alone in facing the devastating consequences of El Nino. Neighboring nations Somalia and Ethiopia are also in the throes of torrential downpours.</div><div><br></div><div>The relentless rains have led to the deaths of hundreds of people, widespread displacement and the destruction of critical infrastructure in the three nations.</div><div><br></div><div>El Nino, a climatic phenomenon characterized by the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures, has induced significant shifts in rainfall patterns, resulting in an increased likelihood of extreme weather events such as floods.</div><div><br></div><div>The repercussions extend beyond borders, disrupting ecosystems worldwide and leaving communities vulnerable to the unforgiving forces of nature. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 09:07:55', '2023-12-06 09:07:55'),
(10318, 10318, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 29 persons were killed on Tuesday when a passenger bus plunged off a cliff in Antique province in central Philippines, local authorities said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The bus, carrying 53 passengers, was traveling west from Iloilo City to San Jose de Buenavista in Antique province when it crashed into a concrete road barrier before plunging into a ravine of 15-meter depth around 4:30 p.m. local time in Hamtic town.</div><div><br></div><div>Junlee Saylo, head of the antique provincial information office, told a radio interview that 25 died on the spot and four others died at a local hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>The deaths include the bus driver and his collector, local news web ABS-CBN reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Quoting the Antique provincial government, Panay News, a regional newspaper, reported that two critically wounded passengers, including a male from Kenya, were taken to a hospital in Iloilo City for treatment.</div><div><br></div><div>Emergency workers have been rescuing the survivors and retrieving the bodies of the people in the ravine. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 09:21:49', '2023-12-06 09:21:49'),
(10319, 10319, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Two Palestinians were killed early Wednesday by Israeli gunfire in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The Red Crescent said three others were wounded in the Israeli incursions into the Al-Fara\'a refugee camp and town of Tamun.</div><div><br></div><div>According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Wednesday’s fatalities pushed the death toll in the West Bank since the war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas began on Oct. 7 to 262.</div><div><br></div><div>Tensions have been running high across the West Bank amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"25\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 10:25:12', '2023-12-06 10:25:12'),
(10320, 10320, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday will visit both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as Dubai hosts the United Nations\' COP28 climate talks — despite facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over the war in Ukraine.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE has signed the ICC founding treaty, meaning they don\'t face any obligation to detain Putin over the warrant accusing him of being personally responsible for the abductions of children from Ukraine during his war on the country.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the visit comes as armed U.N. police patrol a portion of Dubai\'s Expo City now considered international territory for the talks, again highlighting the Emirates\' expansive business ties to Russia that have exploded in the time since grinding Western sanctions have targeted Moscow. Ukrainians on hand for the event expressed outrage over Putin being in the country at the same time they described him as committing environmental crimes in their country.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is extremely upsetting to see how the world treats war criminals, because that’s what he is, in my opinion,” said Marharyta Bohdanova, a worker at the Ukrainian pavilion at COP28, wiping away tears. \"Seeing how people let people like him in the big events, ... treating him like a dear guest, is just so hypocritical in my opinion.”</div><div><br></div><div>Officials at Russia\'s pavilion declined to speak to The Associated Press.</div><div><br></div><div>A readout on Putin\'s trip from the state-run Tass news agency published early Wednesday offered no suggestion Putin might come to the COP28 site, instead quoting Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov saying he\'d land and have a “meeting at the palace” and one-on-one talks with Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.</div><div><br></div><div>The visit comes after COP28 saw a parade of Western leaders including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and others backing Ukraine speak at the summit. So did Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, long a Putin ally.</div><div><br></div><div>The U.N.\'s Framework Convention on Climate Change\'s spokesperson Alexander Saier said at a press conference that he is “not aware that Mr. Putin will come to the conference, but I would also need to check the host country with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” He declined to immediately answer whether U.N. police would be obligated to make an arrest.</div><div><br></div><div>The Emirati organization committee for COP28 referred questions to the UAE\'s Foreign Ministry, which did not immediately respond. The UAE repeatedly feted the now-deposed Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir in the past despite an ICC warrant seeking his arrest over charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin last visited the UAE in 2019, receiving a warm welcome from Sheikh Mohammed, then the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. In the time since, however, the world has greatly changed.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian president isolated himself during the coronavirus pandemic. He launched an invasion targeting Ukraine in February 2022, a grinding war that continues on today and has been a topic for Ukrainian diplomats at the COP28 talks.</div><div><br></div><div>“I’m talking about his crimes and this person is literally right now here, somewhere near me,\" said Alina Abramenko, another worker at the Ukrainian pavilion that highlights the environmental damage wrought by the war. \"You know, it’s really strange.”</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas war remains a major concern for the Mideast, particularly the UAE, which reached a diplomatic recognition with Israel in 2020. Recent attacks by Yemen\'s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels also threatens commercial shipping in the Red Sea as Iran\'s nuclear program continues it rapid advances since the collapse of the 2016 nuclear deal.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin is scheduled to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday for what Ushakov has described as “a rather lengthy conversation.” The two countries have been discussing ways to get around the Western sanctions targeting them.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin will travel onto Saudi Arabia and meet with powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the one-day trip, Ushakov said. Those discussions likely will focus on Moscow\'s other major concern in the Middle East - oil.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia is part of OPEC+, which is a group of cartel members and other nations that have managed production to try and boost crude oil prices. Last week, the group expanded some output cuts into next year and brought up-and-coming oil supplier Brazil into the fold. Benchmark Brent crude traded Wednesday around $77 a barrel, down from nearly $100 in September, over concerns about a weakening economy worldwide. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 10:45:00', '2023-12-06 10:45:00'),
(10321, 10321, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been ranked 46th on Forbes\' 2023 list of the most powerful women in the world.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, US Vice President Kamala Harris, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have been ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift takes fifth place, marking the first time since the list’s inception that an entertainer has broken into the top five.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the American business magazine says, “Sheikh Hasina Wazed is currently the world\'s longest-serving female head of government.”</div><div><br></div><div>“She is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Bangladesh, is currently serving her fourth term,” says Forbes.</div><div><br></div><div>The magazine also highlighted the opposition parties\' call for her resignation ahead of the 12th parliamentary election in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>“Hasina is running for a 5th term in January 2024 despite rising calls from the opposition party for her to resign,” writes the magazine.</div><div><br></div><div>Four women from neighbouring India have been named on the list of most powerful women including the Minister Of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman (32nd). The other three on the list are: HCL Corporation CEO Roshni Nadar Malhotra (60th); Soma Mondal (70th), chairperson of Steel Authority Of India; and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (76th), founder, chair and managing director of Biocon. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 10:51:43', '2023-12-06 10:51:43'),
(10322, 10322, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Kyiv claimed on Wednesday that it destroyed 41 Russian drones amid air attacks on Ukraine.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>A statement by the Ukrainian Air Force claimed that a total of 48 \"Shahed-type\" attack drones were launched by Russia from the Kursk region, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div>A day earlier, Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, claimed on Telegram that the country shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M tactical bomber near Zmiinyi Island.</div><div><br></div><div>Oleshchuk said that the bomber was under cover of a Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter aircraft and tried to strike the southern part of the Odesa region.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian officials have not yet commented on Ukraine’s claims and independent verification of Ukraine’s claims is difficult due to the ongoing war. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 11:48:06', '2023-12-06 11:48:06'),
(10323, 10323, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Wednesday rejected the bail petitions of BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and its media cell convener Zahir Uddin Swapan in a case filed over the killing of a policeman during BNP rally on October 28.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Judge Faisal Atiq Bin Kader of the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge\'s Court of Dhaka passed the order after hearing the bail petitions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The court also rejected the bail plea of BNP organising secretary Emran Saleh Prince in a case filed over snatching firearms.</div><div><br></div><div>State counsel Taposh Kumar Paul confirmed the bail rejection.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocate Joynal Abedin Mesbah appeared for the accused.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Amir Khasru from his Gulshan residence around 1:45am on November 2. During the same time, BNP media cell convener and former MP Zahir Uddin Swapan was arrested from another house in Gulshan.</div><div><br></div><div>On November 3, the court placed them on a six-day remand. They were sent to jail on November 9 after remand.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Constable Amirul Islam Parvez was beaten to death in a clash between police and BNP activists that broke out during the party’s grand rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>The next day, Sub-Inspector Masuk Mia of Paltan Model Police Station filed a murder case, naming BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the main accused.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 164 people, including top BNP leaders, were named in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, BNP organising secretary Emran Saleh Prince is currently in jail in a case filed with Paltan Police Station on charges of snatching a firearm and vandalising the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh Police. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 12:03:58', '2023-12-06 12:03:58'),
(10324, 10324, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP-Jamaat alliance is conspiring to create chaos across the country on Human Rights Day, said Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Having failed in their movement due to a lack of people’s participation, they have resorted to sabotage,” Quader said at a press briefing at Awami League president’s political office in the capital on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>“The BNP is a party that is engaged in wrong politics and how it is becoming distracted from people due to their closeness with Jamaat at some point it will be seen that Jamaat will in the prime leadership of BNP. The BNP will become Jamaat\'s B-Team,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding locked BNP office, the Awami League general secretary again repeated his previous remarks and said, \'They (BNP) themselves have locked the BNP office. Let them come out if they dare,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“There will be opposition parties in the election. Trinamul BNP is the largest alliance, the Supreme Party and there are many others who are contesting the elections,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 12:07:14', '2023-12-06 12:07:14'),
(10325, 10325, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Finally the government has decided to import&nbsp; 40 MW electricity from Nepal.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in a meeting on Wednesday approved a proposal in principle to import the power from the Himalayan nation.</div><div><br></div><div>Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the tariff of the Nepalese electricity was not disclosed in the meeting as this proposal will be placed next in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP).</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on August 28 this year, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that import of hydropower from Nepal was almost final.</div><div><br></div><div>There was a plan to import electricity from Nepal before the winter so that in return Bangladesh can get the opportunity to export its surplus electricity to Nepal during peak demand in winter in the Himalayan nation.</div><div><br></div><div>Electricity demand decreases during winter in Bangladesh while it increases in Nepal.</div><div><br></div><div>According to official sources, after a long discussion at political and bureaucratic levels among the countries, India finally agreed to allow Bangladesh to initially import 40 MW electricity from Nepal through Indian transmission infrastructure.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources said the decision to start the import of 40 MW power from Nepal was finalised in a two-day meeting of the joint steering committee (JSC) and joint working committee (JWC) on Bangladesh-Nepal power and energy sector cooperation on May 14-15 this year in Patuakhali in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Ahead of the meeting, Nepalese Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud visited Dhaka and held a meeting with Bangladeshi public and private sector officials where he urged them to invest in the hydropower sector in the Himalayan nation, holding about 60,000 MW of clean energy potentials.</div><div><br></div><div>Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain said that 40 MW electricity will be imported through Baharampur-Bheramara transmission lines which have enough capacity to import electricity from Nepal through Indian territory.</div><div><br></div><div>Sources said under the planned arrangement, Bangladesh will import electricity from Nepal through an Indian company as a service provider which will first import electricity from Nepal through Indian transmission line and then sell it to Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>They said Bangladesh and Nepal prefer a tripartite or regional agreement while India wants bilateral deal in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, Bangladesh is importing electricity from India through a similar arrangement where the Indian company NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is selling power to BPDB.</div><div><br></div><div>In case of electricity trade between Dhaka and Kathmandu, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will have to sign agreements with both NVVN and BPDB.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from the 40 MW import plan, Bangladesh wants to import 500 MW of hydroelectricity from Nepal via Indian company GMR, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials said Bangladesh and Nepal are still pursuing India to sign the tripartite deal to facilitate the sub-regional power trade among the three nations.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 13:03:00', '2023-12-06 13:03:00'),
(10326, 10326, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister\'s Special Envoy on Environment Saber Hossain Chowdhury, who is attending the COP28 conference in Dubai, said the hearing on fossil fuels in this year’s summit confirms that if the temperature rises above 1.5 degrees, it will be destructive for everyone.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The UN Secretary-General has called on all developed countries to give up the use of fossil fuels by 2030. For developing countries like us, this time limit will be extended. However, there is also a discussion in this year’s climate conference about how we can work together to prevent this temperature rise.”</div><div><br></div><div>The 2023 World Climate Conference (COP28) began in Dubai on November 30 and will continue till 12 December 2023. Heads of governments and representatives of 198 countries participated in the 13-day conference.</div><div><br></div><div>At the conference, Saber Hossain Chowdhury has called for the creation of an integrated, universal and inclusive international financing mechanism to meet the rising costs of tackling climate shocks.</div><div><br></div><div>Scientists attending the COP28 conference say that plans should be made to reduce the use of fossil fuels following a scientific mechanism.</div><div><br></div><div>However, as talks began for the sixth day at Dubai\'s Expo City on Wednesday, a new report revealed that carbon emissions from fossil fuels set a new record in 2023, despite years of promises from the developed world to cut back on the sue of fossil fuels.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the report, the carbon emission situation worsened in the last two years. The emission will reach 40.9 gigatons this year.</div><div><br></div><div>This new report by 120 scientists from around the world warns that the world is on the verge of crossing five catastrophic climate tipping points due to carbon pollution in the atmosphere. If the Earth\'s average temperature is warmer than 1.5 degrees Celsius, three more will be visible within 2030.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the Bangladesh delegation and environmental experts accused the developed world of investing more in fossil fuels while talking about rule of law and human rights at the same time.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the concessions made by various heads of states in the previous climate conferences regarding huge losses the developing world is suffering due to fossil fuels, the affected states have not seen any significant action in comparison.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Farhina Ahmed, a member of the representative of Bangladesh and secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, told UNB that Bangladesh is making active demands on behalf of the climate vulnerable states.</div><div><br></div><div>“Since the beginning of the COP28, members of the Bangladesh delegation including me were participating in various side events. Bangladesh will prioritise increasing global stocktakes, mitigation funds, adaptation targets, climate finance and adaptation funding,” said Farhina Ahmed.</div><div><br></div><div>The secretary also said that Bangladesh will play a strong role in the COP28 conference to ensure that the developed countries contribute $100 billion every year till 2025 to combat climate change in developing countries, finalise the definition of climate finance, double adaptation financing, \'operationalise\' the loss and damage fund and fix its \'detailed arrangement\', and to formulate the framework or formulation of the global goal of adaptation \'Global Goal on Adaptation\'.</div><div><br></div><div>She said Bangladesh needs more than $8.5 billion every year under the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are not a high carbon emitting country, but a helpless victim [to the effects of carbon emission. We are working together with the affected countries to prevent temperature rise. At the end of the discussion at COP28, we hope that the affected countries, including Bangladesh, will get a result.”</div><div><br></div><div>The ongoing climate conference (COP28) in the Expo City of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, has started with a pledge to raise funds. From the first day of the conference to the seventh day, the issue of climate financing has gained importance.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, environmentalists participating in the summit say that the Dubai climate conference has warned that all the other important commitments to tackle climate change could be overshadowed if the conference only focuses on climate financing.</div><div><br></div><div>Countries participating in the COP28 conference believe that nuclear energy can be a potential alternative in reducing the amount of carbon.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is going to be the most suitable alternative compared to all other sources of energy,\" US climate ambassador John Kerry said at the conference.</div><div><br></div><div>“Without the use of nuclear energy, it is not possible to reduce the amount of carbon in the environment to zero by 2050. This is a scientific reality, there is no politics or ideology involved in it.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, 75 scientists from the Club of Rome wrote an open letter to the COP28 leadership. They also protested against the statement of the COP president.</div><div><br></div><div>In the open letter, they said that stopping the use of fossil fuels and science complements each other.</div><div><br></div><div>“One is related to the other. There is no doubt about science in this regard,” the letter reads.</div><div><br></div><div>“If the Paris Agreement aims to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, there is no alternative to stopping fossil fuels. By 2050, it is not enough to ensure zero carbon emissions, but new technologies will have to be developed to absorb the carbon dioxide that will exist in the world by that time.”</div><div><br></div><div>Since the new report regarding carbon emission was published, climate activists are protesting inside the climate conference centre throughout the day demanding that the decision to stop fossil fuels should be taken at the COP28. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 15:30:27', '2023-12-06 15:30:27'),
(10327, 10327, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Saudi port developer Red Sea Gateway Terminal on Wednesday signed a concession agreement with the Bangladeshi government to manage and operate a newly built terminal in the country’s largest port.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih witnessed the signing ceremony between RSGT and the Chittagong Port Authority at the premier’s office in Dhaka, marking the beginning of a 22-year agreement struck under the public private partnership and G2G format.</div><div><br></div><div>The $240 million Patenga Container Terminal, which finished construction earlier this year, is a “lighthouse of hopes for the economic development of Bangladesh,” Hasina said at the ceremony.</div><div><br></div><div>“This automated modern terminal will further strengthen the capacity of our ports. In addition, it will facilitate foreign trade, create employment and facilitate the ways of new entrepreneurs … it will work as a gateway to world trade and open new opportunities for the expansion of our trade and establishing connectivity with the world,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>RSGT will be the first foreign company operating Bangladeshi ports, as Dhaka banks on the company’s technological expertise and ports management experience.</div><div><br></div><div>“Red Sea Gateway Terminal International is a renowned global terminal operator nominated by the Saudi government,” Hasina said. “With the goodwill RSGTI is operating the Jeddah port along with other ports, they will apply the same expertise, technology and work processes in operating our Patenga Container Terminal. It will open a new door for our country. Our people will also be trained in this process.”</div><div><br></div><div>Chittagong Port is the busiest container port on the Bay of Bengal, which handled about 3.2 million 20-foot equivalent units in the 2021 fiscal year and served as the main gateway for Bangladesh’s ocean cargo import and export. This included products from its garment sector, which accounts for 80 percent of the country’s exports and 11 percent of its gross domestic product.</div><div><br></div><div>The Patenga Container Terminal, which will be handed over to RSGT next month, is expected to have an annual capacity of 500,000 TEU, or twenty foot equivalent container units.</div><div><br></div><div>The signing on Wednesday is the beginning of a “new chapter in our very friendly relationship,” Al-Falih said at the signing ceremony, adding that Bangladesh holds a “special place” in Saudi Arabia that makes the Kingdom keen on continuing its support of the South Asian country’s development.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today’s signing of the investment agreement for the Red Sea Gateway company project in Patenga, this award represents, in my opinion, an anchor, economic connection between our two countries, and one of the most important sectors establishing a strong economic relationship, which is logistics,” Al-Falih said.</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;“For us, Patenga also symbolizes the importance of logistics as an enabler for other sectors,” he said. “This project, this decision, is a small nucleus that we hope will grow into a large vibrant cluster of Saudi presence here in Bangladesh.” Source: Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-06 15:47:25', '2023-12-06 15:47:25'),
(10328, 10328, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The United States has called Moscow’s claims of Washington\'s interference in Bangladesh’s domestic political affairs as “classic Russian propaganda.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Look, back in the Navy, we had a single two-syllable word to describe an allegation like that, which I will spare you from. This is just classic Russian propaganda,” John Kirby, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters in a media briefing in Washington on December 6.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said, “I’ll just tell you that it’s absolutely false, and the Russians know it’s false.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kirby said they want the same thing the Bangladeshi people want, and that is free and fair elections.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“And that’s what the ambassador (Peter Haas) was – and his team was and will continue to work with all sectors of Bangladeshi society, including civil society, engagement with opposition parties and individuals as well as the sitting government, to work hard to make sure that the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people are respected. That’s what we’re doing,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, during a weekly briefing in Moscow on November 22, said that Russia has spoken repeatedly about the attempts by the United States and its allies to influence the internal political process in Bangladesh, ostensibly under the banner of ensuring “transparency and inclusiveness” in the upcoming parliamentary election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Information has come to light regarding a meeting at the end of October between US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas and a high-ranking representative of the local opposition, according to the Russian side.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP expects Russia’s positive role in restoring democracy in Bangladesh: Rizvi</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">They reportedly discussed plans to organize mass anti-government protests in the country during the meeting, the Russian side said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In particular, the American Ambassador “promised” the representative of the opposition information support in the event that the authorities use force against participants in “peaceful demonstrations.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">These assurances were purportedly made on behalf of the embassies of the United States, Britain, Australia, and several other countries, according to a Facebook post shared by the Russian Embassy in Dhaka.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dhaka has described the recent comments and counter comments made by Russia and the United States on Bangladesh as “unwarranted.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia holds meeting with Ivanovo oblast Governor Sergeevich&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Look, I don\'t want to comment on that. We can talk about what is not happening in Bangladesh. What the third or fourth country are discussing among them, …. what should I say — it can be called unwarranted,” Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said recently.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Asked whether the US is stepping back from its position, Kirby said they believe in a free and fair election in Bangladesh, and they continue to make the case.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We don’t take sides in foreign elections, and that doesn’t change with – in Bangladesh’s case either. We support a free and fair election,” he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Election Commission and the Bangladesh government said they are committed to free and fair elections and sought cooperation from all to make the elections free of violence.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A large number of nomination papers were submitted amid \"fanfare and festivity\" by aspiring candidates for the upcoming 12th parliamentary election to be held on January 7, 2024.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A fraction of BNP, a major opposition political party, instead of participating resorted to burning private and public properties, blockades and hartals, and are boycotting the upcoming election although many of its own leaders are participating, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 05:25:01', '2023-12-07 05:25:01'),
(10329, 10329, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has said it does not support inclusion of any clause in commercial instruments if it applies only to trade with Bangladesh and creates confusion.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We have seen similar instances in the past, of quoting an LC clause from a buyer to generalize it as a sanction on Bangladesh, and made our position clear against such misrepresentation of fact,” said the apex body of the apparel exporters in a clarification.</div><div><br></div><div>A copy of a letter of credit (LC) from a foreign buyer to one of the BGMEA members has come to the association’s attention.</div><div><br></div><div>The LC contains the text: “We will not process transactions involving any country, region or party sanctioned by the UN, US, EU, UK. We are not liable for any delay, non-performance or/disclosure of information for Sanctions Reasons.”</div><div><br></div><div>There is a concern and confusion caused by the interpretation of this clause that a sanction might have been imposed against Bangladesh, which is not correct, BGMEA said.</div><div><br></div><div>BGMEA urged its members, receiving LCs with such clause as mentioned above, to communicate with the respective brand(s) and solicit a clarification.</div><div><br></div><div>“If the clause appears only in the LCs issued in favor of Bangladeshi suppliers, then this violates ethics. In such a scenario, we would urge our member factories to take the matter with utmost importance, and, if necessary, to review/reconsider continuing business with such buyer(s),” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>BGMEA said the global trade landscape is changing fast; human rights and environmental issues are getting increased priorities, while geopolitical issues are also influencing trade.</div><div><br></div><div>“Since Bangladesh’s economy and its growth are heavily reliant on trade, any development around trade policy concerns us,” it mentioned.</div><div><br></div><div>This is to be noted that the LC came from a particular buyer, and this is not a statutory order or notice by any country. So, this should not be misinterpreted as a measure of trade enforcement or economic sanction on Bangladesh, BGMEA said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We understand that human rights and environmental due diligence is of increased importance for many of our export markets. The Government of Bangladesh is engaged with our trade partners,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>The US Presidential Memorandum signed on November 16, 2023 to “advance worker empowerment, rights, and high labor standards globally” adds significant weight to the ongoing global labor campaign, as it appears to be quite unique in terms of engagement and enforcement, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“We respect the spirit of it and find an alignment with its core principles. Though the Memorandum stipulates a number of measures including ‘deploying the full range of diplomatic and assistance tools and, as appropriate, financial sanctions, trade penalties, visa restrictions, and other actions,’ however, this is not adopted for Bangladesh, rather it is a unilateral stance of the United States of America on workers’ rights issue,” BGMEA observed.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 10:50:20', '2023-12-07 10:50:20'),
(10330, 10330, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Miscreants set a bus of \"Taranga Paribahan\" on fire in Dhaka’s Shahbagh on Thursday amid the 48-hour blockade BNP and like-minded parties called.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The bus was set on fire at 1:35 pm on Thursday in front of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), confirmed Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence (media cell).</div><div><br></div><div>Two firefighting units from Siddique Bazar Fire Station went to the spot and doused the fire at 1:52 pm, added the fire official. - According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 11:20:15', '2023-12-07 11:20:15'),
(10331, 10331, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Continuous rain influenced by cyclonic storm Michaung has disrupted day two of the ongoing Test match between hosts Bangladesh and New Zealand.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Persistent rainfall throughout the day prevented any play on the second day. The match referee officially called off the day around 1:55 pm (local time).</div><div><br></div><div>Before the weather interruption, Bangladesh maintains a significant lead in the match, having built a first-innings advantage of 117 runs.</div><div><br></div><div>At the close of the first day, New Zealand found themselves struggling at 55/5, with spinners dominating the proceedings. Spin bowlers have taken 13 of the 15 wickets fallen so far in this Test.</div><div><br></div><div>Following their victory in the first Test, Bangladesh entered the Dhaka Test with the goal of securing the series. A series win would mark Bangladesh\'s first-ever Test series triumph over New Zealand. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 12:19:43', '2023-12-07 12:19:43'),
(10332, 10332, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The High Court on Thursday rejected the bail petition of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir&nbsp; and&nbsp; issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why he should not be granted bail in a case filed over the attack on Chief Justice\'s residence.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice Md Salim and Justice Shahed Nuruddin issued the rule after hearing a petition that sought Fakhrul’s bail in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The government was asked to respond to the rule within a week. Senior lawyer Adv Zainul Abedin stood for the bail petition.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocates Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Fazlur Rahman Khan, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Barrister Badruddoza Badal, Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kazal, Barrister Kaiser, Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal and Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon were also present in the court on behalf of Mirza Fakhrul.</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Attorney General BM Rafel represented the state.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon filed the petition on behalf of Fakhrul with the concerned bench of the High Court on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on November 22, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge\'s Court rejected the bail petition of the BNP secretary general in the same case.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police Station on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence during a BNP rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from Mirza Fakhrul, 59 leaders and activists, including BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, were accused in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP secretary general was arrested in the case on October 29. Later, a bail petition was filed with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. The court sent him to jail rejecting his bail petition.&nbsp; According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 12:21:03', '2023-12-07 12:21:03');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10333, 10333, '<div><br></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy today said they are against any “illegal” actions – sanctions or any steps – which can be taken by America or other western countries against a country.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We are against any illegal actions here. We will be against any sanctions or steps here (in Bangladesh). Let’s see what happens,” he said while speaking at a programme, “Talks with Ambassador,” at Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.</div><div><br></div><div>Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Shyamal Dutta, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Joint Secretary Khairul Alam, among others, spoke at the programme hosted by Swadhinata Sangbadik Forum. Bangla Tribune Diplomatic Correspondent Sheikh Shahriar Zaman moderated the session.</div><div><br></div><div>The ambassador hoped that nothing like sanctions would happen here. “You are asking what can be done by Russia but we do not know what can take place,” he commented.</div><div><br></div><div>Ambassador Mantytskiy said that Russia does not recognize unilateral sanctions imposed by the west. “We recognize sanctions only imposed by the Security Council.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said that discussions on what kind of assistance can be provided to Bangladesh will happen if such problems arise.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether the US is interfering in Bangladesh’s internal affairs centering the upcoming general election, the envoy replied in the positive.</div><div><br></div><div>He referred to Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who during a weekly briefing on November 22 said that Russia has spoken repeatedly about the attempts by the United States and its allies to influence the internal political process in Bangladesh, ostensibly under the banner of ensuring “transparency and inclusiveness” in the upcoming parliamentary election.</div><div><br></div><div>Quoting her further, the Russian envoy said, “On our part, we have no doubts regarding the ability of the Bangladeshi authorities to hold the parliamentary election scheduled for January 7, 2024, in full compliance with national legislation, independently, without the help of overseas well-wishers.”</div><div><br></div><div>In 2022, Russian JSC “Glavkosmos” and Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of promotion of products and services of the Russian space industry in Bangladesh, including manufacturing and launch of Bangabandhu-2 earth observation satellite system.</div><div><br></div><div>“The project’s technical parameters have been finalized. The commercial offer for the same is on the table,” said the ambassador.</div><div><br></div><div>He said it is on the table of the government of Bangladesh and it is now up to them to decide.</div><div><br></div><div>In early November 2023, a detachment of warships of the Russian Pacific Fleet made a goodwill call at the port of Chattogram to strengthen naval partnership in the Asia-Pacific region.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether there was any hidden message regarding the issue, the ambassador said it was a friendly call.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is up to you to decide how you see it, but it was a goodwill visit,” said the Russian envoy.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about economic cooperation, the envoy said that Bangladesh is Russia’s second largest trade partner in South Asia after India.</div><div><br></div><div>Even the COVID-19 pandemic did not hinder it; in 2021, trade volume reached the historic height of $2,97 billion, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The ambassador said in 2022, western countries imposed “illegal” unilateral sanctions against Russia. “The subsequent breach of production and logistics chains led to a setback in Russian trade with foreign partners, including Bangladesh, which resulted in the trade turnover decrease by $640 million.”</div><div><br></div><div>Russian companies are ready to supply on G2G basis up to 1 million tons of grain, as well as 500,000 tons of potassium chloride per year, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The ambassador said, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant will make a considerable contribution to Bangladesh’s economic development and energy security.</div><div><br></div><div>“Russia’s engagement is not limited to building the facility; we will assist our Bangladeshi partners throughout the entire life cycle of the nuclear project, including our obligations for the long-term deliveries of reactor fuel, plant maintenance, and handling nuclear waste. Russia is helping to create an entire nuclear sector, a peaceful atom industry in Bangladesh,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The envoy said the full potential of trade and investment cooperation is yet to be fully tapped. “Now the situation is changing: from 2022, many international brands have decided to leave Russia. So, Russian business circles are reorienting towards new suppliers, including those from Bangladesh. Investments, both state and private, can amount to billions of dollars.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said Russian companies are ready to participate in various joint projects in Bangladesh, in sectors such as ICT, pharmaceuticals, space and geological research, maritime, railway and air transport, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>“All these topics are planned to be discussed at the 5th meeting of the Russia-Bangladesh Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, which we plan to hold in 2024 in the face-to-face format,” the Russian ambassador said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 12:45:11', '2023-12-07 12:45:11'),
(10334, 10334, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Wednesday said the situation of Rohingya Muslims is ever more protracted, with no prospect of safe and sustainable return.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Many are taking to dangerous journeys in the region by sea, he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN rights chief said there must be intensified efforts by the international community for an end to the violence and the peaceful restoration of an inclusive and representative government.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The Myanmar military has lost critical ground since the end of October as a result of coordinated attacks by Ethnic Armed Organizations and anti-military armed groups,\" he said, noting that civilian casualties and internal displacement have been rising at a rapid rate.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, as ever, the UN human rights chief said, it is necessary that all parties ensure that the civilian population is adequately protected.</div><div><br></div><div>In Myanmar, the human rights crisis caused by the military continues to inflict an unbearable toll on civilians.</div><div><br></div><div>\"To date, credible sources have verified that military forces have killed over 4,232 civilians since the coup,\" Turk said at a press conference in Geneva ahead of the UN Human Rights Day that falls on December 10, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>He said civilians have suffered countless violations – facing airstrikes, artillery shelling, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and prosecutions, as well as sexual violence, displacement, denial of humanitarian assistance and the burning of their homes, fields and villages.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 12:49:18', '2023-12-07 12:49:18'),
(10335, 10335, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday served a show-cause notice to Awami League (AL) nominated candidate for Chattogram-3 (Swandip upazila) Mahfuzur Rahman Mita on charge of violating the electoral code of conduct.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to the notice, signed by the chairman of Election Inquiry Committee for the constituency and Chattogram Joint Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Shahidul Islam, the AL-backed candidate on Monday took businessmen of local ‘Ershad Market’ to his house and assured them with providing various benefits if he is elected in the upcoming national parliamentary election billed for January 7 next.</div><div><br></div><div>On the same day, the candidate also allured businessmen of Shiberhat and Maitbhanga Cinema Hall areas with providing facilities violating the electoral conduct of conduct.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC issued the notice after independent candidate Dr Md Jamal Uddin Chowdhury brought the allegations against Mahfuzur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>The accused candidate was asked to respond in-person or by his representative at 11 am on December 13. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 13:33:18', '2023-12-07 13:33:18'),
(10336, 10336, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Freedom and justice cannot be ignored for development as the absence of justice even leads to a negative impact on the development, said SR Osmani, professor of development economics at the University of Ulster in the UK.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He said governments should work to ensure justice through equal resource allocation for all citizens, the rule of law, and freedom of speech as a pathway of a welfare government.</div><div><br></div><div>Professor Osmani said this while delivering a keynote speech at the opening session of the Annual BIDS Conference on Development-2023, with the theme of development, justice and freedom at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>Planning Minister MA Mannan was the chief guest at the conference while former adviser to the prime minister Mashiur Rahman was present as the special guest. Binayak Sen, Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), moderated the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>\"If there is a lack of freedom and justice, credit discrimination occurs and the poor do not get adequate funds, which can lead to social instability,\" said Professor Osmani.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the situation, according to the economist, the private sector holds back investments, which ultimately deters development.</div><div><br></div><div>He said governments should not be fanatical with development. \"Rather, they should be obsessed with freedom and justice by ensuring the rule of law and good governance,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Planning Minister MA Mannan shared examples of countries that have developed significantly despite their governments being autocratic.</div><div><br></div><div>He said some people say if a government stays in power for a long time, it may become an autocrat and autocracy deters development. \"How Malaysia and Singapore developed if it is really true?\"</div><div><br></div><div>In Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad was in power for a long time and he led the country to progress. The same happened in Singapore, the planning minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I expect economists to discuss the impact of the continuity of a government and political stability in development,\" Mannan pointed out.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Life is a product while freedom and justice are by-products, not basic things. We are trying to ensure a better life for people. We have to work more for the people who remain at the bottom of the pyramid,” the minister said.</div><div><br></div><div>Binayak Sen said lack of democracy and freedom of minds of people become like stone, and justice is ignored, so these things are equally required for a welfare society.</div><div><br></div><div>The conference will continue till December 9. The conference will feature a total of 18 papers, 5 special seminars, and 7 public lectures, encompassing various themes such as macroeconomic challenges and policy options, democratic socialism, post-COVID crisis analysis, the Rohingya refugee crisis, the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, updated growth experiences in South Asia, global price shocks and food security, megatrends in gender, population, and development, taxation, unpaid care work, evolving global order, geo-economic spectrum, agrarian change in contemporary Bangladesh, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and more.</div><div><br></div><div>Esteemed scholars like Wahiduddin Mahmud, Ahsan H Mansur, Binayak Sen, Atiur Rahman, Sajeda Amin, Naila Kabeer, Zaidi Sattar, Hossain Zillur Rahman, Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Syed Abdul Hamid, Patrick Alexander Kirby, Siddharth Sharma, Daniel Resnick, James Thurlow, Paul Dorosh, Gaurav Datt, Syed Moinul Ahsan, Dileni Gunewardena, Ahmad Ahsan, M. Niaz Asadullah, Gayatri B Koolwal, Geof Wood, and others will present key insights on pivotal issues in contemporary development discourse.</div><div><br></div><div>The conference will conclude with an expert panel discussion titled ‘Economic Policy: Addressing Policy Challenges in the Context of Global and Domestic Uncertainty,’ bringing together distinguished economists, policymakers, civil society members, and stakeholders. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 13:35:56', '2023-12-07 13:35:56'),
(10337, 10337, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was battling to keep his party together on Thursday a day after unveiling a plan to disregard some human rights law to send migrants to Rwanda, bringing back to the fore deep divisions in his party.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Facing the biggest challenge to his year-long tenure, Sunak is trying to stop lawmakers on the Conservative Party’s right wing from rebelling over their demand that Britain should quit international treaties to set its own migration policy.</div><div><br></div><div>His immigration minister quit on Wednesday and he is facing questions as to whether he can get his key policy through a vote in parliament. Some Conservative lawmakers said on Thursday that Sunak could face a leadership challenge.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was due to hold a press conference at 1100 GMT.</div><div><br></div><div>One Conservative politician, who reluctantly supports the Rwanda plan, said the last year had shown that his colleagues can be ruthless in removing a struggling prime minister.</div><div>“I have a feeling of deja vu,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The draft legislation comes three weeks after Britain’s Supreme Court ruled that Rwanda was not a safe place to send those arriving in small boats on the southern coast of England, and that the plan would breach British and international law.</div><div><br></div><div>The Rwanda scheme is at the center of the government’s strategy to stop illegal migration. The court’s decision was a setback for Sunak who is struggling to revive a weak economy and is heavily trailing the main opposition party ahead of an election expected next year.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunak could make the vote in parliament on the new legislation next week a confidence vote — meaning that if he loses, it could trigger a national election — in an attempt to shore up party support.</div><div><br></div><div>So far only one Conservative lawmaker has publicly called for a no confidence vote, but she said six of her colleagues have done so privately.</div><div><br></div><div>To trigger a leadership challenge, 53 of the 350 Conservative lawmakers in parliament must write letters of no confidence to the chairman of the 1922 Committee.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunak suffered his first parliamentary defeat this week as members of parliament voted to establish a compensatory body for victims of the infected blood scandal.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister has pleaded with his party to get behind the legislation as the best chance to get flights to Rwanda leaving before the next election.</div><div><br></div><div>‘IT WON’T WORK’</div><div><br></div><div>A poll last month showed immigration was one of the three biggest issues facing the country. Only the economy and National Health Service were seen as more important.</div><div><br></div><div>Last year net legal migration hit a record of 745,000 people and around 45,000 arrived illegally.</div><div><br></div><div>Rwanda currently only has the capacity to accept a few hundred migrants from Britain, but ministers say the plan will act as a vital deterrent to discourage people from making the crossings.</div><div><br></div><div>The new bill will instruct judges to ignore some sections of the Human Rights Act (HRA) and provisions of domestic or international law that might deem that Rwanda was not a safe destination, though appeals by people based on specific circumstances would still be permitted.</div><div><br></div><div>The former interior minister Suella Braverman, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and their allies say that does not go far enough, with some wanting Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights altogether.</div><div><br></div><div>“I’m very concerned that the bill on the table will allow a merry-go-round of legal claims and litigation,” Braverman told BBC radio, but said no one was talking about changing the party’s leader, reports Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The reality is, and the solid truth is, that it won’t work and it will not stop the boats.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 14:10:10', '2023-12-07 14:10:10'),
(10338, 10338, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russian lawmakers on Thursday set the date of the 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving Vladimir Putin closer to a fifth term in office.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Putin, 71, hasn’t yet announced his intention to run again, but he is widely expected to do so in the coming days now that the date has been set.</div><div><br></div><div>Under constitutional reforms he orchestrated, he is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his current one expires next year.</div><div><br></div><div>Having established tight control over Russia’s political system, Putin’s victory is all but assured. Prominent critics who could challenge him on the ballot are either in jail or living abroad, and most independent media have been banned.</div><div><br></div><div>Neither the costly, drawn-out military campaign in Ukraine, nor a failed rebellion last summer by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin appear to have affected his high approval ratings reported by independent pollsters.</div><div><br></div><div>The March election clears the way for him to remain in power at least until 2030. - AP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 14:11:49', '2023-12-07 14:11:49'),
(10339, 10339, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Three people were killed and another critically injured in a shooting at a Las Vegas university on Wednesday, police said, with the suspect also dead.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The incident at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a short distance from the gambling hub’s tourist-packed Las Vegas Strip, was the latest in the United States, where gun violence is a part of the fabric of daily life.</div><div><br></div><div>“According to our investigators at the scene, we have three deceased victims and one additional victim in critical condition at a local hospital,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>“The suspect in this #ActiveShooter incident is also deceased.”</div><div>Police said they had responded to calls around midday (2000 GMT) and indicated that officers had engaged a suspect on the campus, where gunshots rang out in at least two locations.</div><div><br></div><div>Television footage showed police military-style vehicles moving near containment lines, as well as dozens of young people being escorted through them.</div><div><br></div><div>One woman told local broadcaster KVVU that she had heard a series of loud noises and fled into a building on the campus, from which she was later evacuated by police.</div><div><br></div><div>“I was just having breakfast and then I heard three, like, loud booms,” she told the station.</div><div><br></div><div>“Then two more, and then police showed up there and ran inside... but then after two minutes boom, boom, boom, more shots. So I ran into a basement, and then we were in the basement for 20 minutes.”</div><div><br></div><div>Three hours after the shooting erupted, the university continued to urge people to shelter in place, saying that police were working to clear each building in turn and that the investigation remained ongoing.</div><div><br></div><div>“Law enforcement will potentially be coming to your door, follow directions and exit calmly with your hands plainly seen,” the university said.</div><div><br></div><div>Brett Forrest, a reporter from local outlet KSNV, told CNN he had been on the campus for an assignment and was continuing to shelter in place with dozens of students and faculty as they awaited the all-clear from police.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are told that they’re coming building by building, slowly letting out each building making sure no additional victims or anyone else inside, so they might take a while,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Universities in the area were shuttered for the rest of the day and flights into the nearby international airport were halted, the Federal Aviation Administration said.</div><div><br></div><div>Las Vegas is a gambling and entertainment hub that attracts millions of visitors every year, many of whom come to see large, high-profile events.</div><div><br></div><div>Last month, the city played host to its inaugural Formula One Grand Prix, and in February it will be the scene of the Super Bowl, the showcase final of the professional American football season.</div><div><br></div><div>The city was also the scene of one of America’s deadliest-ever mass shootings, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in 2017, killing 60 people.</div><div><br></div><div>Mass shootings are alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance.</div><div><br></div><div>The country has recorded over 600 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nongovernmental organization that defines a mass shooting as four or more people wounded or killed.</div><div><br></div><div>The Washington Post, which keeps its own tally of mass shootings, said that as of Monday, there had been 38 such incidents in which at least four people had been killed.</div><div><br></div><div>Efforts to tighten gun controls have for years run up against opposition from Republicans, staunch defenders of what they interpret as an unfettered constitutional right to weaponry.</div><div>The political paralysis endures despite widespread outrage over recurrent shootings. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 15:02:13', '2023-12-07 15:02:13'),
(10340, 10340, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Election Commission has so far approved the proposals for transferring 205 Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) and the Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of 338 police stations ahead of the upcoming national election slated for January 07 next.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The EC cleared two proposals --one is to transfer 338 OCs and another is to transfer 158 UNOs—on Thursday. The Commission earlier okayed a proposal to transfer 47 UNOs.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Commission has so far approved the proposals to transfer to 338 OCs and 205 UNOs,” EC additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, the EC asked the government to transfer all Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) and Officers-in-Charge (OC) of police stations in phases to conduct the 12th parliamentary elections in a fair manner.</div><div><br></div><div>As per the EC’s directives, the Public Security Division on Wednesday last sent the proposal to the EC to transfer 338 OCs in the first phase, while the Public Administration Ministry sent several proposals to transfer 205 UNOs this week.</div><div><br></div><div>There are 651 police stations and 495 Upazilas in Bangladesh. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 15:05:03', '2023-12-07 15:05:03'),
(10341, 10341, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday alleged that the government is inviting danger for the country’s garment industry with its move to retain power by holding a lopsided national election on January 7.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing, he also accused the Awami League government of repressing the BNP leaders and workers in police remand to leave the party.</div><div><br></div><div>“The country’s people believe that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants a guarantee to stay in power illegally by handing over the readymade garment business to other countries,” Rizvi said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said their party has repeatedly warned the government that a one-sided election will deepen the country\'s political crisis and push the country towards danger.</div><div><br></div><div>“The government has already put Bangladesh’s (RMG) market undet a threat. The upcoming one-sided election is not just a renewal of Sheikh Hasina\'s power, but a licence to destroy Bangladesh,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi urged the country’s people not only to boycott the stage-managed election but also to put up a mass resistance to ensure a credible and inclusive election by ousting the current regime from power.</div><div><br></div><div>Ignoring the opinions of buyers, he said the government has taken the country’s biggest export-oriented industry to the brink of destruction in the interest of a neighbouring country by taking a stand in favour of an exploitative policy of the pro-government opportunistic quarter and imprudently resorting to killing and repression to suppress justified demands of workers.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the garment factory owners fear that sanctions on Bangladesh\'s garment industry are almost certain after the United States announced a new labour policy to protect labour rights.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the RMG sector has already lost 40 to 45 percent of the business. “Amid the uncertainty of garment industry, bizarre Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen showed his stupidity by saying nothing will happen if there are any sanctions.”</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comment that if the United States imposed sanctions, Bangladesh will also do the same against that country, saying her government is inviting danger for the garment industry, the sole source of bread and butter for millions of poor people.</div><div><br></div><div>Stating that 82 percent of the country\'s total garment exports are to the US and European countries, he said the RMG sector will be ruined if exports to these countries are hampered.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader claimed that the arrested BNP leaders and activists have been subjected to serious torture in the name of police remand. “The torture on our arrested leaders and workers outshined the story of torture in the German concentration camps,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said they came to know that the BNP leaders and workers were tortured in police remand in a disgraceful manner only to take their consent to change their party.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also claimed that over 415 BNP leaders and workers have been arrested across the country in the last 24 hours as of 5 pm on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 15:17:22', '2023-12-07 15:17:22'),
(10342, 10342, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>There is no issue between Türkiye and Greece that cannot be resolved, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"It is our hope to resolve our issues via constructive dialogue, good neighborly relations within the framework of international law,\" Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It will be in the interest of the entire region to reach a just, lasting and sustainable solution to Cyprus issue based on realities on the island,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We want to turn the Aegean into a sea of peace and cooperation. We aspire to set an example to the world with the joint steps we will take as Türkiye and Greece,\" the president said.</div><div><br></div><div>About the meeting, Erdogan said both sides exchanged views on their positions regarding the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have asked our foreign ministers to discuss the related matters,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Türkiye and Greece also agreed to increase the current bilateral trade volume from approximately $5 billion to $10 billion, Erdogan said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Additionally, we aim to enhance our relations in both tourism and cultural fields,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Both leaders discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fight against terrorism, Erdogan said and welcomed the closure of the infamous Lavrion Camp near Athens long used by PKK terrorists.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I emphasized the need for caution to prevent the emergence of similar camps providing shelter to terrorists in Greece.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Erdogan said that the Turkish minority in Greece and the Greek minority in Türkiye are “integral parts of our human and cultural richness.\"</div><div><br></div><div>He said he shared his expectation that the situation of the Turkish minority would improve in the Western Thrace region in line with international law.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s attacks on Gaza</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to bilateral relations, both leaders also discussed regional and global developments.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel\'s attacks on Gaza are turning into a \"collective punishment\" for Gazans, resulting in the killing of 17,000 innocent civilians and deeply disturbing the consciences, Erdogan said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The international community should not remain silent in the face of ongoing human rights violations and war crimes,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Establishing a permanent cease-fire and ensuring unhindered humanitarian aid should be our top priorities,\" the Turkish President said.</div><div><br></div><div>He added that the recent developments once again highlight the inevitability of establishing an independent, sovereign, and territorially integral State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders.</div><div><br></div><div>Türkiye is ready to take the responsibility of a guarantor for the implementation of a just peace, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Türkiye has been providing humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the war, said Erdogan, adding he believes that the international community will demonstrate the necessary sensitivity for the continuation of aid. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 15:31:20', '2023-12-07 15:31:20'),
(10343, 10343, '<div><b>More than 12,000 people have been killed in war-torn Sudan since April, the UN humanitarian affairs office said on Thursday.</b></div><div><br></div><div>The deaths include \"1,300 people who were killed between 28 October and 24 November,\" the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The conflict has caused an estimated 6.6 million Sudanese to flee their homes, with children representing about half of the displaced people in the country, the UN office said.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Sudan is now the country with the largest number of displaced people and the largest child displacement crisis in the world,” it added.</div><div><br></div><div>Sudan has been mired by fighting between the army, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the country’s ruling Sovereign Council, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April.</div><div><br></div><div>Several cease-fire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators have failed to end the violence. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-07 15:35:06', '2023-12-07 15:35:06'),
(10344, 10344, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><br></span></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Friday said his party is not worried about any sanctions.</span><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We are moving towards a free, fair and peaceful election under the independent Election Commission as per the constitution. Why should there be a ban here, \" asked Quader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said If any sanction comes, it should be on the BNP. They are the ones doing sabotage, they are attacking. These are obstacles to a fair election. If the US wants to impose sanctions, only the BNP and its allies deserve to be sanctioned.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quader was speaking at a press briefing at the political office of&nbsp; AL president at Dhanmondi in the capital on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said there is an interest among some to use the garment workers for their own benefit both in the country and abroad.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, has increased the wages of the workers for the sake of the RMG sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The present government is sincere about the interests of the workers in this sector.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"If our party comes to power, it will take steps to enact new labour laws in parliament. There is no need to muddy the water about it,” said the AL leader.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Regarding seat sharing with the AL alliance, Quader said, which will happen before the 17th. Then this problem will no longer exist.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Awami League has no independent candidate in 32 seats, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this context he said, “There is no pressure from Awami League to cancel the nomination here. The Election Commission is taking action according to its code of conduct. The country\'s judicial system is also independent. Awami League will not obstruct the final decision. Voter turnout will be better this time.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“No obstruction, threat, sabotage, arson terrorism will be able to obstruct the holding of this election,\" he declared.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said election-oriented voters will resist those who come to obstruct the election.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP and its allies are not taking part in the election. Still, there is no shortage of enthusiasm about the election. People are preparing to vote spontaneously, he added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">AL Presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque and Sujit Roy Nandi, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, among others, were present at the press briefing. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-08 08:18:10', '2023-12-08 08:18:10'),
(10345, 10345, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Responding to Bangladesh\'s first-innings total of 172, New Zealand scored 180, securing a slim lead of eight runs in the ongoing Dhaka Test on Friday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The second day of the match was washed out due to day-long rain influenced by the cyclonic storm Michaung.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The third day\'s play was also delayed due to a wet outfield, resuming only after the first session.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">New Zealand were at 55 for five at the end of day one. The match witnessed the fall of 15 wickets on day one, with spinners accounting for 13 of them.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On the third day, New Zealand added 125 runs with the remaining wickets. Phillips adopted an aggressive batting style, posting 87 off 72 balls with nine fours and four sixes.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam took three wickets each, while Shoriful Islam and Nayeem Hasan took two wickets each.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier, Bangladesh posted 172, with Mushfiqur Rahim scoring the highest at 35. Mitchell Santner and Phillips took three wickets each for New Zealand.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh won the first Test of the series in Sylhet by 150 runs and aims to seal the series in this match. 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, '2023-12-08 08:21:03', '2023-12-08 08:21:03'),
(10346, 10346, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">India has banned the export of onions to other countries effective from December 8, says a notification issued by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The ban on export of onion will be in place till March 31 next year, according to the notification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The decision has been made to increase domestic availability and to keep prices in check.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) notification said the export of onions will be, however, allowed on the basis of permission granted by the central government to other countries based on the request made by the countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to the notification, consignments of onions will be allowed to be exported on fulfillment of any one of the following three conditions -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Where loading of onions on the ship has commenced before this notification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Where the shipping bill is filed and vessels have already berthed or arrived and anchored in Indian ports for loading of onion and their rotation number has been allocated before this notification. The approval of loading in such vessels will be issued only after confirmation by the concerned Port Authorities regarding anchoring/berthing of the ship for loading of onions prior to the notification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Where consignments of onions has been handed over to the Customs before this notification and is registered in their system /where consignments onions has entered the Customs Station for exportation before this notification and is registered in the electronic systems of the concerned Custodian of the Customs Station with verifiable evidence of date and time stamping of these commodities having entered the Customs Station prior to issuance of this Notification.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Earlier on August 20, the Revenue Department of the Indian Finance Ministry imposed a 40 percent duty on onion exports to Bangladesh, causing a hike in the price of the item mainly used as spice in local markets.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, the Indian government set a Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 800 per tonne on a free-on-board basis for the export of onions with effect from October 29. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-08 08:24:57', '2023-12-08 08:24:57'),
(10347, 10347, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At least three rockets targeted the US embassy in Baghdad\'s Green Zone at dawn on Friday, landing on the outskirts of the district housing government and diplomatic buildings, an Iraqi security official said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was no immediate claim of responsibility.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">A US military official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that alarms had gone off and that \"likely impact sounds\" could be heard near the US embassy and Union III base, where troops from the international anti-jihadist coalition are stationed.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This is the first reported attack against the United States embassy in the Iraqi capital since the Israel-Hamas war began in early October, raising regional tensions and fears of a wider conflict.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since mid-October there have been dozens of rocket or drone strikes by pro-Iran groups against American or coalition forces elsewhere in Iraq as well as in Syria.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">There are roughly 2,500 US troops in Iraq and about 900 in Syria as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State group.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">At around 4:20 am (0120 GMT), \"three Katyusha rockets targeting the American embassy fell close to the Green Zone, near the river\" Tigris, the Iraqi security official told AFP. The Iraqi official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The US official said: \"We are still awaiting official reports regarding casualties and damage to infrastructure, if any. We are also awaiting official reporting on the type of attack.\"</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">After the end of a seven-day pause in the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas last week, pro-Iran groups have resumed their attacks against American and coalition forces, justifying their actions by pointing to Washington\'s support for Israel.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">- Around 80 attacks -</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Iraq, most were claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose formation of armed groups affiliated with the Hashed al-Shaabi coalition of former paramilitaries who are now integrated into Iraq\'s regular armed forces.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">US forces have struck Iran-linked targets in both Iraq and Syria in response.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Sunday a US military official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed a \"self-defence strike\" was carried out in northern Iraq against a drone launch site \"in the vicinity of Kirkuk\" against \"an imminent threat\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Islamic Resistance in Iraq later announced the death of \"five martyrs\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">That strike came a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said during a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Baghdad rejected \"any attack on Iraqi territory\", according to a statement from Sudani\'s office.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sudani also said the Iraqi government is committed \"to ensuring the safety of the international coalition advisers present in Iraq\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Wednesday, a US military official said a drone had targeted Western troops at the Ain al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq, but there were no casualties or damage.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In total, Washington has counted at least 78 attacks since October 17 against its forces in Iraq and Syria, 10 days after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Israel-Hamas war began with the Palestinian militant group\'s unprecedented attack on Israeli soil, which killed around 1,200 people and saw about 240 people captured as hostages, according to Israeli officials.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In response, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, with bombardments and a ground offensive that have killed 17,177 people, Hamas authorities in Gaza said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The attacks against US personnel included rocket fire and drone strikes, and have left at least 60 US personnel wounded, the Pentagon says. 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, '2023-12-08 08:30:59', '2023-12-08 08:30:59');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10348, 10348, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Bangladesh has conveyed to the United Nations that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is “determined to hold a free and fair election” but will not tolerate burning of public and private properties and burning of human lives in the name of demonstration that the opposition frequently perpetrates.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">“We also expect UN officials to maintain highest standard of non-partisanship, integrity and objectivity to uphold UN credibility and respect,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen wrote in a letter sent to Earle Courtenay Rattray, head of office of the UN Secretary General.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">If their reports are based on falsity and without objectivity and if not fact-based, Momen wrote, they may lose their credibility that would be a bad omen for the UN system.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“In the context of the undue, unwarranted and vested political pressure that we are facing from different comers ahead of our upcoming National Parliamentary Election, we hope that United Nations system, including its Secretariat, agencies and country office, would play a constructive and collaborative role to assist Bangladesh to remain persistent in its development trajectory,” the foreign minister wrote in his letter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The letter was written on November 19 and the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN transmitted it to the UN on November 20.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen wrote that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a “crusader of democracy” and she went through lots of pain to guarantee the right to vote, right to food and right to a decent life, as per the letter seen by UNB.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">During her 15-year tenure, the foreign minister said, Sheikh Hasina conducted thousands of elections — by-elections, national elections, regional elections, mayoral elections — and except a microscopic few, all were free and fair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The foreign minister mentioned that Bangladesh is a firm believer of promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedom of its citizens, and beyond, and remains optimistic that the United Nations system would continue to act as a trusted partner in Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure a peaceful, just, inclusive and prosperous future for all, at national, regional and international levels.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">He said Bangladesh is a leader in upholding democracy, human rights, justice and human dignity. “It is the only country in the world that shed 3 million lives to establish democracy, human rights and justice.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Momen said they maintain their position as a strong voice in favor of the maintenance of international peace and security through peaceful means.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Bangladesh, a proactive and supportive Member State, also has high expectations that the United Nations system would continue its cooperation and assistance in our national journey towards the political progress and socio-economic emancipation of our people,” the foreign minister wrote in the letter.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-08 08:36:52', '2023-12-08 08:36:52'),
(10349, 10349, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Winter is a beautiful yet busy season for all of us. We are busy attending various functions, family get-to-gather, and trips. We have plenty of options to celebrate this season due to its warmness.</b></span><br></div><div>There are several ways you can boost your immune system and avoid getting sick this winter.</div><div><br></div><div>1, Healthy food</div><div>Eating a well-balanced diet including whole grains, lean meats, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs and spices as well as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to the boost immune system. We can also have an optimum intake of foods rich in vitamin C, as it helps to strengthen our immune system and to keep our body healthy.</div><div><br></div><div>2, Exercise</div><div>physical activity is an important aspect to keep one fit throughout the winter. Daily routine of yoga or any form of physical activity will help to keep you warm and boosts the immune system improving defence against seasonal ailments like flu and colds.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Stay hydrated </div><div>Drinking enough water each day boosts your immune system and helps you fight viruses. Aim to drink enough water to equal two-thirds of your body weight in ounces every day.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Manage dry skin </div><div>Cold air and low humidity can cause dry, itchy skin. Protect your skin by wearing lip balm, using a humidifier in your room, limiting your time in the shower or bath and immediately applying lotion after you dry off. </div><div><br></div><div>5, Vitamin D</div><div>Go outdoor and soak in the warm sun, our body requires vitamin D - which is essential for maintaining health and immunity, Vitamin D is also required to regulate the mood.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>healthy in Winter<br></p>', 'Health Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-08 14:33:30', '2023-12-08 18:00:02'),
(10350, 10350, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said Bangladesh is advanced enough in terms of women empowerment as the country has fulfilled the dream of Begum Rokeya.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“We always are making endeavours so that our women would be self-reliant and stand on their own feet as Begum Rokeya said. She (Rokeya) said her dream would be fulfilled on that day when women become judges and barristers. We are advanced enough in that case,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The premier was addressing an event arranged in the city\'s Osmani Memorial Auditorium to celebrate Begum Rokeya Day 2023 and distribute Begum Rokeya Padak 2023.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said many developed countries couldn’t elect a woman as the head of the government yet. A woman couldn’t be the president even in the most powerful country till date, she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about Rokeya’s dream, she said, “We’ve been able to fulfill her expectation largely in Bangladesh.”</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Talking about her role behind the appointment of Nazmun Ara Sultana as the first woman justice in the country’s higher court, the prime minister said she has one regret that Nazmun Ara couldn’t be the chief justice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Nazmun Ara was the first woman justice in the high court division and then the first woman in the Appellate Division as well.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“I wish I had made a woman the chief justice at that time. And she was in my mind. But there is so much conservativeness in some areas in our society. It takes time to break these. This is why I couldn’t do it at that time. I still have this regret,” said Hasina.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said economic self-reliance is the biggest matter for a woman. “If a woman is not financially strong, she has no niche anywhere in society or family,” she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Referring to the international conference on “Women in Islam” arranged by OIC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in November last, Sheikh Hasina said had Begum Rokeya been alive now, she would have been happy that women rights are being ensured there in Islamic countries and they are not being confined behind the veils.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">An exhibition was also organized there in Jeddah, displaying names of women who were physicians, teachers and scientists, said Hasina, the only woman head of government among the OIC member countries.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">She said now the Saudi government has also come forward to ensure women rights. So, none can confine women behind the veils in the name of Islam anymore here, she added.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“Yes, they (women) would move, maintaining decency. It doesn’t need to move like the western world. But they can’t be kept away from employment,” said the PM.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Turning to gender equality, she said girls have surpassed boys in case of success rate in the recently published HSC examination result.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hasina said now an initiative is required so that the larger or equal number of boys gain success in the examination in order to maintain gender equality.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">“If we want to maintain gender equality, we will have to pay attention to boys, not girls. The girls are moving forward,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Mentioning that December 09 is the birthday of her daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Hasina sought blessings from all for her daughter on this day.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Women and Children Affairs Ministry arranged the event on the occasion of the 143rd birth and 91st death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The PM handed over the Begum Rokeya Padak 2023 to five noted women for their outstanding contributions towards society, women\'s education and women empowerment.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The five recipients are first female vice chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Professor Khaleda Ekram (posthumous) of Bogura for women education, noted reproductive health expert Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter of Rangpur for establishing women\'s rights, Kamrunnesa Ashraf Dina of Netrakona for her contributions to the socio-economic development of women, Ronita Bala of Thakurgaon for rural development and Nishat Mazumder (Mountaineer) of Lakshmipur district for her contribution to awakening of women.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On behalf of the recipients, Nishat Mazumder shared her feelings on the occasion.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira presided over the event, while Women and Children Affairs Secretary Nazma Mobarek read out the citation of the recipients. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-09 08:10:45', '2023-12-09 08:10:45'),
(10351, 10351, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">BNP leaders and activists along with the family members of the victims of enforced disappearance and political killings formed a human chain in the capital, marking the international Human Rights Day on Sunday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">The programme began formally with the recitation from the holy Quran around 10:55am in front of the Jatiya Press Club with BNP standing committee member Selima Rahman in the chair.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Several hundred BNP leaders and activists gathered in the area since morning to attend the programme amid the heavy presence of law enforcers.&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides, all district units of the opposition party are also set to observe a similar programme on the same day to highlight the issue of human rights violations in Bangladesh, said the party.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they want to observe the programme successfully as a symbol of protest against injustice.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">&nbsp;‘Mayer Dak’, a platform of the families of the victims of enforced disappearance allegedly by government agencies, organised a rally together with the other family members of the victims of enforced disappearance in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Saturday</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Read: Awami League not worried about any sanctions: Quader&nbsp;</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The International Human Rights Day is being observed in the country on Sunday as elsewhere across the globe.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The theme of this year’s day is “Freedom, Equality and Justice for All\".</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Different organisations and political parties have chalked out elaborate programmes to observe the day highlighting the country’s human rights situation.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the decades since the ratification of the UDHR, human rights have become more widely recognised and protected around the world. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">This year Human Rights Day marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being -- regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, according a message of the United Nations (UN) issued ahead of the day. 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, '2023-12-10 07:29:20', '2023-12-10 07:29:20'),
(10352, 10352, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, who <b>was undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, has been shifted to the hospital\'s Intensive Care Unit as his condition deteriorated.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He was taken to the ICU from his cabin on Friday night, BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The senior BNP leader was admitted to Evercare Hospital in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area on December 5.</div><div><br></div><div>His family members asked the nation to pray for him.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Vice-Chairman Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain is keeping an eye on his overall physical condition.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Zahid Hossain also went to see the body of Barrister Mainul Hosein, who died around 6 pm at Evercare Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 09:07:19', '2023-12-10 09:07:19'),
(10353, 10353, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The BNP and like-minded parties on Sunday announced a 36-hour road-rail-waterway blockade across the country starting from Tuesday morning to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC).</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>It will be the 11th round of the blockade programme of the opposition parties since October 31.</div><div>The blockade will begin at 6am on Tuesday and end at 6 pm on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called upon the country\'s people and the supporters of BNP and other opposition parties to observe the programme spontaneously to make it a success.</div><div><br></div><div>Vehicles of the newspapers or media, ambulances and vehicles transporting oxygen cylinders and medicines will remain out of the purview of the blockade, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the fresh blockade programme is also meant for mounting pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government and release party leaders and activists, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said other opposition parties, who have long been carrying out the simultaneous movement with BNP, will also observe a similar programme.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 09:11:46', '2023-12-10 09:11:46'),
(10354, 10354, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, separately condemned a high-seas assault Saturday by the Chinese coast guard together with suspected militia ships that repeatedly blasted water cannons to block three Philippine fisheries vessels from a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The noontime assault by Chinese ships off the Scarborough Shoal, one of the most aggressive this year, caused “significant damage” to the communication and navigation equipment of one of the three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ships, Filipino officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>They said without elaborating that suspected militia vessels accompanying Chinese coast guard ships used a long-range acoustic device that could impair hearing, causing “severe temporary discomfort and incapacitation to some Filipino crew.”</div><div><br></div><div>It’s the latest flare-up of the long-seething territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a flashpoint in Asia that has put the US and China on a collision course. China claims virtually the entire strategic waterway, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also pressed their separate claims.</div><div><br></div><div>Territorial standoffs between China and the Philippines over a number of disputed offshore areas, including the Scarborough and the Second Thomas shoals, have been particularly heated this year. The US has warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its longtime treaty ally, if Filipino forces, aircraft or ships come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>China has warned the US to stay away from what it calls a purely Asian dispute. It has deployed ships and aircraft to closely shadow US Navy ships and aircraft, which periodically undertake freedom of navigation and overflight patrols in one of the world’s most hotly disputed seas.</div><div><br></div><div>A Philippine government task force that deals with the long-seething territorial disputes said Saturday it “vehemently condemns the illegal and aggressive actions carried out by the Chinese coast guard and Chinese maritime militia against the civilian Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We demand that the Chinese government take immediate action to halt these aggressive activities and uphold the principles of international law and desist from actions that would infringe on Philippine sovereignty and endanger the lives and livelihood of Filipino fishermen,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson condemned China’s “aggressive, illegal actions.”</div><div><br></div><div>“This (Chinese) behavior violates international law and endangers lives and livelihood,” Carlson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “We stand with our Philippine friends, partners, allies in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Chinese coast guard said in a single sentence announcement on its website that it “implemented control measures in line with the law” Saturday against three BFAR vessels that “intruded into waters adjacent to Huangyan Island,” the Chinese name for the Shoal.</div><div><br></div><div>Separately, the coast guard said it had “implemented controls in accordance with laws and regulations” on Sunday against two Philippine coast guard vessels, including one official ship and one supply ship that were attempting to transport construction materials to the Second Thomas Shoal.</div><div><br></div><div>China has long sought to blockade the submerged reef, where a small contingent of Filipino marines has stood guard for years aboard a long-marooned but still actively commissioned warship, the BRP Sierra Madre.</div><div><br></div><div>The statement gave no details about the measures taken, but said the Philippines action “seriously infringed on China’s sovereignty.”</div><div><br></div><div>Philippine fisheries bureau’s ships had sailed to the Scarborough Shoal to provide humanitarian aid, mainly free fuel and Christmas grocery packs, to poor Filipino fishermen aboard nearly 30 boats in the rich but far-flung fishing area, Philippine officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>They said the swarm of Chinese coast guard and accompanying ships took dangerously aggressive actions, including the use of water cannons at least eight times, as the Philippine government ships approached about 2.6 kilometers to 3.5 kilometers (1.6 to 2 miles) from Scarborough Shoal.</div><div><br></div><div>They added that the Chinese coast guard installed a floating barrier at an entrance to the vast fishing lagoon of Scarborough Shoal and deployed personnel aboard small motor boats to drive away Filipino fishermen waiting for the distribution of fuel and food supplies at sea.</div><div><br></div><div>“To prevent the distribution of humanitarian support is not only illegal but also inhumane,” the Philippine government task force said.</div><div><br></div><div>In past faceoffs in the high seas off disputed shoals, the Chinese coast guard has used a military-grade laser that caused Filipino crewmen temporary blindness, and resorted to dangerous blocking and shadowing maneuvers, including one that caused minor collisions.</div><div><br></div><div>Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has allowed a larger US military presence in local military bases under a 2014 defense pact partly to strengthen territorial defense amid China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters. China has strongly opposed and expressed alarm over increasing deployments of US forces, warning that it would threaten regional peace and stability.</div><div><br></div><div>The Philippines has also launched joint sea and air patrols separately with the US and Australia, and plans to expand this to a multilateral patrol, possibly including Japan and other like-minded nations to deter aggression in the South China Sea, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano told reporters last week. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 09:39:18', '2023-12-10 09:39:18'),
(10355, 10355, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>With new owners, a change of TV network and a radically overhauled membership, the Golden Globes will hope for a clean break from years of notoriety as they unveil nominations on Monday for this year\'s best in film and television.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>But even as the scandal-wracked show seeks to reclaim its position as the fun, rowdy and celebrity-packed kickstarter to Hollywood\'s movie awards season, critics warn that its reforms could bring a new batch of ethical problems.</div><div><br></div><div>For decades, the Globes were owned, run and voted for by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) -- an eclectic group of around 100 entertainment journalists, writing for international outlets, who were often derided in the industry for their alleged amateurism and obscurity.</div><div><br></div><div>Those criticisms erupted in 2021, when a Los Angeles Times expose revealed the HFPA had no Black members, prompting a Hollywood boycott.</div><div><br></div><div>The Globes have been scrambling to survive ever since.</div><div><br></div><div>In June, the awards were purchased by a group of private investors including US billionaire Todd Boehly, the HFPA itself was disbanded, and a new plan was set out to restore the Globes\' luster.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the deal, the erstwhile HFPA\'s members were taken on as salaried employees of the new Golden Globes company, essentially now paid to watch movies, vote, and contribute articles for the awards\' website.</div><div><br></div><div>That has prompted questions about potential conflicts of interest.</div><div><br></div><div>Muddying the waters further, the awards\' new owners include Penske Media -- which runs the production company behind the Globes telecast, as well as trade outlets Variety and The Hollywood Reporter -- and Eldridge, which has a stake in film studio and regular Globes contender A24.</div><div><br></div><div>\"There\'s something unseemly about a Globes voter getting paid to write for the Globes website about an actor that they may end up nominating for a Golden Globe award to be given out on the stage of a show owned by the company they work for,\" noted a Los Angeles Times editorial this year.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Will the company executives urge voters to nominate high-profile stars and directors in hopes that they will show up? The new model appears to be one giant public relations machine.\"</div><div><br></div><div>But the Globes\' new owners have defended the changes.</div><div><br></div><div>They argue that paying Hollywood-based voters a $75,000 salary ends a flawed ecosystem under which impoverished, often freelance journalists accepted lavish press trips they could not fund themselves, and collected expensive freebies from studios to help make ends meet.</div><div><br></div><div>Seeking to improve the awards\' credibility and diversity, the group has added more than 200 non-member (and unpaid) voters based around the world, and appointed a new board including respected industry figures such as former Variety editor-in-chief Tim Gray.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Major changes are already underway at the Golden Globes and I think people in Hollywood, and around the world, will be pleased when they see integrity restored while the sense of fun remains,\" said Gray, now executive vice president of the Golden Globes, in August.</div><div><br></div><div>- Barbenheimer -</div><div>The new-look Golden Globes gala will take place on January 7. CBS will broadcast the event.</div><div><br></div><div>The network takes over from NBC, and has handed the show a coveted time slot, immediately after the final round of regular-season NFL games.</div><div><br></div><div>CBS bosses will be hoping for vastly improved ratings, after the 2023 Globes slumped to a new low of just 6.3 million viewers, even as other shows such as the Oscars recovered from pandemic viewership nadirs.</div><div><br></div><div>As recently as 2020, the Globes had drawn more than 18 million.</div><div><br></div><div>Offering hope for the future, industry titans such as Steven Spielberg and Eddie Murphy returned to the most recent gala, even if other prominent winners such as Cate Blanchett stayed away.</div><div><br></div><div>Cedric The Entertainer and Wilmer Valderrama will announce the nominees for the 81st Golden Globes on \"CBS Mornings\" from 1330 GMT Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Christopher Nolan\'s \"Oppenheimer\" is likely to be among the contenders for best drama, while the best comedy category is likely to feature the other half of this year\'s viral box office sensation -- \"Barbie.\"</div><div><br></div><div>New categories have been added for \"best cinematic or box office achievement\" and \"best stand-up comedian,\" in a bid to feature more household names.</div><div><br></div><div>Stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio (\"Killers of the Flower Moon\"), Emma Stone (\"Poor Things\"), Robert Downey Jr (\"Oppenheimer\") and Ryan Gosling (\"Barbie\") are all widely expected to score nominations.</div><div><br></div><div>Organizers will be fervently hoping they accept their invitations to the party. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 10:15:21', '2023-12-10 10:15:21'),
(10356, 10356, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Petroleum oil has been found in well no. 10 of Sylhet Gas Field, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid announced today while briefing reporters at his office in the ministry.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>He, however, said the accurate reserve of oil can be learnt 3-4 months later when necessary calculations are complete.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our officials have identified the reserve of petroleum oil at a depth of 1400 metres in the underground. We hope, we can produce 500-600 barrels of oil per day from the new discovery,” Hamid told reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The energy state minister also said that in addition to petroleum fuel, a reserve of 43.6-106 billion cubic meter gas was also discovered in the field. The average value of the gas would be about Tk 8500 crore.</div><div><br></div><div>The state minister said the gas layers are located at 2460 to 2475 metres, 2540 to 2576 metres and 3300 metres in the underground.</div><div><br></div><div>The digging of well no. 10 at the Sylhet Gas Field has been implemented with the financing of Gas Development Fund and Sylhet Gas Fields Limited. An agreement was signed with Sinopec International Petroleum Service Corporation, China on September 11 last year.</div><div><br></div><div>Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Nurul Amin and Petrobangla Chairman Janendra Nath Sarkar were present at the press briefing on the oil and gas reserve discovery. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 10:46:42', '2023-12-10 10:46:42'),
(10357, 10357, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Inspiring athlete Sultana Kamal, daughter-in-law of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was recalled on her birth anniversary today.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Sultana Kamal Khuki was an iconic athlete in erstwhile East Pakistan and post-independence Bangladesh. As a natural athlete, she excelled in 100-metre Hurdles, 100-metre Sprint, Long Jump and High Jump. She is an inspiration for future women athletes in Bangladesh. Today is her birth anniversary,” Centre for Research and Information (CRI) posted on Facebook.</div><div><br></div><div>Sultana Kamal, known as Sultana Ahmed before her marriage to Sheikh Kamal, continues to be a guiding figure in the country’s sports arena 48 years after her passing.</div><div><br></div><div>She soared to prominence during the inter-school athletics in 1962-63. By 1968, she set a remarkable record at the Pakistan Olympics. Two years later, in the 1970 edition at Lahore, she surpassed her own record.</div><div><br></div><div>Post-liberation, Sultana showcased her prowess at the first Bangladesh National Athletics competition in Dhaka, where she excelled in nine events. She emerged as the champion in the 100-meter hurdles, long jump, and broad jump, securing second place in the 100-meter sprint.</div><div><br></div><div>In 1975, during the national athletics competition held in February, Sultana once again displayed her track dominance, clocking in at 17.05 seconds, setting a new national record.</div><div><br></div><div>Sultana Ahmed tied the knot with Sheikh Kamal, eldest son of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on July 14, 1975, a month before she was assassinated along with her family on August 15, 1975. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 11:33:47', '2023-12-10 11:33:47'),
(10358, 10358, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Election Commission has ordered withdrawal of police commissioners of Barishal and Sylhet divisions, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Brahmanbaria and superintendents of police (SPs)of five districts ahead of the 12th national election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Already the EC sent letters to the senior secretary of the Public Administration Ministry and senior secretary of the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry to fill up their posts with experienced and eligible officers, said a press release signed by its assistant director (public relations) of Election Commission Md Ashadul Haque on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>It ordered withdrawal of the SPs of Habiganj, Pirojpur, Noakhali, Satkhira and Meherpur.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the EC sent letters to the senior secretary of the Public Security Division to send transfer proposal of the officers-in-charge of Manikganj Sadar police station, Singair police station in Manikganj and Sripur police station in Gazipur to the EC. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 11:59:11', '2023-12-10 11:59:11'),
(10359, 10359, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief of Detective Branch of Police Harun-Or-Rashid on Sunday warned that strict action will be taken against traders hoarding onions or selling them at higher prices.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Some unscrupulous traders are stockpiling onions and trying to sell them at higher prices. They should be brought under law,” Harun, also additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said these while talking to reporters at his office.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the DB police are working at Chwakbazar and Shyambazar areas to control onion price, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The price of onion jumped over Tk 200 per kg in Dhaka and other parts of the country on Saturday, after Indian authorities announced export ban on the essential kitchen item till March 2024. Source: UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 12:13:53', '2023-12-10 12:13:53'),
(10360, 10360, '<div><b>United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for a humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza Strip amid Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory.</b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at the Doha Forum held in Qatar, Guterres criticized the UN Security Council’s “resounding silence” over the Gaza conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>“The horrific attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, followed by the relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza were met by a resounding silence from the Council. After more than one month, the Council finally passed the resolution, which I welcome,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The delay comes at a cost, the Council\'s authority and credibility were severely undermined and the resolution is not being implemented,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres underlined that “there is no effective protection of civilians in Gaza.”</div><div><br></div><div>“The number of civilian casualties in Gaza in such a short period is totally unprecedented,” he said, noting that “the health care system is collapsing.”</div><div><br></div><div>The UN chief expected “public order to completely break down soon and then even a worse situation could unfold, including epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.”</div><div><br></div><div>Guterres called on the UN Security Council “to press to avert the humanitarian catastrophe.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also reiterated his “appeal for a humanitarian cease-fire to be declared.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Regrettably, the Security Council failed to do it but that does not make it less necessary, so I can promise I will not give up,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The US vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution on Friday that demanded an immediate cease-fire to halt the ongoing bloodshed in the Gaza Strip as the death toll continues to mount.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel resumed its military offensive on the Gaza Strip on Dec. 1 after the end of a week-long humanitarian pause with Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 17,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 48,780 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 following the cross-border attack by Hamas.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 12:59:51', '2023-12-10 12:59:51'),
(10361, 10361, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed Saturday to continue efforts to achieve a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>It came during a telephone call from Putin, according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, following the failure of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution Friday for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, due to opposition from Washington.</div><div><br></div><div>The two leaders discussed “the regional situation, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories, in light of the politically and humanitarianly complex situation.”</div><div><br></div><div>Al-Sisi reviewed “Egyptian efforts and communications to push for a ceasefire to protect civilians and to facilitate the entry of the necessary humanitarian aid for the sustenance and relief of the innocent civilians in Gaza.”</div><div><br></div><div>It added that the two presidents agreed to continue serious efforts to achieve a cease-fire, emphasizing the international community\'s responsibility.</div><div><br></div><div>Both sides stressed the importance of international efforts coming together to reach a fair and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue, based on a two-state solution, the establishment and recognition of the Palestinian state, under relevant international legitimacy resolutions. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 13:56:23', '2023-12-10 13:56:23'),
(10363, 10363, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Iran has reinforced its air defence capabilities by adding combat drones equipped with air-to-air missiles to its arsenal, state media reported today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Dozens of Karrar drones armed with air-to-air missiles have been added for air defence in all border areas of the country,” the official IRNA news agency said.</div><div><br></div><div>The drones, with an operational range of up to 1,000km, were exhibited this morning during a televised ceremony organised at a military academy in Tehran.</div><div><br></div><div>“The enemies will now have to rethink their strategies” because the Iranian forces have “become more powerful”, IRNA quoted the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, as saying.</div><div><br></div><div>The Karrar interceptor drones, the first version of which was unveiled in 2010, were equipped with a “Majid” thermal missile with a range of 8km “made entirely in Iran”, added the agency.</div><div><br></div><div>It “succeeded in its operational tests” during military exercises held in October, Mousavi said.</div><div><br></div><div>The development of Iran’s military arsenal has sparked concern among many countries, particularly the US and Israel, the sworn enemies of the Islamic Republic.</div><div><br></div><div>The latter accuse Tehran of providing fleets of drones to its allies in the Middle East, notably to the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, and to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.</div><div><br></div><div>Iran also backs the Palestinian group Hamas, which has been engaged in a war with Israel since it launched deadly attacks there on Oct 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Tehran has been accused by Kyiv and its Western allies of providing Russia with drones for use in the Ukraine war, a claim Tehran denies.</div><div><br></div><div>Western governments, however, imposed several rounds of biting sanctions on Iran over the alleged arms sales.</div><div><br></div><div>Iran began manufacturing drones in the 1980s during its eight-year war with Iraq. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 14:22:56', '2023-12-10 14:22:56'),
(10364, 10364, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Ministry of Agriculture in a notification on Sunday said that newly harvested murikata and summer onion have started arriving in the market, and there is no reason for hiking prices of the essential item.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>According to the Ministry of Agriculture, each year murikata onion is cultivated in about 50 thousand hectares of land, producing about 8 lakh tons. This year, summer onions have been planted on about 500 hectares of land, with harvest expected at about 50 thousand tons.</div><div><br></div><div>The notification also mentioned that these murikata and summer varieties of onion have started coming in the market and it will be available for 3 to 3 months and a half. After that, the main variety of onion will start coming in the market and the production may be around 26 to 28 lakh tons.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the local variety of onion was selling at Tk1000 per 5 kilograms and the same quantity of newly harvested onions at Tk 650 in the wholesale market of Karwan Bazar on Sunday. The imported onion sells at Tk 750 to Tk 800 per 5 kgs in the wholesale market.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh imports onion mainly from India, China, Myanmar and Pakistan.</div><div><br></div><div>The prices of onion almost doubled after India, the largest supplier of the item, suspended its export until March next year. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 14:32:48', '2023-12-10 14:32:48'),
(10365, 10365, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh on Sunday strongly urged the developed countries to fulfill their commitment of USD 100 billion climate finance.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Green climate fund (GCF), Least developed countries fund (LDCF), adaptation fund (AF) and GEF Trust fund should be strengthened with adequate resources and access of that funds should be quick and easy,” Environment Minister Md Shahab Uddin&nbsp; said&nbsp; in Bangladesh delegation press briefing at COP28 in Dubai, UAE.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh feels disappointed with the progress on agenda items on climate finance, he said adding, “The commitment of developed countries to provide US$ 100 billion per year has not been met yet, and we have strong reservations on the methodology of calculation of climate financing.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We urge the standing committee on finance (SCF) to fix a common definition of climate finance on an urgent basis. It is also important for the discussion of New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of climate finance.”</div><div><br></div><div>The environment minister said Bangladesh is in favour of balanced&nbsp; 50:50 allocation between adaptation and mitigation and grant-based financing for adaptation in line with Paris Agreement decision.</div><div><br></div><div>“We would put importance to new and additional public financing. Bangladesh firmly emphasizes the doubling adaptation fund and support for NAP implementation, which is the priority of 49 countries those have already prepared and submitted their NAPs.&nbsp; We are looking forward to adopting a decision on Global Goal on Adaptation emphasizing on time bound implementable targets for achieving climate resilience,” said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The ambition of emission reduction pledges for 2030 need to be seven times higher to keep the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Agreement, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahab Uddin expressed gratitude to the COP 28 Presidency and some concerned&nbsp; countries for the historic decision on the Loss and Damage Fund of more than USD 700 million, adopted on the opening day of the conference.</div><div><br></div><div>He stressed the need for concrete political commitments by the major emitters for addressing the emission gap. “Developed countries must lead the way with developing countries following suit in line with their respective abilities.”</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, Special Envoy to Prime Minister for Environment &amp; Climate Change and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional&nbsp; Secretary (Climate Change) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik&nbsp; and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Abu Dhabi Md. Abu Zafar were also present&nbsp; among others. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 15:25:34', '2023-12-10 15:25:34'),
(10366, 10366, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">UN cultural agency UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) added the Ramadan meal “iftar” to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage on Wednesday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan jointly submitted the application to UNESCO for the sociocultural tradition.</div><div><br></div><div>Iftar is observed by Muslims at sunset during the month of Ramadan, UNESCO posted on its site.</div><div><br></div><div>Iftar is observed by people of different ages, genders, and origins and commemorates the conclusion of the daily challenges of fasting from sunrise to sunset.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>It frequently takes the shape of meetings or dinners for communities, building family and community bonds and fostering charity, solidarity, and social exchange. People who do not fast throughout the month of Ramadan also participate in the festivities and rituals associated with iftar, said the UNESCO post.</div><div><br></div><div>Oral teaching, observation, and participation are common methods of passing on information and skills within families, and children and teens are frequently entrusted with making components of traditional meals, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>During this time, parents also teach their children about the advantages of fasting as well as the societal ideals and purposes of iftar. Iftar is frequently supported by government institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and charities, as well as through television, radio, print, and social media, the UNESCO post also said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>Heritage list<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 15:44:28', '2023-12-10 15:44:28');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10367, 10367, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Sunday asked the national human rights commission to incorporate the influential personalities and opinion leaders in the process of establishing human rights.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This effort of incorporating the influential personalities and opinion leaders like Imam, religious leaders, teachers and leeaders of different professionals will increase the human rights situation in Bangladesh in the large scale,&nbsp; he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The president made the statement while delivering his speech at the programme&nbsp; of observing the International Human Rights Day at the Hotel Intercontinental in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme hosted by National Human Rights Commission( NHRC) was held with the theme of \'freedom, equity and justice for all\'.</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing out that the scope&nbsp; of work of NHRC is wide across the country, the President said that since its inception, the commission has been making efforts to preserve, develop and ensure human rights. One of the main steps in creating and establishing a human rights culture is to create awareness about human rights issues.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Increase in human rights awareness will pave the way for victims of human rights violations to seek redress,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also directed the commission to elevate the people\'s involvement in all activities of mutual dialogue, meetings, seminars, workshops, education and promotion of co-operation in the protection of human rights.</div><div><br></div><div>In order to develop&nbsp; the human rights culture in Bangladesh, he said the commission should take necessary initiatives to increase research and publication, increase round-the-clock monitoring of human rights violations, create awareness on human rights issues and conduct advocacy activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Urging to ensure the presence of the National Human Rights Commission wherever human rights violations occur in the country, the president said the commission&nbsp; should stand by the oppressed and continue all efforts to punish the oppressors and become a symbol of trust and confidence to the exploited and oppressed.</div><div><br></div><div>The president specifically requested the international community to ensure a permanent solution to all kinds of conflicts and stand by the persecuted and oppressed people, noting that all problems can be solved through dialogue, not war.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But sadly, it is true that the prevailing global human rights situation would distress any sane person. Thousands of people are dying every day in various ways, including wars, ethnic and sectarian riots, epidemics and natural disasters, thousands are being killed in Gaza, millions of peoples’&nbsp; human rights are being violated,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Criticising the silence of the world in this issue, he said many powerful countries are playing the role of silent spectators. Many countries and organisations are indulging in double standards in the name of human rights, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Pointing out that the issue of human rights should be considered universal and equal for all and no discrimination or partiality should be done, the president said, \"I hope that wherever human rights are violated in the world, all countries, human rights organisations and human rights activists will raise their voices in protest regardless of party, religion and caste.\" .</div><div><br></div><div>Law, Justice and Parliamentary&nbsp; Affairs Minister&nbsp; Anisul Haque and full-time member of National Human Rights Commission Salim Reza spoke in the programme while secretary of Law and Justice Department Golam Sarwar and Secretary of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department Mr. Md. Moinul Kabir were also present, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Chairman of the NHRC Kamal Uddin Ahmed presided over the programme.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 15:51:00', '2023-12-10 15:51:00'),
(10368, 10368, '<div><b style=\"\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Amid surging prices of onions throughout the country, 90 tonnes of onions are waiting to be unloaded after imports from India through Benapole port five days ago.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Due to the long time remaining in the truck, the onions have already started to rot, said the port authority.</div><div><br></div><div>Benapole Quarantine Plant Monitoring Officer Hemanta Kumar Sarkar said that on December 5, the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) imported 90 tonnes of onion, but the onion shipment has not been unloaded yet.</div><div><br></div><div>Santosh Mondal, an Indian truck driver who brought onions, said that he has been waiting at Benapole port for the last five days with onion trucks. The onions are getting rotten, but none is coming to unload, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Rezaul Karim, director of Benapole port, said that 90 tonnes of onions imported by the TCB remained in the port for the last five days.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-10 15:54:50', '2023-12-10 15:54:50'),
(10369, 10369, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As the climate crisis mirrors the unpredictable and fast-flowing waters of the Padma River, the response to this emergency remains sluggish, particularly in the realms of mitigation, finance, and adaptation. This observation comes from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as expressed in an opinion piece for Context, a Thomson Reuters Foundation media platform.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Hasina emphasizes the importance of making significant progress in these areas at COP28. Key objectives include maintaining the 1.5C warming limit, ensuring the Global Stocktake results in heightened ambition, and the urgent mobilization of finance, especially for vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, she writes.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh, while contributing only 0.47% of global emissions, ranks as the seventh most vulnerable nation to climate change. The country has endured the consequences of rising emissions for decades, evidenced by soaring temperatures above 40 degrees, severe heatwaves, power outages, school closures, and devastating floods that claimed 55 lives and displaced thousands in August alone, according to the PM.</div><div><br></div><div>The nation has proactively invested in adapting to climate change while pursuing economic growth. The Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan outlines a transformative strategy towards climate resilience, including increasing renewable energy capacity to 30% by 2030, fostering sustainable agriculture, and modernizing energy grids, she writes.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh’s efforts extend to constructing flood defenses, sea walls, mangrove forests, and implementing satellite weather tracking systems. These initiatives are integral to the country\'s national adaptation plan and are essential for survival.</div><div><br></div><div>However, adaptation extends beyond environmental measures to encompass growth in interconnected economies and sectors, requiring significant investment. This includes making solar technology more affordable, revising taxes on inverters, and attracting international investment.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite leaders at COP28 pledging $169 million to the Adaptation Fund, this falls short of the $300 million annual target. PM Hasina called for wealthier nations to fulfil their responsibilities.</div><div><br></div><div>With limited time remaining at COP28, she urged the largest carbon-emitting nations to submit ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and developed countries to meet the $100 billion per year financing goal, with post-2025 climate finance targets set higher.</div><div><br></div><div>Climate finance, according to Hasina, must meet three criteria: sufficiency, regularity, and accessibility, considering the challenging years ahead for countries like Bangladesh. She appealed to international partners for deep reflection on common goals, decisive action, and acknowledgment of the costs of further delays. While applauding ongoing efforts, she also urged solidarity in line with the latest science.</div><div><br></div><div>As climate challenges intensify, PM Hasina stressed the importance of confronting and addressing them collectively and decisively. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 08:30:32', '2023-12-11 08:30:32'),
(10370, 10370, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In Faridpur, one of the highest onion-producing districts, markets are witnessing a drop in onion prices with the arrival of the new harvest. Upon visiting various markets in Faridpur town and surrounding areas, the UNB correspondent reported that the new onion crop is priced between Tk 120 and 130 per kg, compared to Tk 160 to 170 for the older stock.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Retailers noted a drop of Tk 30 to 40 per kg for new onions and Tk 20 to 30 for old ones. Just days earlier, new onions were selling at Tk 145 to 150 per kg, while the older stock fetched around Tk 200 per kg.</div><div><br></div><div>Anowar Hossain, an official from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Sadar upazila, explained that onion harvesting was initially delayed due to waterlogging caused by cyclone Michaung. However, farmers have now partially resumed harvesting as the water recedes.</div><div><br></div><div>Hossain also accused unscrupulous businessmen of manipulating onion prices following the export ban from neighboring India.</div><div><br></div><div>Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Director of the district’s DAE, informed that Faridpur primarily produces three onion varieties: winter Murikta, and summer Hali and Dana, with Murikta being the most widely cultivated. This season, Murikta onions were planted on approximately 5,500 hectares, aiming for a production of one lakh metric tonnes, according to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 10:03:36', '2023-12-11 10:03:36'),
(10371, 10371, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Director General of the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection AHM Shafiquzzaman on Monday said the onion market is expected to get stabilised within the next week.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Newly harvested onion have already started coming in the market. Onion hoarders will be brought under the law and action will be taken against them. Some hoarders behind the increase in onion prices have already been identified and the process is underway to identify rest of the hoarders,” he said while speaking at a function.</div><div><br></div><div>The DG said efforts are being made to find out who hid the onion and how the onion arranged in layers in Khatunganj and Shyambazar disappeared.</div><div><br></div><div>He said already Tk11 lakhs fine had been imposed after conducting drives in 54 districts of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“Though it has been possible to control the volatility in the meat and potato markets, the government is working to stabilise the onion market now,” he said, adding that, “Our campaign to protect consumer rights will continue.”</div><div><br></div><div>The reception for the winners in a debate on consumers’ rights was held in the conference room of the Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection in Dhaka\'s Karwan Bazar.</div><div><br></div><div>Chairman of Debate for Democracy Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron presided over the function.</div><div><br></div><div>Cumilla Victoria Government College won the competition and Eden Women\'s College won the runners-up honor.</div><div><br></div><div>Chowdhury Kiron said the current situation of commodity prices in Bangladesh shows that the black market is more powerful than the government.</div><div><br></div><div>“I hope those who have hidden onions in different places will supply items to the market quickly if they want to avoid loss,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Agriculture in a notification on Sunday said that newly harvested Murikata and summer onion have started arriving in the market, and there is no reason for hiking prices of the essential item.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the Ministry of Agriculture, each year Murikata onion is cultivated in about 50 thousand hectares of land, producing about 8 lakh tons. This year, summer onions have been planted on about 500 hectares of land, with harvest expected at about 50 thousand tons.</div><div><br></div><div>The notification also mentioned that these Murikata and summer varieties of onion have started coming in the market and it will be available for 3 to 3 months and a half. After that, the main variety of onion will start coming in the market and the production may be around 26 to 28 lakh tons. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 10:40:00', '2023-12-11 10:40:00'),
(10372, 10372, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Delegates at the United Nations climate talks have little time left to decide how the world plans to cap planet-warming emissions and keep the worst of warming at bay, ramping up the urgency as new drafts were expected on key outcomes of the summit.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres returned to the summit on Monday and said it was “time to go into overdrive to negotiate in good faith and rise to the challenge.” He said negotiators in particular must focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate justice.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the global stocktake — the part of talks that assesses where the world is at with its climate goals and how it can reach them — should \"phase out all fossil fuels” in order to reach the goal of limiting the rise of global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial times.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” Guterres said in brief remarks. “We are out of road and almost out of time.”</div><div><br></div><div>Nearby, about 15 silent protesters held out cards that spelled out “hold the line.”</div><div><br></div><div>Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, told journalists Monday morning that the “climate wolves” remained at the world’s doors as negotiations reach their climax at the summit.</div><div><br></div><div>“We do not have a minute to lose in this crucial final stretch and none of us have had much sleep,” Stiell said. He added that “the areas where options need to be negotiated have narrowed significantly,” in particular how to reduce planet-warming emissions and the “transition with the proper means of support to deliver it.”</div><div><br></div><div>When asked directly if it was a possibility that negotiators could leave Dubai without a deal, Stiell did not deny that could happen.</div><div><br></div><div>“One thing is for certain: I win, you lose is a recipe for collective failure,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Sticking points for the global stocktake are along familiar lines. Many countries, including small island states, European countries and Latin American nations, are calling for a phase-out of fossil fuels, responsible for most of the warming on Earth. But other nations want weaker language that will allow oil, gas and coal to keep burning in some way.</div><div><br></div><div>“All countries want ambition, but some countries have their priorities one place and other countries another place,” said Espen Barth Eide, the Foreign Minister of Norway. “So this can still both end up as a very successful COP, and it can also be much less successful depending on where we find the final language.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said that more developing countries would support a fossil fuel phase-out “if that is coupled with a clear promise from developed countries that they will help overcome the burden.”</div><div><br></div><div>As of midday on Monday, delegates were still waiting on a new draft of the global stocktake, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>But Barth Eide said: “I am much more concerned about having a good text than an early text. So if if the hours delay means that it will be better, I think that’s worth it.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 11:15:14', '2023-12-11 11:15:14'),
(10373, 10373, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Palestinian Territories: Israel bombed southern Gaza’s main city on Monday after Hamas warned no Israeli hostages would leave the territory alive unless its demands for prisoner releases were met.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Hamas triggered the conflict when it carried out the deadliest-ever attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and taking about 240 hostages back to Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has responded with a military offensive that has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed at least 17,997 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry said on Monday that dozens of people had been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, while Israel’s army reported rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>An AFP correspondent reported that Israeli strikes on Monday hit the main southern city of Khan Yunis, while Palestinian militants Islamic Jihad said they had blown up a house where Israeli soldiers were searching for a tunnel shaft.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas on Sunday warned that Israel would not receive “their prisoners alive without an exchange and negotiation and meeting the demands of the resistance.”</div><div><br></div><div>Israel says there are still 137 hostages in Gaza, while activists say around 7,000 Palestinians are in Israeli jails.</div><div><br></div><div>Months of intense bombardment and clashes have left Gaza’s health system on the brink of collapse, with most hospitals no longer functioning and nearly two million people displaced.</div><div><br></div><div>AFP visited the bombed-out ruins of the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City and found at least 30,000 people taking refuge amid the rubble after Israeli forces raided the medical facility last month.</div><div><br></div><div>“Our life has become a living hell, there’s no electricity, no water, no flour, no bread, no medicine for the children who are all sick,” said Mohammed Daloul, 38, who fled there with his wife and three children. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 11:42:11', '2023-12-11 11:42:11'),
(10374, 10374, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">UN mission in Mali officially ended a 10-year deployment in the country on Monday, its spokesperson said, in a pull-out ordered by Mali’s military leaders.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The mission, known as MINUSMA, lowered the United Nations flag on its headquarters in the capital Bamako, its spokesperson Fatoumata Kaba said.</div><div><br></div><div>The symbolic ceremony marks the official end of the mission, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>A “liquidation phase” will take place after January 1, involving activities such as handing over the remaining equipment to the authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>The withdrawal of the UN stabilization mission, known as MINUSMA, has ignited fears that fighting will intensify between troops and armed factions for territorial control.</div><div><br></div><div>MINUSMA had for the past decade maintained around 15,000 soldiers and police in Mali. About 180 members have been killed in hostile acts.</div><div><br></div><div>As of Friday, more than 10,500 uniformed and civilian MINUSMA personnel had left Mali, out of a total of around 13,800 staff at the start of the withdrawal, the UN mission said on X, formerly Twitter. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 12:14:23', '2023-12-11 12:14:23'),
(10375, 10375, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India’s Supreme Court on Monday directed the election commission to hold elections in the Jammu and Kashmir region by Sept. 30, 2024.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The court order sets the stage for elections to be held in the region, which was further integrated into India by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in 2019.</div><div><br></div><div>The court’s direction was part of the verdict on pleas challenging the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. According to reuters reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 12:30:50', '2023-12-11 12:30:50'),
(10376, 10376, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ram Gopal Varma is the latest celeb to react to Vidyut Jammwal\'s nude photos as the actor celebrated his birthday in solitude in the Himalayas.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Vidyut Jammwal shared nude photos from his retreat in the Himalayas on Sunday, as he celebrated his 43rd birthday. In no time, his photos took over social media with celebs and fans alike responding to them in huge numbers. Now, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), who is known for sharing his honest opinions on wide ranging topics on social media, has taken to X to react to Vidyut Jammwal\'s much-talked-about pictures.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday, Ram Gopal Varma shared Vidyut Jammwal\'s tweet about his Himalayan retreat and his photos without clothes, as he spent some days in ‘solitude’.</div><div><br></div><div>Stay tuned with breaking news on HT Channel on Facebook. Join Now</div><div><br></div><div>RGV, who has been non-stop tweeting about Ranbir Kapoor\'s recent film Animal, tweeted, “Hey Vidyut Jammwal, I think it’s so timely that you have brought out the ANIMAL in you… you are truly looking like a Greek God. A million salutes to you (folded hands emojis).” - Hindustan times&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 12:53:36', '2023-12-11 12:53:36'),
(10377, 10377, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United Nations said Monday that it needed $46.4 billion next year to bring life-saving help to around 180 million people in desperate circumstances around the world.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The UN said the global humanitarian outlook for 2024 was “bleak,” with conflicts, climate emergencies and collapsing economies “wreaking havoc” on the most vulnerable.</div><div><br></div><div>While global attention focuses on the conflict raging in the Gaza Strip, the UN said the wider Middle East, Sudan and Afghanistan were among the hotspots that also needed major international aid operations.</div><div><br></div><div>But the size of the annual appeal and the number of people it aims to reach were scaled back compared to 2023, following a decrease in donations.</div><div><br></div><div>“Humanitarians are saving lives, fighting hunger, protecting children, pushing back epidemics, and providing shelter and sanitation in many of the world’s most inhumane contexts,” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>“But the necessary support from the international community is not keeping pace with the needs,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The 2023 appeal was for $56.7 billion but received just 35 percent of that amount, one of the worst funding shortfall in years. It allowed UN agencies to deliver assistance and protection to 128 million people.</div><div><br></div><div>With a few weeks left to go, 2023 is likely to be the first year since 2010 when humanitarian donations declined compared to the previous year.</div><div><br></div><div>The UN therefore scaled down its appeal to $46.4 billion this time around, and will focus on those in the gravest need.</div><div><br></div><div>Launching the 2024 Global Humanitarian Overview, Griffiths said the sum was nonetheless a “massive ask” and would be tough to raise, with many donor countries facing their own cost of living crises.</div><div><br></div><div>“Without adequate funding, we cannot provide life-saving assistance. And if we cannot provide that assistance, people will pay with their lives,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The appeal covers aid for 72 countries: 26 states in crisis and 46 neighboring nations dealing with the knock-on effects, such as an influx of refugees.</div><div><br></div><div>The five largest single-country appeals are for Syria ($4.4 billion), Ukraine ($3.1 billion), Afghanistan ($3 billion), Ethiopia ($2.9 billion) and Yemen ($2.8 billion).</div><div><br></div><div>Griffiths said there would be 300 million people in need around the world next year — a figure down from 363 million last year.</div><div><br></div><div>But the UN aims to reach only 180.5 million of those, with NGOs and aid agencies targeting the remainder — not to mention front-line countries and communities themselves who provide the first help.</div><div><br></div><div>The Middle East and North Africa require $13.9 billion, the largest total for any region in 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>Beyond Syria, the Palestinian territories and Yemen, Griffiths also pointed to Sudan and its neighbors, and to Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Myanmar as hotspots that needed sustained global attention.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine is going through a “desperate winter” with the prospect of more warfare on the other side, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>With the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, plus Russia’s war in Ukraine, Griffiths said it was hard for the Sudan crisis to get the attention it deserved in foreign capitals.</div><div><br></div><div>More broadly, Griffiths said climate change would increasingly impact the work of humanitarian aid workers, who would have to learn how to better use climate data to focus aid resources, reports AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“There is no doubt about the climate confronting and competing with conflict as the driver of need,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Climate displaces more children now than conflict. It was never thus before,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 13:08:25', '2023-12-11 13:08:25'),
(10378, 10378, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Donald Trump changed his mind about testifying in his own defense in his New York fraud case on Monday, he said, announcing that he will not take the stand as expected because he has “nothing more to say.”</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The 77-year-old posted the surprise statement on Truth Social on Sunday, adding that he has “already testified to everything” in the ongoing trial against him, his eldest sons Don Jr and Eric, and other Trump Organization executives.</div><div><br></div><div>Trump was questioned last month by the prosecution, which has accused him and the other defendants of exaggerating the value of their real estate assets by billions of dollars to obtain more favorable bank loans and insurance terms.</div><div><br></div><div>For four hours on November 6, Trump sparred with prosecutors — with his acrimonious answers at times earning rebukes from Judge Arthur Engoron, who warned the current Republican front-runner that “this is not a political rally.”</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, Trump said that he had already testified “very successfully &amp; conclusively” in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The Trump real estate empire has been put in jeopardy by the civil suit, brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James and one of a slew of serious legal actions facing Trump ahead of next year’s presidential vote.</div><div><br></div><div>Even before opening arguments, Engoron ruled that James’s office had already shown “conclusive evidence” that Trump had overstated his net worth on financial documents by between $812 million and $2.2 billion between 2014 and 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, the judge ordered the liquidation of the companies managing the assets in question, such as the Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street skyscrapers in Manhattan — a decision currently under appeal.</div><div><br></div><div>The trial concerns several other crimes, including insurance fraud, and the financial penalty sought by the Attorney General’s office of $250 million.</div><div><br></div><div>Unlike some of Trump’s legal battles, including the criminal case against him accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election, the suit brought by James, a Democrat, carries no risk of jail time.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the start of the trial, which opened October 2, the billionaire Republican has denounced the proceedings as a partisan “witch hunt.”</div><div><br></div><div>At one point during his previous testimony, a visibly angry Engoron told Trump’s lawyer, Christopher Kise, to “control your client.”</div><div><br></div><div>Engoron has also slapped Trump with $15,000 in fines for violating a partial gag order, imposed after he insulted the judge’s law clerk on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>For their part, Trump’s lawyers have argued that the banks the Trump Organization sent its financial statements did their own proper due diligence and were not financially harmed by the Trump team’s estimates, even bringing out current and former employees of Deutsche Bank, one the banks he’s accused of defrauding, to testify to that effect.</div><div><br></div><div>The trial is set to continue without Trump’s testimony, with a ruling expected by the end of January. According to AFP reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 14:32:35', '2023-12-11 14:32:35'),
(10379, 10379, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Bangladesh delegation in COP28 has called for a scientific solution to the ongoing climate change crisis.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>While speaking to UNB, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the prime minister’s special envoy for climate change, emphasised on effective decision-making regarding the use of fossil fuels on the basis of science.</div><div><br></div><div>\"To keep global temperature rise under the 1.5-degree celsius threshold, tough decisions on fossil fuels need to be made. A lot of countries are talking a lot. But we need to focus on what the science says. The decisions of the 28th climate summit must be based on science,” said the head of the Bangladesh delegation in Dubai.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Today and tomorrow are two important days. We are hoping to bring something effective from this conference,\" said Saber Hossain Chowdhury.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Bangladesh also expressed disappointment over the draft text of the&nbsp; Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) at the conference and demanded doubling of the climate adaptation funding.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are reviewing the draft right now. Hopefully, with like-minded countries, we can strengthen this draft in the next two days.”</div><div><br></div><div>At the conference, Bangladesh emphasised on political commitments from major carbon emitters to reduce global carbon emissions.</div><div><br></div><div>In this case, developed countries will have to play a leadership role to keep global warming within the range of 1.5 degrees celsius, according to the Bangladesh delegation.</div><div><br></div><div>While talking to UNB, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin stressed new and additional government funding.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh needs to double the adaptation fund to implement the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). We look forward to deciding the Global Goal on Adaptation with emphasis on time-bound and implementable targets to achieve climate resilience,” said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>The Dubai Climate Conference, also known as the COP28, will end on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>On the last day of the Dubai Climate Summit, which made history by making the historic decision to activate the Loss and Damage Fund on the opening day, afflicted nations like Bangladesh are waiting to learn what the final deal would deliver to the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the loss and damage fund, Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed said, “Bangladesh is fully prepared to receive money from the fund. We are working on this.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Dubai climate summit entered its final stages on Monday. At the same time, the scope of discussion has become more focused. Currently, parties are working to decide on two key issues.</div><div><br></div><div>One is to adopt ambitious targets to reduce global carbon emissions in climate mitigation and the second is to express the willingness of countries to overcome the climate crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, told reporters on Monday morning, \"To reach a meaningful agreement in Dubai, we have to abandon the mentality of obstruction.\"</div><div><br></div><div>“Cooperation of all countries is needed to approve the Global Stocktake. There are no winners or losers here,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The head of the UN climate agency stressed that the failure to reach a meaningful agreement will mean failure for everyone.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The failure to reach a meaningful agreement will push 8 billion people of the world towards disaster. So everyone at the negotiating table has to focus on the prize. The goal of all countries must be to reach a final agreement for the good of all the people of the world,” said Simon Stiell.</div><div><br></div><div>The COP28 kicked off on November 30 in Dubai.</div><div><br></div><div>Heads of governments&nbsp; and representatives of 198 countries participated in the 13-day conference. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 14:41:35', '2023-12-11 14:41:35'),
(10380, 10380, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who has been undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka for nearly four months, was moved back to the cabin again around two hours after she had been transferred to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) on Monday evening.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"Khaleda Zia was transferred to the CCU at about 5:30 pm as per the recommendation of her medical board since her condition deteriorated,” said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.</div><div><br></div><div>She was taken back to the cabin later at 7:30pm after examining her health condition, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The 78-year-old former prime minister has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP chairperson has been undergoing treatment at the hospital since August 9 for various health complications.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 26, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.</div><div><br></div><div>The US doctors--Hamid Rabb, Christos Georgiades and James P. A. Hamilton from Johns Hopkins University\'s School of Medicine--went to Bangladesh on October 25 and decided to complete the TIPS procedure after assessing Khaleda’s health condition and test reports.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda was doing fine after undergoing a successful hepatic procedure by the US doctors.</div><div><br></div><div>TIPS is a procedure that involves inserting a stent (tube) to connect the portal veins to adjacent blood vessels that have lower pressure. This relieves the pressure of blood flowing through the diseased liver and can help stop bleeding and fluid backup. A TIPS also relieves the high blood pressure in the portal vein (called portal hypertension) that often occurs in the setting of liver cirrhosis.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda’s doctors have been recommending sending Khaleda abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP chief’s family also sought permission from the government on different occasions, but the Law Minister said Khaleda has no scope to go abroad for treatment as she was released on conditions suspending her sentence in corruption cases.</div><div><br></div><div>Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.</div><div><br></div><div>Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years\' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.</div><div><br></div><div>Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 14:43:43', '2023-12-11 14:43:43'),
(10381, 10381, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Spinner Nahida Akter emerged as the first Bangladeshi cricketer to win the \"ICC Women\'s Player of the Month\" award for the month of November 2023, considering her brilliant series-winning performance against Pakistan at home.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Nahida was selected for the award after beating her compatriot Fargana Hoque and Pakistani spinner Sadia Iqbal in a tough competition.</div><div><br></div><div>In the recently concluded three-match ODI series against Pakistan, Nahida played a vital role for Bangladesh\'s 2-1 series victory, grabbing seven wickets.</div><div><br></div><div>In the series-deciding third and last match, Nahida also displayed her brilliance, claiming three wickets for 26 runs and helping Bangladesh win a historic series against Pakistan. Later, she was adjudged player of the series.</div><div><br></div><div>Nahida, 23, was named the highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in women\'s T20Is and the third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh also won the T20 home series against Pakistan last August.</div><div><br></div><div>Such an individual show has also been reflected in the Bangladesh women\'s team\'s recent upward performance. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 15:32:06', '2023-12-11 15:32:06'),
(10382, 10382, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Onion prices dropped by Tk 40 per kg on Monday, thanks to the arrival of newly harvested Murikata and summer varieties in the markets, market sources said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On Monday,&nbsp; Murikata onion was retailing at Tk 100 per kg, imported onion at Tk 180, and local variety at Tk 200 per kg. A day before, Murikata onions were selling at Tk140, imported ones at Tk210, and local varieties at Tk 240 per kg.</div><div><br></div><div>Ministry of Agriculture sources said around 5.71 lakh tons of onion have been produced from July to December of the current fiscal year 2023–24.</div><div><br></div><div>This is 1.55 lakh tons more than produced during the same period of the previous fiscal.</div><div><br></div><div>Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque told UNB on Monday that there is enough supply of onion in the market, and so there is no reason for the abnormal price hike.</div><div><br></div><div>He said around 50,000 tons of onion is on the way to Bangladesh from India, as per earlier LCs. Also, the supply of newly harvested onions increased in the market. So, the price of onions will come down to a normal level within a week, said the minister.</div><div><br></div><div>However, Bashir Uddin, an onion wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, told this correspondent that the supply of onions increased Monday in the market, and prices also decreased compared to the previous two days.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the the volume of new arrivals is increasing every day. speedily as the farmers are getting a good price now.</div><div><br></div><div>Bashir also said the raid by law enforcers against illegal hoarding of onions has helped bolster the supply of old onions in the market.</div><div><br></div><div>Badal Chandra Biswas, Director General of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), said that each year, Murikata onion is cultivated on about 50 thousand hectares of land, producing about 8 lakh tons.</div><div><br></div><div>This year, summer onions have been planted on about 500 hectares of land, with a harvest expected at about 50 thousand tons.</div><div><br></div><div>He also mentioned that these Murikata and summer varieties of onion have started coming into the market, and it will be available for 3 to 3 months and a half.</div><div><br></div><div>After that, the main variety of onion will start coming into the market, and the production may be around 26 to 28 lakh tons this year, he said, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Biswas also said that a high-yielding variety of onion was cultivated on vast tracts of land this year, with prospects of higher production.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 15:39:54', '2023-12-11 15:39:54'),
(10383, 10383, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to assess if the gas of the island district of Bhola could be used by setting up a fertilizer factory there following conducting a feasibility study.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The directive came when the premier was chairing the cabinet meeting at her office on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters in the Secretariat after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>When state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid informed the cabinet that fuel was found in the first layer of Well No-10 of the Sylhet gas field and an oil flow of 35 barrels (on barrels is equal to 159 litres) per hour was found on experimental extraction.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting also discussed how to ensure optimum use of the gas found in Bhola as now the gas is supplied from Bhola to different industries by cylinders, which is very insignificant in amount, said Mahbub Hossain.</div><div><br></div><div>“In this context, the prime minister directed the ministry to assess whether a fertilizer factory can be set up there,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the cabinet approved the proposal for formation of a joint venture company to generate 100megawatt solar energy in Madarganj in Jamalpur district.</div><div><br></div><div>The company titled ‘Madarganj Solar Power Company’ will be set up on a 350-acre land with the joint partnership of CREC International Renewable Energy Co. Ltd (CIRE), China and B-R Powergen Ltd (BRPL) owned by Power Development Board and REB.</div><div><br></div><div>“BRPL will have 30 percent equity share here (of the proposed company) and the Chinese company will have 70 percent ownership share. A 20-year contract has been signed with them (Chinese company) in this regard,” said the Cabinet Secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>The cabinet also cleared the drafts of Sea Tourism Policy 2023 and National Voluntary Services Policy 2023</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting approved the drafts of a bilateral aviation agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and the European Union, and an agreement to be signed between Bangladesh and Kosovo on cultural cooperation.</div><div><br></div><div>However, a draft of National Primary Education Academy Ordinance 2023 was placed before the meeting, but the Cabinet thought the enactment of this ordinance is not essential right now as it can be done after formation of the new parliament. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-11 15:54:19', '2023-12-11 15:54:19'),
(10384, 10384, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><b>Unidentified arsonists set a bus on fire in Dhaka’s Gulistan area this morning, on the first day of the latest blockade called by BNP and like-minded opposition parties.</b></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">A bus of Bahon Paribahan was burnt around 10 am, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of FSCD headquarters (media cell).</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Two fire-fighting units from Siddique Bazar station reached the spot and doused the blaze at 10:16 am, he said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">No casualties were reported.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">On Monday night, miscreants set two buses on fire in Dhaka’s Tikatuli and Mohammadpur areas.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">BNP and like-minded parties are observing hartals and blockades across the country to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC). UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 06:45:12', '2023-12-12 06:45:12'),
(10385, 10385, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Four activists of United People\'s Democratic Front (UPDF) were shot dead by miscreants in ward no. 9 of Panchhari upazila under Khagrachari district on Monday night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The miscreants also abducted two UPDF activists at the time, said UPDF district organiser Angya Marma.</div><div><br></div><div>Khagrachari police, however, said the matter is yet to be confirmed.</div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as UPDF-backed Democratic Youth Forum\'s central organising secretary Bipul Chakma, district vice president Liton Chakma, UPDF\'s student wing Pahari Chhatra Parishad central vice president Sunil Tripura and UPDF member Ruhinsha Tripura. UPDF leaders Hari Kamal Tripura and Niti Dutta Chakma are missing since the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Angya Marma said a youth conference was scheduled to be held in the area today. That\'s why they were there.</div><div><br></div><div>He also claimed that UPDF Democratic is behind this.</div><div><br></div><div>On Monday night, gunshots were heard in Pujgang area of Panchhari upazila of the district -- creating panic in the area. According to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 08:26:10', '2023-12-12 08:26:10'),
(10386, 10386, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>With three Bangladeshi pacers set to face the gavel on December 19, the question of who will represent Bangladesh in the upcoming IPL season hangs in the balance.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Despite the withdrawal of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, who were part of the last IPL, three prominent Bangladeshi pacers — Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam — stand as potential candidates for the upcoming IPL season.</div><div><br></div><div>The base prices for these three pacers have been disclosed by the IPL authority. Teams vying for Mustafizur\'s services will need to allocate a minimum of INR 2 crores, while Taskin comes with a base price of INR 75 lacs, and Shoriful\'s services start at INR 50 lacs.</div><div><br></div><div>Mustafizur and Shoriful are set to be part of Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. However, Taskin has been grappling with an injury in recent times. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 08:53:08', '2023-12-12 08:53:08');
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(10387, 10387, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Joe Biden hosted a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Monday night, vowing to continue to stand with Israel in its war with Hamas while saying that a “surge of antisemitism\" around the globe \"is sickening.”</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Nearly 800 guests filled the East Room to almost overflowing. The crowd included Holocaust survivors, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and around two dozen members of Congress. Also present were Jewish community leaders and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who was among those who lit a menorah partially made from the original timbers of the White House.</div><div><br></div><div>The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, Emhoff is the first Jewish person to be the spouse of one of the country’s nationally elected leaders. Last week he presided over the lighting ceremony of a massive menorah in front of the White House.</div><div><br></div><div>A menorah is lit nightly during the eight-day Jewish festival, which this year is being celebrated from Dec. 7 until Friday. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue in New York City led Monday\'s ceremony, telling the president: “You\'ve been a steadfast supporter of Israel\'s right to defend itself. A trusted and true friend to the Jewish people.”</div><div><br></div><div>Buchdahl talked about the darkness of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which triggered war with Israel. But she said that since, “Its only gotten darker, with many around the world justifying terrorism, normalizing antisemitism, with the pain of so many lives lost — Israeli and Palestinian — in this just but tragic war.”</div><div><br></div><div>She also drew sustained applause when she called Biden “a beacon of strength.”</div><div><br></div><div>The president told the crowd, “You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Zionist.” He said that while he doesn\'t always agree with Israel\'s leaders and governmental policies, “Were there no Israel, there would not be a Jew in the world who is safe.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We continue to provide military assistance until they get rid of Hamas but we have to be careful,\" Biden said of U.S. support for the war. He added: \"The whole world, public opinion can shift overnight. We can\'t let that happen.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The Biden administration in May announced what it called the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. Still, antisemitism has only intensified in some quarters as criticism rises over the mounting Palestinian death toll. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Biden said of hostages being held by Hamas, which U.S. authorities have been working for months to help free, “We’re not going to stop until we get every one of them home.” The crowd also cheered when he talked of his administration’s efforts to increase humanitarian aid flowing to civilians in Gaza caught in the fighting.</div><div><br></div><div>Others, though, have decried Biden\'s stance on the war. Earlier Monday, protesters gathered outside the White House as nearly 20 women describing themselves as “Jewish elders” chained themselves to the fence around the grounds. Wearing black T-shirts reading “Not In Our Name,” they chanted: “Biden, Biden, pick a side! Cease-fire not genocide!” while reading the names of those killed in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>Authorities took the women away after using a bolt cutter to cut the chains that had encircled the protesters\' waists. Organizers said they deliberately picked the day of the White House\'s Hanukkah celebration to protest.</div><div><br></div><div>“We, as elder Jews, we know what genocide looks like. We know what genocide feels like. It’s in our bodies, in our bones,” said Esther Farmer of Jewish Voice for Peace, which organized the demonstration. “It\'s horrifying, it\'s devastating. Sometimes, it\'s hard to get up in the morning to see this, and it\'s being done in the name of Jews. So we are here — as elderly Jews — to say, not in our name.”</div><div><br></div><div>The U.S. Park Police said they issued 18 citations to the protesters and released them from custody.</div><div><br></div><div>Biden at the reception said he recognized American Jews “hurt” and “fear for your safety” because “the surge of antisemitism in the United States and around the world is sickening.”</div><div><br></div><div>“We see it in our communities and in schools and colleges and social media,” the president said, adding that such instances “surface painful scars.”</div><div><br></div><div>On Saturday, Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, resigned following pressure from donors and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy. Universities across the U.S. have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid the fallout from the war in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>White House spokesman Andrew Bates declined to comment Monday on Magill’s decision to resign. Presidents Claudine Gay of Harvard and Sally Kornbluth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who appeared alongside Magill, have also faced criticism. Gay has apologized for her remarks.</div><div><br></div><div>Bates noted that Magill issued a statement withdrawing her remarks, reports AP.</div><div><br></div><div>“That was the right thing to do,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 09:05:10', '2023-12-12 09:05:10'),
(10388, 10388, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Amid a humanitarian situation described as “apocalyptic” by UN human rights chief Volker Turk, nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face a grim fate after the US vetoed on Friday a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The vote came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on Wednesday, invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter. The article allows the UN chief to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.”</div><div><br></div><div>During a recent virtual media briefing, officials from aid organizations active in Gaza said they had run out of words to describe the humanitarian crisis and the horrors unfolding in the embattled enclave.</div><div><br></div><div>The meeting was held by the NGOs Action Against Hunger, Amnesty International, Doctors of the World, Medecins Sans Frontieres France, Humanity and Inclusion – Handicap International, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International, and Save the Children.</div><div><br></div><div>The renewed hostilities following the end of the truce, which lasted for six days after it was reached on Nov. 24, have seen Israel expand its ground offensive deeper into southern Gaza, previously declared by the Israeli military as a “safe” area. To date, over 1.8 million Palestinians have been displaced.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials of the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza say more than 17,700 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed by the Israeli bombardment since Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>On that day, the Israeli Defense Forces launched a military campaign in Gaza in retaliation for an attack by Hamas in which more than 1,440 Israelis and foreigners were killed or taken hostage.</div><div><br></div><div>As of Sunday, the IDF and Hamas militants were locked in combat in several parts of Gaza, including the main city in the south, Khan Younis, whose residents had been earlier asked to evacuate via an “urgent appeal.”</div><div><br></div><div>Describing the humanitarian conditions in southern Gaza, Alexandra Saieh, head of humanitarian policy and advocacy at Save the Children, said at Thursday’s media briefing: “People are in overcrowded shelters, in makeshift tents, with no access to clean water and crumbling sanitation facilities.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have heard of children starving in the so-called safe zone of Al-Mawasi.”</div><div><br></div><div>Al-Mawasi, a kilometer-wide patch of desert along the coastline of southern Gaza, was touted by Israel as a “safe space” in October.</div><div><br></div><div>Approximately 770,000 internally displaced people have sought refuge in 133 shelters, while others in the south have sheltered with host families or slept on the streets, according to Shaina Low, communications adviser at the Norwegian Refugee Council. According to Arab News reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 09:24:01', '2023-12-12 09:24:01'),
(10389, 10389, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 23 people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Pakistan army base on Tuesday, an official said, in an attack claimed by militants affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The early-morning attack targeted a base in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, according to a local official who spoke on condition of anonymity.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Many of them were killed while they were sleeping and in civilian clothes so we are still determining if they are all military personnel,\" the official added.</div><div><br></div><div>An additional 27 people were wounded when the explosive-laden suicide vehicle detonated at a school building which had been commandeered as a makeshift military base, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Three rooms had collapsed and efforts were underway to pull bodies from the ruins, with fears the toll could rise further still, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan -- a new group affiliated with the Pakistan Taliban -- said the assault began around 2:30 am (2130 GMT) with a \"martyrdom attack\" by one fighter before others stormed the compound.</div><div><br></div><div>Pakistan\'s army have not yet commented on the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic spike in militant attacks, mainly in its border regions with Afghanistan, since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>Analysts say Islamist fighters have been emboldened by the neighbouring insurgency\'s success following the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.</div><div><br></div><div>The first half of 2023 saw a nearly 80 percent spike in attacks compared to last year, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.</div><div><br></div><div>Islamabad alleges that hostile groups operate from \"sanctuaries\" across the border, a charge the Taliban government routinely denies.</div><div><br></div><div>The biggest threat to Pakistan is its domestic chapter of the Taliban known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which shares lineage and ideology with Kabul\'s rulers.</div><div><br></div><div>In January, the TTP was linked to a mosque bombing which killed more than 80 police officers inside a headquarters in the northwestern city of Peshawar, capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, reports AFP.</div><div><br></div><div>Islamabad also said four troops were killed in September during a cross-border raid by \"hundreds\" of TTP fighters in Chitral, an area popular with domestic tourists.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 09:32:33', '2023-12-12 09:32:33'),
(10390, 10390, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The UN on Tuesday declared junta-ruled Myanmar as the world’s largest source of opium.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to UN Office on Drugs and Crime, opium cultivation in the Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia “continued to expand over the past year, with a significant increase in Myanmar.”</div><div><br></div><div>In its latest report titled Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023: Cultivation, Production and Implications, the UN Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific revealed that since the 2021 military takeover in Myanmar, opium cultivation grew by 18% from 40,100 to 47,100 hectares (99,000 to 116,000 acres).</div><div><br></div><div>“At 1,080 metric tons today, the potential yield is at its highest since 2001 … Myanmar now stands as the world’s largest source of opium,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The economic, security and governance disruptions that followed the military takeover of February 2021 continue to drive farmers in remote areas towards opium to make a living,” UN regional representative Jeremy Douglas said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“The intensification of conflict in Shan (state) and other border areas is expected to accelerate this trend.” - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 09:57:13', '2023-12-12 09:57:13'),
(10391, 10391, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 18,205, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said Monday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a press conference, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said that 49,645 other people have also been injured in the attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the spokesman, 22 hospitals and 46 primary care centers were forced out of service due to the Israeli bombardment.</div><div><br></div><div>“At least 296 medics were also killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7,” al-Qudra said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on Israeli border towns on Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 10:47:02', '2023-12-12 10:47:02'),
(10392, 10392, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said there is no possibility to change their decision regarding independent candidates despite the objections of the alliance partners and discomfort of the party candidates.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"There is no alternative to competition and no chance of holding uncontested elections,\" he said at a press briefing at the Awami League president\'s Dhanmondi political office in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader said BNP has become a threat to the country\'s election and democracy and so the country\'s democracy is in crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, warned that strict action will be taken against those who will try to foil the national election slated for January 7 through violence, conspiracies and terrorism, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Some people and some parties like BNP defame the country to foreigners and their blockade means torching of buses and secret attacks, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AL general secretary said Awami League has no objection to the army performing its duties as a striking force in the election as per the constitution. However, the Awami League is against making the army controversial on all issues, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 11:53:46', '2023-12-12 11:53:46'),
(10393, 10393, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Following Shakib Al Hasan\'s recent remarks to prioritize playing for the Bangladesh national team over franchise leagues, Jalal Younus, chairman of the cricket operation at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), affirmed that Shakib will retain his role as captain.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Despite speculation during the ICC World Cup that Shakib might step down from the captaincy, BCB\'s statement suggests otherwise.</div><div><br></div><div>“It\'s good news that Shakib will focus more on national duty,” Jalal told reporters today. “We also want him to play in all formats for Bangladesh,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Jalal clarified that there has been no discussion with Shakib regarding any reluctance to continue as captain.</div><div><br></div><div>“Shakib was appointed captain for an extended period, and there has been no other discussion,” he said</div><div><br></div><div>He further said that Najmul Hossain Shanto is currently appointed as captain for the two series against New Zealand. However, both Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz are under consideration for future captaincy roles.</div><div><br></div><div>The Bangladesh team is currently touring New Zealand to play a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series, starting on December 19 with the first ODI. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 12:01:44', '2023-12-12 12:01:44'),
(10394, 10394, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The US cannot turn the tide of war in Ukraine by pumping tens of billions more dollars into the country, the Kremlin said today, ahead of planned talks between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and US leaders.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Zelensky will make his case for more US aid for Ukraine’s war against Russia during talks in Washington later today with US president Joe Biden and Congressional leaders at a time of increasing doubts among many Republican lawmakers.</div><div><br></div><div>Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would “very closely” follow Zelensky’s meetings in Washington.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is important for everyone to understand that the tens of billions of dollars pumped into Ukraine did not help it gain any success on the battlefield,” Peskov told a regular news briefing.</div><div><br></div><div>“The other tens of billions of dollars that Ukraine wants to be pumped into its economy will also be doomed to the same fiasco, This cannot change the situation on the battlefield, but it also can’t change the advance of the ‘special military operation’,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Moscow describes its military actions in Ukraine, launched on Feb 24, 2022, as a “special military operation” to demilitarise a country it says poses a direct threat to Russian security interests.</div><div><br></div><div>Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is engaged in an unprovoked war of aggression and a land grab.</div><div><br></div><div>Peskov said Ukraine’s failures on the battlefield were undermining Zelensky’s position.</div><div><br></div><div>The next round of US aid for Ukraine has been held up by a demand from House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans that no more funds be dispatched unless steps are first taken to tighten controls on the US border with Mexico.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia currently controls nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory.</div><div><br></div><div>Military frontlines have not budged very much in recent months despite a Ukrainian counter-offensive. Source: Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 12:18:20', '2023-12-12 12:18:20'),
(10395, 10395, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Israeli forces were raiding a hospital today in the north of the Palestinian territory.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Israeli occupation forces are storming Kamal Adwan hospital after besieging and bombing it for days,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request to comment.</div><div><br></div><div>Qudra said the troops were rounding up men in the hospital courtyard, including medical staff.</div><div><br></div><div>“We fear their arrest and the arrest of the medical teams or their killing,” the health ministry spokesman added, calling for international intervention.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations humanitarian agency Ocha said two mothers were killed when the maternity department of Kamal Adwan hospital was reportedly hit yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div>“The hospital remains surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks, and fighting with armed groups has been reported in its vicinity for three consecutive days,” Ocha said.</div><div><br></div><div>It said the hospital was “currently accommodating 65 patients, including 12 children in the intensive care unit and six newborns in incubators”.</div><div><br></div><div>“About 3,000 internally displaced persons remain trapped in the facility and are awaiting evacuation with extreme shortages of water, food and power reported,” it added.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli troops have previously raided other medical facilities in Gaza, including Al-Shifa, the territory’s largest hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>There is currently only one hospital in northern Gaza able to admit patients, according to the UN.</div><div><br></div><div>Just 13 of 36 hospitals across the territory are functioning, providing limited healthcare while sheltering thousands of displaced people.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 18,200 Gazans have been killed and nearly 50,000 wounded since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted more than two months ago, according to the health ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Around 1,200 people were killed in an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel on Oct 7, Israeli officials say, which sparked the blistering military response on Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The majority of war casualties in Israel and Gaza have been civilians. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 12:25:48', '2023-12-12 12:25:48'),
(10396, 10396, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Union negotiators clinched a deal Friday on the world’s first comprehensive artificial intelligence rules, paving the way for legal oversight of AI technology that has promised to transform everyday life and spurred warnings of existential dangers to humanity.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Negotiators from the European Parliament and the bloc’s 27 member countries overcame big differences on controversial points including generative AI and police use of face recognition surveillance to sign a tentative political agreement for the Artificial Intelligence Act.</div><div><br></div><div>“Deal!” tweeted European Commissioner Thierry Breton just before midnight. “The EU becomes the very first continent to set clear rules for the use of AI.”</div><div><br></div><div>The result came after marathon closed-door talks this week, with the initial session lasting 22 hours before a second round kicked off Friday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials were under the gun to secure a political victory for the flagship legislation. Civil society groups, however, gave it a cool reception as they wait for technical details that will need to be ironed out in the coming weeks. They said the deal didn’t go far enough in protecting people from harm caused by AI systems.</div><div><br></div><div>“Today’s political deal marks the beginning of important and necessary technical work on crucial details of the AI Act, which are still missing,” said Daniel Friedlaender, head of the European office of the Computer and Communications Industry Association, a tech industry lobby group.</div><div><br></div><div>The EU took an early lead in the global race to draw up AI guardrails when it unveiled the first draft of its rulebook in 2021. The recent boom in generative AI, however, sent European officials scrambling to update a proposal poised to serve as a blueprint for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>The European Parliament will still need to vote on the act early next year, but with the deal done that’s a formality, Brando Benifei, an Italian lawmaker co-leading the body’s negotiating efforts, told The Associated Press late Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s very very good,” he said by text message after being asked if it included everything he wanted. “Obviously we had to accept some compromises but overall very good.” The eventual law wouldn’t fully take effect until 2025 at the earliest, and threatens stiff financial penalties for violations of up to 35 million euros ($38 million) or 7% of a company’s global turnover.</div><div><br></div><div>Generative AI systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT have exploded into the world’s consciousness, dazzling users with the ability to produce human-like text, photos and songs but raising fears about the risks the rapidly developing technology poses to jobs, privacy and copyright protection and even human life itself.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, the U.S., U.K., China and global coalitions like the Group of 7 major democracies have jumped in with their own proposals to regulate AI, though they’re still catching up to Europe.</div><div><br></div><div>Strong and comprehensive rules from the EU “can set a powerful example for many governments considering regulation,” said Anu Bradford, a Columbia Law School professor who’s an expert on EU law and digital regulation. Other countries “may not copy every provision but will likely emulate many aspects of it.”</div><div><br></div><div>AI companies subject to the EU’s rules will also likely extend some of those obligations outside the continent, she said. “After all, it is not efficient to re-train separate models for different markets,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The AI Act was originally designed to mitigate the dangers from specific AI functions based on their level of risk, from low to unacceptable. But lawmakers pushed to expand it to foundation models, the advanced systems that underpin general purpose AI services like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard chatbot.</div><div><br></div><div>Foundation models looked set to be one of the biggest sticking points for Europe. However, negotiators managed to reach a tentative compromise early in the talks, despite opposition led by France, which called instead for self-regulation to help homegrown European generative AI companies competing with big U.S rivals, including OpenAI’s backer Microsoft.</div><div><br></div><div>Also known as large language models, these systems are trained on vast troves of written works and images scraped off the internet. They give generative AI systems the ability to create something new, unlike traditional AI, which processes data and completes tasks using predetermined rules.</div><div><br></div><div>The companies building foundation models will have to draw up technical documentation, comply with EU copyright law and detail the content used for training. The most advanced foundation models that pose “systemic risks” will face extra scrutiny, including assessing and mitigating those risks, reporting serious incidents, putting cybersecurity measures in place and reporting their energy efficiency.</div><div><br></div><div>Researchers have warned that powerful foundation models, built by a handful of big tech companies, could be used to supercharge online disinformation and manipulation, cyberattacks or creation of bioweapons.</div><div><br></div><div>Rights groups also caution that the lack of transparency about data used to train the models poses risks to daily life because they act as basic structures for software developers building AI-powered services.</div><div><br></div><div>What became the thorniest topic was AI-powered face recognition surveillance systems, and negotiators found a compromise after intensive bargaining.</div><div><br></div><div>European lawmakers wanted a full ban on public use of face scanning and other “remote biometric identification” systems because of privacy concerns. But governments of member countries succeeded in negotiating exemptions so law enforcement could use them to tackle serious crimes like child sexual exploitation or terrorist attacks.</div><div><br></div><div>Rights groups said they were concerned about the exemptions and other big loopholes in the AI Act, including lack of protection for AI systems used in migration and border control, and the option for developers to opt-out of having their systems classified as high risk.</div><div><br></div><div>“Whatever the victories may have been in these final negotiations, the fact remains that huge flaws will remain in this final text,” said Daniel Leufer, a senior policy analyst at the digital rights group Access Now.&nbsp; According to AP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 12:30:53', '2023-12-12 12:30:53'),
(10397, 10397, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The government has decided to procure additional two lakh tonnes  of Aman rice during the Aman season.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Of the latest procurement, 1.5 lakh tonnes will be boiled rice while the rest 50,000 tonnes will be Atap rice, said a PID handout issued on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Additional allocation will be provided only in favor of the mills that earlier signed agreement in the current Aman procurement season 2023-24. </div><div><br></div><div>The Food Ministry has been asked to complete the drive by February next year, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 8, the government set a target to procure 7 lakh metric tonnes of paddy and rice from the marginal farmers across the country in the ongoing Aman season.</div><div><br></div><div>Under the programme, two lakh MTS paddy, 4 lakh tonnes boiled and the rest one lakh tonnes Atap rice will be procured at a cost of Tk 30, Tk 44 and Tk 43 per kg respectively. According to UNB reports </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 12:45:46', '2023-12-12 12:46:03'),
(10398, 10398, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has said the police have already taken all necessary preparations to hold the national election in a free, fair, and festive manner.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>He made the remark in response to a question from a journalist after attending the 13th anniversary of the Bangladesh Police Blood Bank at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital on Tuesday noon.</div><div><br></div><div>The IGP said, “Bangladesh Police is a 150-year-old organisation. We have long been performing election duties. The department has made all-out preparations for the upcoming parliamentary election. Along with all kinds of training, we have the necessary logistic support and equipment for the election. We are ready with the required number of people. Already, we have adopted special plans for pre-election, election time, and post-election.”</div><div><br></div><div>He also said, “After the declaration of the poll schedule, we are working as per the directive of the Election Commission. We are following the tasks given by the Election Commission. We have taken all necessary initiative with a view to holding elections in a free, fair, and festive atmosphere. Earlier, we accomplished the duty of election successfully. We are prepared to face any challenge in holding a successful election.”</div><div><br></div><div>In reply to another question, he said, “We are conducting intelligence-based operations against any kind of subversive act. Police are ready to face any kind of subversive act in order to hold elections peacefully,\" according to media reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that we have not received any lists of terrorists and illegal arms holders, but we have got directives to arrest them.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 12:52:29', '2023-12-12 12:52:29'),
(10399, 10399, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Opposition leader and Jatiya Party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad has requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to form any electoral alliance with Jatiya Party’s GM Quader.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>During her meeting with PM Hasina at her official residence Gonobhaban on Tuesday, Raushan said she suggested making the next national polls more acceptable by ensuring a competitive election across the country through Jatiya Party’s participation without any alliance.</div><div><br></div><div>In a written speech circulated among the journalists, the JP chief patron said GM Quader illegally captured JP leadership and dropped her, her son and important leaders from party nomination.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said GM Quader took control over the leadership through staging a coup and removing party’s important leaders.</div><div><br></div><div>“I have informed everything to PM Sheikh Hasina and requested her to help the people get an acceptable election,” the document reads.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters after the meeting with PM Hasina, JP leader Raushan said they discussed the current election issues.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether the PM said anything about JP’s joining excluding her she said, “No time now, what to say?”</div><div><br></div><div>Raushan said JP chairman GM Quader did not behave well with them and he is contesting in her son’s constituency. “He even did not remember him (Saad),” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said, \"They (JP Chairman) dropped us intentionally. Why should I have support for them?”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 13:26:06', '2023-12-12 13:26:06'),
(10400, 10400, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Mild cold wave may sweep at places over northern and western part of the country from December 14, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Moderate to thick fog will continue to occur over northern part and the river basins of the country during midnight to morning.</div><div><br></div><div>Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Night temperature may fall by 1-3 °C and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country during the period. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 14:18:46', '2023-12-12 14:18:46'),
(10401, 10401, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank on Tuesday scrapped the minimum interest rate it had imposed for deposits.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>From now on, banks will be able to set interest rates in line with their business interests and collect deposits accordingly.</div><div><br></div><div>The central bank announced the decision through a circular today (Tuesday). The Banking Regulations and Policy Department of BB issued this notification on Tuesday and sent it to the top executives of the scheduled banks for immediate execution.</div><div><br></div><div>The notification stated that the minimum interest rate for deposits was fixed. According to that directive, the central bank instructed all the scheduled banks of the country not to keep the interest rate of fixed deposits below inflation.</div><div><br></div><div>At that time the maximum interest rate for disbursement of loans was 9 percent. But now there is no such limit in terms of loans. The market-based interest rate system for loans was introduced in July this year, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Hence, there is no need for a minimum interest rate on deposits as well. Due to this, the instruction of August 8, 2021, was canceled, the BB notification added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-12 15:43:45', '2023-12-12 15:43:45'),
(10402, 10402, '<div style=\"text-align: justify; \"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Many Spanish entrepreneurs are keen to visit Bangladesh to make investments here in different sectors, said the country’s outgoing envoy on Wednesday.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Francisco de Asis Benitez Salas said this during a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told a media briefing.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this regard, the prime minister said the Spanish investors are welcome here. “They can make investments in any sector of their choice,” she said.</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\">PM’s Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present. UNB</div><div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><br></div><div style=\"text-align: justify; \">bnbd24/kh</div>', NULL, 'news desk', '[\"19\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 07:35:39', '2023-12-13 07:35:39'),
(10403, 10403, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Today marks a significant milestone for Dhaka University (DU) as the new metro rail station near the Teacher and Student Centre (TSC) opened to students and other commuters.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The metro rail reached the TSC station at 7:45 am from Motijheel, greeted by eager Dhaka University students ready to embark on their first journey.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>DU student Tabassum shared her excitement, noting the significance of Dhaka University and the metro rail as symbols of progress.</div><div><br></div><div>“Dhaka University holds a special place in our hearts, and the metro rail is a new beacon of development in Bangladesh’s public transport sector. Today, I’m thrilled to experience this dream journey from my own university. I even left my hall early to catch the first train from TSC,” said Tabassum.</div><div><br></div><div>Shahriar Iqbal, another student, expressed his enthusiasm for the convenience the metro rail brings. “Riding the metro rail for the first time feels great. Now, I won’t miss my 8 am classes and can avoid the hassles of traffic on the road. The TSC metro rail station is a blessing for students commuting from distant areas,” he stated.</div><div><br></div><div>Sifat Rahman, a non-resident student who travels from Uttara, highlighted the need for affordable fares for students. “The current metro rail fares might be challenging for many students. I hope the university and metro rail authorities can work together to implement reduced fares for us, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The metro rail is a game-changer, especially for those coming from Mirpur and Uttara. What used to be hours in traffic is now a mere 20-minute journey from Mirpur and less than 30 minutes from Uttara,” he emphasized.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 09:08:06', '2023-12-13 09:08:06'),
(10404, 10404, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A man was dead and five people were injured as seven bogies of a train derailed at Bankharia near Gazipur Railway Station early today.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The identities of the deceased and injured could not be known immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>Hanif Ali, Joydebpur Railway Station Master, said seven bogies of Dhaka-bound ‘Mohonganj Express’ from Mymensingh veered off the tracks around 4:30 am, leaving one killed and five injured.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and are conducting a rescue operation.</div><div><br></div><div>Train communication between Joydebpur and Mymensingh remained suspended following the derailment.</div><div><br></div><div>Police are investigating whether it is an accident or an act of sabotage.</div><div><br></div><div>Local people claimed that the incident occurred as miscreants cut off the rail tracks as part of sabotage activities during the ongoing 36-hour rail, road, and waterway blockade enforced by BNP and like-minded parties. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 09:22:19', '2023-12-13 09:22:19'),
(10405, 10405, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>United Nations climate negotiators directed the world on Wednesday to transition away from planet-warming fossil fuels in a move the talks chief called historic, despite critics\' worries about loopholes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Within minutes of opening Wednesday\'s session, COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber gaveled approval of the central document, the global stocktake that says how off-track the world is on climate and how it will get back on track, without asking for comments. Delegates stood and hugged each other.</div><div><br></div><div>\"It is a plan that is led by the science,\'\' al-Jaber said. \"It is an enhanced, balanced, but make no mistake, a historic package to accelerate climate action. It is the UAE consensus.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"We have language on fossil fuel in our final agreement for the first time ever,\" said al-Jaber, who\'s also CEO of the UAE\'s oil company.</div><div><br></div><div>United Nations Climate Secretary Simon Stiell told delegates their efforts were \"needed to signal a hard stop to humanity\'s core climate problem: fossil fuels and that planet-burning pollution. Whilst we didn\'t turn the page on the fossil fuel era in Dubai, this outcome is the beginning of the end.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Stiell cautioned people that what they adopted was a \"climate action lifeline, not a finish line.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The new deal had been floated early Wednesday and was stronger than a draft proposed days earlier, but had loopholes that upset critics. Analysts and delegates wondered if there was going to be a floor fight over details, but al-Jaber acted quickly, not giving critics a chance to even clear their throats.</div><div><br></div><div>Several minutes later, Samoa\'s lead delegate Anne Rasmussen, on behalf of small island nations, complained that they weren\'t even in the room when al-Jaber said the deal was done.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said that \"the course correction that is needed has not been secured,\" with the deal representing business-as-usual instead of exponential emissions-cutting efforts. She said the deal could \"potentially take us backward rather than forward.\"</div><div><br></div><div>When Rasmussen finished, delegates whooped, applauded and stood, as al-Jaber frowned and then eventually joined the standing ovation that stretched longer than his plaudits. Marshall Islands delegates hugged and cried.</div><div><br></div><div>The European Union\'s delegation, which stood with small island nations in fighting for stronger language to rid the world of fossil fuels, instead celebrated the agreement as historic.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I am in awe of the spirit of cooperation that has brought everybody together,\" United States Special Envoy John Kerry said. He said it shows that multilateralism can still work despite what the globe sees with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. \"This document sends very strong messages to the world.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The deal also includes a call for tripling the use of renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency. Earlier in the talks, the conference adopted a special fund for poor nations hurt by climate change and nations put nearly $800 million in the fund.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Many, many people here would have liked clearer language\" on getting rid of fossil fuels, Kerry said. But he said it\'s a compromise.</div><div><br></div><div>United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that \"for the first time, the outcome recognizes the need to transition away from fossil fuels.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"The era of fossil fuels must end – and it must end with justice and equity,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The deal doesn\'t go so far as to seek a \"phase-out\" of fossil fuels, which more than 100 nations, like small island states and European nations, had pleaded for. Instead, it calls for \"transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade.\"</div><div><br></div><div>The deal says that the transition would be done in a way that gets the world to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 and follows the dictates of climate science. It projects a world peaking its ever-growing carbon pollution by the year 2025 to reach its agreed-upon threshold, but gives wiggle room to individual nations like China to peak later.</div><div><br></div><div>Intensive sessions with all sorts of delegates went well into the small hours of Wednesday morning after the conference presidency\'s initial document angered many countries by avoiding decisive calls for action on curbing warming. Then, the United Arab Emirates-led presidency presented delegates from nearly 200 nations a new central document — called the global stocktake — just after sunrise.</div><div><br></div><div>It was the third version presented in about two weeks and the word \"oil\" does not appear anywhere in the 21-page document, but \"fossil fuels\" appears twice.</div><div><br></div><div>\"This is the first time in 28 years that countries are forced to deal with fossil fuels,\" Center for Biological Diversity energy justice director Jean Su told The Associated Press. \"So that is a general win. But the actual details in this are severely flawed.\"</div><div><br></div><div>\"The problem with the text is that it still includes cavernous loopholes that allow the United States and other fossil fuel producing countries to keep going on their expansion of fossil fuels,\" reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Su said. \"There\'s a pretty deadly, fatal flaw in the text, which allows for transitional fuels to continue\" which is a code word for natural gas that also emits carbon pollution.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 10:02:42', '2023-12-13 10:02:42'),
(10406, 10406, '<article style=\"font-family: var(--details-fonts); font-size: var(--details-fonts-size);\"><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\"><b>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) at its December board meeting Tuesday, approved the release of a second tranche of a $4.7 billion loan that was approved last January. This second transfer will see $682 million transferred to Bangladesh\'s account, to go with close to $450 million in the first transfer. &nbsp;</b></p><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\">Alongside the $400 million the country received as loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the IMF monies will help to ease significant pressure that has been building on the country\'s forex reserves in the last two years.&nbsp;</p><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\">Finance minister AHM Mustfa Kamal confirmed it to UNB last night.</p><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\">The IMF board approved the $4.7 billion loan on January 30.</p></article><article style=\"font-family: var(--details-fonts); font-size: var(--details-fonts-size);\"><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\">In the first tranche, Bangladesh received $447.8 million on February 2 this year. The country is expected to receive the rest in another five tranches.</p><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\">Earlier, in October, an IMF delegation came to Bangladesh on a two-week visit, reviewed the loan programme and placed the second loan tranche proposal before the IMF board.</p><p style=\"margin: 0.5rem 0px 30px;\">bnbd24/fas</p></article><div class=\"ads mb-2 d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"font-family: Roboto, sans-serif;\"></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 10:10:27', '2023-12-13 10:10:27');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10407, 10407, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in sustainable fashion, boasting 206 LEED-certified green factories. This impressive lineup includes 76 platinum-rated and 116 gold-rated facilities, underscoring the country’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In just the past six months, this growth has been especially notable with the addition of 24 new factories, comprising 16 platinum and 8 gold certifications. Mohiuddin Rubel, Director of BGMEA and Managing Director of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange, and Additional Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd., highlighted this expansion. He emphasized Bangladesh’s critical role in leading the global market towards more eco-friendly garment production.</div><div><br></div><div>Rubel further pointed out the importance of this commitment to sustainability, not just for commendation but also for the enduring success and viability of the industry.</div><div><br></div><div>A significant marker of this achievement is that 54 of the top 100 LEED green factories globally are now in Bangladesh. This includes 9 out of the top 10, and 18 of the top 20, a milestone that is likely to draw more investment and partnerships. This positions Bangladesh as a formidable global leader in sustainable manufacturing, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The surge in LEED-certified green factories in Bangladesh reflects the garment industry’s steadfast dedication to environmental sustainability, Rubel added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 11:19:49', '2023-12-13 11:19:49'),
(10408, 10408, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><b>A passenger bus of ‘Bangabandhu Airport Paribahan’ was set on fire by unidentified miscreants in the capital’s Shahbagh intersection.</b></div><div><br></div><div>The fire was reported at 2:34pm on Wednesday, said Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell.</div><div><br></div><div>On information, two firefighting units from Palashi Barrack Fire Station rushed to the spot and doused the fire. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 11:32:55', '2023-12-13 11:32:55'),
(10409, 10409, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said BNP can’t oust her government by resorting to killings and destructive activities.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“They can’t oust the government by killing people. What kind of politics they do?” she said slamming the opposition BNP for their destructive activities.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier was exchanging views with the newly elected committee of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking about the train accident that occurred due to uprooted rail track in Gazipur, she said some 20-feet rail track was cut by a gas cutter machine at Sreepur upazila in Gazipur at about 4:30am on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP terrorists did the same thing on several occasions in the past, she said, adding that eight bogies of Mohonganj Express coming from Netrakona got derailed in Gazipur leaving a man dead and several others injured.</div><div><br></div><div>“That means it is an attempt to kill the people by derailing the train bogies. They want to overthrow the government by killing the people. What can they achieve from a movement by killing people?” wondered the PM.</div><div><br></div><div>She said BNP continues arson violence and is announcing strike (hartal) and blockade programmes every other day. The strike and blockade meant burning some buses and trucks, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>“What will be the future of the country if they carry out such activities at a time when we are offsetting the brunt of the global economic recession?” said Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>The premier said they (BNP) should go to the people and those who the people vote for will come to power.&nbsp; “We’ve no attempt to hang onto power. We’re making development of Bangladesh as long as we are in power. None can deny that the country witnessed development. Today Bangladesh has radically changed,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She said those who plan to kill people uprooting rail tracks or burning people alive have nothing called sense of humanity among them. So, it is the people who will have to resist it, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is no clemency for them. They will have to face punishment. I would like to ask the people also to stand against them,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, About the Israeli attack on Palestine,&nbsp; Hasina said Bangladesh has already sent relief items including dry foods and clothes for the Palestinians and will send more relief goods for them.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 11:47:35', '2023-12-13 11:47:35'),
(10410, 10410, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja vowed Wednesday to fight a ban on him wearing shoes during a match highlighting the plight of people in Gaza, saying it was a \"humanitarian appeal\" and not a political message.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During training this week the 36-year-old opening batsman had hand-written slogans \"Freedom is a human right\" and \"All lives are equal\" on his footwear.</div><div><br></div><div>Khawaja, who is Muslim, wanted to wear the shoes for the opening Test starting on Thursday in Perth against Pakistan, his birth country.</div><div><br></div><div>But governing body the International Cricket Council bans any messages during matches that relate to politics, religion or race.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Is freedom not for everyone? Are all lives not equal?\" Khawaja subsequently said in an emotional video message on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>\"To me personally it doesn\'t matter what race, religion or culture you are. I\'m just speaking up for those who don\'t have a voice.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The ICC have told me that I can\'t wear my shoes on field because they believe it\'s a political statement under their guidelines.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I don\'t believe it is so -- it\'s a humanitarian appeal,\" he added.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I will respect their view and decision but I will fight it and seek to gain approval.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Cricket Australia said that it supported the players\' right to express their opinions.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But the ICC has rules in place which prohibit the display of personal messages, which we expect the players to uphold,\" it said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Four days ago, Khawaja shared a video on Instagram from the children\'s charity UNICEF from Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>In the post he commented: \"Do people not care about innocent humans being killed?</div><div><br></div><div>\"Or is it the colour of their skin that makes them less important? Or the religion they practise?\"</div><div><br></div><div>In his message on Wednesday Khawaja noted the fierce reaction his stance had caused in some quarters.</div><div><br></div><div>\"But let\'s be honest about it, if me saying all lives are equal has resulted in people being offended to the point where they\'re calling me up and telling me off, well isn\'t that the bigger problem?\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2014 the ICC banned England all-rounder Moeen Ali from wearing wristbands saying \"Save Gaza\" and \"Free Palestine\" during a home Test.</div><div><br></div><div>Australian Sports Minister Anika Wells said she believed Khawaja\'s shoes did not break the rules.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I think he has done it in a peaceful and respectful way,\" the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 11:59:13', '2023-12-13 11:59:13'),
(10411, 10411, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan recently visited the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra. A video of the actor from the shrine went viral on social media. Shah Rukh is awaiting the release of his next film, Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki. The actor had earlier visited ahead of the release of his last two films, Jawan and Pathaan, which makes this his third visit this year.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In the video, shared by PTI on X, Shah Rukh is seen being escorted by his entourage and a few policemen. He is accompanied by his manager Pooja Dadlani. To avoid the attention of the public, the actor went incognito.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He wore a big black jacket and cap to keep his identity hidden.</div><div><br></div><div>Dunki, starring Shah Rukh, along with Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani and others, is scheduled to hit the theatres on December 21.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Recently, the actor explained the meaning of the film’s title as he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Because everybody asks, what does Dunki mean? Dunki means being apart from your loved ones. And when you are with them, one feels the moment should last till the end of time.”</div><div><br></div><div>Not just Jawan, SRK also paid his obeisance at the shrine before the release of Pathaan in January this year. Both films became the biggest blockbusters of the year, earning over Rs 1000 crore each globally, - The Indian Express&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 12:37:49', '2023-12-13 12:37:49'),
(10412, 10412, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The nondescript facade with a fading nameplate misses the attention of passersby at Chowringhee Lane in Kolkata, remaining a go-to place only for connoisseurs who still cherish the old-fashioned art of handwriting.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>In its quiet and quaint interior, a visitor can try thousands of vintage and high-end fountain pens from brands like Montblanc, Parker, Pilot, Visconti, Wilson, Waterman, Pelikan, or Sheaffer, and watch as Mohmmad Imtiaz brings them back to life.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pen Hospital represents a bygone era in an age of instant electronic messaging, but it still draws lawyers, academics and collectors from across India and, lately, also young people who have been increasingly attracted to fine writing instruments.</div><div><br></div><div>Established in the 1940s by Imtiaz’s great-grandfather Mohammed Shamsuddin, the shop has stayed in the family ever since. Imtiaz’s partner behind the counter is Mohammed Shahbaz Reyaz, the son of his late brother.</div><div><br></div><div>“Despite the popularity of high-tech laptops and iPads, pens are also getting popular and that’s the reason I have roped in my nephew into the business. My son will join, too,” Imtiaz told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“There is a renewed interest in fountain pens among the new generation. Today, half of my customers are younger people and this gives me hope.”</div><div><br></div><div>Depending on the model, it costs between 25 cents and $60 to have a pen “treated” at the Pen Hospital. Sometimes, parts of older or rarer pens need to be procured from different sources.</div><div><br></div><div>Imtiaz repairs seven to eight pens a day on his “operation table” — the shop’s counter.</div><div><br></div><div>“Sometimes the workload is so high that some customers have to wait a week for an appointment,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>There used to be many such shops during the time of Imtiaz’s great-grandfather and grandfather, but most ceased to exist in the 1990s, when cheap, disposable ball pens hit the mass market in India.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, Imtiaz believes his Pen Hospital is the “only shop in eastern India” that still deals in the trade, which began to thrive again only a few years ago.</div><div><br></div><div>“Things started taking up after the COVID-19 pandemic. Long periods of lockdown forced many people to read and write, and people started coming with old fountain pens for repair,” he said. “Some people discovered vintage pens in their cupboards. They have not used them for decades.”</div><div><br></div><div>His shop has a special value for collectors like Sarthak Ganguly, a media professional, who has been visiting the Pen Hospital for almost 20 years.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Pen Hospital is the only place in Kolkata where you can look for some nice vintage pens,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Here you will get a fountain pen that can cost you from $1.20 up to $1,200. Many fountain pen collectors, like me, have at least 1,000 old and new fountain pens. Most of my pens have been collected from the Pen Hospital.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a city like Kolkata, known as the cultural capital of India, writing with a pen brings together craftsmanship, style and a touch of nostalgia — something that younger people are increasingly fond of.</div><div><br></div><div>It is mostly the new generation of collectors that Ganguly sees at the shop in the morning, reports Arab Nenws</div><div><br></div><div>“The young generation is buying fountain pens and that is really heartening,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Pen Hospital not only has nostalgic value, but also it is a pleasure to visit such an iconic shop. It reminds you of history,” he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 12:50:21', '2023-12-13 12:50:21'),
(10413, 10413, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza is not self-defense, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a press briefing on Wednesday, after urging the UN to reject “double standards” on human rights.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia’s top diplomat was leading a delegation in Geneva and spoke about Palestine in a series of events commemorating the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as international pressure builds on Israel to end its months-long assault on Gaza that has killed more than 18,000 Palestinians.</div><div><br></div><div>“As we observe the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are actually witnessing serious human rights violations happening in Palestine, especially in Gaza,” Marsudi said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Israel’s acts of killing civilians, damaging hospitals, places of worship and refugee camps, while suppressing Palestine’s basic rights are not self-defense. These acts cannot be justified and are clear violations of international humanitarian law.”</div><div><br></div><div>Marsudi said she raised these points during a roundtable event on human rights, alongside other panelists that included Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Palestine’s Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki.</div><div><br></div><div>The 193-member UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a non-binding resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, after a similar resolution failed at the UN Security Council following the US’ veto on the proposal last week.</div><div><br></div><div>The Security Council’s failure to adopt the resolution reflected “the failure of an outdated multilateral system,” Marsudi said.</div><div><br></div><div>“I call on countries to reject double standards in upholding human rights. Double standards are the biggest problem in upholding human rights. Countries that have often dictated (to) us about human rights are now parties allowing Israel to violate human rights.”</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesian officials have been rallying international support since the latest escalation of Israeli violence, while thousands of people have participated in solidarity marches across the Asian nation since October.</div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia’s support for Palestine reflects a decades-long stance, as its people and government see Palestinian statehood as mandated by the nation’s constitution, which calls for the abolition of colonialism. Source: Arab News&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 13:12:30', '2023-12-13 13:12:30'),
(10414, 10414, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given a number of suggestions during the approval of releasing the second tranche of $690 million of a $4.7 l-billion loan for Bangladesh.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The IMF suggested a cautious monetary policy to restore macroeconomic stability in the short term. Along with this, the global lender has said to be more flexible fiscal policy in the currency exchange rate as a support of the policy.</div><div><br></div><div>The IMF suggested taking these measures along with increasing resilience to external shocks.</div><div><br></div><div>The IMF has appreciated the Bangladesh Bank\'s initiative to modernise the monetary policy framework further.</div><div><br></div><div>“If monetary policy is modern, it will reduce inflation and strengthen the effect of central bank policy in various areas,” the IMF commented in the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>“Praising the currency\'s decision to adopt a single exchange rate, the IMF insisted on&nbsp; more flexibility gradually. They think it is necessary to deal with external shocks in the economy,” said the IMF.</div><div><br></div><div>However, among the $690 million, nearly $468.3 million will be given under the ECF/EFF arrangement and $221.5 million under the RSF arrangement.</div><div><br></div><div>The ECF/EFF and RSF arrangements count $4.7 billion for Bangladesh, approved by the executive board on January 30, 2023. The first tranche count of $476 million was made available in February 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>“The ECF/EFF arrangement has helped restore macroeconomic stability and prevent disruptive adjustments to protect the vulnerable while laying the foundations for strong, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable growth,” the IMF said in a release on Wednesday.</div><div><br></div><div>The concurrent RSF arrangement has supplemented the resources made available under the ECF/EFF. IMF said this fund will help catalyse additional financing and build resilience against long-term climate risks. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 13:18:11', '2023-12-13 13:18:11'),
(10415, 10415, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Russian missile strikes damaged a hospital and residential building in the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday, injuring at least 45 people, the city’s mayor said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>An AFP journalist in the city heard several explosions, with air raid sirens sounded soon after that.</div><div><br></div><div>“In total, 45 people were injured in Dniprovsky district as a result of the enemy attack. 18 of them were hospitalized, including 2 children. 27 received medical help on the spot, including three children,” Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>Eighteen of the injured, including two children, were hospitalized.</div><div>He said “a missile fell on the territory of one of the capital’s hospitals” during the night attack, resulting in windows being “blown out in several buildings of the facility.”</div><div><br></div><div>One person was injured at the hospital, according to the mayor.</div><div>Police at the scene were “inspecting the crater on the territory of the medical facility,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>Klitschko also said that “as a result of the enemy’s night missile attack (on) the capital’s Dniprovsky district, an apartment building was damaged.”</div><div>Several residents were evacuated.</div><div><br></div><div>Klitschko said missile debris that fell on a road damaged the district’s water supply network.</div><div><br></div><div>It is the second strike on Kyiv in a week and came after a long period of calm in the capital that was broken by an attack on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Kyiv City Military Administration said the number of missiles fired had yet to be clarified by the airforce, but “as a result of the air defense work on downing the missiles, debris fell in three left-bank districts of the city.”</div><div><br></div><div>“Same as on December 11, the enemy used ballistic weapons,” the military administration said, adding: “The enemy is intensifying the missile terror of Kyiv.”</div><div><br></div><div>Air defenses downed a missile in Kyiv on September 21. The falling debris wounded seven people, including a child. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 14:19:30', '2023-12-13 14:19:30'),
(10416, 10416, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh\'s foreign exchange reserves will increase by $ 1.31 billion in December thanks to foreign loan, according to the Bangladesh Bank (BB).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Mezbaul Haque, executive director and spokesperson of the BB, in a briefing on Wednesday said the reserve is expected to reach $ 21 billion as per the IMF formula in December as Bangladesh received $690 million from IMF, $400 million from the Asian Development Bank,&nbsp; $90 million from South Korea and an additional $130 million from other sources.</div><div><br></div><div>As of December 6 this year, Bangladesh\'s forex reserves stood at $19.13 billion as per the IMF formula.</div><div><br></div><div>In this regard, former senior economist of the IMF Ahsan H. Mansur told UNB that in the short run, this loan money will give some relief in foreign exchange supply, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>But in the long term, the government has to focus on sustainable policy in foreign exchange earnings through remittances and exports of goods, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also emphasised flexible exchange rates which will help to prevent money laundering and trade-based capital flight.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-13 16:40:17', '2023-12-13 16:40:17'),
(10417, 10417, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday paid tributes to the martyred intellectuals on the occasion of the Martyred Intellectuals Day.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The president and the Prime minister separately placed wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur.</div><div><br></div><div>They stood there in solemn silence for a while as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the illustrious sons of the soil.</div><div><br></div><div>A smartly-turned-out contingent of the Bangladesh Armed Forces gave a state salute.</div><div><br></div><div>Flanked by the party\'s central leaders, Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League, laid another wreath at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as the party chief.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the prime minister talked to the war-wounded freedom fighters and the family members of the martyred intellectuals.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina then went to Dhanmondi in the capital and placed a wreath at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day.</div><div><br></div><div>After placing the wreath, she stood there for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independence of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Flanked by Awami League leaders Hasina placed another wreath at Bangabandhu\'s portrait as the chief of the party as well.</div><div><br></div><div>On the night of December 14, 1971, over 200 intellectuals including educationists, journalists, litterateurs, writers, physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers had been picked up in Dhaka by the Pakistani occupation forces, aided by their local collaborators.</div><div><br></div><div>The intellectuals were taken blindfold to torture cells in Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Nakhalpara, Rajarbagh and other locations in different parts of the city and later executed en masse at different killing grounds, most notably Rayerbazar and Mirpur.</div><div><br></div><div>Since then, the day has been observed as the Martyred Intellectuals Day, according to UNB reports</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 08:12:46', '2023-12-14 08:12:46'),
(10418, 10418, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday welcomed a new contribution of US$87 million from the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This \"timely funding\" will significantly bolster WFP’s efforts in providing lifesaving assistance to the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char Island, where nearly 1 million people are facing daily hardships, without an immediate prospect of a safe return to Myanmar.</div><div><br></div><div>“As we have seen in the camps, the situation remains concerning for the Rohingya, who have lived through crisis after crisis. While the United States has led the way in total assistance, we recognize this has been an especially challenging year for the refugees,” said Reed Aeschliman, USAID Mission Director in Bangladesh, during his visit to Cox’s Bazar camps on December 13.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We can’t afford to neglect the needs of Rohingya, or the generous host communities in Bangladesh. This requires continued support from government, donors and development partners,\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, the seventh year into the crisis, the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh remain in an extremely precarious situation with limited freedom of movement, lack of job opportunities, and increasing security threats.</div><div><br></div><div>The camps are also prone to hazards, including climate-related disasters such as cyclones and flooding.</div><div><br></div><div>“Amid a difficult year, when multiple crises broke out and required donor attention, the United States, along with many of our donors, came forward with generous contributions for the Rohingya refugee population,” said Dom Scalpelli, WFP Country Director in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>With the funding received so far, Dom Scalpelli said they will be able to increase the food entitlement from the current $8 to $10, starting January 2024.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are very pleased with this positive development and hope donors will continue to fund us to ensure the Rohingya’s basic needs are met.\"</div><div><br></div><div>In 2023, acute funding shortages forced WFP to cut its food assistance for the entire Rohingya population in Cox’s Bazar camps, reducing the entitlement from US$12 per person per month to US$10 in March, then again to US$8 in June.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the ration cut, the food security situation in the camps has worsened rapidly.</div><div><br></div><div>WFP’s latest monitoring in November revealed that 90 percent of the refugee population in Cox’s Bazar didn’t have adequate food consumption, up from 79 percent in June.</div><div><br></div><div>Families had to rely on less expensive but less nutritious food, while parents were eating less or skipping meals in order to feed their children.</div><div><br></div><div>The nutrition status among children is also deteriorating. Compared to a year ago, in September, analyses showed that more children – an additional nearly 1000 of them – were being admitted into treatment programmes for both severe and moderate acute malnutrition.</div><div><br></div><div>The BHA funding will be used to provide food assistance to the Rohingya, as well as towards WFP’s work in nutrition, resilience-building and disaster risk reduction in both Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly 8,000 children and 4,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in the host community in Cox’s Bazar will be supported through WFP’s nutrition programmes.</div><div><br></div><div>WFP also plans to introduce fortified rice to its food basket in Cox\'s Bazar in the new year and needs another $79 million to restore the full ration, which is now US$12.5 per person per month with fortified rice added. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 08:18:10', '2023-12-14 08:18:10'),
(10419, 10419, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In Khulna, four individuals were arrested over selling biryani containing “dog mea</b>t.”</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The group was detained from an abandoned building on the premises of the Khulna Polytechnic Institute in Khalishpur on Wednesday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>Police found remains of slaughtered dogs at the site.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the arrestees, aside from Abu Sayeed (37), all are minors.</div><div><br></div><div>Mohammad Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Khalishpur Police Station, said that Abu Sayeed, a Khalishpur resident, had been selling the “biryani” at Tk 30 per packet in the city.</div><div><br></div><div>Police were able to catch the group based on intelligence sources.</div><div><br></div><div>The individuals were taken to Khalishpur Police Station in the presence of Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Imran and Livestock Officer Priyanka Kundu, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The OC confirmed that actions have been taken against the arrestees under the Animal Welfare Act.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 08:21:26', '2023-12-14 08:21:26'),
(10420, 10420, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United States has raised concerns regarding the emergence of “deep fakes” in Bangladesh, particularly in the context of its upcoming national election. This issue is seen as part of a global trend where artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to manipulate democratic processes.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>During a press briefing in Washington on December 13, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the worrying development of deep fakes in election-related disinformation in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>A questioner at the briefing claimed that Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam had said they will be able to “manage” United States.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, Miller urged the government of Bangladesh to work with all stakeholders to create conditions in which everyone may participate in the pre-election and election environment freely, without fear of violence or retribution.</div><div><br></div><div>“It is our belief that a healthy democracy benefits from a variety of voices speaking freely, engaged in dialogue and discussion in an exchange about the issues of the day,” said the US State Department spokesperson.</div><div><br></div><div>Miller also said they are “deeply concerned” by the reports of mass arrests of opposition members and reports of torture in prison.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Momen earlier said they are not harassing anyone on political grounds but arresting those who were involved in arson attacks on vehicles and people and who were destroying public and private properties.</div><div><br></div><div>Miller urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid violence.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Momen recently said both Bangladesh and the US want free and fair elections in Bangladesh and in addition the US wants to see non-violent elections.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said they cannot guarantee non-violent election as it depends on the sincerity and willingness of all including political leadership.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the questioners at the State Department media briefing wanted to know whether there is any new sanction against Bangladesh before the January 7 election.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, Miller said, “I do not have any new sanctions to announce today. It is our longstanding practice not to preview sanction actions before we take them.”</div><div><br></div><div>State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam had earlier said the gap between the two countries on human rights front has been significantly minimized.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the US has kept its word that they would not do anything that might go in favor of a particular party or seen as interference into internal affairs, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister Momen said that Bangladesh’s relations with the US is very cordial. He said friendly countries like the US give suggestions to Bangladesh, and Bangladesh accepts those suggestions that are good for the country.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 09:13:44', '2023-12-14 09:13:44'),
(10421, 10421, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said they are not under any external pressure; rather they are under their own pressure as his party is committed to holding the national election in a “free and fair” manner.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“We want to hold a free and fair election. We want to hold an acceptable election. This is our pressure. But we want to do it,” he told the reporters while responding to a question after attending a programme at North South University as the chief guest.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the external world is playing a supportive role and they want to see a free and fair election, in addition to making it a non-violent one.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are committed to a free and fair election. We believe in people. We want people’s verdict. We want people to go to polling centers to cast their votes in big numbers. These are our challenges,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Momen said he thinks the US does not like what opposition BNP is doing. “My hunch is that the US is hugely dissatisfied with the BNP. The US does not like arson attacks and terrorist activities.”</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the US did not see a democratic mindset from the BNP. “The US believes in democracy. We also believe in democracy. We have no mental distance from the US.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, he spoke at the seminar titled “Efficiently Preparing the Youth Workforce of Our Country and Facilitating Their Entry into the Global Placements.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister a couple days ago said they are looking forward to building a better and stronger relationship with the US.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting the cordial nature of the US-Bangladesh relationship, Momen remarked on the current election wave sweeping the country, underscoring the importance of participatory elections, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that Bangladesh values the suggestions from friendly countries like the US and accepts those that are beneficial for the nation.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 09:42:41', '2023-12-14 09:42:41'),
(10422, 10422, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at the house of Jatiya Party- nominated candidate for Rajshahi-5 (Puthia-Durgapur) constituency Professor Abul Hossain on Wednesday night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The house of JaPa candidate and ex-MP Abul Hossain came under attack in Sahabajpur village of Puthia upazila around 11 pm. However, no casualties were reported.</div><div><br></div><div>Saidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Puthia Police Station, said two youths coming on a monocycle threw a crude bomb at the house and fled. The bomb fell on the gate of the house and caught fire.</div><div><br></div><div>The inmates of the house came and extinguished the fire, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, police visited the spot and collected evidence from there. An investigation has been launched to identify those involved in the incident.</div><div><br></div><div>Abul Hossain said the attack might have been carried out to intimidate him to withdraw from the election. “I\'m not afraid of it. I will be in the election field with people of InshaAllah,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I was at my home in Rajshahi city at the time of the attack. A complaint will be lodged with the police,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 10:32:44', '2023-12-14 10:32:44'),
(10423, 10423, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Speakers at a discussion opined that other countries should not interfere in Bangladesh\'s upcoming parliamentary elections, noting that Bangladesh is capable of deciding its destiny.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The speakers made the remarks at a scientific and practical conference titled ‘Russia and Bangladesh: New Horizons of Cooperation’ at the RAIC Conference Room in Moscow on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian Association for International Cooperation (RAIC) and the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh jointly organized the conference.</div><div><br></div><div>Svetlana Zhurova, first Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, said Bangladesh and Russia have a long-standing cooperation relationship.</div><div><br></div><div>“The way Russia cooperated in the reconstruction process of Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Liberation War and after the war, this relationship will continue for the benefit of the people of the two countries. There are many opportunities to work with Bangladesh on various issues, including energy and agriculture, education, sports, and climate change.”</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Ambassador to Russia Kamrul Ahsan said the government of Bangladesh is committed to further enriching and strengthening the multifaceted relations between Russia and Bangladesh, according to a media release.</div><div><br></div><div>The ambassador said the export of skilled human resources from Bangladesh to various industries in Russia has started. “There is a possibility of sending more qualified human resources and more Bangladeshi students to Russian universities in the future.”</div><div><br></div><div>Mia Sattar, president of the Russian Friendship Society with Bangladesh, an organization working on public diplomacy in Moscow, said Bangladesh can decide its destiny. “There is no room for outside interference in Bangladesh\'s internal affairs. Russia\'s relations with Bangladesh are historical, and Russia assesses the matter on a priority basis.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said the organization will install a sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Moscow to strengthen Bangladesh\'s friendly relations with Russia.</div><div><br></div><div>“On the other hand, a statue of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the world\'s first astronaut, will be given to Bangabandhu Novotheater in Dhaka. Besides, there will be a Russian University and Russian International School in Dhaka under the organization\'s initiative.”</div><div><br></div><div>Deputy Secretary General of the Russian Association for International Cooperation Tatyana Mishukovskaya delivered the welcome speech on behalf of the organizing committee and read a message sent by Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy at the conference.</div><div><br></div><div>The conference discussed ways to expand and diversify Bangladesh-Russia bilateral relations beyond the traditional areas.</div><div><br></div><div>Russian specialists in South Asia participated in the discussions. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, MGIMO University, the Diplomatic Academy, and the Russian Academy of Sciences participated in the conference. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 10:43:44', '2023-12-14 10:43:44'),
(10424, 10424, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Thursday said the results of the January 7 election are being determined by the government through the distribution of seats before the voting.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>\"The election slated for January can’t be any polls as vote and seat sharing is going on here openly. The results of this election are being determined in Dhaka (by the govt). What is happening now is not an election as it is just like distribution of befits among the beneficiaries,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in the capital’s Mirpur, the BNP leader also said the government is tarnishing the image of the nation by holding such an election of seat distribution.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, also said the Election Commission will only announce on January 7 the results that have been determined by the government now in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, it has become clear to the 18 crore people of Bangladesh today that there will be no election on January 7,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan along with some party senior leaders tributes to martyred intellectuals by placing wreaths at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial at Mirpur in the city, marking the Martyred Intellectuals’ Day.</div><div><br></div><div>“Paying respect to the intellectuals, we appeal to the government to leave the path of conflict. The people of this country love peace and they want to live in peace...step down for fair elections to end the political deadlock peacefully,” Moyeen said.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the BNP has long been on the streets and will be there until the restoration of the people’s right to vote.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader bemoaned that though over 50 years have elapsed since the independence of the country, people don\'t have freedom of speech, voting rights and democratic rights as one-party rule has been established by the Awami League regime.</div><div><br></div><div>“People (those belonging to BNP) now can’t stay in their own houses and can’t express different opinions. Everyone now has to speak in favour of Bakshal (one-party rule),\" he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said those who raise their voice against the one-party rule are being subjected to enforced disappearance, political killing, suppression and oppression.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government may try to gag people with bullets, tear gas, and sound grenades, but BNP will continue to register its protest against the one-party rule democratically and peacefully as it has been doing the same for the last one and a half years, reports&nbsp; UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>\"We want this political conflict in Bangladesh to end peacefully. The government claims that they have carried out huge development activities, then why are they afraid of holding a free and fair election?” Dr Moyeen said.</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the government to face the people by leaving the path of restrictions, repression, and oppression. “Restore all the fundamental rights and hold a fair and credible election. If you win a fair election, I will be the first to congratulate you. But the reality is, you are afraid of the people of the country and afraid of fair elections.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 11:02:16', '2023-12-14 11:02:16'),
(10425, 10425, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Four Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar have been jointly recognized as the 2023 regional winners for Asia and the Pacific of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The storytellers – one of whom was born in Kutupalong camp to refugee parents, while the other three were forced to flee their country and find safety and shelter in Bangladesh in 2017 – find and tell stories from their community by using their smartphones and cameras, sharing the documented stories on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>By portraying the lives of their fellow refugees truthfully and with empathy, Abdullah Habib, Sahat Zia Hero, Salim Khan and Shahida Win encourage people around the world to learn about the Rohingya communities through the eyes of Rohingya refugees themselves.</div><div><br></div><div>The awards were presented at a ceremony in Geneva on December 13 at the Global Refugee Forum 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>In their absence, a recorded message from the four winners was played during the event.</div><div><br></div><div>The four received a certificate in recognition for their outstanding service and dedication, and while there is no direct financial reward, their humanitarian programmes and outreach work in the camps will be further supported and strengthened.</div><div><br></div><div>“Through my lens, I try to capture the strength and courage of Rohingya refugees, illuminating our stories to the world,” Salim says.</div><div><br></div><div>“There are so many stories to tell here,” Sumbul Rizvi, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh says.</div><div><br></div><div>“Stories of hope, love, loss and longing for a life back home in Myanmar. The extraordinary images that these four storytellers share with the world provide a fascinating window into the world of the Rohingya, a view that might otherwise never be seen outside these camps.”</div><div><br></div><div>Their hope is to eventually bring about change for the Rohingya who remain displaced in Bangladesh. “We don’t want to be a forgotten community,” says Zia.</div><div><br></div><div>“I want people around the world to see the Rohingya people as human beings, like everyone else.” Abdullah adds: “Through these narratives, we try to amplify the voice of Rohingya, building a bridge to connect the outer world.”</div><div><br></div><div>The four had their images published in international media, contributed to photography magazines or exhibitions, and gained thousands of followers on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to amplifying Rohingya voices through their own work, they also conduct workshops to train others.</div><div><br></div><div>They have expanded the community of refugee storytellers able to use and understand film, photography, and poetry to express themselves and share crucial information on public health and how to respond to the fires and floods that regularly affect the camp.</div><div><br></div><div>“Rohingya women are more vulnerable in my community,” Shahida underlines. “I want to be their voice, to share their stories through my lens and to describe their feelings through my poetry lines”.</div><div><br></div><div>Established in 1954, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honors individuals, groups and organizations who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect refugees, as well as internally displaced and stateless people.</div><div><br></div><div>Over the years, more than 60 individuals, groups and organizations have received the Award for their extraordinary service and outstanding work for people forced to flee their homes.</div><div><br></div><div>Since 2017, Regional Winners have also been recognized for their humanitarian efforts. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 11:19:21', '2023-12-14 11:19:21');
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(10426, 10426, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The Bangladesh cricket team began their New Zealand tour on a positive note, securing a win in the tour match against New Zealand XI on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>In a noteworthy performance, four batsmen notched up half centuries for Bangladesh, with Rishad Hossain surprisingly emerging as the highest scorer with 87 runs, featuring four sixes. Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, and Tanzid Tamin also contributed by surpassing the 50-run mark.</div><div><br></div><div>Batting first, Bangladesh set a challenging total of 334 for all wickets.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, New Zealand XI showcased a commendable batting display but fell short by 26 runs. Bharat Popli scored 92 runs, while Sandeep Patel contributed 89 runs.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s Rishad claimed three wickets, supported by Hasan Mahmud and Afif Hossain, who both secured two wickets each.</div><div><br></div><div>The ODI series is scheduled to commence on December 17th, followed by the T20I series starting on December 27th. These matches will be held at various venues in Dunedin, Nelson, Napier, and Mount Maunganui. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 11:22:02', '2023-12-14 11:22:02'),
(10427, 10427, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Israel declared its determination Wednesday to press on with its Gaza war “with or without international support,” after it came under mounting pressure even from key backer the United States.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Now in its third month, the war was launched after the unprecedented October 7 attacks on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas that officials say killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians.</div><div><br></div><div>It has left Gaza in ruins, killing more than 18,600 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and causing “unparallelled” damage to roads, schools and hospitals.</div><div><br></div><div>The day after the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a non-binding resolution for a ceasefire, more strikes hit Gaza and battles raged, especially in Gaza City, the biggest urban center, and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south, AFP correspondents said.</div><div><br></div><div>Cold wintery rains lashed the territory, where the UN estimates 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.4 million population have been displaced, living in makeshift tents as vital supplies of food, drinking water, medicines and fuel run low.</div><div><br></div><div>Camped with thousands in the grounds of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in central Gaza, Ameen Edwan said his family was unable to sleep.</div><div>“Rainwater seeped in. We couldn’t sleep. We tried to find nylon covers but couldn’t find any, so we resorted to stones and sand” to keep the rain out, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The United Nations warned the spread of diseases — including meningitis, jaundice, impetigo, chickenpox and upper respiratory tract infections — had intensified.</div><div><br></div><div>The World Health Organization said 107 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered the besieged territory from Egypt, well below the daily average of 500 before October 7.</div><div><br></div><div>Air raid sirens wailed in Sderot and other southern Israeli communities near Gaza as Palestinian militants fired rockets, most of which were intercepted.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel’s military said sirens sounded in Ashdod city north of Gaza and in the Lakhish area. Social media footage showed a large fragment of an intercepted rocket had hit a supermarket.</div><div><br></div><div>The army said an air strike had hit a militant cell in Gaza City’s Shejaiya district “that was en route to launch rockets toward Israel.”</div><div><br></div><div>In Khan Yunis, a family mourned father of seven Fayez Al-Taramsi, killed in a strike.</div><div><br></div><div>“How are we going to live after him?” one of his daughters said, crying and clutching his bloodied shirt. “He brought us to life.”</div><div>In the October 7 attack — the deadliest in Israel’s 75-year history — Hamas also seized around 240 hostages.</div><div><br></div><div>Determined to destroy Hamas and bring the hostages home, Israel began a devastating aerial and ground offensive.</div><div><br></div><div>It has lost 115 soldiers, including 10 in northern Gaza on Tuesday, its deadliest day since the ground assault began on October 27.</div><div>The UN General Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday demanding a ceasefire, backed by 153 of 193 nations — surpassing the 140 or so that have routinely condemned Russia for invading Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>While Washington voted against, the resolution was supported by allies Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who, in a rare joint statement, said they were “alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza.”</div><div><br></div><div>US President Joe Biden told a campaign event Israel had “most of the world supporting it” immediately after October 7, but “they’re starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place.”</div><div><br></div><div>Biden, who toned down his comments later, on Wednesday met with families of American hostages from those the militants seized.</div><div><br></div><div>Despite the criticism from its main ally, Israel vowed to pursue its war.</div><div><br></div><div>“Israel will continue the war against Hamas with or without international support,” said Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.</div><div><br></div><div>“A ceasefire at the current stage is a gift to the terrorist organization Hamas, and will allow it to return and threaten the residents of Israel,” Cohen told a visiting diplomat, quoted by his ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said Israel would persevere.</div><div><br></div><div>“We will continue until the end. There is no question at all. I say this in light of great pain, but also in light of international pressure. Nothing will stop us. We are going until the end, until victory, nothing less than that,” he said in a video statement.</div><div><br></div><div>Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, will travel to Israel on Thursday to meet Netanyahu, who has said there is “disagreement” with Washington over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed.</div><div><br></div><div>Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday said that any plan for post-war Gaza that does not involve the Palestinian militant group “or the resistance factions is a delusion.”</div><div><br></div><div>Tuesday’s UN vote came as Philippe Lazzarini, head of its Palestinian refugee agency, said Gazans were “running out of time and options.”</div><div><br></div><div>The United States and Britain announced a new round of sanctions against Hamas over the October 7 attack, targeting “key officials who perpetuate Hamas’s violent agenda.”</div><div><br></div><div>Gaza’s hospital system is in ruins, and Hamas authorities said vaccines for children had run out, warning of “catastrophic health repercussions.”</div><div><br></div><div>The World Bank in a new analysis warned that “the loss of life, speed and extent of damages... are unparallelled.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Hamas-controlled health ministry said Israeli forces opened fire on wards of Kamal Adwan hospital in north Gaza, raising fears for the safety of 12 children in paediatric care.</div><div><br></div><div>The army has yet to comment, but Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using hospitals, schools, mosques and vast tunnel systems beneath them as military bases — claims the group has denied.</div><div><br></div><div>Fears of the conflict broadening continued, with daily exchanges of fire along Israel’s border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based, and other Iran-backed groups targeting US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels had “crossed a red line,” after repeatedly launching missiles and drones toward Israel and cargo ships in the Red Sea. According to AFP reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 11:32:17', '2023-12-14 11:32:17'),
(10428, 10428, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia would press on with its war in Ukraine unless Kyiv did a deal that took Moscow’s security concerns into account, adding that the goals of the “special military operation” would in any case be met.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Fielding questions from the public and the media at an event dominated by the war, Putin — who has announced he will seek another six-year presidential term in March — said his original goals in Ukraine had not changed and that Russian forces were improving their position along most of the front line.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia’s core goals remain “de-Nazification,” “de-militarization” and securing Ukraine’s neutrality, the 71-year-old veteran leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>“There will be peace when we achieve our goals,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“As for de-militarization, if they (the Ukrainians) don’t want to come to an agreement — well, then we are forced to take other measures, including military ones.</div><div><br></div><div>“Either we get an agreement, agree on certain parameters (on the size and strength of Ukraine’s military)... or we solve this by force. This is what we will strive for.”</div><div><br></div><div>Putin has cast himself as the right man to keep leading Russia through a conflict he sees as existential for his country’s survival but which Kyiv and its Western allies view as an unprovoked colonial-style land grab.</div><div><br></div><div>At one point in Thursday’s marathon press conference, he took questions from Russian forces fighting near the frontline, with the sound of gunfire echoing in the background.</div><div><br></div><div>SLAMS WEST</div><div>Putin said he had detected signs that Western enthusiasm for providing Ukraine with military and financial aid — something he called “free stuff” that could run out — was waning, but that he believed Kyiv would keep getting help for now.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin reiterated his position that NATO’s eastern expansion toward Russia’s borders — including Ukraine’s stated desire to join the Western military alliance — was the fundamental cause of the conflict.</div><div><br></div><div>“The unbridled desire to creep toward our borders, taking Ukraine into NATO, all this led to this tragedy... They forced us into these actions,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“When internal changes happen (in the United States), when they start respecting other people... when they start looking for compromise instead of trying to resolve their issues with sanctions and military intervention, then the fundamental conditions will be in place to restore fully-fledged relations.”</div><div><br></div><div>Putin also compared Russia’s war in Ukraine to Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, saying the two conflicts were very different and that Gaza had become a graveyard for Palestinian children.</div><div><br></div><div>Russia says its air strikes do not deliberately target civilians but UN officials say more than 10,000 Ukrainians have been killed and over 18,000 injured since Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Putin ruled out a further wave of military mobilization at home, adding that Russia currently had 617,000 Russian troops fighting in battle zones across Ukraine, reports Reuters.</div><div><br></div><div>“The flow of men ready to defend our homeland... is not decreasing... There is no need for mobilization as of today,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 11:47:36', '2023-12-14 11:47:36'),
(10429, 10429, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Following the instructions of the Election Commission, the ministry of Home Affairs ordered not to hold any kind of rallies except election campaigns from December 18.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification in this regard on Thursday.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the notification, “As the candidates will start their election campaigning from December 18, the ministry ordered all to refrain from holding meetings, rallies or any types of political programme that may hinder the election environment or discourage the voters from voting.”</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, Deputy Secretary of the EC Md Atiar Rahman issued a letter to the home ministry in this regard, which was sent to the Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division of the ministry.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, on the occasion of the 12th National Elections, the ministry requested to call the National Emergency Service 999 for any assistance related to the election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Any election related information, complaints received through National Emergency Service 999 will be reported to the concerned Returning Officers and action will be taken,” it said.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 13:41:10', '2023-12-14 13:41:10'),
(10430, 10430, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday alleged that the police are dillydallying to give permission to his party in organising&nbsp; a ‘Victory Day’ rally.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual briefing, he also alleged that the police created obstacles to the BNP in paying homage to martyred intellectuals.</div><div><br></div><div>\"They (police) are playing the role like the invading forces in 1970 by resorting to tricks to give the BNP permission for the victory rally to mark the Great Victory Day,\" the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP has already sent a letter to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner seeking permission to hold a rally in the capital on December 16&nbsp; to celebrate the Victory Day.</div><div><br></div><div>A BNP delegation, led by party vice-chairman Netai Roy Chowdhury, went to the DMP office at Bailey Road on Wednesday and submitted the letter.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also alleged that the police have kept BNP’s the Nayapaltan the central office sieged for more than one and a half months. “Our leaders can’t go to Nayapaltan.”</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that the police raided the BNP Chairperson\'s office in Gulshan on Wednesday night and searched every room without any permission.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also said the police took away a wreath and other things kept at the office to pay homage to martyred intellectuals.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the law enforcers also threatened to arrest if anyone comes to the office to go to pay homage to the martyred intellectuals. “But they (govt) say they believe in the spirit of the Liberation War.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Under the leadership of the OC of Gulshan police station, Rizvi said a team of police entered the BNP chairperson\'s office and brought out the wreath and tore it publicly. “Which country are we living in? We feel like slaves, we feel like subjects. The Awami League has its Prime Minister as Empress, and they can arrest whoever they want and file cases against them and keep them in jail,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the government is going to hold a bizarre election with its own and dummy candidates with the help of its puppet state machinery.</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the country’s voters to boycott the lopsided election and resist it from happening.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 15:28:10', '2023-12-14 15:28:10'),
(10431, 10431, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Indonesia will not give up and would continue working with Saudi Arabia and other Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries to rally international support to end Israel’s war in Gaza, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said on Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Indonesia was part of a ministerial committee assigned by the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic Summit last month to push for an end to the ongoing Israeli military campaign in the besieged enclave where more than 18,600 Palestinians have been killed.</div><div><br></div><div>Members of the committee, chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, have met officials representing each of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to increase pressure on the West to reject Israel’s justification of its deadly bombardment of Gaza as self-defense.</div><div><br></div><div>“Along with a number of OIC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye, Qatar, and Nigeria, Indonesia continues to be on the forefront in rallying support to end the war in Gaza,” Marsudi said.</div><div><br></div><div>“The challenge we are facing is not easy. But we will not give up and will continue to try.”</div><div><br></div><div>For decades, Indonesia has been a staunch supporter of Palestine, with its people and government seeing Palestinian statehood as mandated by the nation’s constitution, which calls for the abolition of colonialism.</div><div><br></div><div>Since the latest escalation of Israeli violence, Indonesian officials have been rallying international support for Palestinians on various multilateral platforms, while thousands of people have participated in solidarity marches throughout the Asian nation in the last two months.</div><div><br></div><div>At the UN in Geneva this week, Marsudi pledged to triple Indonesia’s contributions to the UN relief agency for Palestine and vowed to strengthen global solidarity with the Palestinians.</div><div><br></div><div>She also rejected Israel’s justification of its actions as self-defense at an event commemorating the 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Wednesday, calling Tel Aviv’s deadly onslaught “serious human rights violations.”</div><div><br></div><div>Fikri Rofiul Haq, a 23-year-old Indonesian volunteer in Gaza, told Arab News that Jakarta’s active support for Palestine gave him hope.</div><div><br></div><div>“I hope that what the Indonesian government has been doing will continue until Palestine independence is achieved,” he said. “Not just me, but the people of Gaza have been thankful to Indonesia for its full support of Palestine.”</div><div><br></div><div>Haq was a volunteer at the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza’s north when the onslaught began in October. Continued Israeli attacks on the healthcare facility forced him to seek safety in southern Gaza in late November, where he has stayed since.</div><div><br></div><div>But even in Khan Younis, the Israeli bombardment did not stop and was “increasingly dangerous,” Haq added, noting that on Thursday alone, two children were killed near his place of stay, reports Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“There’s not enough clean water, and many houses are flooded,” he said. “It is very difficult here for all the displaced people, the situation is very pitiful.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 15:34:20', '2023-12-14 15:34:20'),
(10432, 10432, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>At least 3,714 Palestinian students have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since Oct. 7, the Ministry of Education said Thursday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The ministry said 3,679 students were killed and 5,429 others injured in the Gaza Strip, while 35 students lost their lives and 271 others wounded in the West Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli forces also detained 82 Palestinian students in the West Bank since Oct. 7, the ministry added in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the ministry, 209 teachers and administrators were killed and 619 others injured in the Gaza Strip, while two more were wounded and 65 arrested in the West Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli forces also bombed 278 government schools and 65 UN-run schools in the Gaza Strip, the ministry said.</div><div><br></div><div>Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege, and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 18,787 Palestinians have been killed and 50,897 injured in the Israeli onslaught since then, according to Gaza’s health authorities.</div><div><br></div><div>Nearly 1,200 people are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack, while around 139 hostages remain in captivity. - Anadolu Agency</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-14 15:57:54', '2023-12-14 15:57:54'),
(10433, 10433, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar, marking the 53rd Victory Day.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths at the altar of the memorial around 6:35 am to pay homage to the martyrs.</div><div><br></div><div>After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>A smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force presented a state salute on the occasion when the bugles played the last post.</div><div><br></div><div>Flanked by senior leaders of Awami League, Sheikh Hasina laid another wreath at the National Memorial as the party chief.</div><div><br></div><div>The Prime Minister also signed the visitor\'s book kept there.</div><div><br></div><div>Ministers, chiefs of the three services, members of the parliament, freedom fighters, diplomats, representatives of different development partners and civil and military officials, among others, were present.</div><div><br></div><div>The nation is celebrating the Victory Day with elaborate programmes paying homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Liberation War.</div><div><br></div><div>On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month war.</div><div><br></div><div>Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 05:46:12', '2023-12-16 05:46:12'),
(10434, 10434, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">On days when your breath hangs in the air, your clothing strategy is key. Not only can it be a day ruiner, making it hard to think about anything other than how cold you are, but it can be dangerous, too. In the dead of winter, there\'s nothing worse than getting outside and realizing you\'re not dressed warm enough to handle the frigid temperatures.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dressing inadequately for winter weather can increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite.1 So, when you want to workout in extremely cold weather (or simply build a snowman with your kids), it\'s important to put extra thought into what you\'re wearing and make sure you\'re adequately covered from head to toe.</div><div><br></div><div>Warm Clothing You\'ll Need</div><div>Part of dressing safely for cold temperatures is being intentional in making sure that every part of your body is adequately covered and kept dry. When getting dressed in the winter, use this warm clothing checklist below as a guide.</div><div><br></div><div>Mitten Tips</div><div>While it may be tempting to swap the mittens for an easier-to-use pair of gloves, mittens tend to be a warmer choice. According to REI, this is because fingers generate more heat when they\'re not separated from each other by fabric, as they are with gloves.</div><div><br></div><div>Look for mittens that include down or synthetic insulation, a waterproof design, and fit your hands properly. A properly fitting mitten will have about ¼ inch of material at the end of your outstretched fingers.</div><div><br></div><div>Winter Hat Tips</div><div>As far as the best hat for winter weather, you can choose a style that suits you, but it\'s important to consider the material to determine what option will keep you warm and dry. According to Skis.com, microfleece and wool materials are both great at retaining heat and wicking away moisture.</div><div><br></div><div>How to Layer Warm Clothing</div><div>When it comes to dressing warmly, it may seem that simply packing on the layers is a safe bet, but there\'s a bit of science to doing it right. Here\'s how the CDC says you should be layering in cold weather for optimal warmth</div><div><br></div><div>Inner Layer</div><div>Wear shirt fabrics that will hold more body heat and don\'t absorb moisture. Wool, silk, or polypropylene will hold more body heat than cotton.</div><div><br></div><div>Insulation Layer</div><div>An insulation layer will help you retain heat by trapping air close to your body. Slip on a pair of warm tights underneath jeans or pants. Natural fibers, like wool, goose down, or fleece work best. Wool socks are a great choice to keep your feet cozy and dry.</div><div><br></div><div>Outer Layer</div><div>The outermost layer helps protect you from wind, rain, and snow. This winter weather garment should be tightly woven and preferably water and wind resistant to reduce loss of body heat.</div><div><br></div><div>How to Prevent Overheating</div><div>When dressing for cold weather, it\'s important to find the balance between keeping warm and avoiding getting overheated. Unfortunately, excessive sweating will cause your body to lose more heat. So make sure to remove extra layers of clothing whenever you start to feel too warm.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', '<p>&nbsp;cold Weather<br></p>', 'Health Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 06:35:40', '2023-12-16 06:35:40'),
(10435, 10435, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">PM Hasina to start election campaign through visits to mazars of Shahjalal, Shah Paran in Sylhet on Dec 20Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will kick off her election campaign on December 20 through visits to the mazars of saints Shahjalal and Shah Paran in Sylhet.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>According to the party and PMO sources, on December 20 morning, she will go to Sylhet.</div><div><br></div><div>The 12th parliamentary election will be held on January 7, 2024 as Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced the polls schedule on November 15.</div><div><br></div><div>The deadline for submission of nomination papers was November 30, while December 1-4 was set for scrutinizing the nomination papers and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is tomorrow (December 17).</div><div><br></div><div>The appeals against the decisions of the returning officers were received and disposed of on December 6 to 15 and the electoral symbols will be assigned to the candidates on December 18.</div><div><br></div><div>Electioneering can be conducted from December 18 to 8 am on January 5 (till 48 hours before voting).</div><div><br></div><div>A total of 11,96,91,633 voters under 42,103 polling stations throughout the country can cast their votes during the 12th general election.</div><div><br></div><div>The last parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018.&nbsp; - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 08:56:12', '2023-12-16 08:56:12'),
(10436, 10436, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>As Bangladesh gear up for the ODI series against New Zealand commencing on December 17 at the University Oval in Dunedin, stand-in ODI captain Najmul Hossain Shanto emphasized the demanding role that Soumya Sarkar will need to assume in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>While Bangladesh etched memories of triumphant encounters with the Kiwis in ODIs, securing a series victory on New Zealand soil remains an uncharted territory. This series offers Bangladesh a fresh opportunity to script a new chapter in their cricketing history.</div><div><br></div><div>However, the absence of key players such as Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mahmudullah Riyad poses a big challenge. Shakib, dealing with an injury, is concurrently engaged in preparations for the upcoming general election where he is vying for a seat as an Awami League candidate. Tamim and Mahmudullah, for different reasons, will also be sidelined.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition to contending with the New Zealand team, Bangladesh must grapple with the colder conditions in New Zealand compared to their home country. Shanto, however, expressed a lack of concern about the unpredictable weather, emphasizing that it is beyond anyone\'s control. Undeterred by these challenges, Bangladesh is determined to clinch a victory in New Zealand, asserted Shanto.</div><div><br></div><div>Reflecting on previous tours to New Zealand, Shanto acknowledged the absence of a white-ball victory but remained optimistic about the current team\'s capabilities. \"Some team has to do that. I believe this team has the required ability to beat New Zealand at their home. We all believe we will have a different result this time,\" Shanto remarked.</div><div><br></div><div>The inclusion of Soumya in the series adds a significant dimension to Bangladesh\'s strategy. While Soumya was part of the Bangladesh team leading up to the World Cup in India, he was excluded during the tournament. Shanto highlighted Soumya\'s pivotal role, particularly in the absence of Shakib.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Since Shakib is not part of this series, Soumya’s bowling will be important for us. The team management included him considering this fact,\" Shanto explained.</div><div><br></div><div>In their 17 ODIs in New Zealand before this series, Bangladesh faced the hosts and Scotland in the ICC World Cup 2015, securing only one victory against Scotland. The upcoming series provides an opportunity for Bangladesh to rewrite their narrative on New Zealand soil. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 10:23:15', '2023-12-16 10:23:15'),
(10437, 10437, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The original 1971 \"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory\" may have been a delicious dream, lined with trees of gumballs and fields of lollipops. But never has there been a more cautionary tale about the danger of too much of a good thing.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Magical as that Roald Dahl-scripted film was, it remains lodged in our imaginations less for its sugary goodness than the way darkness, satire and even mania ebb around its edges — flowing down that nightmarish watery tunnel and pooling somewhere in the back of Gene Wilder\'s eyes. Charlie Bucket and Grandpa Joe may bubble with laughter all the way up the ceiling, but there\'s a spinning metal blade up there.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Wonka,\" the latest attempt to revisit Dahl\'s masterwork, bears no such danger. It\'s going more for the taste of an Everlasting Gobstopper — an ingenious confection that piles flavor on top of flavor. Tasty though that can be, you miss the daring of Dahl in the more wanly whimsical \"Wonka.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Still, the movie has two big things going for it: the charisma of its winning star, Timothée Chalamet, and the dazzling designs of its director, Paul King, the don of \"Paddington.\" To a large degree, King has applied much of the formula that defined \"Paddington\" — and that \"Godfather Part II\" of sequels, \"Paddington 2\" — to a Wonka origin story that populates a delightfully detailed world with a delightful array of supporting characters (many of whom are \"Paddington\" veterans). Did I say it\'s delightful?</div><div><br></div><div>Yet it\'s that strain to delight that keeps \"Wonka\" from achieving liftoff. King\'s film is lively but too neutered to do Dahl justice; congenial but not clever enough to match the giddy joy of \"Paddington 2.\" If Tim Burton\'s 2005 film, with Johnny Depp giving Wonka a Michael Jackson spin, leaned into creepiness, \"Wonka\" goes the opposite direction.</div><div><br></div><div>And you might fairly wonder: What\'s so wrong that? Who doesn\'t want a cynicism-free, candy-colored charm overload? \"Wonka\" may be too much of a good thing, but for many (particularly kids) it will surely, well, delight. Even for a movie predicated on retooling IP, \"Wonka\" comes across as remarkably sincere in its feel-good aspirations.</div><div><br></div><div>In the film\'s opening scenes, Willy (Chalamet) breezes into a frigid, unnamed European-styled city, singing \"I\'ve got nothing to offer but my chocolate and a hatful of dreams.\" He arrives like a too-confident traveling salesman, eager to sell his chocolate to the world.</div><div><br></div><div>Immediately fleeced of his few coins, Willy sets down on a bench for the night and pulls a candle out of his hat that he lights with a gentle blow. He\'s offered a bed for the night at inn. There, the innkeeper Mrs. Scrubit (Olivia Colman) and her henchman Bleacher (Tom Davis) trap needy drifters into years of indentured labor with elaborate contracts.</div><div><br></div><div>This Wonka can\'t read, a twist that I doubt Dahl would have endorsed, given how much, for him, reading and imagination were intertwined. Before Willy has even gotten started, he finds himself imprisoned with a handful of other similarly misfortunate souls, including the young Noodle (a very natural Calah Lane).</div><div><br></div><div>But inspired by his late mother (Sally Hawkins, seen in tender childhood flashbacks), Willy isn\'t much daunted in his dream to open a shop alongside other candy makers in the Galeries Gourmet. He manages to escape repeatedly to dazzle customers with chocolates of exotic ingredients before slipping through manhole covers to make a getaway, like Harry Lime in \"The Third Man.\"</div><div><br></div><div>Sensing the potential power of Wonka\'s enchanting chocolates (some cause levitation), the monopolizing local chocolatiers — Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas) and Fickelgruber (Mathew Baynton) — band together to squash Willy with the aid of a chocolate-addicted police chief (Keegan-Michael Key), whose waistline expands throughout the film.</div><div><br></div><div>That bit, like most others in the film, doesn\'t quite land despite the good cheer it\'s delivered with. \"Wonka\" assembles a wide array of top-notch comic actors — not only Key and Colman but Hugh Grant as an Oompa Loompa; Simon Farnaby (who co-wrote the script with King) as a security guard, mirroring his \"Paddington 2\" cameo; and Rowan Atkinson as a corrupt priest.</div><div><br></div><div>But most of the jokes in \"Wonka\" are as memorable as its songs. The gag of Grant, the \"Paddington 2\" MVP, smothered in orange makeup and green hair as a proudly debonair Oompa Loompa, is never quite as clever as the movie thinks it is. (On the press trail for the film, Grant has been 10 times funnier. )</div><div><br></div><div>Neil Hannon\'s songs are generic, but Chalamet sings them well. When a few notes from Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley\'s \"Pure Imagination\" float by, they only serve as a reminder to how much better the tunes were in the original.</div><div><br></div><div>I may be being too hard on \"Wonka.\" This is an eminently pleasant movie, propped up by its indefatigable good cheer and King\'s immaculately tidy craftsmanship. The costumes (Lindy Hemming), cinematography (Chung-hoon Chung) and, in particular, the ingenious production design (Nathan Crowley) craft a wonder-filled backdrop. A film doesn\'t need scenery this good for Chalamet to carry it. His Wonka is simpler and brighter than Wilder\'s, more a figure of pure optimism, like Paddington.</div><div><br></div><div>But we\'ve also had some exemplary Dahl adaptations lately that didn\'t forget that worlds of imagination come alive when the cruelties of life and of childhood aren\'t just paid lip service. (Veruca Salt or Mike Teavee, for instance, wouldn\'t fit anywhere in \"Wonka.\") I\'m thinking of Wes Anderson\'s inventive Dahl-adapted shorts, released this fall on Netflix, and Matthew Warchus\' terrific \"Matilda the Musical,\" from last year. \"Wonka\" is a more mixed addition: More tailored for kids yet less about childhood.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Wonka,\" a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for \"some violence, mild language and thematic elements.\" Running time: 116 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 10:33:41', '2023-12-16 10:33:41'),
(10438, 10438, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Sri Lanka is trying to attract Arab visitors by promoting the travels of the famed 14th-century explorer Ibn Battuta, Colombo’s envoy to Riyadh said on Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The famed Moroccan explorer’s ship arrived in the northwestern port of Puttalam from the Maldives in September 1344. At that time, Puttalam was under the rule of the king of Jaffna, who received him with honors.</div><div><br></div><div>He spent a few days there, entertaining the king who, as he recalled in his “Travels,” understood Persian and was interested in his voyages and stories about the rulers of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia whom he had met since starting his journeys in 1325.</div><div><br></div><div>Ibn Battuta then went on a pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak, a 2,243-meter tall conical sacred mountain located in central Sri Lanka, which is venerated by Muslims as the site of the footprint of the first man and prophet, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</div><div><br></div><div>The king gave him a palanquin and sent men to accompany him.</div><div><br></div><div>From Adam’s Peak, he took a southern route to Dondra, a southern coastal town, which was a rich temple port town complex. It was destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th century.</div><div><br></div><div>From Dondra, Ibn Battuta went to Galle and Colombo, and from there, he went back to Puttalam and sailed to the coast of Tamil Nadu.</div><div><br></div><div>Sri Lanka, whose economy is highly dependent on tourism, is now hoping to attract visitors from Arab countries by evoking the memory of his travels.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s important to refresh the memories of this historic visit and project it among the Arabs,” P.M. Amza, ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia, told Arab News.</div><div><br></div><div>“Ibn Battuta is a celebrated traveler … We believe such a celebrated traveler’s connection with Sri Lanka will be of definite attraction to the tourism sector of Sri Lanka.”</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier this week, the embassy in Riyadh inaugurated the Ibn Battuta Trail as part of the Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Ministry’s economic diplomacy program in the Kingdom.</div><div><br></div><div>The trail package follows the footsteps of the famed traveler to Adam’s Peak with highlights including cultural attractions, wildlife, nature, adventure activities, and cuisine.</div><div><br></div><div>Amza was hopeful that it would contribute to increasing arrivals of Saudi travelers, which have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>“We used to attract over 35,000 Saudi tourists to Sri Lanka annually before 2019 and it has significantly dropped since 2019,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Now there is a renewed interest, and we would like them to explore Sri Lanka’s beauty, beaches, waterfalls, rich culture, hospitality, nature and adventure.” Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 11:40:03', '2023-12-16 11:40:03'),
(10439, 10439, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Ukraine’s Interior Ministry on Friday placed the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, a backer of the Kremlin’s 21-month-old war against Kyiv, on a wanted list after security services accused him of abetting the conflict.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The measure is purely symbolic as Patriarch Kirill is in Russia and under no threat of arrest. It was the latest step in Ukraine’s campaign to uproot the influence of priests it alleges maintain close links to Russia and subvert Ukrainian society.</div><div><br></div><div>A post on the Ukrainian ministry’s wanted list identified Kirill by name, showed him in his clerical robes and described him as “an individual in hiding from the bodies of pre-trial investigation.” It said he had been “missing” since November 11.</div><div><br></div><div>Orthodox Christianity is the dominant faith in Ukraine and authorities in Kyiv have launched criminal cases against clergy linked to a branch of the Orthodox church once directly linked to the Russian church and Kirill.</div><div><br></div><div>Parliament in Kyiv is considering a bill that would ban that branch of the church, which has lost many of its parishioners since Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin sent Russian troops into Ukraine in February 2022. The church says it severed all links to Moscow in May 2022.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine’s SBU security service last month issued a document saying Kirill “infringed Ukrainian sovereignty” by virtue of his position as “part of the closest entourage of Russia’s military and political leadership.”</div><div><br></div><div>Security forces have launched dozens of criminal cases, including accusations of treason, against priests and officials linked to the branch of the church associated with Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Kirill has denounced those actions and appealed to clerical leaders world-wide to stop Ukraine’s moves against the church.</div><div><br></div><div>A senior official in the Russian church told Russia’s RIA news agency that placing Kirill on a wanted list was “a step that is as ridiculous as it is predictable.”</div><div><br></div><div>Vladimir Legoida, responsible for ties with other churches, told RIA that Ukrainian authorities were guilty of “lawlessness and attempting to intimidate parishioners.” -&nbsp; AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 11:44:56', '2023-12-16 11:44:56'),
(10440, 10440, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader registered a general diary (GD) on Thursday after he allegedly received a message containing death threat.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The JP chief\'s personal assistant Abdul Hannan filed the GD on behalf of Quader on Thursday night at Uttara West Police Station, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Hasan confirmed this afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the GD, GM Quader, received a WhatsApp message from an unknown person early Thursday in which the individual threatened to kill him and his family.</div><div><br></div><div>The person also apparently warned him against participating in the upcoming 12th parliamentary election, reports UNB</div><div><br></div><div>\"We are investigating the matter,\" said the OC.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 11:48:25', '2023-12-16 11:48:25'),
(10441, 10441, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and one other warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks to maintain a two-carrier presence near Israel as its war with Hamas grinds on, US officials said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It would be the third time the Ford’s deployment has been extended, underscoring the continued concerns about volatility in the region during Israel’s war in Gaza. The US has two aircraft carriers in the region, a rarity in recent years.</div><div><br></div><div>Multiple US officials confirmed the longer deployments approved this week for the Ford and the USS Normandy cruiser on condition of anonymity because they have not yet been made public. Other ships in the Ford’s strike group had already had their deployments extended.</div><div><br></div><div>The Pentagon ramped up its military presence in the region after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks to deter Iran from widening the war into a regional conflict. In the months since, Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria have seized on the war to conduct regular attacks with rockets, drones and missiles on US military installations there.</div><div><br></div><div>At the same time, US warships in the Red Sea have intercepted incoming missiles fired toward Israel from areas of Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. They’ve also shot down one-way attack drones headed toward the ships and responded to calls for assistance from commercial vessels that have come under persistent Houthi attacks near the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait.</div><div><br></div><div>As of Friday, there are 19 US warships in the region, including seven in the eastern Mediterranean and 12 more stretched down the Red Sea, across the Arabian Sea and up into the Arabian Gulf.</div><div>Austin ordered the Ford and its strike group to sail to the eastern Mediterranean on Oct. 8, a day after the attack by Hamas that set off the war.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision to keep the Ford — the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier — in the region comes as Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said Thursday it will take months to destroy Hamas, predicting a drawn-out war.</div><div><br></div><div>US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Israeli leaders to discuss a timetable for winding down major combat in Gaza, but they repeated their determination to press the fight until Hamas is crushed.</div><div><br></div><div>The Ford’s roughly 5,000 sailors have been waiting for a Pentagon decision on whether they would get to go home for the holidays. The ship left Norfolk, Virginia, in early May to deploy to US European Command, and under its original schedule it would have been home by early November.</div><div><br></div><div>The original plan was for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group to replace the Ford in the region. But Sabrina Singh, in a Pentagon briefing on Oct. 17, said Austin had decided to extend the Ford’s deployment and have both the Eisenhower and Ford covering the waters from southern Europe to the Middle East.</div><div><br></div><div>US military commanders have long touted the effectiveness of American aircraft carriers as a deterrent, including against attacks, hijackings and other aggressive behavior by Iran and its ships, including strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Houthis.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials said the plan is to keep the Ford there for several more weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>The Eisenhower is in the Gulf of Oman and has been patrolling in the Middle East along with the USS Philippine Sea, a Navy cruiser. And three warships — the USS Carney, the USS Stethem and the USS Mason, all Navy destroyers — have been moving through the Bab el-Mandeb daily to help deter and respond to attacks from the Houthis.</div><div><br></div><div>Other ships that are part of the Ford’s strike group include the destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt.</div><div><br></div><div>While the US regularly maintained two aircraft carriers in the Middle East during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, in recent years it has tried to turn its attention and naval presence to the Asia Pacific. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 12:12:06', '2023-12-16 12:12:06');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10442, 10442, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>After 49 days, hundreds of BNP leaders and workers gathered in front of their party’s central office at Nayapaltan for the first time, before bringing out a rally marking the Great Victory Day. </b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>From the rally, the party\'s first since violence between their activists and the police and AL activists on the opposite side foiled the party’s grand rally on October 28, the opposition leaders and supporters chanted various slogans against the planned January 7 election, calling it \'one-sided\' and demanding cancellation of the polling schedule to hold a fair and inclusive election under a neutral government.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the Awami League government is going to stage a mockery in the name of national election on January 7.</div><div><br></div><div>“The country was not liberated for holding such a joke of an election,” he said while speaking in front of the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office prior to leading out the colourful rally.</div><div><br></div><div>The opposition followers brought out the rally from Nayapaltan around 2:30pm and it ended at Moghbazar amid the presence of a huge number of law enforcers.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP leaders and activists from the capital and its  surrounding districts and upazilas participated in the rally under the banner of BNP and its associate bodies.</div><div><br></div><div>Addressing the gathering prior to taking out the rally, Nazrul Islam Khan said the country’s people do not want to see such a lopsided election and they will not go to the polling stations to exercise their right to vote on January 7.</div><div><br></div><div>As people have no participation in the election, he said the ruling party has to field \'dummy candidates\' from its own party. </div><div><br></div><div>“The way candidates are being nominated, everyone knows who will be the MPs,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>He alleged that the government has continued arresting and harassing BNP leaders and activists to hold a stage-managed election.</div><div><br></div><div>“Democratic rights have been taken away to play a game in the name of election without participation of the opposition parties,” Nazrul said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the day, the party paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War in 1971, by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar, marking the 52nd Victory Day.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP\'s standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan together with party leaders and workers placed wreaths at the memorial around 10am.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters there, Dr Moyeen said lakhs of people of the then East Pakistan shed their blood and sacrificed their lives for an independent Bangladesh, democracy  and economic emancipation.</div><div><br></div><div>“But Awami League has killed democracy prematurely, betraying the crores of people of this country. They have destroyed the economy of Bangladesh through extreme corruption,” he said. </div><div><br></div><div>After 52 years of independence, Moyeen said the 180 million people of Bangladesh have to ask the Awami League why it has established a one-party dictatorial government in Bangladesh by destroying the ideology of the Liberation War when it claims to be the pro-liberation war forces. </div><div><br></div><div>Later, they also placed wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Banglanagar in the capital.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leaders also offered a monajat seeking salvation of Zia\'s departed soul.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP standing committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahaman, Vice Chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Joint Secretary General Mahbubuddin Khokon, central leaders Abdul, Mosrafizur Rahman Babu, Taiful Islam Tipu, Rafique Shikdar, and Nipun Roy  were, among others, present there.</div><div><br></div><div>BNP\'s different units and associate bodies are also marking the day with various programs across the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier in the morning, they hoisted national and party flags atop the party offices marking Victory Day.</div><div><br></div><div>The nation is celebrating Victory Day by paying deep homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War, according to UNB reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 12:16:49', '2023-12-16 15:46:50'),
(10443, 10443, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Understanding uric acid and its role in our bodies is crucial for maintaining good health. It serves important functions in our body, such as acting as an antioxidant. An elevated level of uric acid, higher than the standard range (known as hyperuricemia), can lead to a condition known as gout.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>When gout develops in the body, it can result in increased acid content in the urine and blood, as well as the formation of crystals in the feet, toes, and joints. However, the risk of gout is not solely dependent on diet or lifestyle.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>What is uric acid?</div><div>Uric acid is a result of purine metabolism. It is a natural waste that comes when purine is formed because of our digestive system. Purine is found in foods like red meat, organ meat, beer etc. Purine is also formed naturally and broken down in our bodies. Our body filters out uric acid through excretory processes. However, consuming purine in excess can lead to high levels of uric acid in your blood.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>How to reduce uric acid?</div><div>If you have read till now, you must be wondering, “How to reduce uric acid?”. Well, we’ve got you covered! Here are some of the techniques that habit that you can incorporate into your daily life to get rid of extra uric acid.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>1. Weight management: Obesity has been determined as one of the most prominent contributing factors to elevated uric acid levels in the blood, as it may hinder the efficient functioning of the kidneys. Excess weight can lead to difficulties in filtering out uric acid while also increasing its production. It is recommended to make long-term, sustainable changes to manage weight, which, in turn, can help lower blood uric acid levels and improve overall health. This can be achieved by becoming physically active, adopting a balanced diet, and incorporating nutrient-dense foods into one\'s diet.</div><div><br></div><div>2. Drinking more water: Drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, helps keep the kidneys healthy and functioning efficiently; thus, it aids in proper uric acid filtration. Additionally, it also reduces the chances of developing kidney stones due to the crystallization of excessive uric acid.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Limiting/avoiding purine-rich food: Certain types of foods may contain high levels of purine. Even some nutritious foods can have high purine concentrations, so it may not be possible to completely avoid purine, but its intake can be limited. High consumption of meat and seafood has been shown to increase uric acid levels.</div><div><br></div><div>4. Avoiding medications that increase uric acid levels: There are some medications that may elevate the level of uric acid in the blood. Changing doses or taking alternative medicines may help to control uric acid levels. However, this should only be done on the recommendation or after discussion with a qualified healthcare provider.</div><div><br></div><div>5. Avoiding sugary or sweetened beverages: Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar that contributes to a higher level of uric acid after breaking down to release purines. Thus, limiting the amount of sugary foods and beverages consumed can help lower uric acid levels. Replacing sugary foods with other options can help control uric acid levels. The following steps may help reduce sugar cravings. - care</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', '<p>\'Uric Acid\' levels&nbsp;<br></p>', 'News Desk', '[\"24\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 12:52:38', '2023-12-16 12:52:38'),
(10444, 10444, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday released a special commemorative postage stamp, first-day cover, and a data card on the occasion of the 52nd Victory Day.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The premier unveiled the commemorative postage stamp at a ceremony at her official Ganabhaban residence this morning.</div><div><br></div><div>A special canceller was used on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>Posts and Telecommunications Division State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Prime Minister\'s Office Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin were present on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>The postage stamp, the first-day cover and data card will be sold from the Philatelic Bureau of Dhaka GPO and will also be available at other GPOs and head post offices across the country later. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 13:31:57', '2023-12-16 13:31:57'),
(10445, 10445, '<div>On the occasion of Victory Day, Sajeeb Wazed, known for his role in revolutionizing Bangladesh\'s digital landscape and chairperson of Center for Research and Information (CRI), has said that Jamaat gained political clout with the help of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to serve the unfinished agenda of Pakistan — destroy all the core ideals that led to the birth of the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Posting on his official X account, Sajeeb Wazed wrote: “December 16 is a red letter day that marks triumph of justice over injustice and impunity, an occasion to hold our head high.</div><div><br></div><div>“In 1971, Pakistani Army launched a brutal crackdown on unarmed people on now defunct #EastPakistan, one of the worst #genocide in history. Jamaat e Islami colluded with the savage force and perpetrated #masskilling, rape, looting among other crimes against #humanity. Bengalis fought and won at the cost of an ocean of blood,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“On the eve of this Victory Day, yet again #BNP #Jamaat combine has been out in the open to stop the upcoming #election, disparage the supreme sacrifices of millions of martyrs and inflict causality on general people,” he wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>“Let’s take a pledge to stand for the founding values that make us a proud nation and stand with #AwamiLeague in the indomitable march for a prosperous and smart future, a fitting tribute to our war heroes,” Sajeeb Wazed tweeted.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 14:32:19', '2023-12-16 14:32:19'),
(10446, 10446, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Thousands of protesters led by opposition parties marched towards billionaire Gautam Adani’s offices in Mumbai today to voice their opposition to his conglomerate’s US$614 million redevelopment plans for one of Asia’s largest slums in the city.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Protesters carried flags and banners with slogans such as “Remove Adani Save Dharavi” from the slum to Adani’s premises in the central business district of India’s financial capital.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are not against development, but the way the Dharavi redevelopment is planned it will only benefit Adani and not the slum residents,” Baburao Mane, leader of Save Dharavi Committee (Dharavi Bachao Andolan), said.</div><div><br></div><div>The protest comes amid growing political opposition to the state government – ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and allies – for giving undue favours to Adani’s firms in allotting and executing the slum overhaul contract.</div><div><br></div><div>A rival bidder – a Dubai-based consortium – has mounted a legal challenge alleging the Maharashtra government improperly cancelled an original 2018 tender for the slum redevelopment and favoured Adani in giving the new contract.</div><div><br></div><div>Adani and the state government have denied any wrongdoing and say contracts have been awarded as per laws and policies.</div><div><br></div><div>Protesters have demanded that both eligible and non-eligible residents of the slum be housed inside the redeveloped area and be given bigger homes of 46sq m, instead of the promised 27-32sq m. Some protesters also want the government to take over the slum overhaul instead of private developers like Adani.</div><div><br></div><div>The Maharashtra state government in July approved Adani Group’s bid to overhaul Dharavi, which is known for producing leather goods, following years of failed attempts.</div><div><br></div><div>The slum, about three-quarters the size of New York’s Central Park, featured in Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning 2008 movie “Slumdog Millionaire”, and has open sewers and shared toilets. It is located close to Mumbai’s international airport and high-rise office blocks housing foreign companies – marking a stark contrast to India’s development boom. According to Reuters reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 14:41:00', '2023-12-16 14:41:00'),
(10447, 10447, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, who was injured due to Israeli attacks on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, lost his life on Friday. </span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Abu Daqqa was injured due to shrapnel as a result of Israel’s attacks near the Ferkhane School, Al Jazeera announced.</div><div><br></div><div>After being injured, Abu Daqqa took refuge in an area near Ferkhane School, where the attacks continued, and ambulances could not enter the area surrounded by Israeli forces.</div><div><br></div><div>First aid teams were not allowed to enter the besieged area for hours to intervene and treat the journalist who was bleeding. He could not be taken to the hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Also, three civil defense workers who tried to intervene to help Abu Daqqa and other injured people trapped in the school also lost their lives as a result of the Israeli attack, according to information from local sources.  </div><div><br></div><div>‘I can only sleep about 3 hours a day’</div><div><br></div><div>Pictures of Abu Daqqa during his last shots near Ferkhane School were shared on social media.</div><div><br></div><div>In these pictures, Abu Daqqa\'s sleepless state is noticeable, and when a journalist friend asked him for how long he has not slept, Abu Daqqa replied: \"I can only sleep about 3 hours a day,\" expressing his wishes for the health and well-being of all press colleagues.</div><div><br></div><div>Al Jazeera TV cameraman Abu Daqqa was injured along with Gaza reporter Wael ed-Dahduh due to shrapnel hitting them, during the attack by Israeli forces near the Ferkhane School, where displaced people in Khan Younis were staying.</div><div><br></div><div>Dahduh, who was injured in the hand, arm, shoulder, and abdomen, was taken to Al-Nasr Hospital in Khan Younis, while the school where Abu Daqqa sought refuge and the area surrounding the school were besieged by Israeli forces. - Anadolu Agency </div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 14:59:16', '2023-12-16 15:46:22'),
(10448, 10448, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The behaviour of French cinema superstar Gerard Depardieu, charged with rape and facing new scrutiny after sexist comments were broadcast in a television documentary, shames France, the culture minister said on Friday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak also said that the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honour would initiate a \"disciplinary procedure\" to decide whether to strip Depardieu of the country\'s top honour.</div><div><br></div><div>Depardieu, 74, was charged with rape in 2020 and has also faced 13 accusations of sexual harassment or assault.</div><div><br></div><div>A documentary titled \"The Fall of the Ogre\" shows the actor on a 2018 trip to North Korea repeatedly making explicit sexual comments in the presence of a female interpreter and sexualising a small girl riding a horse. It was aired last week on France 2 television.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Directors will decide if he has roles in films in the future or not,\" Abdul-Malak told reporters in the southern town of Moissac.</div><div><br></div><div>\"I don\'t think he has many offers arriving now on his desk.\"</div><div><br></div><div>She said the comments broadcast in the France 2 report were \"absolutely shocking\" and she was \"disgusted\" by his behaviour, reports AFP</div><div><br></div><div>She denounced \"an attitude which is intended to be joking and provocative, but is in fact disrespectful and undignified and shames France, because he is a monument of cinema throughout the world.\"&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Entertainment', '[\"13\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 15:16:39', '2023-12-16 15:16:39'),
(10449, 10449, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The BNP will enforce a daylong hartal&nbsp; across the country on Monday to protest the schedule for the next national election announced by the Election Commission (EC).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>It will be the fourth call of hartal by the opposition party since October 29, to go with eleven blockades that have together disrupted normal life and business every week.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the fresh programme at a virtual press briefing on Saturday. The hartal will begin at 6am on Monday and end at 6pm the same day.</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the country\'s people and the supporters of BNP and other opposition parties to observe the programme spontaneously to make it a success.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the fresh hartal programme is also meant to mount pressure on the government to quit, hold the next election under a non-party neutral government and release party leaders and activists, including its secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP and like-minded parties also observed a human chain programme all over the country on December 10, as a way to mark International Human Rights Day. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 15:24:28', '2023-12-16 15:24:28'),
(10450, 10450, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The majority of the British voting public support giving sanctuary to former Afghan special forces veterans who served alongside the UK military, The Independent reported on Saturday.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The poll of 3,000 British voters, carried out by YouGov, found that just 19 percent of respondents said they should be barred from settling in Britain.</div><div><br></div><div>Those veterans who stayed in Afghanistan since the 2021 Taliban takeover have faced assault and torture, and some have been killed.</div><div><br></div><div>Several of the veterans — who belonged to the elite UK-funded Commando Force 333 and Afghan Territorial Force 444 units — have made it to Britain via evacuation flights or by boat.</div><div><br></div><div>Maj. Gen. Charlie Herbert, a former senior NATO adviser in Afghanistan, said: “I can think of no other Afghan security forces who were more closely aligned to the UK than 333 and 444, nor who more loyally or bravely supported our military objectives.”</div><div><br></div><div>The UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, which aims to resettle former Afghan veterans who served alongside the British military against the Taliban, has received character references from many former British colleagues of the soldiers.</div><div>However, one former British soldier, Alex, told The Independent that ARAP failed to respond to his reference.</div><div><br></div><div>“I provided details about the individual that I served with on the ground in Afghanistan to the Arap team and never got a response,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“I am aware of a number of other people who served alongside (the Afghan veterans) and never received any contact from the Ministry of Defense or ARAP. The cases were all rejected in the first place and were then rejected on appeal.</div><div><br></div><div>“We talk a lot about veterans and their mental health. To think that you’ve left these people behind, you hear what they’re going through. They were looking after you on the ground and you can’t help them.” According to Arab News reports.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-16 15:45:52', '2023-12-16 15:45:52'),
(10451, 10451, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Sunday agreed to the deployment of the army to ensure that the upcoming parliamentary election is conducted freely and fairly.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal met with President Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban in the morning, formally requesting the deployment of the army. The president subsequently approved the request.</div><div><br></div><div>President\'s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said in a media briefing that during the meeting, the chief election commissioner made a formal request to deploy the army to assist the civil administration in order to conduct the upcoming parliamentary election in a fair and peaceful manner.</div><div><br></div><div>Agreeing to the Election Commission\'s request to deploy the army to maintain law and order and ensure a fair environment before and after the election, the president said that the date and time of the army deployment will be announced after discussion with all parties concerned.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, during the meeting, the CEC informed the president about the overall preparations of the Election Commission for the upcoming national election.</div><div><br></div><div>Expressing satisfaction with the overall preparation of the commission, President Shahabuddin assured that he would provide all necessary cooperation to make the election fair and peaceful, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the president hoped that a fair and free election would be held in the country with the cooperation of all. Secretaries of the president\'s office were also present at this time.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 07:49:52', '2023-12-17 07:49:52'),
(10452, 10452, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The High Court has set January 3, 2024 for hearing on the rule issued on question of the bail of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a case filed over the attack on Chief Justice\'s residence during his party’s grand rally on October 28.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench of Justice Md Selim and Justice Shahed Nuruddin set the date for the hearing.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul’s lawyer Advocate Zainul Abedin confirmed the news to the media.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on December 7, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain why Fakhrul should not be granted bail in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>The government was asked to respond to the rule within a week.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police Station on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence during a BNP rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from Mirza Fakhrul, 59 BNP leaders and activists, including standing committee member Mirza Abbas, were accused in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul was arrested in the case on October 29 and has been in jail since then. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 07:52:22', '2023-12-17 07:52:22'),
(10453, 10453, '<div><b style=\"\"><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has refrained from commenting on what the United States or Russia is saying about Bangladesh.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“We don’t want to be dragged into any problem,” he told reporters when his attention was drawn to Russia’s latest remarks about Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said Bangladesh is maintaining a balanced foreign policy and it is going to hold a free and fair election on January 7 next year. “Rest, I don’t know.”</div><div><br></div><div>A reporter referred to the Russia’s latest remarks: “If the results of the people’s will are not satisfactory to the United States, attempts to further destabilize the situation in Bangladesh along the lines of the ‘Arab Spring’ are likely.”</div><div><br></div><div>Momen ruled out the possibility, noting that he does not see any such scope, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are a democratic country. You must agree with me that Bangladesh’s democracy has been strengthened due to Sheikh Hasina. We will maintain this democratic process,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen also said Bangladesh can manage disruptive activities like vandalism and arson attacks. “We could overcome those. Some evil forces who don’t believe in democracy are trying to foil the democratic process.”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 07:55:04', '2023-12-17 07:55:04'),
(10454, 10454, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Two Bangladeshis were shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) for allegedly entering the neighbouring country’s territory through the border in Darshana upazila of Chuadanga last night.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The deceased were identified as Sajedur Rahman, 27, son of Haider Ali, and Khaja Moinuddin, 35, son of Shariat Ullah. Both men were from Chhoygharia village under Parkrisnapur-Madna union of the upazila.</div><div><br></div><div>Seeking anonymity, a villager said they heard two people crossed the border into India to “smuggle” cattle at night, and they were shot dead.</div><div><br></div><div>Darshana police station’s officer-in-charge, Biplob Kumar Saha, said two locals might have gone into India, crossing the border, for bringing in cattle, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The BSF shot them for intrusion and their bodies were still inside Indian territory, the OC said.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, the local Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB-6) has not commented in this connection.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 08:00:57', '2023-12-17 08:00:57'),
(10455, 10455, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">India’s former state minister for foreign affairs MJ Akbar on Sunday said those trying to induce fears in Bangladesh ahead of its national election are forgetting that Bangladesh is no longer a country that is scared.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh is not a country that fears anything,” he told reporters when a questioner wanted to know his take on fear of sanctions or other measures that are being discussed ahead of the election.</div><div><br></div><div>The prominent author-journalist turned politician said that some of the attention that Bangladesh is drawing is caused by the country’s relevance.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Akbar was delivering a keynote speech at a discussion, titled “Bangladesh’s achievements in 52 years and its place in the region and beyond in the coming decades,” at Dhaka’s Foreign Service Academy.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen spoke at the discussion as the chief guest and said Bangladesh is no longer a bottomless basket but is a land of opportunities.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen highlighted the significant development and stability that Bangladesh achieved, noting that Bangladesh has been pursuing democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Rector of Foreign Service Academy, Mashfee Binte Shams, also spoke on the occasion.</div><div><br></div><div>After imposing sanctions on the elite force RAB, the United States in September this year announced steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals – from law enforcement, ruling party, and political opposition – responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The United States says it is committed to supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner while Bangladesh repeated its commitment to holding free and fair elections.</div><div><br></div><div>Responding to a question, Akbar said that Prime leader Sheikh Hasina should be celebrated and honored as the “liberator and leader of the second liberation,” and this was liberation of a nation from dictatorship.</div><div><br></div><div>The Indian politician said he can see great happiness in Bangladesh as the process of democracy here continues.</div><div><br></div><div>“I believe Bangladesh will be able to face its own problems and challenges through its own efforts,” he said, putting emphasis on home-grown solutions instead of external intervention.</div><div><br></div><div>Highlighting Sheikh Hasina’s historic contributions, Akbar said she is not just leading the nation towards democracy and freedom from hunger, but also towards a modern future to make Bangladesh a complete success story.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Bangladesh has become a nation of opportunities today under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangladesh is the emerging power of Asia,” he said, highlighting PM Hasina’s development efforts towards ensuring inclusive growth, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 09:28:25', '2023-12-17 09:28:25'),
(10456, 10456, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>In a rain-affected encounter, New Zealand secured a 44-run victory over Bangladesh in the first ODI of the three-match series in the DLS method, with the match reduced to 30 overs per side.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Will Young\'s stellar performance, scoring 105 runs off 84 balls and taking two catches, marked a standout display for New Zealand.</div><div><br></div><div>Opting to bat first, Young anchored the innings with a century, guiding his team to a challenging total of 239 for 7 in the allotted 30 overs. Captain Tom Latham\'s explosive 92 further bolstered the Kiwi innings.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh\'s bowlers faced an uphill battle, with Shoriful Islam being the most successful, claiming two wickets for 28 runs. Despite Bangladesh’s efforts, New Zealand\'s total posed a challenging target.</div><div><br></div><div>In pursuit of a revised target of 245 runs in 30 overs, Bangladesh\'s batting order faced early setbacks. Anamul Haque\'s 43 and Towhid Hridoy\'s 33 showcased moments of resilience, but the required run rate and consistent fall of wickets posed insurmountable challenges.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh eventually ended up of a total of 200 for 9 in 30 overs. While Litton Das, Afif Hossain, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz all made promising starts, they were unable to capitalize and build on their initial momentum.</div><div><br></div><div>Soumya Sarkar, called up for this series, had an unexpected return, falling early in the innings without scoring any runs. In the field, he missed two catches, and with the ball, he conceded more than 60 runs in just 6 overs, making it a challenging outing for him.</div><div><br></div><div>After the ODI series, Bangladesh will face the hosts in a three-match T20I series. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 09:36:06', '2023-12-17 09:36:06'),
(10457, 10457, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Israel carried out fresh strikes on Gaza Sunday as its leaders came under growing pressure to secure the release of hostages still held in the Hamas-run territory more than two months after the October 7 attacks.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced protests on Saturday by relatives of hostages who called for an urgent deal to secure their freedom after the army admitted mistakenly killing three captives in Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>The trio were among an estimated 250 people taken hostage during Hamas’s October 7 raids into Israel, which also killed about 1,140 people, according to the Israeli authorities’ latest figures.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Hamas, Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed 18,800 people, mostly women and children.</div><div><br></div><div>At a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday, relatives of hostages gathered to plea with the government for a deal.</div><div><br></div><div>“Take us into consideration and come up with a plan now (for negotiation),” said Noam Perry, daughter of hostage Haim Perry, at the protest.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 100 of the Israelis and foreigners seized by Hamas and other militants on October 7 were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners during a week-long truce last month, mediated by Qatar.</div><div><br></div><div>Netanyahu doubled down on his war effort on Saturday, telling reporters of the three hostages’ deaths: “It broke my heart. It broke the whole nation’s heart.”</div><div><br></div><div>“With all the deep sorrow, I want to clarify: the military pressure is necessary both for the return of the kidnapped and for achieving victory over our enemies,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>On Sunday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, at least 12 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the central city of Deir Al-Balah.</div><div><br></div><div>Witnesses also reported Israeli air and artillery strikes on the southern municipality of Bani Suhaila east of Khan Yunis, the Gaza Strip’s second city.</div><div><br></div><div>Also on Saturday, Netanyahu appeared to address Qatari efforts toward a new truce.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have serious criticisms of Qatar, about which I suppose you will hear in due course, but right now we are trying to complete the recovery of our hostages,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In a statement, Qatar reaffirmed on Saturday its “ongoing diplomatic efforts to renew the humanitarian pause.”</div><div><br></div><div>But Hamas said on Telegram it was “against any negotiations for the exchange of prisoners until the aggression against our people ceases completely.”</div><div><br></div><div>US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said late Saturday he was traveling to Israel, Bahrain and Qatar to highlight Washington’s “commitments to strengthening regional security and stability.”</div><div><br></div><div>News platform Axios said Israeli spy chief David Barnea met Friday in an unspecified European location with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who helped negotiate the earlier truce. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 09:49:23', '2023-12-17 09:49:23'),
(10458, 10458, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Bangladesh Bank has confirmed that it has issued a letter to five Shariah-based banks regarding prevention of transactions.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>However, the final decision has not been taken yet, said Mezbaul Haque, Executive Director and spokesperson of the central bank.</div><div><br></div><div>In an urgent press briefing at Bangladesh Bank headquarters on Sunday, the spokesperson said as per the regular operation of the central bank’s Motijheel office, they issued the letter.</div><div><br></div><div>The five banks are Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, and Union Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>These banks are offering double benefits and other lucrative profit-sharing offers for term deposits to meet the liquidity crisis. But clients are reluctant as the banks are mired in several loan scams, banking sector insiders said.</div><div><br></div><div>On Friday, several media reports said that transaction services of these five banks are about to be stopped due to current account deficits. Some of these banks claimed that the reports are not true.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bank today arranged an urgent press conference to clear the issue involving the five Islami banks. Of them, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC is the highest deposit holding bank in the private sector.</div><div><br></div><div>Mezbaul said, “The current account status of Bangladesh Bank with these banks has been negative for a long time. Banks have not taken any significant action despite being repeatedly informed about the matter.”</div><div><br></div><div>As a result, the central bank has set a period of 20 days for adjusting the negative balance of the current account, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Bank said that if the negative current account balance is not adjusted within 20 days, the five Islami banks will be prevented from clearing or settlement arrangements.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 10:15:44', '2023-12-17 10:15:44'),
(10459, 10459, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The body of late Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was laid to rest at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery on Sunday following a prayer service. The emir passed away on Saturday aged 86.&nbsp;&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Nawaf, whose casket was draped in Kuwait\'s flag, was buried alongside his kin, after prayers at Bilal bin Rabah mosque.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The late Emir’s funeral was attended by members of the Al Sabah family and speaker of Kuwait\'s parliament, according to state news agency KUNA. His successor, Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, was seen shedding a tear at the prayer service.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Mishal and the royal family will personally receive the condolences of people at the Diwan of Al-Sabah Family at Bayan Palace on Monday and Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Dignitaries from around the world paid respects to Sheikh Nawaf, whose six decades in public service included minister of defence, interior, labour and deputy chief of the national guard. According to Arab News reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 11:02:53', '2023-12-17 11:02:53'),
(10460, 10460, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Russia has said that an “Arab Spring” like situation could be instigated in Bangladesh if people’s will here is not satisfactory to the United States.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“If the results of the people’s will are not satisfactory to the United States, attempts to further destabilize the situation in Bangladesh along the lines of the ‘Arab Spring’ are likely,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.</div><div><br></div><div>Unfortunately, she said, there is little chance that Washington will come to its senses and refrain from yet another gross interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are confident, however, that despite all the machinations of external forces, the issue of power in Bangladesh will ultimately be decided by the friendly people of this country, and no one else,” said the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman.</div><div><br></div><div>She said there are serious reasons to fear that in the coming weeks an even “wider arsenal of pressure, including sanctions,” may be used against the government of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>The spokeswoman said key industries may come under attack, as well as a number of officials who will be accused, without evidence, of obstructing the democratic will of citizens in the upcoming parliamentary election on January 7, 2024, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On December 12-13, in a number of districts of Bangladesh, opponents of the current government blocked road traffic, burned buses, and clashed with the police, she said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We see a direct connection between these events and the inflammatory activity of Western diplomatic missions in Dhaka. In particular, US Ambassador Peter Haas, which we already talked about at the briefing on November 22,” she said.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 11:20:40', '2023-12-17 11:20:40'),
(10461, 10461, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Jatiya Party (JP) Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Monday said his party will contest in 283 constituencies as part of their efforts to make the election more competitive and meaningful.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“We’re participating in the polls overcoming all hurdles. There is no pressure. If there was pressure, other parties would also join. We are a unique party and we have prepared our own roadmap,” he told reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding the election environment, he said the government is extending support to the Election Commission for a fair election and they remain assured. “Discussion regarding this is underway and it will continue to make the election meaningful.”</div><div><br></div><div>On behalf of the party chairman GM Quader he urged the JP candidates to participate in the polls and they are hopeful that people will work to save democracy and maintain the continuation of the constitution.</div><div><br></div><div>Chunnu said they are giving letters to JP candidates who will contest from 283 constituencies with necessary directives.</div><div><br></div><div>“If we can win maximum number of seats then we will be happy. We will keep fighting. In some areas, there will be some strategies. I don’t want to share now. I won’t share my party’s strategies,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>On Tuesday, Chunnu said they have come forward to join the next national election scheduled for January 7, but not to quit it.</div><div><br></div><div>“I can tell you one thing clearly that the Jatiya Party is here to contest in the polls. The Jatiya Party did not come here to quit,” he told reporters.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, opposition leader and Jatiya Party Chief Patron Raushan Ershad met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at PM’s residence Ganobhaban on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Raushan’s son Rahgir Al Mahi (Saad) Ershad and her spokesperson Kazi Mamunur Rashid accompanied her.</div><div><br></div><div>\"During the meeting, a discussion on the next general election was held between the two leaders,\" PM\'s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon said while briefing reporters after the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM reiterated her commitment that the 12th parliamentary election will be free and fair and the people will spontaneously take part in the election by exercising their voting rights, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Talking to reporters after the meeting with PM Hasina, JP leader Raushan said they discussed the current election issues, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>Asked whether the PM said anything about JP’s joining excluding her she said, “No time now, what to say?”</div><div><br></div><div>Raushan said JP chairman GM Quader did not behave well with them and he is contesting in her son’s constituency. “He even did not remember him (Saad).”</div><div><br></div><div>She said they (JP Chairman) dropped us intentionally. “Why should I have support for them?”</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 11:22:41', '2023-12-17 11:22:41'),
(10462, 10462, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Jatiya Party (JP) Chairman GM Quader has withdrawn his nomination for the Dhaka 17 constituency on Sunday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>JaPa’s office secretary MA Razzak Khan submitted the letter of withdrawal of the nomination paper on his behalf to the Dhaka Returning Officer\'s office Sunday afternoon.</div><div><br></div><div>GM Quader is also the Jatiya Party nominated candidate for Rangpur-3.</div><div><br></div><div>The Election Commission (EC) fixed Sunday as the deadline to withdraw nomination papers and electoral symbols will be distributed among the candidates on December 18.</div><div><br></div><div>The electioneering can be conducted from December 18 to 8:00am on January 05 (till 48 hours before the balloting). - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 11:35:55', '2023-12-17 11:35:55'),
(10463, 10463, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>When Michele Pena ran as a Republican candidate for the Arizona state legislature in a heavily Hispanic and Democratic-leaning district on the Mexican border, few believed she could win. Pena, the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, was a school volunteer and single mother with no political experience. She began with a campaign budget of just $1,600. She nonetheless scored an upset victory last year in the district, which is separated from Mexico by miles of border wall built under former President Donald Trump to keep out “bad hombres.”&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Hispanics go hard Democrat there all the time. But they saw me as a regular person, and when we got talking, a lot of people told me things aren’t going well,” the 49-year-old said in an interview from her home city of Yuma.</div><div><br></div><div>The predominant concerns for many voters were high food and gas prices, job prospects and the quality of schools rather than issues around minority rights, she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Pena’s surprise win underscores how a growing number of Hispanic voters are switching their allegiance to Trump and Republican candidates in Arizona and other election battleground states, according to interviews with five Republican and Democratic analysts.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s a worrying trend for Democratic President Joe Biden as he prepares for a likely general election rematch with Trump in November 2024. Hispanics, who have typically leaned Democrat, are the largest minority in the US electorate, making up almost a fifth of the population, and will play a pivotal role in a handful of swing states that will decide the election.</div><div><br></div><div>A third of the population is Hispanic in the state, which Biden won by just 10,000 votes in the last presidential race. In the southwest district that Pena won last year, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 12 percent.</div><div><br></div><div>In 2020, Trump’s national share of Hispanic voters rose by 8 percentage points to 36 percent, compared with the 2016 election, according to the non-partisan Pew Research Center.</div><div><br></div><div>More recently, a Reuters/Ipsos survey of almost 800 Hispanic adults carried out this month found Trump narrowly leading Biden in support, 38 percent to 37 percent. The survey results had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about 4 percentage points in either direction.</div><div><br></div><div>“All the data we’ve seen since the 2016 elections suggests there’s considerable weakening of Democratic support among Hispanics,” said Ruy Teixeira, a veteran Democratic political analyst who has spent decades studying Hispanic voting trends.</div><div><br></div><div>Teixeira said Democrats have been focusing too heavily on issues including voting rights and how Trump posed a threat to democracy.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are dancing around the number one issue — high prices,” he added. “It’s not what working-class voters want out of a political party.”</div><div><br></div><div>Such assertions are supported by a November survey carried out by UnidosUS, the largest Latino non-profit advocacy group, which found that the top issues for Hispanic voters are inflation, jobs and the economy.</div><div><br></div><div>Democrats reject suggestions they are focusing on the wrong issues. They point to heavy investment by the Biden campaign in the 2020 election, and the Democratic Party in the 2022 congressional elections, to run ads in key states on issues including job growth and improving the economy for working families. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 11:53:25', '2023-12-17 11:53:25');
INSERT INTO `news_details` (`id`, `news_id`, `details`, `ticker`, `representative`, `keyword`, `video_link`, `google_drive_link`, `audio_link`, `shoulder`, `created_at`, `updated_at`) VALUES
(10464, 10464, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said BNP and its allies can’t win the hearts of people through arson terrorism and killing people.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“It is not possible to win the hearts of people through arson terrorism and killing. They should know this and they should act accordingly,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister was speaking at a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) organized by the ruling Awami League to mark the Victory Day, the nation celebrated on Saturday.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina , also the Awami League president, said that BNP does not want the welfare of people. they rather want a regime of looting, money laundering and plundering public money.</div><div><br></div><div>“They don’t want to go for vote because they know it very well that people of the country will not cast their votes for arson terrorists and killers,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She BNP and its allies are very much aware of this bitter truth and that’s why they want to foil the election, slated for January 7 next and overthrow the government.</div><div><br></div><div>She also mentioned that Awami League was not born in the pocket of an illegal power grabber. The party is the organisation of the land and people of this country.</div><div><br></div><div>“This party has grown through struggle against all odds and unjust. So the roots of this party are deeply rooted. They (BNP) can’t overthrow or suppress Awami League like this,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>She urged the people of Bangladesh to create resistance against the criminals, arsonists, killers and saboteurs of rail lines.</div><div><br></div><div>She also requested people to teach a good lessons to those who will engage in rail line up-rooting and arson attacks having nabbed them.</div><div><br></div><div>“These kinds of destructive activities must not continue in this country,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said that when Bangladesh is advancing overcoming the problems caused by Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine-Russia war, BNP and its allies are engaged in arson attacks, hartal and blockade programmes to play with the fate of the people.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>She said that Bangladesh has established the rights of votes and food by movement and struggle.</div><div><br></div><div>She also said that Awami League has brought electoral reforms and it has given back the rights of votes to the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“People will take their decision whom they will elect and who will form the government,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The PM said that Bangladesh will never look back again and Bangalees will advance further like they gained the victory in the nine-month War of Liberation in 1971.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior Awami League leaders also spoke at the programme. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 12:56:05', '2023-12-17 12:56:05'),
(10465, 10465, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A brilliant century by opener Ashiqur Rahman Shibli guided Bangladesh to clinch their first-ever Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U-19s Asia Cup title with all-win record beating hosts United Arab Emirates, or UAE, by 195 runs in the final&nbsp; at the Dubai International Cricket&nbsp; Stadium on Sunday.&nbsp;</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is the maiden title for any Bangladesh team in the Asian level cricket after Bangladesh national cricket team deprived of the Asia Cup title despite of playing finals on three occasions --2012, 2016 and 2018</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh Youth team under the leadership of Akbar Ali won the ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket crown in 2020 beating India in the final.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>With victory in the final, Bangladesh beat UAE twice in the tournament, after winning by 61 runs in the Group B opener</div><div><br></div><div>Sent into bat first in the final, Bangladesh piled 282 runs for 8 wickets in stipulated 50 overs - a big score going by the tournament\'s standards.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>After the departure of opener Jishan Alam for 14, Ashiqur and Chowdhury Md Rizwan contributed a poilshed 125 run- partnership for the 2nd wicket, before Rizwan fell for a well-made 60 off 71 balls, with four fours and a six.</div><div><br></div><div>Opening batsman -cum- wicketkeeper Ashiqur, who scored an unbeaten 116 against Sri Lanka in the last Group B match, again displayed his brilliance hammering&nbsp;</div><div>129 runs off 149 balls hitting 12 fours and one six.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was adjudged man of the match and man of the series.</div><div><br></div><div>Ariful Islam, batting at number 4, made a half century contributing just 50 runs off 40 balls with six hits to the fence while captain Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby quickfired 11-ball 21 runs with two fours and a six.</div><div><br></div><div>Ayman Ahamad grabbed four Bangladesh wickets for 52 runs, Dhruv Parashar and Hardik Pal took one wicket each.</div><div><br></div><div>Chasing the target of 283 runs, hosts UAE were bundled out cheaply for just 87 in 24.5 overs to suffer a humiliating defeat,&nbsp; with only two batsmen scoring the double digits.</div><div><br></div><div>Two down Dhruv Parashar contributed the team\' s highest and unbeaten 25 runs off 40 balls including two boundaries while opener Akshat Rai scored 22-ball 11 runs with one boundary.</div><div><br></div><div>Rohanat Doullah Borshan and Maruf Mridha claimed three UAE wickets each conceding 26 and 29 runs respectively while Sheikh Parvez Jibon and Iqbal Hossain Emon grabbed two wickets each giving away 7 and 15 runs respectively.</div><div><br></div><div>A good number of Bangladesh fans gathered at the Dubai Stadium to encourage the team.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Bangladesh booked a seat for the final eliminating their giant neighbor India by four wickets with 41 balls remaining while hosts UAE emerged as the surprished&nbsp; finalist beating stronger Pakistan by 11 runs in the semifinals.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh emerged&nbsp; Group B champions to reach semifinals with all-win record securing full six points , hosts UAE finished group runners up to qualify for the semis collecting four points</div><div><br></div><div>On the other&nbsp; hand, Pakistan emerged Group A champions securing full six points while India finished group runners up collecting four points to reach the semifinal.</div><div><br></div><div>Bangladesh made a flying start in the four-team Group B outplaying United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 61 runs in the first match.and outplayed Japan by nine wickets with 232 balls remaining in the 2nd&nbsp; match and eliminated Sri Lanka besting them by six wicket in last group match,</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, senior cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal and Mehedi Hasan Miraz congratulated Bangladesh U-19 team for their triumphant victory in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'Sports Desk', '[\"20\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 14:04:48', '2023-12-17 14:04:48'),
(10466, 10466, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported Saturday that it shot down 14 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Red Sea.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"In the early morning hours of Dec. 16 (Sanna time) the US Arliegh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS CARNEY (DDG 64), operating in the Red Sea, successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,\" it wrote on X.</div><div><br></div><div>\"The UAS were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat,\" it added.</div><div><br></div><div>It said regional partners were informed about the threat.</div><div><br></div><div>Houthis target Israeli ships in the Red Sea</div><div><br></div><div>Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen announced Dec. 12 that the group targeted a Norwegian oil ship that did not respond to warnings and went to Israel.</div><div><br></div><div>The British Maritime Agency announced that a ship and its crew targeted in the Red Sea were safe.</div><div><br></div><div>Abdul-malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis in Yemen, threatened in a television speech Nov. 14 that the group could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>Houthi military spokesman Yahya Seri announced Nov. 19 on X that the group would target any Israeli-flagged ship in response to Israel\'s attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>Then, the Houthis launched a UAV and missile attack on two Israeli ships -- Unity Explorer and Number Nine in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.</div><div><br></div><div>Israeli shipping company, ZIM, said in a statement Nov. 29 that its ships would not use the Suez Canal in Egypt, citing the security situation in the Oman Sea and the Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>On Dec. 4, CENTCOM wrote on X that four attacks were carried out on three commercial ships in international waters in the south of the Red Sea.</div><div><br></div><div>It said the USS Carney destroyer in the south of the Red Sea responded to a call for help from commercial ships, and the destroyer shot down three UAVs that were advancing toward it while helping the ships. - Anadolu Agency&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 14:14:25', '2023-12-17 14:14:25'),
(10467, 10467, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has condemned the Israeli bombing of a residential building in Rafah that killed one of its staff in a region previously declared a safe zone.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“France condemns this bombing of a residential building which caused the death of many other civilians. We demand that all light be shed by the Israeli authorities on the circumstances of this bombing, as quickly as possible,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>The house was hit on Wednesday evening, killing the employee and 10 others who had been sheltering with colleagues and their family members in the residential location.</div><div><br></div><div>The employee had been working with the French government in Gaza since 2002, and some of his family members had already been evacuated from Gaza, the ministry said, offering condolences.</div><div><br></div><div>The ministry statement is released at a time when external pressure on Israel is increasing due to its “indiscriminate” bombing raids in Gaza. More than 80 percent of the nearly 19,000 Palestinians killed are said to be civilians.</div><div><br></div><div>French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Sunday pressed for an “immediate and durable” truce in the Gaza war, adding Paris is “deeply concerned” over the situation in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.</div><div><br></div><div>“Too many civilians are being killed,” Colonna said during remarks in Tel Aviv with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, as Israel presses on with its offensive after the October 7 attacks that has sent tensions spiralling across the region.</div><div><br></div><div>The foreign minister also condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas and plans to meet with the families of the Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip.</div><div><br></div><div>At least 1,140 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the Hamas attack and 240 were taken captive. Dozens of them were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners as part of a truce deal late last month.</div><div><br></div><div>Colonna also plans to pursue an agreement with her Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki in the occupied West Bank during her trip.</div><div><br></div><div>Shortly before her arrival in Israel, Colonna condemned increasing attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>“Since October 7, unfortunately, some settlers, driven by their ideological blindness… have committed crimes” against Palestinians, she said, adding that “these settlers must be punished”.</div><div><br></div><div>More than 290 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since October 7, according to the territory’s Ministry of Health. According to Al Jazeera reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 15:13:51', '2023-12-17 15:13:51'),
(10468, 10468, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>BNP senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Sunday claimed that no political party, except the pro-government ones, is contesting the upcoming \'stage-managed\' election.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a discussion, he said their party will continue their movement without making any compromise on the question of democracy and people’s right to vote.</div><div><br></div><div>\"A game is going on in the name of elections...Who will contest the elections? No party, except pro-government ones, is participating in this election,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Nazrul, a BNP standing committee member, said the candidates of the 12 parliamentary polls belong either to the ruling party or the 14-party alliance, the grand coalition and other political parties formed by the government.</div><div><br></div><div>“So, it’s surprising to me that law enforcers and government officials are being sent from village to village for such polls unnecessarily. What will they do?” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also questioned as to why the government is spending Tk2,000 crores for holding a stage-managed election when many poor people are starving and going through suffering in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Sammalita Peshajibi Parishad organised the discussion titled “Shaheed Zia, Liberation War and Current Context” at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the Great Victory Day.</div><div><br></div><div>Referring to a minister’s comment that jailed BNP leaders were offered to be freed if they participated in the January 7 national election, Nazrul said their party will never take part in a game in the name of polls.</div><div><br></div><div>He said, \"We have said it before and we will say the same thing in the future that there is no room for compromise on the question of democracy, people’s voting rights and governance. We will do what people support.”</div><div><br></div><div>He called upon the government to step down and take steps to hold a credible and inclusive election under a non-party-neutral administration. “Those whom the people vote for will be elected and run the state,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>On the other hand, Nazrul said they will continue their movement until democracy is restored in the country.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div><div><br></div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-17 15:43:12', '2023-12-17 15:43:12'),
(10469, 10469, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The High Court (HC) on Monday ordered Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court to hold hearing of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s bail petitions&nbsp; in 10 cases filed with Ramana and Paltan police stations over October 28 violence.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The court also issued a rule seeking explanation as to why not disposing of his bail petitions should not be declared illegal.</div><div><br></div><div>The HC bench comprising Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order after hearing a petition.</div><div><br></div><div>Advocate Joynul Abedin accompanied by advocate Sagir Hossain Leon represented BNP leader Fakhul and Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy stood for the state.</div><div><br></div><div>On Thursday, Fakhul submitted a writ petition seeking directives from the High Court to dispose of his 10 cases upon acceptance of bail petitions.</div><div><br></div><div>Of the cases, seven were filed with Paltan police station and the rest with Raman police station following the violence over the BNP’s grand rally in Dhaka on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>The cases are under trial at the CMM court while Fakhul was also shown arrested in case after the writ petition was submitted.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on December 12, bail petitions were submitted to the CMM court in the 10 cases but the court rejected it.</div><div><br></div><div>Following this, the BNP leader moved the HC seeking directives in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>On October 29, police filed a case with Ramna Police Station on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice\'s residence during a BNP rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>Apart from Mirza Fakhrul, 59 BNP leaders and activists, including standing committee member Mirza Abbas, were accused in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Fakhrul was arrested in the case on October 29 and has been in jail since then.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, he was made accused in nine more cases. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 08:50:19', '2023-12-18 08:50:19'),
(10470, 10470, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">In pursuit of hogging national and international headlines, a group of BNP leaders and activists teamed up from different parts of the country and plotted the scheme to tamper with rail tracks for train derailment designed for mass murder, Sajeeb Wazed, known for his role in revolutionizing Bangladesh’s digital landscape and chairperson of Center for Research and Information (CRI), has said, citing media reports.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Ahead of the operation, on December 11, all the perpetrators held several meetings in different places across #Gazipur including one at the residence of Ajmal Bhuiya, who is 28 number ward councilor of #GazipurCityCorporation,” he tweeted on December 17 from his verified X account.</div><div><br></div><div>Since October 28, in the name of democratic protest, BNP and Jamaat launched a wave of terror against the people of the country that saw hundreds of buses torched and vandalized, several trains were derailed, while coaches were torched with a singular objective to derail the upcoming polls, Sajeeb Wazed wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>Police in a drive arrested seven people including a ward councilor of Gazipur city in connection with the derailment of a train in Gazipur that left one dead and seven others injured on December 13.</div><div><br></div><div>The arrestees were identified as Hasan Ajmal Bhuiya, ward 28 councilor of Gazipur City Corporation; Sohel Rana; Jannatul Islam; Mehedi Hasan; Julkar Naim Ashrafi; Shahanur Alam; and Saidul Islam.</div><div><br></div><div>All of them were current and former leaders and activists of BNP and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.</div><div><br></div><div>In a press briefing on Sunday, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mahbub Alam, said the arrestees gathered in the house of councilor Ajmal Bhuiya and held a meeting to carry out sabotage activities.</div><div><br></div><div>The arrestees uprooted the rail slippers using gas cylinder for two hours at the dead night on Wednesday, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>One died and seven were injured as seven coaches of the Dhaka-bound Mohonganj Express derailed near the Bhawal Railway Station after parts of the rail track were uprooted on December 13. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 09:01:36', '2023-12-18 09:01:36'),
(10471, 10471, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Fifteen suspected drug smugglers were killed and about 2 million methamphetamine tablets seized in northern Thailand near the Myanmar border after a shootout with Thai soldiers, Thai officials said.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The clash, which occurred Saturday night, came after the local army received a tip that there would be smuggling activity near the border in Chiang Rai province, said Phanurat Lukboon, acting secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.</div><div><br></div><div>Officers found a group of about 20 people carrying backpacks in the area, Phanurat said on Sunday. After the officers identified themselves and asked to inspect the bags, the group began shooting at them, he added.</div><div><br></div><div>The clash lasted around 15 minutes and the Thai officers were all safe, Phanurat said while on a visit to the site where the incident occurred. He thanked the officers for their help in “preventing these awful things from entering our country and destroying our youth.”</div><div><br></div><div>Seventeen backpacks made from fertilizer sacks were found with the suspected smugglers and more than 2 million methamphetamine pills were inside the bags, officials said.</div><div><br></div><div>No arrests were made and officials were still working to identify the 15 people killed in the clash and the origin of the drugs, according to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.</div><div><br></div><div>On Wednesday, Thailand announced it had seized 50 million methamphetamine tablets in the western province of Kanchanaburi, also near the Myanmar border. It was said to be a record haul of the drug in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>Myanmar has historically been Southeast Asia\'s main drug production area in part because of lax security measures in border areas where minority ethnic groups have long been fighting for greater autonomy. Some of the powerful ethnic armed groups there have been heavily involved in narcotics production for decades.</div><div><br></div><div>A 2021 military takeover in Myanmar that unseated the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi triggered armed resistance nationwide, further destabilizing the country and contributing to an increase in its drug production.</div><div><br></div><div>Last week, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said in its “Southeast Asia Opium Survey 2023” that Myanmar has topped Afghanistan to become the world’s biggest opium producer.</div><div><br></div><div>The U.N. drug agency’s June 2023 report on synthetic drugs in East and Southeast Asia warned that the huge trade in methamphetamine and other illegal drugs shows no signs of slowing down. - AP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 09:19:05', '2023-12-18 09:19:05'),
(10472, 10472, '<div><b><br></b></div><div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said Bangladesh and Kosovo can increase bilateral trade for mutual benefits.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>\"There are lot of opportunities to increase the volume of bilateral trade and Kosovo can be greatly benefitted in importing top quality ready-made garments and pharmaceutical products ar the affordable prices,\" she said.</div><div><br></div><div>Hasina said this when outgoing Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Guner Ureya paid a farewell call on the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div><br></div><div>PM\'s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the call on.</div><div><br></div><div>The prime minister appreciated the role of the Kosovo envoy in improving the bilateral relations of the two countries during his tenure as first ambassador of his country.</div><div><br></div><div>The Kosovo envoy highly praised the unprecedented development of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina in the last 15 years, said the press secretary.</div><div><br></div><div>\"Bangladesh will be big economy on the global stage in future \" the envoy said.</div><div><br></div><div>The envoy has also thanked the Prime Minister Office (PMO) and foreign office to help him to complete his tenure in Bangladesh successfully, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said 19000 Bangladeshi workers are working in Kosovo.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 09:43:29', '2023-12-18 09:43:29'),
(10473, 10473, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Mongolia\'s capital Ulan Bator has decided to ban half the vehicles from the road starting Monday to Feb. 1 to reduce traffic congestion in the city.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Vehicles will be allowed on alternating days based on odd or even license plate numbers during the above-mentioned period, the municipal government said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div>The decision came after roads of the capital city have become slippery due to recent heavy snowfall, and as a result, cars have been stuck on the roads for several hours.</div><div><br></div><div>For many years, traffic congestion has been one of the most pressing issues in Ulan Bator.</div><div><br></div><div>Ulan Bator was originally built to have 500,000 residents. However, the city is now home to around half of the country\'s population of 3.4 million.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, there are 720,000 vehicles registered in Ulan Bator, and the number of vehicles in the capital city increases by an average of 50,000 per year, according to the municipal government. - XINHUA</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 10:05:14', '2023-12-18 10:05:14'),
(10474, 10474, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>A Dhaka court on Monday rejected the bail petitions of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in a case filed with Paltan Police Station on October 28.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury rejected the bail petitions and asked police to interrogate them at the jail gate.</div><div><br></div><div>The court also rejected the remand petitions of them in the case filed in connection with their involvement in sabotage activities.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier on December 14, investigating officer of the case Sumit Kumar sought a 10-day remand for them in the case.</div><div><br></div><div>Mirza Fakhrul&nbsp; was arrested from his Gulshan residence on October 29, in a case filed over vandalising chief justice\'s residence during his party’s grand rally on October 28.</div><div><br></div><div>A Dhaka metropolitan magistrate later sent him to jail after rejecting his bail petition on October 30.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury was arrested in a case over killing a police constable during&nbsp; violence on November 3.</div><div><br></div><div>The murder case was filed against him with Paltan police station. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 10:27:10', '2023-12-18 10:27:10'),
(10475, 10475, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Awami League (AL) Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque today clarified the remark he made during an interview with a private television channel regarding BNP leaders’ participation in the upcoming election as a “condition” for their release from jail.&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“The Election Commission has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of deferring the election date if BNP agrees to participate. If BNP decided to join the polls, will it happen with him in jail? There would have been negotiations. After the formalities, they would have been released through the legal process. There are many legal experts in the Election Commission,” he said while speaking to reporters in his office at the Secretariat today.</div><div><br></div><div>“If BNP agrees, the election date can be deferred to create a conducive environment. That is what I meant,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that a lot can be achieved through dialogue for an acceptable election.</div><div><br></div><div>“Bangabandhu, who was supposed to be hanged in the Agartala conspiracy case — where did that case go? He secured bail in just one day. There must have been discussions and formalities for that to happen,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>In an interview given to Channel 24, Razzaque said that BNP leaders and activists have been “kept in jail” to prevent violence in the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“BNP turned down an opportunity to take part in the upcoming election,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Earlier, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that Razzaque\'s remarks are “personal,” and do not reflect the party’s position.</div><div><br></div><div>Regarding this, Razzaque said, “Certainly, it was my personal remark. My party also wants all parties to participate in the election,” reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Economy and politics go hand in hand all over the world. You have to accept it. Just talking about law won\'t change that reality... I can give thousands of examples,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“How have they (BNP activists) cut the railway lines! Is there a war going on in the country? These are things done during wartime. To stop these, people must be arrested. Would any activist set fire to buses without orders from BNP leaders? It is the responsibility of the Awami League government to ensure the safety and security of people\'s lives and property. In that context, they have been arrested,” added Abdur Razzaque.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 12:21:21', '2023-12-18 12:21:21'),
(10476, 10476, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Chief Election Commission (CEC) Kazi Habiul Awal on Tuesday said everyone felt that BNP’s participation would have been much better but the party did not respond to the repeated calls made by the Election Commission (EC).</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“It is true that an important party is not participating in the elections. It would have been much better had the BNP participated it. You know, we have been urging them to participate since the beginning. We invited, they did not respond,” he told reporters at the EC secretariat.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC was talking to reporters after his meeting with&nbsp; Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori.</div><div><br></div><div>He said Japan will observe the next national election scheduled for January 7 with a team composed of members from Tokyo and embassy staff.</div><div><br></div><div>“They are giving much importance to our election. They want to observe the polls. We thank them,” he told reporters at the EC secretariat, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The CEC told they updated the Japanese Ambassador about the coming elections. He said the donor countries are keeping eyes on the upcoming elections.</div><div><br></div><div>“We are giving much importance to holding free, fair and peaceful elections,” he said, It is important to talk about his personal comfort or discomfort.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas&nbsp;</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 12:28:11', '2023-12-18 12:28:11'),
(10477, 10477, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Four members of a family sustained burn injuries in gas cylinder blast and six other people were injured in subsequent wall collapse at a house in Kautail Rishipara area under South Keraniganj police station in Dhaka on Monday morning.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Those suffered burn wounds are Uma Rani, 60, Bina Chakraborty, 40, Deba Chakraborty, 28, Pinak Chakraborty, 15.</div><div><br></div><div>Quoting locals, Mahbub Alam Sumon, Officer-in-Charge of Keraniganj South Police Station, said the explosion occurred when drug addict Deb Chakraborty, 26, set fire to the gas cylinder around 9:30 am.</div><div><br></div><div>Six people identified as- Lipi Chakraborty, 30, Swapan Rajbongshi, 55, Tara Rani, 35, Taposh, 30, Rakhi Rani, 32 and Nijhum, 29- were also injured when a portion of a wall of the house collapsed on them after the explosion.</div><div><br></div><div>Hearing screams, local people rushed in and took the four members of the family to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery while the others were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.</div><div><br></div><div>Two of the victims are in critical condition, he said.</div><div><br></div><div>A case was filed against Deb Chakraborty. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 13:06:50', '2023-12-18 13:06:50'),
(10478, 10478, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">BNP on Monday said senior ruling party leader and Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque’s comments on the jailed BNP leaders have exposed that the political violence over BNP’s October 28 grand rally and subsequent arrests and jailing of opposition leaders was a premeditated plan by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a virtual press briefing, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also alleged that the judiciary has been working at the behest of the Prime Minister.</div><div><br></div><div>“In an interview with a private TV channel, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque said 20,000 BNP leaders and activists have been arrested and kept in jail to smoothly hold the election of seat sharing. He revealed the truth with great joy,” the BNP leader said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi referred to the agriculture minister\'s claim that BNP was offered that if the party participated in the election, the election schedule would be postponed and all its leaders would be released from jail overnight.</div><div><br></div><div>“But BNP did not agree to it. This confession of the minister has proved that the violence, killing, false cases and arrests by police after foiling BNP’s October 28 rally and ongoing raids on the house of the leaders of BNP and other opposition parties, including BNP, and arrest trade are pre-planned by Sheikh Hasina,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also said Razzaque finally admitted that the country\'s laws, courts, justice, law enforcement agencies, administration, and other state machinery all are in the hands of the Awami League government. “Judiciary and Awami League have become the same entity. There is no separate entity and there is no law in the country... everything is going on at the behest of Sheikh Hasina.”</div><div><br></div><div>He said 1.5 lakh cases have also been filed against BNP leaders and activists on the orders of Sheikh Hasina. “Opposition leaders and activists have been killed in prison as per the government\'s blueprint, destroying the existence of the judiciary.”</div><div><br></div><div>\"Judiciary is not running at the speed of law- rather it is running at the speed of Ganabhaban as per Sheikh Hasina\'s instructions,” Rizvi observed.</div><div><br></div><div>He said the opposition leaders and activists have been jailed and sentenced to different terms as per the will of the Prime Minister. “Abdur Razzaque proved it himself through his statement.”</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader also alleged that the judiciary, the last resort of the people for justice, has virtually been turned into a unit of the Awami League since the tested Awami League leaders have been appointed to the Judiciary. “The aspect of Awami model of independent judiciary and rule of law is clear through the words of the Agriculture Minister.”</div><div><br></div><div>He claimed that over 20,000 ‘innocent’ BNP leaders and workers have been arrested and jailed, snatching their right to bail, purely for political purposes to hold the lopsided January 7 national election without any obstacle.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi slammed journalist and former Indian state minister for external affairs MJ Akbar for praising the current ‘despotic’ government of Sheikh Hasina.</div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a seminar at the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) in Dhaka MJ Akbar lauded Hasina, saying she is the second liberator of Bangladesh as she liberated democracy from dictatorship, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“Those who knew about him were shocked to hear his speech. MJ Akbar sang praises for autocracy like a blind person. How could a prudent journalist and politician like MJ Akbar speak in favour of a dictator, standing against 18 crore Bangladeshis?” Rizvi said.</div><div><br></div><div>He also said that the people of Bangladesh want to know the Indian interests Sheikh Hasina protects by staying in power without public support.</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'News Desk', '[\"30\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 13:13:21', '2023-12-18 13:13:21'),
(10479, 10479, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>Ukraine and Russia launched a swarm of drones at each other’s territories on Sunday as both sides step up attacks, with the Russian assault reportedly killing one person in Odesa and the Ukrainian strike targeting a Russian military airfield.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Ukraine’s air force said on Sunday morning that it had destroyed 20 drones and a cruise missile that Russia launched overnight. Nine of the drones were downed over the southern Odesa region, with falling debris starting a fire in a residential house and killing one person.</div><div><br></div><div>The Russian defense ministry said in a social media statement that its air defense systems destroyed or intercepted a total of 35 Ukraine-launched drones over Lipetsk, Volgograd and Rostov regions. It did not say what was targeted or whether there was any damage.</div><div><br></div><div>Ukrainska Pravda media outlet reported late on Sunday, citing unnamed sources, that the Kyiv attack targeted the Russian Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region in a reportedly joint operation of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Armed Forces.</div><div><br></div><div>Reuters could not independently verify the reports.</div><div>Vasily Golubev, the governor of the Rostov region that borders Ukraine in Russia’s southwest corner, said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that air defense forces repelled “a massive attack” by drones in the area of Morozovsk and Kamensk and that most of the air weapons were destroyed.</div><div><br></div><div>Several Russian military bloggers said, however, that one bomber at the air base suffered minor damage.</div><div><br></div><div>The Morozovsk air base is home to Russia’s 559th Bomber Aviation Regiment, according to Russian state media, and is armed with Russia’s most modern medium-range Su-34 bombers.</div><div><br></div><div>While Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched on Ukraine in February 2022, both sides have carried out numerous strikes on each other’s infrastructure that is critical to their militaries.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunday attacks follow Ukraine’s reports that its air defense systems had shot down 30 Russia-launched drones over 11 regions across the country on Saturday and Russia saying on Friday it had downed 26 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 13:33:52', '2023-12-18 13:33:52'),
(10480, 10480, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Pakistan observed a day of national mourning on Monday to honor the late Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was laid to rest a day earlier.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Nawaf died on Saturday aged 96 and was buried at the Sulaibikhat Cemetery the following day after a private funeral attended by select relatives. He has been succeeded by his half-brother Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s day-to-day ruler during much of Sheikh Nawaf’s reign due to his ill-health.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>“Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has declared Monday, December 18 as a day of mourning in Pakistan as an expression of fraternal solidarity on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan with the royal family, the government, and people of Kuwait,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>The national flag was flown at half-mast throughout the country on Monday to honor the “sad demise” of the late Kuwaiti emir.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Kakar is scheduled to travel to Kuwait to offer condolences for the death of the late emir, the APP said, joining a number of foreign dignitaries such as Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Kuwait is on a 40-day official mourning period, as well as a three-day shutdown of government offices that will last until Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Kakar, who is Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister, had gone to Kuwait only last month, where he met with the Gulf state’s top leadership and signed several cooperation and investment deals.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Pakistan and Kuwait had agreed to broaden and deepen their relations, specifically focusing on areas related to manpower, information technology, mineral exploration, food security, energy and defense.&nbsp; - Arab News</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 13:43:05', '2023-12-18 13:43:05'),
(10481, 10481, '<div><b><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">The Election Commission on Monday asked for sending a small team of armed forces in advance to every district in order for their deployment throughout the country for 13 days during the January 7 national election.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>The commission sent a letter to the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>The EC has already taken a decision for the deployment of armed forces in the 300 constituencies throughout Bangladesh from December 29, 2023 to January 10, 2024 to assist the civil administration under the provision of “In Aid to Civil Power” aiming to ensure peace-order before, during and after the polling day, said the letter.</div><div><br></div><div>A small advance team of armed forces can be sent to each district to collect primary information and data on the communication system, physical infrastructures and electoral environment, conditions of the election area, it said.</div><div><br></div><div>The deployed members of the armed forces will assist the civil administration in maintaining the law and order in line with the Code of Criminal Procedure following the recommendations of executive magistrates in the election duty.</div><div><br></div><div>The members of the armed forces will remain deployed at nodal points and convenient locations in each district, upazila or metropolitan area. Then the members of armed forces will be deployed in coordination of the returning officers.</div><div><br></div><div>Executive magistrates will be deployed with teams of the armed force.</div><div><br></div><div>On request of the returning officers or assistance returning officers, they will have to do legal activities and other works as per the reality and requirements, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>The commission will issue detailed directives later over the deployment of armed forces, said the letter.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 14:26:08', '2023-12-18 14:26:08'),
(10482, 10482, '<div><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><b>The United Nations Security Council will vote Monday on a new resolution calling for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza, as Washington exhibits growing impatience with key ally Israel.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The vote comes days after the United States blocked a previous Security Council resolution that would have called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the battered Palestinian territory, where Israel continues its deadly strikes in retaliation for Hamas’s unprecedented attack on October 7.</div><div><br></div><div>But in the General Assembly, the UN’s 193 members voted overwhelmingly for a ceasefire, with 153 in favor — exceeding the 140 or so countries that have routinely backed resolutions condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.</div><div><br></div><div>The upcoming Security Council resolution was introduced by Arab countries that had come away from last Tuesday’s General Assembly vote bolstered by such broad international support, though the latest text’s fate remains uncertain.</div><div><br></div><div>The new draft, drawn up by the United Arab Emirates and seen by AFP, calls for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip.”</div><div><br></div><div>It also affirms support for a two-state solution in the region and “stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.”</div><div><br></div><div>In a move criticized by Israel and the United States, the draft does not explicitly name Hamas, though it does call for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and condemns “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians.”</div><div><br></div><div>The Security Council has faced sharp international opprobrium as it has managed to pass only one resolution on Gaza since the start of the war, in which the 15-member body called for “humanitarian pauses” — after five other resolutions were rejected, including two thanks to American vetoes.</div><div><br></div><div>According to diplomatic sources, negotiations on the new text continued Sunday in an effort to avoid another impasse, days after US President Joe Biden warned that Israel was at risk of losing international support due to its “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza.</div><div><br></div><div>“The United States should now back those words by acting at the United Nations Security Council to pressure Israel, as well as Palestinian armed groups, to comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians,” Louis Charbonneau, the UN director at Human Rights Watch said, telling Washington: “Don’t use vetoes to block resolutions aimed at stopping mass atrocities.”</div><div><br></div><div>Security Council resolutions are technically binding, but are often ignored by the countries involved.</div><div><br></div><div>According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, some 18,800 people, mostly civilians and children, have died since Israeli bombardment began in Gaza in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 attack, which Israel said left 1,139 people dead, also mostly civilians, and saw some 250 people kidnapped.</div><div><br></div><div>“In the face of such atrocities, there is only one moral position, one defensible position: Ceasefire now, ceasefire now, ceasefire now,” Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said Friday.</div><div><br></div><div>But his Israel counterpart Gilad Erdan countered: “Calling for a ceasefire now, while (hostages) are still being held, is the most immoral thing to do.” - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>', NULL, 'International Desk', '[\"29\"]', NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, '2023-12-18 14:42:02', '2023-12-18 14:42:02');
