Day: March 17, 2022

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Remembering Bangabandhu on his 102nd birth anniversary

Bangladesh on Thursday remembered Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 102nd birth anniversary.

The day — a public holiday — is also observed as National Children’s Day.

Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka this morning.

After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh’s independence.

PM Hasina and President Abdul Hamid are also scheduled to lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Bangabandhu at Tungipara in Gopalganj at 11am.

Hasina, also the eldest daughter of Bangabandhu, will join a programme, ‘Tungipara: Hridoye Pitribhumi’ there at 2.30pm on the occasion of his birth anniversary and National Children’s Day.

The national flag and the party’s flag were hoisted atop all party offices across the country in the morning.

Meanwhile, the Awami League has chalked out a seven-day programme at Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay homage to Bangabandhu.

Television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes marking the day.

On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu was born in Tungipara village. While studying at Islamia College in Kolkata, he got involved in active politics.

Both while in and out of jail, Bangabandhu had led the Language Movement. On February 21, 1952, when Language Movement activists were killed, Bangabandhu was observing a hunger strike in jail.

In continuation of the Language Movement, all major movements of Bengalis, including the general elections in 1970 and the War of Liberation in 1971, were led by Bangabandhu.

Through his dynamic leadership, Bangabandhu had organised the Bengali nation to fight against exploitation and repression by then Pakistani rulers. The movement culminated in independent Bangladesh through the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.

When Bangabandhu was moving forward with an aim to build a ‘Golden Bangladesh’ overcoming all obstacles, the defeated and anti-liberation war clique assassinated him, along with most of his family members, on August 15, 1975.

The government declared the period from March 17, 2020, to March 26, 2021, as the ‘Mujib Borsho’, marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. However, it was extended till March 31 this year.

Earlier, the President and the PM issued separate messages on the occasion.

In his message, the President said that Bangabandhu remains the eternal source of inspiration for the Bengali nation. In politics, Bangabandhu appeared as a symbol of principle and ideals.

The PM, in her message, extended her best wishes to all the children of the country on the occasion of the 102nd birth anniversary of the greatest Bengali of all time and ‘

National Children’s Day.

The theme of this year’s National Children’s Day is ‘Bangabandhu’s birthday pledge, all children have equal rights’, she said.

She urged the people of the country “to dedicate the present to the beautiful future and welfare of the children” and “build a non-communal, hunger-free and happy-prosperous Golden Bangladesh, the dream of the Father of the Nation”.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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German music collective JISR to perform in Dhaka

Goethe-Institut Bangladesh is organizing a special concert titled “JISR // Brücke: From The Isar To The Ganges,” in partnership with the German Embassy in Dhaka and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on March 22 at BSA’s National Theatre Hall in the capital.

The concert, featuring the German music collective JISR from Munich led by the charismatic linguist, singer, percussionist and Gembri player Dr Mohcine Ramdan, is being organized to celebrate the Mujib Borsho alongside the 60 Years Celebration programme of Goethe-Institut in Bangladesh and 50 Years of the eiplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Germany, according to the Goethe-Institute Bangladesh.

“The Munich ensemble JISR has been invited by the Goethe-Institut to tour in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. This concert is especially significant, as it is set to be the first tour by a German music collective in Bangladesh since the pandemic started,” the institute said in a press release on Wednesday.

The concert is a part of the project “The Sound of Faraway Lands,” and the tour in South Asia is in many ways, about the exchange of musical cultures, according to the organizers.

Mohcine Ramdan’s music project is a melting pot of diverse musical styles and traditions. The repertoire of musical influences is considerable: from Arabic classical music and poetry to African Gnawa grooves and German Krautrock, Balkan, Jazz, Tango and Andalusian Flamenco.

The project is described as a snapshot of a musical culture that breaks the boundaries between different musical genres and fills the imagination, unconventionally instrumented and with a great longing for new and unexplored realms of sound.

JISR collective features an ensemble group of talented musicians, and the line-up features Marja Burchard (Keys, Trombone), Roman Bunka (Oud, Guitar), Mohcine Ramdan (Percussion, Gembri, Vocals), Severin Rauch (Drums), Niko Schabel (Alto Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet), Gergely Lukacs (Trumpet) and Marwan Fakir (Violin).

In this concert, a group of Bangladeshi guest musicians will also perform a number of songs together with the JISR and the musicians are Labik Kamal Gaurob (Vocal, Dotara, Khomok), Nazrul Islam (Dhol), Jalal Ahmed (Flute) and Baby Dewan (Vocals, Mondira).

Besides the concert, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh will be organizing a multi-disciplinary arts exhibition highlighting cultural projects from across the country with the signature name Goethe Pop Up starting from March 21-23, every day from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Studio space premise, level 8, DrikPath Bhobon, 16 Sukrabad, Panthapath in the capital.

Entry to the concert is free of charge, however, due to the pandemic situation the seating is limited, and the concert-goers are advised to email at Program3-dhaka@goethe.de for the pass.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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We salute Bangabandhu’s legacy of founding independent Bangladesh: US

The US Embassy in Dhaka has congratulated the people of Bangladesh as they observe the 102nd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

“During this 102nd anniversary year of his birth, we salute his legacy of founding an independent Bangladesh,” said the Embassy in a message shared on its verified Facebook page on Thursday.

U.S. Embassy Dhaka is proud Bangabandhu was a U.S. Department of State exchange program alumnus, one of the very first International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participants from Bangladesh, the message reads.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Ukraine, Russia continue talks over video

Ukrainian and Russian delegations held talks again Wednesday by video.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser Mikhailo Podolyak said Ukraine demanded a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and legal security guarantees for Ukraine from a number of countries.

“This is possible only through direct dialogue” between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said on Twitter.

An official in Zelenskyy’s office told The Associated Press the main subject under discussion was whether Russian troops would remain in separatist regions in eastern Ukraine after the war and where the borders would be.

Just before the war, Russia recognized the independence of two regions controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014. It also extended the borders of those regions to areas Ukraine had continued to hold, including Mariupol, a port city now under siege.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Ukraine was insisting on the inclusion of one or more Western nuclear powers in the negotiations and on the signing of a legally binding document with security guarantees for Ukraine. In exchange, the official said, Ukraine was ready to discuss a neutral status.

Russia has demanded that NATO pledge never to admit Ukraine to the alliance or station forces there.

After Tuesday’s negotiations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said a neutral military status for Ukraine was being “seriously discussed” by the two sides, while Zelenskyy said Russia’s demands for ending the war were becoming “more realistic.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Follow Bangabandhu to become self- confident, overcome all obstacles:Energy advisor

Prime Minister’s energy advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury has urged all to follow Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to become self- confident to overcome all obstacles.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a virtual discussion meeting, organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation and the National Children’s Day 2022 on Thursday.

He said Bangabandhu fought all his life for the freedom of common man.

“If we can follow him properly, we will be able to do something for the country and the common people,” he added.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid in a message at the meeting said that Bangabandhu loved the children most.

His dream was that the children and teenagers would develop their skills in sports as well as pursuing the modern education.

Bangabandhu’s self-sacrific, patriotism and struggle must be presented to the children and adolescents for the development of their humane qualities, said the state minister.

Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Chairman ABM Azad, Petobangla Chairman Nazmul Ahsan, and Additional Secretary SM Zakir Hossain also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, , the officials of the Power Division placed a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu at Bidyut Bhaban on the occassion of Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and the National Children’s Day.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Jam-free Dhaka streets Thursday, Thanks to holidays

After passing horrific time stuck in severe traffic jam in the past two days, commuters in Dhaka breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday as many residents left the capital on a 3-day vacation.

The number of vehicles was relatively thin in the capital as Thursday was the public holiday to be followed by two weekends. Many Dhaka dwellers left the capital for home or tourist spots and resorts to spend the holidays.

But the huge rush of holidaymakers created long tailbacks on different highways.

UNB Cumilla correspondent reports: Hundreds of vehicles and commuters got stuck in a 12-kilometer long tailback on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Cumilla on Thursday afternoon.

On the occasion of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu’s birthday and National Children’s Day, weekly holiday and Holy Shab-e Barat, people got a three-day holiday from Thursday to Saturday which created huge pressure of vehicles on the highway, said Zahurul Haque, officer-in-charge (OC) of Daudkandi Highway Police Station.

Jam-free Dhaka streets Thursday, Thanks to holidays

Vehicles are moving slowly from Iliotgaj to Daudkandi’s Jinglatoli, causing sufferings to commuters

Besides, renovation work is going on in some parts of the highway and so vehicles are moving on two-lanes instead of four-lanes.

A traveller, Ruhul Amin, said, “I have been stuck in Daudkandi’s Shahidnagar for two hours. I don’t know when the vehicles will move.”

Another commuter Nizam Uddin, who left Cumilla for Dhaka said he reached his destination about three hours later due to an unusual traffic jam.

Not only at Daudkandi on Dhaka-Chittagong highway, commuters witnessed intermittent traffic jams also in Narayanganj and other parts of the highway.

Zahurul said they are working to clear the highway to ease traffic movement.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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3-year-old dies in Bhairab fire

A three-year-old child was killed as fire broke out at a house in Kishoreganj’s Bhairab on Wednesday afternoon.

Deceased Tahiya Begum, daughter of Dulal Mia of Banshgari village of the upazila, was inside the house when fire broke out.

According to the locals the fire originated from a cooking stove next to the house.

On information, members of fire services reached the spot and brought the fire under control after an hour of effort.

But the house was gutted to ashes and when injured Tahiya was rushed to the hospital the doctor on duty declared her dead.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Who’s a war criminal, and who gets to decide?

President Joe Biden on Wednesday flatly called Russia’s Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” for the unfolding onslaught in Ukraine, where hospitals and maternity wards have been bombed. But declaring someone a war criminal is not as simple as just saying the words. There are set definitions and processes for determining who’s a war criminal and how they should be punished.

The White House had been avoiding applying the designation to Putin, saying it requires investigation and an international determination. After Biden used the term, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president was “speaking from his heart” and renewed her statements that there is a process for making a formal determination.

In popular usage, though, the phrase has a taken on a colloquial meaning as a generic term for someone who’s awful.

“ Clearly Putin is a war criminal, but the president is speaking politically on this,” said David Crane, who has worked on war crimes for decades and served as chief prosecutor for the U.N. Special Court for Sierra Leone, which tried former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

The investigations into Putin’s actions already have begun. The U.S. and 44 other countries are working together to investigate possible violations and abuses, after the passage of a resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish a commission of inquiry. There is another probe by the International Criminal Court, an independent body based in the Netherlands.

“We’re at the beginning of the beginning,” said Crane, who now heads the Global Accountability Network, which works with the international court and United Nations, among others. On the day of the invasion, his group set up a task force compiling criminal information for war crimes. He’s also drafting a sample indictment against Putin. He predicted an indictment of Putin could happen within a year. But there is no statute of limitations.

Here’s a look at how this all works:

WHO IS A WAR CRIMINAL?

The term applies to anyone who violates a set of rules adopted by world leaders known as the law of armed conflict. The rules govern how countries behave in times of war.

Those rules have been modified and expanded over the past century, drawn from the Geneva Conventions in the aftermath of World War II and protocols added later.

The rules are aimed at protecting people not taking part in fighting and those who can no longer fight, including civilians like doctors and nurses, wounded troops and prisoners of war. Treaties and protocols lay out who can be targeted and with what weapons. Certain weapons are prohibited, including chemical or biological agents.

WHAT SPECIFIC CRIMES MAKE SOMEONE A WAR CRIMINAL?

The so-called “grave breaches” of the conventions that amount to war crimes include willful killing and extensive destruction and appropriation of property not justified by military necessity. Other war crimes include deliberately targeting civilians, using disproportionate force, using human shields and taking hostages.

The International Criminal Court also prosecutes crimes against humanity committed in the context of “a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population.” These include murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, rape and sexual slavery.

The most likely way that Putin could come into the picture as a war criminal is through the widely recognized legal doctrine of command responsibility. If commanders order or even know or are in a position to know about crimes and did nothing to prevent them, they can be held legally responsible.

WHAT ARE THE PATHS TO JUSTICE?

Generally, there are four paths to investigate and determine war crimes, though each one has limits. One is through the International Criminal Court.

A second option would be if the United Nations turns its work on the inquiry commission over to a hybrid international war crimes tribunal to prosecute Putin.

A third would be to create a tribunal or court to try Putin by a group of interested or concerned states, such as NATO, the European Union and the U.S. The military tribunals at Nuremberg following World War II against Nazi leaders are an example.

Finally, some countries have their own laws for prosecuting war crimes. Germany, for example, is already investigating Putin. The U.S. doesn’t have such a law, but the Justice Department has a special section that focuses on acts including international genocide, torture, recruitment of child soldiers and female genital mutilation.

WHERE MIGHT PUTIN BE PUT ON TRIAL?

It’s not clear. Russia does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and would not send any suspects to the court’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. The U.S. does not recognize the authority of the court, either. Putin could be tried in a country chosen by the United Nations or by the consortium of concerned nations. But getting him there would be difficult.

HAVE NATIONAL LEADERS BEEN PROSECUTED IN THE PAST?

Yes. From the post-World War II tribunals in Nuremberg and Tokyo to more recent ad hoc tribunals, senior leaders have been prosecuted for their actions in countries including Bosnia, Cambodia and Rwanda.

Former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic was put on trial by a U.N. tribunal in The Hague for fomenting bloody conflicts as Yugoslavia crumbled in the early 1990s. He died in his cell before the court could reach a verdict. His Bosnian Serb ally Radovan Karadzic and the Bosnian Serb military leader, Gen. Ratko Mladic, were successfully prosecuted and are both now serving life sentences.

Liberia’s Taylor was sentenced to 50 years after being convicted of sponsoring atrocities in neighboring Sierra Leone. Chad’s former dictator Hissene Habre, who died last year, was the first former head of state to be convicted of crimes against humanity by an African court. He was sentenced to life.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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3 die in accident on Dhaka-Sylhet highway

Three people were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Narsingdi on Thursday morning.

The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.

The accident occurred around 4am when the Dhaka-bound ‘Unique Paribahan’ bus crashed into the Sylhet-bound microbus on the high-speed corridor in Marjal Tarabag of the district’s Raipura upazila, police said.

“The crash left the microbus driver and two other occupants of the vehicle dead on the spot,” said Abdul Khalek, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Bhairab Highway Police Station.

On information, cops rushed to the spot and sent them to the local hospital morgue for post-mortem. “A probe has been ordered into the accident,” the OC said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Bangladeshi shot dead ‘by BSF’ along Lalmonirhat border

A Bangladeshi man was shot dead and another injured allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) members early Thursday near the border in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district.

The deceased was identified as Rezaul Karim, 42, son of Monsur Ali of Jagatber union in the upazila and the injured was identified as Jumman Babu,30.

The incident occurred along Samshernagar border in the upazila, said Omar Fauk, Officer-in-Charge of Patgram police station.

According to locals, some local youths went to India-Bangladesh border’s no-man’s-land area in the early hours of Thursday.

Rezaul died on the spot when BSF members fired at them, they said.

Babu, who suffered injuries, was allegedly picked up by BSF troops while others managed to flee.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) did not comment on the matter. BGB sources, however, said they will brief the media formally later.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Powerful quake off north Japan kills 4, more than 90 injured

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday night, smashing furniture, knocking out power and killing four people. A small tsunami reached shore, but the low-risk advisory was lifted by Thursday morning.

The region is part of northern Japan that was devastated by a deadly 9.0 quake and tsunami 11 years ago that caused nuclear reactor meltdowns, spewing massive radiation that still makes some parts uninhabitable.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary session Thursday morning that four people died during the quake and the cause of their deaths are being investigated, while 97 others were injured. A man in his 60s in Soma city died after falling from the second floor of his house while trying to evacuate, and a man in his 70s panicked and suffered a heart attack, Kyodo News reported earlier.

The Japan Meteorological Agency early Thursday lifted its low-risk advisory for a tsunami along the coasts of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures. Tsunami waves of 30 centimeters (11 inches) reached shore in Ishinomaki, about 390 kilometers (242 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

The agency upgraded the magnitude of the quake to 7.4 from the initial 7.3, and the depth from 60 kilometers (36 miles) below the sea to 56 kilometers (35 miles).

NHK footage showed broken walls of a department store building fell to the ground and shards of windows scattered on the street near the main train station in the inland prefectural capital of Fukushima city. Roads were cracked and water poured out from pipes underground.

Footage also showed furniture and appliances smashed to the floor at apartments in Fukushima. Cosmetics and other merchandise at convenience stores fell from shelves and scattered on the floor. In Yokohama, near Tokyo, an electric pole nearly fell.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant where the cooling systems failed after the 2011 disaster, said workers found no abnormalities at the site, which is being decommissioned.

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said a fire alarm went off at the turbine building of No. 5 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi but there was no actual fire. Water pumps for the spent fuel cooling pool at two of the four reactors at Fukushima Daini briefly stopped, but later resumed operation. Fukushima Daini, which survived the 2011 tsunami, is also set for decommissioning.

More than 2.2 million homes were temporarily without electricity in 14 prefectures, including the Tokyo region, but power was restored at most places by the morning, except for about 37,000 homes in the hardest hit Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, according to the Tohoku Electric Power Co. which services the region.

The quake shook large parts of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where buildings swayed violently.

East Japan Railway Co. said most of its train services were suspended for safety checks. Some local trains later resumed service.

Many people formed long lines outside of major stations while waiting for trains to resume operation late Wednesday, but trains in Tokyo operated normally Thursday morning.

A Tohoku Shinkansen express train partially derailed between Fukushima and Miyagi due to the quake, but nobody was injured, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

He told reporters that the government was assessing the extent of damage and promised to do its utmost for rescue and relief operations.

“Please first take action to save your life,” Kishida tweeted.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said authorities were scrambling to assess damage. “We are doing our utmost in rescue operations and putting people’s lives first,” he said.

He urged residents in the affected areas to use extra caution for possible major aftershocks for about a week.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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Nadal improves to 18-0 with win over Opelka at Indian Wells

Nursing a nagging foot injury, Rafael Nadal improved to 18-0 this season, edging Reilly Opelka 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.

“I can’t say it’s a dream because I even couldn’t dream about that three months ago, two months ago,” Nadal said. “I am just enjoying every single moment.”

Last year, Nadal’s playing time was interrupted by COVID-19 and injuries, creating doubt about the Spanish star’s ability to recover well enough to maintain his exacting standards. But he won his record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and has continued on a tear.

“I am just very happy to be playing tennis,” said Nadal, who turns 36 in June. “Today was a little bit worse than other days. It’s true that the last couple of days the foot has been bothering me a little bit more.”

Nadal has already withdrawn from the Miami Open that follows Indian Wells. He wants extra time to prepare for the clay court season that isn’t as punishing as hard courts.

Nadal rallied from a 2-4 deficit in the second set to lead 6-5. Opelka held after three deuces when Nadal netted a forehand chasing the American’s drop shot to force the second tiebreaker.

Nadal led 4-1 in the tiebreaker when Opelka struggled on his service returns. On his serve, though, the 6-foot-11 American closed to 4-3, hitting winners on a drop shot and a forehand.

Again on his serve, Opelka closed to 6-5.

But Nadal closed it out by pulling Opelka out of the court and the American’s backhand landed wide.

“It’s about trying to hit balls that you don’t take a lot of risks, but at the same time don’t allow him to go in and go for the shot,” Nadal said. “Is trying to find the right balance between these two things.”

There were no service breaks in the first set. Opelka fought off the only break point in the seventh game with a smash and forehand winner. Nadal held at love for 6-all, forcing the tiebreaker. Opelka led 3-2 with a forehand winner down the line. Nadal won the next five points, all on errors by Opelka, to take the set.

Nadal improved to 19-0 against American opponents since losing to John Isner at the 2017 Laver Cup.

Nadal, a three-time champion in the desert, advanced to the quarterfinals against wild-card Nick Kyrgios. The Australian advanced to his first ATP Tour quarterfinal since winning Washington in 2019 after 10th-seeded Jannik Sinner withdrew because of illness.

Taylor Fritz fired 14 aces in outlasting Alex de Minaur, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

“I have more confidence in my shot, so when it comes crunch time, I feel like I can kind of trust what I want to do, trust my game,” said Fritz, who reached the semifinals at Indian Wells last year.

Fritz next plays Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia in the quarterfinals. Kecmanovic overcame 14 aces by No. 6 seed Matteo Berrettini in a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 victory.

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria beat Isner, 6-3, 7-6 (6) and next plays No. 7 Audrey Rublev, who defeated Hubert Hurkacz, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz beat Gael Monfils, 7-5 6-1. He’ll play a quarterfinal against defending champion Cameron Norrie, who defeated Jenson Brooksby, 6-2, 6-4.

In women’s play, No. 3 Iga Swiatek routed Madison Keys 6-1, 6-0 in under an hour to reach the semifinals. Simona Halep advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Petra Martic. Halep won at Indian Wells in 2015 for her biggest hardcourt title to date.

Source: United News of Bangladesh