Author: bdadmin

Tamim Iqbal, the ODI skipper of the Bangladesh national cricket team, has signed an agreement with IPDC Finance as their new brand ambassador recently.

According to the contract, Tamim is set to play the role from August 10, 2021, to October 31, 2022.

“Tamim Iqbal has displayed remarkable ardour for his country and established himself as the go-to guy for the tigers. IPDC works relentlessly to create a similar sense of reliability among the country’s households regarding financial decisions,” said Mominul Islam, managing director and chief executive office of IPDC.

“As a brand ambassador, I am accountable for every endorsement I make. The pressure is stronger when it is associated with the financial choices of the people. IPDC, with its proven record of being one of the fastest, strongest yet customer-centric institutions, the decision came easy,” as Tamim was quoted in a press release sent by IPDC.

Earlier, IPDC also extended its partnership with Narail Express Foundation, founded by Former Bangladesh ODI team Captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The bodies of two youths were found hanging from a tree in Pathandanga Majhipara village of Sadar upazila on Thursday morning.

The deceased were identified as Mrinal Chandra Das, 26, son of Ramchandra Das, and Sumon Chandra Das, 27, son of Nitai Chandra Das of the village.

Biswajit Kumar of the Sadar police station, said that Mrinal and Sumon left their homes two days back on the pretext of going to Dhaka. “But on Thursday morning, local people found their bodies hanging from a tree.”

Police have sent the bodies to the local hospital morgue for post-mortem. Photos of three persons, a knife and a bag were also found near the bodies, the official said.

The families of the two victims suspect foul play. “We have launched a probe,” Biswajit said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A Chinese national, who had gone missing on Wednesday, was found dead in a water body near the southern part of the Banshkhali Thermal Power Plant in Chattogram district on Thursday.

The Chinese national, G Kingwan, 34, working at the thermal power plant in Banshkhali upazila, remained missing since Wednesday noon.

He was last spotted catching fish in the Bay of Bengal,” said Safiul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Banshkhali Police Station.

Kingwan, along with his colleagues, went to the site adjacent to the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday morning to join a pipe-installation work. His colleagues informed the police about his disappearance around 2.30 pm.

Later, a GD was registered with the Banshkhali police station.

On Thursday morning, local people spotted the floating body of the Chinese man in the water body and informed the police, said Akter Hossain, sub-inspector of the police station.

Police later recovered the body and sent it to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.

“We’ve no idea how the Chinese man died …police are investigating it,” said chief coordinator of the power plant Faruk Ahmed.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A Chinese national, working at a thermal power plant in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram district, has gone missing, police said on Thursday.

The missing Chinese worker has been identified as G Kingwan, 34, an employee of the S. Alam Group that owns the power plant in Chattogram.

“He has been missing since Wednesday noon. He was last spotted catching fish in the Bay of Bengal,” said Safiul Kabir, officer-in-charge of the Banshkhali police station.

The Chinese national, along with his colleagues, went to the site adjacent to the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday morning for pipe installation work. His colleagues informed police about his disappearance around 2.30 pm.

“We are on the job,” the OC said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Lionel Messi became a free agent on July 1, although he was anticipated to re-sign with FC Barcelona. However, on Thursday (August 5) Barcelona confirmed that they will not sign Messi due to financial regulations by La Liga. Just five days after the announcement, French club PSG have signed Lionel Messi for a two-year deal with an option for a third year. PSG have become an immediate favorite to win the Champions League next season after acquiring Messi on a free transfer. Here we will discus Lionel Messi’s illustrious football career and how he can guide PSG to Champions League crown.

Details of Lionel Messi’s PSG contract

Europe’s big teams began contacting Messi’s management in an attempt to sign him following the announcement that Lionel Messi will not sign a new contract with Barca. However, only PSG had the available funds and ambition to recruit the former Barcelona forward.

Lionel Messi’s father Jorge Messi immediately contacted the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy to secure the deal as early as possible. The contract talks moved quickly, and Lionel Messi and his family landed in Paris on Tuesday (August 10) to finalize the paperwork.

After completing his medicals, Lionel Messi formally signed a contract with Paris Saint-Germain in the presence of President Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sports director Leonardo.The 34-year-old reportedly agreed to a two-year contract that includes a base salary of €25 million after taxes, with an extra €10 million in bonuses.According to sources, the Argentine will also get a €25 million signing bonus, as well as a third-year option on the same financial conditions.

The Role Lionel Messi will Play at PSG

Lionel Messi refused to take Neymar’s number 10 jersey. Instead, he’s opted for the number 30 jersey. Messi began his professional career with Barcelona with this jersey number and he wants to start fresh at PSG with this concept.

Messi’s primary responsibility at PSG would be to build lethal attacking combinations with Neymar and Mbappe. He could play as a false 9 on the right wing or in the center. Messi may drop into the middle if necessary to create a holistic attack on the opposition defense.

Messi’s football knowledge and experience will be crucial in reviving the squad. The Paris Saint-Germain side would be much more balanced and positive with the inclusion of two veteran former La Liga players Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi.

Ramos and Messi have both won the Champions League four times and know what it takes to win Europe’s most coveted club competition. Their presence will be vital, particularly in the knockout stages. That’s why Lionel Messi may lead PSG to their first Champions League title.

Aside from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, PSG have also signed Georginio Wijnaldum, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Achraf Hakimi during the summer transfer window 2021.

At a Glance: Lionel Messi’s Remarkable Football Career

Lionel Messi has a long list of achievements to his name, both with his club and for his country. His major success, though, has come at the club level.

Lionel Messi made his professional debut for Barcelona against Porto at the Camp Nou stadium on November 16, 2003. Messi won 35 titles and 672 goals in 778 games during his 17 years at FC Barcelona.

With Barcelona, Lionel Messi won 10 La Liga trophies, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa Del Rays, eight Supercopa de Espana, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups. Lionel Messi has also won a record-breaking six Ballon d’Or awards.

Lionel Messi broke several club, La Liga, European, and world records during his stint at FC Barcelona. From a teenage star at Barcelona, he has grown into one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Lionel Messi has only won one major trophy with Argentina’s national team. He won the Copa America 2021 trophy in Brazil. However, Messi has appeared in four Copa America finals as well as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil. At age level tournament, Messi won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 and the gold medal at the Summer Olympics 2008 in Beijing.

Lionel Messi is expected to play at the highest level for at least two more seasons. We can anticipate him to break more records and dazzle football fans in the coming years.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

To keep the wheels of the economy rolling during the ferocious second wave of the pandemic, the government Thursday allowed the resumption of all public transport services from August 19.

All tourist spots, community centres, resorts and recreation facilities can also reopen but with 50% capacity from August 19 and following all Covid-safety protocols, the Cabinet division said in a notification.

The latest directive will remain in force until further orders, according to the Cabinet division.

Earlier, the government had allowed only half of the public transport vehicles to ply on the roads, following all health protocols. Moreover, it was silent on the reopening of the tourist spots and community centres.

According to the latest notification, all modes of public transport, including those of road, river and railways can restart operations following all health protocols.

Use of masks and social distancing will be mandatory everywhere. And legal action will be taken against violators, be it individuals or organisations, according to the government.

The authorities concerned have been asked to take necessary steps in this regard.

Bangladesh was put under the “strict” lockdown on July 23 barring people from leaving their homes except for essential reasons.

Scheduled to end on August 5, it was later extended to August 10.

Bangladesh allows resumption of all public transport services from Aug 19

The government, meanwhile, allowed reopening of all export-oriented factories from August 1 amid the nationwide lockdown.

Lockdown ease

On August 8, the government decided to ease the ongoing nationwide lockdown allowing shops, factories and offices to reopen from August 11.

Buses, trains and river vessels have been allowed to carry passengers in their full passenger capacities. However, in regard to road transport, local administrations (Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners) have been empowered to allow half of the public transport vehicles to move every day after consulting the relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies.

Shopping malls, markets and shops are allowed to reopen from 10 am to 8 pm following the health guidelines, while hotels and restaurants got the nod to operate from 8am to 10 pm at 50% capacity.

Covid-19 situation

Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 237 Covid-related deaths in 24 hours, a figure that shows how bad the situation is in the country.

On August 5, the country reported 264 deaths shattering its previous single-day record of 258 Covid-related fatalities on July 27. On August 10 too, the country logged 268 deaths.

Besides, 10,420 more people came out Covid positive during the period after testing 44,430 samples, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Police on Thursday recovered the body of a 70-year-old homeopathic doctor, his hands and legs tied, from a house at Chohotha in Barishal Sadar and suspected it to be a case of murder.

The deceased was identified as Prof (Retd.) Dr Md Manjur Morshed who was also a former principal officer of Agrani Bank. His son Jaglul Morshed is the general secretary of Awami League in ward 26 of Prince Nagar.

The family said Manjur Morshed was alone at home on Wednesday night. On Thursday morning when his family called him they received no response. They found the window at back of the house broken.

On information, the Airport Police went to the spot and found his body with his hands and legs tied.

Kamlesh Haldar, Officer-in-charge of Airport Police, said the body had bruises on his nose and eyes. They suspect it to be a murder.

He also said a CID team was on the scene in this regard.

Preparations are underway to send the body to morgue for an autopsy, said the OC adding a case will be filed.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Public hearing on fixing the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been postponed again.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) had set a new date for the hearing on August 17-18 at AKM Shamsul Haque Khan Auditorial of Bangladesh Institute of Public Administration in the city.

But again, it issued a public circular on Thursday announcing the postponement of August 17-18 hearing until further order.

The BERC first scheduled the hearing for July 7-8. But it had to suspend the hearing due to the countrywide strict lockdown that began on July 1.

The energy regulator had announced the public hearing responding to the appeal of the LPG operators who oppose the present pricing formula for LPG.

The BERC, held its last public hearing on LPG price fixing in January this year, and it has been fixing the price every month from April this year in compliance with a court order.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The 6th edition of Cosmos Art Echo, an art talk event of Cosmos Atelier71, is set to be held on Thursday evening.

Eminent Artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma will join the live event with the topic ‘Journey Through Roots’ at 7 pm.

Bo

rn and raised in the beautiful hill tracts of Rangamati, Kanak Chanpa Chakma is a visual artist based in Dhaka.

She mainly works with acrylic, oil and charcoal on canvas, portraying the struggling lives of the indigenous community of Bangladesh and the endless sufferings of women.

Kanak Chanpa has received numerous national and international awards for her works, including Best Woman Artist of the XXI Century, Florida, USA (2001), Best Painting National Award, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (2002) and Olympic Fine Arts Gold Medal, Beijing, China (2008).

She has devoted much of her life rescuing animals, and is engaged in organisations focused on animal welfare, women and deprived communities in Bangladesh.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has reiterated Bangladesh’s position to provide education to Rohingya children sheltered in the country only in Rohingya language under Myanmar curricula.

The Rohingya children can be reintegrated in Myanmar smoothly after their repatriation if they are educated in Rohingya language under Myanmar curricula, he said.

“This (education) must be done in Rohingya language under Myanmar curricula so that once they return, they can be reintegrated in Myanmar,” Dr Momen conveyed to Canadian Minister of International Development Karina Gould during his recent virtual meeting.

More importantly, he said, Canada should first introduce her education programme in Rakhaine State where nearly 6 lakh Rohingyas are in IDP camps.

Rohingya children must be educated in their own language: FM

“Once her education and teaching program appears to be successful in Rakhaine state, only then they can introduce her education programme amongst the Rohingyas stranded in Bangladesh,” said the Foreign Minister.

In response to the Canadian Minister’s call for providing education to Rohingya children in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Foreign Minister came up with Bangladesh position, stating that Bangladesh also wants to provide education to Rohingyas.

Dr Momen reiterated Bangladesh’s proposal that the UNHCR can recruit teachers from Myanmar for this.

He underscored that if education, health and pathway to citizenship for remaining Rohingyas in Rakhine State can be ensured by the UN by investing more resources there, this would encourage displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh to return to their homeland.

Dr Momen expressed concern that the lack of education and other rights for Rohingyas may lead to radicalization and extremism, and thus this is important to resolve the crisis at the earliest.

The Canadian Minister recalled that Canada has already provided medicine and oxygen concentrator supports to Bangladesh through the UNICEF and some NGOs; and stated that such assistance including vaccine support may come in future.

Informing that Bangladesh has commenced vaccinating displaced Rohingyas over 55 years numbering around 48000, Dr Momen highlighted the fact that not a single Rohingya person in Bangladesh has so far died due to COVID-19.

He also underscored, depicting the natural hazards that Kutupalong camps have been facing, that the facilities in Bhashan Char are far better.

He said the UN and international community need to come forward to support the humanitarian operations in Bhashan Char as soon as possible.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister thanked Canada for its consistent political and humanitarian support for the displaced and persecuted Rohingyas, including for the genocide case ongoing in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Underscoring that the repatriation of displaced Rohingyas remains as the priority for Bangladesh and also of the Rohingyas themselves, he urged Canada to take a leadership role in this regard.

Thanking for Canada’s political support to the ICJ case by Gambia on the alleged genocide against Rohingyas, Foreign Minister Momen requested Canada to come forward to assist Gambia through making financial support for the proceeding of the case.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Daraz Bangladesh has recently introduced a ‘Seller Development Program’ to enhance the buying experience of the consumer.

The unique program introduced by Daraz focuses on strengthening the buying and selling experience for the existing customers and sellers.

With the launch of the program, the largest e-commerce platform will promote exceptional sellers while keeping the customers assured and untroubled.

Daraz through this the program will ensure that sellers who are not fit for working with Daraz yet are being filtered out properly. Sellers providing top-notch quality goods and services will not be liable for the errors of the few other vendors.

“Trust is a critical factor in e-commerce and it alters with every purchasing decision of the consumers. We believe that the Seller Development Program will be effective in building a healthy and sustainable relationship with the consumers accompanied by the support of brilliant sellers,” said Kamrul Hasan, Commercial Director of Seller Marketplace and Business Intelligence of Daraz Bangladesh.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) will start physical work on taking overhead cables underground in the Dhanmondi area next month as part of its mega project to ensure safer transmission of electricity.

“We’ve completed all our necessary preparation at a meeting today (Tuesday) to start the job in September”, said Bikash Dewan, managing director of the DPDC, a public limited company under the Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

He said the distribution body is now waiting for the permission from Dhaka North City Corporation (DSCC) to dig the streets in the Dhanmondi area where the project will start on a pilot basis.

“We hope we’ll get the permission soon as the DSCC mayor is very positive about our project,” he told UNB.

The Dhanmondi underground cabling project is part of the DPDC’s mega scheme for which the organization signed a contract with the Chinese contractor TBEA in September in 2019.

Under the Dhanmondi project, 190 km of overhead electricity cables, an eyesore in the city, will be taken underground, DPDC officials said.

Of these, about 115 km are of 11 kV overhead lines, and 75 km are 0.4 kV lines, they said adding that all kinds of overhead electric cables will go underground and no cable will remain visible in a particular part of Dhanmondi area that includes Satmasjid Road, Mirpur Road, City College and Greenherald School area.

Much-hyped work on underground cabling in Dhanmondi set to start in Sept

The DPDC officials said the China-funded Tk20,500 crore worth mega scheme also includes setting up 40 substations in the city and moving overhead cables of Hatirjheel Lake underground. Taking overhead cables underground from Jahangir gate in Cantonment to Motijheel is also included in DPDC’s other similar project.

Earlier, DPDC completed its design and plan to implement its proposed underground cabling project to make the city free from overhead power cables.

“Already, some of the equipment reached the country and some are on the way,” he said, adding that pole-mounted transformers will be replaced with box-type transformers under the project.

Some 36 box-type transformers, 296 of 6-way ring main units (RMU), 34 of 3-way RMUs and 130 LV Cabinet will be installed to facilitate the underground cabling system, Bikash said.

DPDC officials said the project was supposed to kick off in January last year. But the Chinese engineers who were responsible for designing the works got stuck in their hometown Wuhan following the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

But they later returned to Dhaka and got engaged in the project after the improvement in the coronavirus situation both in China and Bangladesh.

Bikash said once the project is implemented, it will play a vital role in improving the power distribution system and substantially check the unexpected interruption in power supply.

There are widespread allegations from the consumers that interruptions take place frequently in many areas in the city.

DPDC officials admitted that it happens due to a weakness in the distribution system despite the fact that there is no shortage in electricity supply.

Under the power distribution system upgrading project, the capacity of a number of substations will also be improved, they added.

Before starting the fieldwork, DPDC has invited both city corporations, internet service providers (ISPs) and cable TV operators to join the project for its proper implementation through better coordination.

Much-hyped work on underground cabling in Dhanmondi set to start in Sept

But the power distribution company’s call seems to have gone unheeded as it has not yet received any response from other authorities.

“So far, we’ve not received any response to our appeal to the city corporations and others,” said Bikash.

City’s overhead cables, especially the internet and cable TV lines, have created a huge pressure on electricity lines which often pose a serious threat to public safety.

The DPDC top executive said the organization is now installing a 132/33 kV substation project at Shahidulla Residential Hall area in Dhaka University to enhance its distribution capacity for which some high-voltage cables are being laid underground in the city Paltan area.

Source: United News of Bangladesh