Category: General

Noted Bengali writer Buddhadeb Guha died in a Kolkata hospital late Sunday, reported Indian daily The Hindustan Times.

He was 85.

Earlier this year in April, Guha was detected with Covid-19 and was admitted to a hospital for over a month. He had to be hospitalised again recently with lung and urinary tract problems. He died around 11.30 pm on Sunday due to post-Covid complications after a massive cardiac arrest, PTI cited his family as saying.

A chartered accountant by profession, Guha was one of the most popular writers who created the popular children’s character Rijuda and his sidekick Rudra, who explore jungles. Nature and forest were recurrent themes in his novels and short stories. He is best remembered for his novel Madhukori which is considered a milestone in Bengali literature.

He was married to eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent Ritu Guha who died in 2011. He has left behind two daughters.

Guha was the recipient of many awards, including Ananda Purashkar in 1976 and later Shiromani Puraskar and Sharat Puraskar. He was also an accomplished musician.

“Buddhadev Guha is no more. He was blessed as to be one with the Divine on the night of Janmashtami (Lord Krishna’s birthday) 2021.Do join his family and friends in celebrating his life,” his elder daughter Maleni B Guha posted in social media.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Mr. Noodles has launched new flavoured noodles named “Mr. Noodles Korean Super Spicy.”

Pran Managing Director Eleash Mridha launched the product for the local market Saturday through a programme held in the capital.

Mr Noodles Korean Super Spicy has a good combination of chilly and taste of masala; Korean masala and red chilly have been used in the product, according to a media statement.

“We always consider consumer demand and launch new products,” Eleash said.

“The maximum retail price of the Korean Super Spicy noodles has been fixed at Tk20 for each 62gm pack. The price of four-piece and eight-piece packs are Tk75 and Tk140. The product will be available at shops and superstores, including Daily Shopping and e-commerce site Othoba.com,” AKM Moinul Islam Moin, executive director of Mr. Noodles, said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the government must take the responsibility of the families of those who were ‘subjected to enforced disappearance’.

“Who will take the responsibility for the helplessness of these families? There’re many people who have not been found for 9-10 years. Over 500 of our leaders and workers, including Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, remained missing for many years,” he told a human-chain programme.

The BNP leader said the children of the victims of the enforced disappearance still wait for the return of their fathers.

“You’ve heard the cries of the children of the victims. You (govt) say these (disappearances) do not happen here. If so, where did they go? It’s your responsibility to trace them and give them back to their families one by one. You must do it. Otherwise, you’ll be tried in people’s court.”

BNP’s human rights cell arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

The family members of many victims of the enforced disappearances joined the programme holding the photos of their missing near and dear ones.

Speaking at the programmes, the aggrieved family members appealed to the government for taking effective steps to find out the whereabouts of their fathers and sons and brothers.

Fakhrul bemoaned that Bangladesh has now become such a country where children go missing, but no one find their whereabouts.

“Law enforcers pick them up, but the government don’t give any answer to it. We can’t hold back our tears seeing the pain and agony and the helplessness of the relatives of the victims,” he said.

Expressing solidarity with the distressed family members, the BNP leader called upon the government to return the missing people to their parents, children, wives and brothers and sisters.

Fakhrul urged the people of all walks of life to be vocal to stop the culture of enforced disappearance and get rid of such a crime against humanity.

He alleged that the current government is “destroying” the entire nation just to hang onto power “illegally”. “It has destroyed our constitution, our democratic rights and economy, and politicised the entire administration.”

Fakhrul called upon people to get united to install a democratic and pro-people administration by politically defeating Awami League government. “Let’s work together and launch a movement to remove the monstrous regime.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The income of ruling Awami League in 2020 was about Tk 10.33 crore, 51 percent down from that of 2019, according to its audited financial statement submitted to the Election Commission on Sunday.

However, the AL’s expenditures increased by Tk 1.73 crore in 2020, compared to that of the previous year.

The AL’s total income was Tk 10,33,43,33 in 2020, which was over Tk 21 crore in 2019.

An AL team, led by its publicity and publication secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, handed over the financial statement of the 2020 calendar year to EC Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

Later, Abdus Sobhan Golap told reporters that their party’s income largely came from the subscriptions of its members, sale of nomination forms and donations from various individuals and organisations.

In 2020, the income declined as it earned less from the sale of nomination forms, and there was no income from the triennial council of the party in 2019, he said.

AL spent Tk 9,94,49,931 (Tk 9.94 crore) in the calendar year, Tk 1,73,48,356 more than it spent in 2019.

The expenditures went up for conducting relief activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic, providing donations to party-nominated candidates in different elections and the rise in the expenses against different publications.

AL office secretary and Prime Minister’s special assistant Barrister Biplab Barua and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan were other members of the AL team.

On Thursday, BNP submitted its 2020 financial statement before the Election Commission.

The income of BNP was Tk 1.23 crore and expenditure was Tk 1.75 crore in 2020. The additional expenditure was met from its previous fund.

As per the law, each registered political party is obliged to submit the financial statement of the previous calendar year by July 31, but the Election Commission extended the deadline by one month.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Hearing on bail pleas of 12 Awami League men arrested in two cases filed over attacking Barisla Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s residence will be held on September 2.

Senior Metropolitan Magistrate Anisur Rahman announced the date on Sunday after receiving the bail petitions, said advocate Talukdar Md younus, lawyer of the defendants.

Earlier on August 25, nine accused were granted bail in the cases filed by the UNO and police.

On August 18, Ansar members clashed with a crowd of city corporation workers and AL, BCL activists when they stormed into the UNO’s residence at Sadar Upazila Complex in Barishal in a dispute over removing banners from Upazila Parishad premises.

Five people suffered bullet wounds during the clash. Of them two AL men lost their eye sights later.

Upazila Nirbahi officer Munibur Rahman of Barisal Sadar Upazila and Assistant sub-inspector of police Shahjalal Mallick filed two cases accusing 602 people including Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah of obstruction to government work and attempt to murder.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Joao Tabajara de Oliveira Junior visited the office of UCB Fintech Company recently.

UCB Fintech Company is a subsidiary of United Commercial Bank which operates mobile financial services under the brand name “upay.”

During the visit, the ambassador held a meeting with Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, chairman of the upay board of directors.

Members of the board of directors Arif Quadri, Bashir Ahmed, ATM Tahmiduzzaman; Independent Director Ashraf Bin Taj, and Managing Director and CEO of UCB Fintech Company Sydul H Khandaker were present at the meeting.

The ambassador praised upay for the quick roll out of its services across Bangladesh within a short time and wished it a successful journey ahead.

UCB Fintech Limited was established on July 30 last year and launched its commercial operation on March 17 this year.

Upay products and services include mobile transactions, utility bill payment, in-store and e-commerce payment, inward remittance, salary disbursement, airtime recharge, traffic fine payment, Indian visa fee payment and other value-added financial services.

Customers can get the services from upay’s nationwide agent and merchant network at an affordable charge, according to a press release.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The government is going to provide training to 10,000 top executives, including Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) known as CXOs, and mid-level managers of IT companies under Advanced Certification for Management Professionals (ACMP) 4.0 training programme within next five years, officials said.

“Backed by the success of the similar ACMP 4.0 training programme held previously the government is going to organize training for the CXOs and mid-level managers of IT companies to build their capacity to flourish their respective companies,” said senior secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam.

He said the government will continue to provide support to such training to boost the country’s IT sector and help achieve its $5 billion target of ICT export by 2025.

The experts of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) will provide 120 hours of training to the CEOs and managers who played a vital role in making healthy growth of IT companies, he added.

The ACMP 4.0 programme was introduced at Institute of Business Administration (IBA) of Dhaka University in 2017 in collaboration with LICT Project to boost the country’s IT sector. A total of 950 CXOs and managers have so far been given training under the ACMP 4.0 training programme.

LICT Project Director Tarique M Barkatullah said keeping the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution in mind, the government has been providing support to IBA to continue ACMP 4.O course for enhancing efficiency of the CXOs and managers for increasing business and earning of their companies.

He said the training programme will provide a pragmatic approach towards transformational leadership in a dynamic, rapidly changing, interconnected and complex business environment influenced by digital disruptions and opportunities.

IT-ITES Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed said upon completion of the programme, the participants are expected to be better equipped to lead crafting and implementing strategies for growth acceleration of their businesses in the age of digital transformation. “Without enhancing managerial skills, a company could not flourish,” he added.

This extensive training programme consists of exclusive modules including communication 4.0, technology 4.0, supply chain 4.0, business analytics, marketing 4.0, Human Resource Management 4.0. The trainees will also get training on crafting and executing strategies, innovation, business model and entrepreneurial journey, scale up and growth acceleration strategy for IT/ITeS SMEs, strategy masterclass.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said the government is in regular touch with the stranded Bangladeshi nationals in Afghanistan and has taken every measure for their safe and orderly departure from the troubled country.

So far, the government has facilitated the return of around 20 of them from Afghanistan, said the ministry.

Bangladesh has urged all concerned to ensure safety and security of the Afghan people as well as foreign nationals in Afghanistan.

Bangladesh has also called upon all concerned to exercise maximum restraint during this challenging time hoping an early return of normalcy and restoration of peace in Afghanistan.

While appreciation efforts for facilitating the safe departure of all foreigners including Bangladesh nationals, Bangladesh wants to see continuation of the return process of the remaining foreign nationals.

“It is expected that the development workers can return to Afghanistan once conducive environment is restored,” MoFA said.

Bangladesh expressed deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones at the bomb attack near Kabul Airport on 26 August and prayed for early recovery of the injured.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday unveiled the foundation stone of the runway extension project of Cox’s Bazar Airport, aiming to enable it to offer a longer range of domestic and international passenger services.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the construction work on the maritime runway, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) has taken the Tk 1,568.86 crore project to construct the country’s longest runway by extending the existing 9,000-foot runway by another 1,700 on the Bay of Bengal by reclaiming land from the sea.

Upon completion of the US$ 185 million project, all types of large aircraft will be able to take off and land on the maritime runway.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) signed a deal with the Chinese joint venture of Changjiang Yichang Waterway Engineering Bureau (CYWEB) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on February 9, 2021 to implement the crucial project.

Though the deadline to complete the construction of the project is May 10, 2024, steps have been taken to complete it by the end of 2023.

With the implementation of the project, the existing 9,000ft runway will be extended by 1,700 ft towards the Maheshkhali Channel.

On completion, the new 10,700-foot runway will allow much larger and wide-bodied aircraft like Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 747-400 to use the airport, paving the way for the smooth operation of international flights.

The government in 2019 took the initiative to expand the runway to upgrade it to international standards and offer foreign holidaymakers the hassle-free trips to the world’s longest unbroken sea beach.

The runway extension will be built by filling some parts of the sea on the Maheshkhali channel.

At first geo tubes will be placed under the sea bed and then water will be removed through dredging. Later, the excavation process and sand filling activities will start.

Then, the excavated area will be layered with sand, followed by concrete blocks being placed. The next phase would be the sand layer layout for the runway.

Then, the excavated area will be layered with sand, followed by concrete blocks being placed. The next phase would be the sand layer layout for the runway.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Global smart device brand Oppo will bring a new device to the Bangladeshi market soon.

The new phone from Oppo A series – Oppo A16 – is an all-around entry-level smartphone. It will be equipped with a cosy design, big battery and AI Triple Camera, according to a press release.

Also, the phone will feature an ultra-thin design, an immersive big screen, and a side-mounted fingerprint unlocking system.

In contrast to a rear fingerprint sensor, the side fingerprint unlock will enable the users to reach out for the lock sensor without holding the phone upright.

Also, the new phone’s AI Triple Camera setup will include microlens that will open up new avenues for photography lovers and help them explore new perspectives.

In addition, both the front and rear cameras will support the smart beautification feature to allow the users to adjust ambient lights and skin tones to take stunning photos.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Ahead of the five-match T20I series New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel on Sunday said they are confident of adapting to the conditions of Bangladesh.

The series will take off on September 1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh are yet to win a match against the Blackcaps even though they played 10 T20Is.

“It’s a different condition from what we get at home. It’s bringing different sorts of challenges as well,” Ajaz said through a video message sent to the media on Sunday.

“It was a great net session today. We have got an idea about what we would get next. We didn’t have much expectation from the net session. We just wanted to have an idea, and prepare ourselves according to that,” Ajaz added.

In their last tour to Bangladesh, New Zealand had won only one match— a T20I. They were battered by the Bangladeshi spin attack. Ajaz said as a spinner, he is also excited to get the chance to play in Bangladesh.

“A friendly condition always excites every bowler. But we have a good batting line-up who plays spin well. We now are playing in their condition. They beat some big teams here. So we are not taking them lightly. We have to make sure that we play our best cricket. And at the same time who have to hone our skillset well so that we can perform well on the match days,” Ajaz said.

“We, the spinners, have discussed ourselves about the wickets here and how we should step up. We have been talking to Thilan Samaraweera (batting consultant of New Zealand) as well. He is experienced, he knows the sub-continent better than us. We are trying to know from him how they would bat. We have to understand these and play accordingly against them,” he added.

This series could be a great chance for the New Zealand team to prepare themselves ahead of the T20 World Cup taking place later this year in Oman and UAE. But they did not include any player in this series from their World Cup squad. Still, Ajaz believes a good show in this series could earn him more chances in future in white-ball cricket campaigns.

“I’m so excited to be able to play (white-ball cricket). It’s a great opportunity for me to play white-ball cricket, and we have so many matches to play in this format. Keeping that in mind, I’m eager to grab the chance. I’m not taking too much pressure that I have to do something crazy. I would love to stick to my basic skills and do what I can do better,” he said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) job circular 2021 has published on the official website dmtcl.gov.bd. The company is the proprietor of Dhaka Metro Rail. According to the job notice, a total of 130 vacancies will be filled. Let’s know in detail as per the Dhaka metro rail project job circular 2021.

The skilled and eligible candidates are welcome to join it and submit application to attend recruitment test.

• Organization: Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL)

• Vacancies: 130

• Deadline: 31 August 2021

• Application Fee: 500/- Taka

• Application Process: By post/Courier service

• Official Website: www.dmtcl.gov.bd

Educational Qualifications:

As per the Bangladesh metro rail job circular 2021, educational qualifications are different for different posts. Interested candidates are advised to see the circular from http://dmtcl.gov.bd/ to know about the educational qualifications.

Application Process

Interested persons should collect the application form from this address http://dmtcl.gov.bd/. After that you have to fill in the specific information and send it to the Managing Director, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, PrabasiKalyanBhavan, Level 14, 61-72 Old Elephant Road, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka-1000.

All the candidates who want to apply should first download the application form from the official website of DMTCL (www.dmtcl.gov.bd).

Examination fee

The non-refundable amount of BDT 500 /- has been fixed as the application fee/examination fee.

A pay-order / bank draft of TK..500 / – in favor of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited has to be made at any branch of Sonali Bank for examination fee. Then the original copy of pay-order / bank draft should be submitted along with the application form.

Interested candidates must read the Dhaka metro rail project job circular 2021 once before applying.

Source: United News of Bangladesh