Category: General

The Appellate Division on Thursday upheld a High Court order to provide 196 members of Border Guard Bangladesh all allowances due to them as valiant freedom fighters.

The allowances were withdrawn in a gazette notification last year.

A bench of five justices led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order rejecting the appeal submitted by the state against the High Court order.

Advocate Ahsanul Karim, Barrister Sabrina Jerin and Barrister Abdul Kayum Liton presented the BGB members during the hearing while additional attorney general Sheikh Mohammad Morshed stood for the state.

In July, 2020, the High Court suspended the allowance withdrawal order in case of 196 freedom fighters out 1,134 whose gazettes were cancelled on June 7. The court also ordered them to provide facilities as valiant freedom fighters.

On June 7, 2020, the government suspended the gazettes of the 1,134 freedom fighters who joined BGB after 16 December, 1971, according to a recommendation of Jatiyo Muktijoddha Council (Jamuka).

Later, four separate writ petitions were filed challenging the notification by 196 freedom fighters including Molla Mosharraf Hossain from Bagerhat and Fazlul Haque from Tangail.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

A Dhaka-bound train derailed near Dhirashram railway station in Gazipur on Thursday cutting off the capital city’s rail communication with the country’s northern region.

Dhirashram Railway Station Master Helal Uddin said the engine of the Computer Express train from Jamalpur derailed just before entering Dhirashram station at around 11:30 am. Train services between Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Rajshahi-Khulna have been disrupted.

Three other trains, Chapai Express, Agniveena Express and Ekota Express, were stranded at different stations on both sides of the spot.

He also said the train communication will resume after the derailed engine is pulled back to tracks by a rescue train from Dhaka.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Former South African batsman Ashwell Prince joined Bangladesh national team cochin staff as the full-time batting coach, both Prince and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the development.

The former batsman will work under the Tiger’s head coach Russell Domingo, who is also a South African.

Prince was included in the Bangladesh coaching staff first time during the Zimbabwe tour. But now, he has been named as the full-time coach and will play the role till T20 World Cup 2022 which will take place in Australia.

“We contracted with Prince for a period of 22 months,” Akram Khan told UNB Thursday.

“He will work as the batting coach of Bangladesh national team till the T20 World Cup 2022. We are happy with what he has done so far for us.”

It will be Prince’s first stint as the specialist coach of an international team. To take the new role, Prince resigned from the post of the head coach of South Africa’s Western Province.

During his playing days, Price played 66 Tests, 52 ODIs and one T20I for South Africa. After finishing his playing career, Prince started his coaching role working with the Cobras which are a franchisee dissolved into Western Province.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Universal College Bangladesh (UCB) is gearing up to organize 3 mega events for the recently passed O/AS/ A level English medium students to enlighten them about the best higher education options.

To help the students and the parents alike out of the puzzling and anxious situation of choosing the right higher education program, the exclusive partner of Monash College, Australia and the only education ministry-approved international education provider in Bangladesh, UCB has designed the events accordingly

The events are tailored to address the higher education options, needs and guidelines for the learners.

UCB has partnered with Monash College, Australia, a world top-100 university (QS 2022 rankings), to enable Bangladeshi students jumpstart their journey to a degree at Monash University right here in Bangladesh.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan was named the ICC Player of the Month for July on Wednesday (August 11). He emerged victorious after edging out Australia’s Mitchell Marsh and West Indian young leg-spinner Hayden Walsh. Shakib was the genuine difference-maker in Bangladesh’s tour to Zimbabwe in July and he deservedly won the coveted prize. The ace all-rounder has moved to the top of the ICC’s T20I all-rounder rankings following a steady performance in recent Bangladesh vs. Australia Twenty20 International series. Shakib has recently been in outstanding form with the ball on the international stage, helping Bangladesh win five straight international series.

What Made Shakib the Top Player for the Month of July

Shakib Al Hasan was the most important player during Bangladesh’s trip to Zimbabwe in July. He had a huge impact throughout the tour. Shakib took 5 wickets in the one-off Test match, which helped Bangladesh earn their first-ever Test series victory in Zimbabwe.

Shakib Al Hasan took 8 wickets and scored 145 runs (including a match-winning unbeaten 96* in the second ODI) in the three-match ODI series. Bangladesh won the three-match limited-overs series 3-0. Finally, he took three wickets in the T20I series, helping Bangladesh in winning the series 2-1.

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had a fantastic T20I series against the Windies. He took 8 wickets and scored 219 runs in the five-match series, but his team lost the series 4-1 against the home side.

West Indian leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr. had a big impact in both the T20I and ODI series. He was named Player of the Series after taking 12 wickets in the Twenty20 International series.

Hayden Walsh was a strong contender for the award, but Shakib’s overall performance during the Zimbabwe tour last month made him the clear favorite to win the ICC’s best player award for the month of July.

The Current Scenario of ICC’s T20I Rankings

Shakib Al Hasan has regained the top spot in the ICC’s T20I all-rounder rankings after some strong performances in the recent series against Australia. Shakib scored the second-most runs (114) in the series with a strike rate of 100.88 on slow-turning pitches. He also took 7 wickets with an economy rate of 6.45.

Shakib’s best bowling performance of the series came in the last match when he took four wickets for only nine runs. The ace all-rounder was named player of the series and has moved to the top of the ICC T20I all-rounder rankings for his excellent consistency throughout the series.

Shakib Al Hasan currently leads the all-rounder rankings with 286 rating points, followed by Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi (285 points) and Scottish player Richard Berrington (194 points).

England’s Dawid Malan leads the batting chart with 841 points, followed by Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam (819 points) and New Zealand’s Devon Conway (774 points). South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi leads the bowling rankings with 792 rating points, followed by Sri Lanka’s Wanindu De Silva (764 points) and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (719 points).

England are ranked first in the ICC’s T20I team rankings with 278 rating points. India are in second place with 273 points, while New Zealand are in third place with 263 points. Bangladesh are presently ranked 10th in the world, with 231 rating points.

Bangladesh have a decent chance of moving up to fifth place if they whitewash New Zealand in the upcoming series. If Bangladesh win the series against New Zealand 4-1, they will be in sixth place. However, if Bangladesh win the series 3-2, they will be in seventh place.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bikes symbolize youth. Most young males possess a dream to rule the road riding a bike. Over the years, the craze has touched the young female group, too. So, the demand has risen to its highest. However, a new sense of style and modernism have got blended into it. Bike manufacturers are restless in introducing new bikes with better design and more attractive looks. From the same effort, manufacturers are to add some new models to their profiles. Here are some of the most exciting upcoming 150cc bikes in Bangladesh in 2021.

Best Coming Soon 150cc Bikes in Bangladesh in 2021

Yamaha FZ-X

The Japanese motorbike maker company Yamaha has introduced another 150cc motorcycle recently in India. It is expected to officially enter the Bangladeshi market this year. The bike will come in three different color variations- Matt Black, Matt Copper, and Metallic Blue.

Yamaha FZ-X is powered by a 4-stroke, air-cooled, SOHC 149cc engine and has a retro style. The engine hasn’t fallen far from the other FZ series bikes. The Blue Core 2-valve FI engine is powerful enough to provide around 12.4PS power only at 7,250rpm and a maximum of 13.3 Nm torque at 5,500rpm. A five-speed gearbox has been used to transmit the power to the rear wheel.

The Yamaha FZ-X has a length of 2,020mm, a width of 785mm, and a height of 1,115mm. The motorbike features a 1,330mm wheelbase, which is comparable to the previous FZ15. The motorbike also has a 165mm minimum-ground clearance and weighs 139kg full tank. For tires, it uses dual-purpose block pattern tubeless tires that size 100/80-17 for the front and 140/60-17 for the rear.

Among other features, a bi-functional head LED Lamp, DRL, Led tail-light. 220mm rear and 282mm front disc brakes, motocross 7-phase adjustable rear suspension, etc., are the prime ones. There are two variants of the Yamaha FZ-X- one with Bluetooth connectivity and the other without. The official expected price for both bikes would range between BDT 2,60,000 to 2,70,000. In the Indian market, the price for the Bluetooth version is INR 1,21,800, and for the non-Bluetooth version, it’s INR 1,16,800.

Hero X-Blade ABS

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter Pvt. Ltd has brought the ABS version of its previously released Hero X-Blade in India. The ABS version is now on talk to be officially launched in Bangladesh. Despite being the same version, the bike will come with some tweaks in its features for the Bangladeshi market.

The X-Blade ABS, equipped with multi-category first innovations, guarantees improved braking performance. The under-cowl, cover of front forks, and rim stripes of the Hero X-Blade have got standard fitment, further stylizing its appearance.

In the design segment of the X-Blade, consumers will get a dominating front stance and LED headlight. The Honda X-Blade is supported by the 162.71cc Honda HET engine, which offers a perfect mix of performance and efficacy. The X-Blade, which produces 13.93 horsepower at 8,500rpm and a max torque of 13.9 Nm at exactly 6,000 rpm, also boasts quicker acceleration.

The engine of X-Blade has been particularly engineered to provide excellent lower and mid-range performance. The sleek X-Blade, as an all-rounder, also prioritizes comfort and security with a long seat, danger switch, and seal chain.

Honda X Blade ABS will come in five distinct color variants- Matte Marvel Blue Metallic, Pearl Spartan Red, Matte Frozen Silver Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, and Matte Marshal-green Metallic.

The Honda X-Blade (without ABS) is already officially available in Bangladesh at BDT 1,72,900. The ABS version will definitely cost a little more. Enthusiasts are expecting the bike to cost around BDT 2,00,000 to BDT 2,10,000. It has already been available in India at INR 87,776.

Honda CB 150 R

Another Honda motorcycle, Honda CB 150R Streetfighter, is about to enter the Bangladeshi market any time now. The bike is an upgrade to its previous version and has come with some latest tweaks.

The sleek design and revised bodywork, which added strong radiator shrouds, make the 2021 CB150R look attractive and very elegant. The bike have two versions: a standard edition and a special edition. The former is available in two colorways: Macho Black and Stinger Red Black. The latter is available in Raptor Matte Black, Furry Matte Red, and Armoured Matte Grey. A dynamic engine cowl, a burned titanium finish on the handlebars, and stylish 3D logos all over the fuel tank round out the special edition.

Honda has enhanced the ergonomics of the CB150R for 2021. Its handlebar is significantly tapered to provide a livelier riding triangle. The design is completed with a slant single-piece seat that appears to be roomy for two people.

The CB150R has full-LED lighting, an upgraded instrument e-cluster, as well as a Showa 37mm USD fork. The latest LCD displays the gear position indication, speedometer, rev counter, odometer, and fuel level bar.

The CB150R comes with a 149cc single-cylinder engine with 16.9PS as well as 13.8Nm of torque with a 6-speed transmission. Its power statistics are nearly identical to the 17.2PS of the Indian version of Honda Hornet 2.0, despite the Hornet’s larger 184cc engine. While the engine hasn’t changed significantly for 2021, Honda has increased the 150R’s fuel tank capacity to 12-liters, improving its total range.

The Honda CB 150R will get unofficially released soon. The official release might take place in 2022. The bike has already appeared in the Indian market. There the price starts from INR 1,51,000. However, the expected price for the CB 150R is around BDT 2,50,000 in Bangladesh.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

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

President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Faruque Hassan has thanked the government for providing crucial support to the RMG industry during the difficult time of Covid pandemic that helped the sector “survive and make a turnaround”.

He also thanked the government for bringing garment workers under the Covid-19 vaccination programme on a priority basis.

Faruque Hassan had a meeting with State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian at the Secretariat on Wednesday and discussed the overall situation of the ready-made garment industry, the BGMEA said on Thursday.

Hassan apprised the state minister of the current state of the industry which is putting in all-out efforts to recover from the pandemic impacts and move ahead.

“We requested the government to vaccinate garment workers on a priority basis as there is no alternative to mass vaccination of the workers to keep factories running,” said the BGMEA president, adding that all the garment workers are being brought under the vaccine coverage.

BGMEA Senior Vice President SM Mannan (Kochi) was also present at the meeting.

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

Bangladesh has demanded preferential trade facilities from Canada till 2030 to help the country tide over the post-pandemic challenges.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen held a virtual meeting with Canadian Minister of International Development Karina Gould on Wednesday and made the request.

They expressed optimism regarding the co-chairmanship of Bangladesh and Canada in the preparatory process of the upcoming 5th UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-5) to be held in Doha in January next year.

On climate change, Foreign Minister Momen sought Canada’s support in COP26 in terms of realising the demand that each country must implement their respective nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Bangladesh has taken various adaptation and mitigation measures, including the “Mujib Prosperity Plan” envisaging using renewable energy to meet 40% of its energy needs.

Momen also urged Canada to consider providing financial assistance to the regional Global Adaptation Centre (GAC) established in Bangladesh in order to effectively address climate change through adaptation measures in the region.

The Canadian Minister appreciated Bangladesh’s decision not to build any more coal-based power plants, citing climate change risks as an existential threat for the globe.

She concluded by underscoring that Canada remains committed to work with Bangladesh, including on Rohingya, climate change and LDC issues. She also expressed optimism that she would be able to visit Bangladesh in person in near future on a request from Momen.

The Foreign Minister also reiterated Bangladesh’s strong expectation that Nur Chowdhury, the convicted killer of the Father of the Nation, would be sent back to Bangladesh, underscoring that this would ensure justice and the rule of law.

Canadian Minister Karina Gould congratulated Bangladesh on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Independence.

She stated that the co-chairmanship of both countries in the preparatory process of the LDC-5 Conference is a good opportunity to work together.

Expressing Bangladesh’s appreciation to the important message of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence, Foreign Minister Momen said the bilateral ties between the two countries “continue to remain very strong”.

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 60-year-old woman Thursday allegedly received back-to-back two jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine within five minutes at Sheikh Sayera Khatun Medical College and Hospital in Gopalganj upazila.

The woman named Mamtaz Begum, 65, resident of municipal ward-3 has received the jabs around 12pm today.

Mamtaz Begum said after entering the female room and showing her card at the centre a nurse gave her the first shot, sitting her on the bench.

As she felt dizzy, Mamtaz Begum remained in the seat for a few minutes.

In the meantime, another nurse came and hurriedly gave her another shot telling her to move from the seat fast, said Mamtaz Begum.

When she asked if she had to take two back to back doses of the vaccines the nurse became aware of the mistake.

However the UNB reporter couldn’t contact the nurse who was on duty at that time.

Sakibur Rahman, an official from the civil surgeon’s office said the nurse mistakenly went to give her the second jab to Mamtaz Begam as she was sitting at the spot of receiving the jab starching her hand.

“As soon as she said she got jabbed once the nurse stopped and she only received a poke of the needle,” he said.

However Mamtaz Begum has been asked to contact the health authorities in case of any health difficulties, said Sakibur Rahman.

Although certainly not advised, no real adverse effect as such has been identified from getting double-jabbed in quick succession, mainly because cases are extremely, extremely rare.

Source: United News of Bangladesh