Category: General

A hattrick by Gambian Omar Jobe guided Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club to the 2nd slot in the 13-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football 2020-21 again crushing Uttar Baridhara Club by 5-1 goals at the Banglabandhu National Stadium here on Thursday.

They dominated the first half by 2-1 goal.

Gambian forward Pa Omar Jobe made a hattrick scoring three goals in the 15th ,23rd and 75th minutes of the match to take a solo lead in the scorers list netting 20 individual goals.

Gambian winger Suleiman Sillah scored two remaining goals for Sheikh Jamal in the 70th and stoppage time of 90+3 minute.

Sumon Reza netted the face-saving goal Uttar Baridhara in the 33rd minute.

With the day’s well merited victory, three times champions Sheikh Jamal DC moved up to the 2nd place again toppling six times champions Dhaka Abahani Ltd securing 42 points from 20 matches while Uttar Baridhara Club remained at 10th slot with 16 points from 20 encounters.

Dhaka Abahani are in the 3rd slot bagging 40 points from 20 matches.

In the day’s another match, league champions Bashundhara Kings managed a 1-0 goal victory over bottom placed Arambagh KS at Kamalapur Stadium here on Thursday.

Biplo Ahmed scored the match-winner for the Kings just two minutes before the final whistle .

Star studded Bashundhara Kings, which smartly clinched league title with four matches to spare last Monday , sounded their margin again securing 58 points from 21 matches while Arambagh KS remained at bottom with five points from 20 matches.

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

The top management of the Australian cricket team reportedly had heated arguments with a Cricket Australia website staffer over the posting of a video on Bangladesh’s celebrations in the wake of a series win by the Tigers against the visitors.

Bangladesh had never won a series against Australia in any format of the game before the T20I matches that took place earlier this month. Bangladesh won the five-match T20I series 4-1. Australia managed to win only one game in the series, thanks to a 30-run over by Shakib Al Hasan, in which Dan Christian had smashed five sixes.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian cricket coach Justin Langer and team manager Gavin Dovey were involved in the animated argument. The New South Wales-based media outlet, however, did not reveal the name of the staffer.

The video is still on the CA website, which shows the celebrations of the Bangladeshi cricket team post their third game win against Australia. That game had confirmed the series win for the Tigers.

In the video, the Bangladesh cricketers can be seen celebrating in the field right after Mahedi Hasan defended 22 in the last over of the third T20I. The video also captured Nazmul Hasan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, along with some directors, applauding the team on the win.

In the video, some Bangladeshi players can also be heard singing “We Shall Overcome”, a song adopted as the unofficial team anthem years ago, in the dressing room.

According to the SMH report, the incident took place at the team hotel, following the series-clinching third game. The incident was witnessed by at least a dozen people and left some players taken aback and with a sense of unease about what took place.

The report also said the matter was first raised by Dovey. He told the staffer that it’s not appropriate to post a Bangladesh celebration video on a website operated by CA. But the staffer stood his ground over the issue. Subsequently, Langer aimed at the staffer as well.

Dovey has already talked about it publicly. He was quoted by SMH as saying, “A healthy team environment includes the ability to have honest and frank discussions, whether it be between players, support staff or others within the team environment, which was the case here.”

“There was a difference of opinion and we agreed to disagree on a particular matter. In hindsight, it was one of those instances which should have taken place in private. I take full ownership of that.”

Australia played the five-match series against Bangladesh in a span of seven days, following a three-day quarantine after arriving in Dhaka. They lost another five-match T20I series 4-1 against the West Indies, which took place right before their Bangladesh tour.

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

A 50-member large squad of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings will leave the capital for the Maldives on Friday to play the Group D matches of the AFC Cup Football’ 2021.

Federation Cup and fresh BPL champions Kings will start their AFC Cup campaign taking on Maziya Sports & Recreation Club of the Maldives on August 18 at National Football Stadium in Male.

Star studded Bashundhara Kings smartly clinched Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title with four matches to spare securing 55 points from 20 matches last Monday.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the fresh fixture of AFC Cup Group D on August 5.

The Kings will play their 2nd group match on August 21 at the same venue against the winners of JSW Bengaluru FC of India and Club Eagles of the Maldives, who will meet each other in a play-off match on August 15.

In their last Group D match, Bashundhara Kings will encounter Kolkata giant traditional Mohun Bagan FC on August 24, also at the National Stadium in Male.

Nigerian booter Elita Kingsley, who got Bangladesh citizenship recently, will also accompany the team while two forwards Motin Miah and Towhidul Alam Sabuj and defender Rimon Hossain will miss the trip for injury,being Covid positive & passport problems.

But ,the participation of Kingsley in the AFC Cup as Bangladeshi player is still uncertain. He had to get FIFA permission before playing the match.

Tthe Group D matches of the AFC Cup, which was earlier postponed in last May and was rescheduled for June 30 to July 6, but deferred again (till August) as per appeal of the Badhindhara Kings for their engagement in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football.

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

Youth-centric brand realme will launch realme GT Master Series and new product lines globally on August 18 to celebrate exceeding 100 million milestone in smartphone sales within just 37 months.

The launching event will be held online on realme’s official social media platforms, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Realme GT Master Edition Series is the brand’s most high-end flagship designed by famous Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa, exploring different smartphone aesthetics.

Realme will debut other aspects of its TechLife ecosystem at the event along with its biggest promotion of the year to thank all 100 million users which will include 61 markets, covering all product categories.

Realme is currently developing a diverse portfolio of 5G products with an aim to offer 100 million 5G phones in the next three years to the young users.

Besides, realme will bring more AIoT products as it has entered AIoT 2.0 development phase with advanced strategy.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Canadian Minister of International Development Karina Gould on Thursday announced CAD 45 million, over the next five years, to support increasing services to Bangladesh’s most vulnerable populations, including the hard-to-reach ones.

Canada is committed to investing in partnerships to support the most marginalized, including women and girls in Bangladesh.

“Our local, experienced partners know all too well the disproportionate impact the Covid-19 crisis has had on the world’s most vulnerable. Together, we must continue to push forward and seek out those hardest to reach, including marginalized women and children,” said the Canadian Minister.

Canada remains committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing the impacts of the pandemic and helping vulnerable populations respond and recover as fast as possible, she said.

Canada’s support will fund Brac-led multi-sector initiatives, including programming in skills and vocational training and public health outreach tailored to reach children and families that are unable to access the services they need.

It will also strengthen Brac’s interventions related to human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, nutrition and ending gender-based violence against women and children, said a joint media release.

Programming will also focus on, and support, Bangladesh’s Covid-19 response and inclusive economic recovery.

With this contribution, Canada joins the Strategic Partnership Agreement, a long-term tripartite partnership with Brac and the government of Australia.

Canada’s contributions to the partnership will expand Brac’s integrated healthcare, education, legal services, skills development and livelihood service delivery to hard-to-reach areas and the most marginalised populations.

This partnership is closely aligned with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and is built on Brac’s longstanding women-centred development approach which prioritises the empowerment of women and girls.

The announcement was made during Minister Gould’s virtual visit to Bangladesh.

Gould visited Bhashantek slum in Dhaka to see firsthand the impacts of Brac’s urban development programming, which will receive continued support through the partnership.

She also met young women engaged in skills training, health care workers supporting soon-to-be-mothers, and witnessed the Brac-led Covid-19 prevention and response activities in action.

Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh accompanied the minister on the visit, with both acknowledging the courageous frontline workers who continue to deliver key services in the face of ongoing challenges during the pandemic.

“We’re delighted to welcome Global Affairs Canada as one of our strategic partners. This partnership couldn’t come at a more critical time, as the Covid-19 pandemic has further aggregated inequalities in Bangladesh,” said Asif Saleh.

He said Bangladesh needs resources to combat the impact of this pandemic and sustain the momentum of socio-economic growth. “This partnership will help us keep the country on the growth trajectory and continue our efforts in the pandemic response and the recovery process.”

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

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Representative in Bangladesh Robert Simpson has said the young people of Bangladesh, despite many challenges, are coming up with innovative game-changing solutions that can leverage transformation in agriculture and food sector.

He, while addressing an event marking International Youth Day on Thursday, highlighted the achievements of youth in agri-food system of the country

Simpson said private sector partners are promoting small-scale farming and agri-businesses to maximize their profit through access to finance, agricultural inputs, advisory services, insurance, and markets; and creating applications as a one-stop virtual sales solution.

He also talked about the important roles of academia, private sector actors, NGOs, development partners, and the government, in nurturing the youth.

International Youth Day celebrates the qualities of young people and recognises the challenges that today’s youth face.

The theme of International Youth Day 2021 is, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.

More than 50 students from seven different universities of the country joined in a discussion with six young entrepreneurs and professionals to emphasize the youths’ role in transforming the food systems.

The event was organized by FAO’s Dhaka Food System project, an initiative funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Professor Dr Lutful Hassan, Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) graced the event as the Chief Guest.

Paula Schindeler, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands was present as the special guest.

“This year’s IYD theme is timely and promising. It is now well recognized that simply producing food will not ensure human and planetary wellbeing. Social-, economic- and environmental aspects of food systems are equally important for a healthier planet,” said Paula.

“For that we have to convert the existing food system where we will need more and more innovative and capable young people to boost the transformation process,” she said.

John Taylor, Chief Technical Adviser of Dhaka Food System project said with growth and expansion around the city, and rising land prices, it becomes difficult for farmers in the periphery to maintain their farms, this leads to food having to come from further and further away.

“This can lead to higher costs for our food,” said Taylor while talking about food system and its challenges.

FAO invited six young entrepreneurs and professionals, who have contributed to different areas of the food system in Bangladesh, to share their experiences with the participants.

The speakers for this event were Fahad Ifaz, CEO, iFarmer; Shamim Murad, General Manager – Digital Services, ACI Agribusiness; Sharmeen Islam Eva, student, Bangladesh Agricultural University; Mukul Islam, Successful Entrepreneur (SaFaL project); Sudip Debnath, Assistant Professor, Khulna University; and Jannati Akhter Shumi, Community Nutrition Volunteer (SaFaL project).

As expressed by youth during the Pre-Summit of the UNFSS in July, young people are concerned about the existing food systems that are no longer fit to purpose.

The current generation has not given the next generation the sustainable means of feeding a larger population.

Young people are to inherit a planet that will be four degrees warmer, threatening the availability and nutritional quality food.

From farm to fork, food systems account for about one-third of all global greenhouse gases.

Food’s value chains are becoming increasingly complex, with foods travelling longer and passing through multiple stages. In addition, food loss and waste became a major challenge in the food systems. More than 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wasted each year.

People in the age group of 18 to 35 years comprise one third of Bangladesh’s population and significant number of them are women.

The health, education and active engagement of this segment are crucial for achieving a sustainable food system for the country.

The youth wish to point out that leaders today should be investing now to support the youth of tomorrow.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt of court rule against the health secretary, director generals of health directorate and drug administration, and two others on charge of ignoring its directives on halting production of substandard antibiotics.

The HC directed the concerned officials to explain in four weeks why contempt of court proceedings should not be drawn against them over the matter.

The officials are Health Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam, Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) Maj. Gen. Md Mahbubur Rahman, Director General of Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Babul Kumar Shaha and Managing Director of Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals Limited AFM Anwarul Haque.

The HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman issued the rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Advocate Ripan Barai on behalf of rights organization — Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).

The HRPB had filed a writ petition in the public interest to stop the production of antibiotics by 20 pharmaceutical companies including Indo Bangla Pharmaceuticals of Barishal stating these companies don’t follow the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in the pharmaceutical industry.

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.

Following the final hearing of the writ petition, on February 13, 2017, the High Court directed the concerned officials of the health department not to allow these companies to produce medicine unless they adhere to GMP.

However, a contempt of court case was filed in the High Court on behalf of HRPB after news broke that Indo Bangla Pharmaceuticals in Barishal was illegally producing and selling antibiotics in defiance of the court order.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Online ticketing services of Biman Bangladesh Airlines will temporarily remain closed as the service provider failed to operate properly, a media release said Wednesday.

The domestic service provider failed to operate the ticketing services properly due to which the authorities decided to close online ticketing, said a release from Biman.

In 2019, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, hired an organization to sell tickets online on a temporary basis under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to encourage domestic service providers. But the organization failed again and again, at various stages, in the full implementation of the expected activities of the airline. It provided services in an unethical manner and tried to create confusion among the passengers.

Biman is going to ensure the provision of advanced online services through a world recognized service provider soon, the release also said.

However, the ongoing process of purchasing, changing and refunding tickets for all routes of Biman through all domestic and foreign sales offices of Biman, authorized travel agencies and Biman call centers would continue.

In addition, the sales centre of Biman’s head office in Balaka would remain open 24 hours a day from Thursday to provide services to the passengers.

Source: United News of Bangladesh