Categories
Entertainment National North America South America World

PM Hasina congratulates Biden, Harris

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated US president-elect Joe Biden and vice-president-elect Kamala Harris.

Biden, 77, beat Donald Trump in a heated election held last week to become the 46th president of the United States. His running mate Kamala Harris made history as the first Black woman to become vice president.

Biden positioned himself to be a leader who “seeks not to divide, but to unify” a nation gripped by a historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.

“I sought this office to restore the soul of America and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home,” said Biden in a prime-time victory speech not far from his Delaware home, reports AP.

Categories
Education National

Buying Smartphone: UGC loan for 41,500 public univ students

The University Grants Commission considers providing 41,501 public university students with Tk 8,000 each interest-free loans so that they can buy smartphones and attend online classes amid the pandemic.

The money will come from UGC’s own funds.

The regulatory body of universities had sought the funds from the education ministry, but since it is taking time to respond, the UGC wants to go ahead with the project on its own.

“We don’t have the end of Covid-19 [pandemic] in sight. We did not get any concrete answer from the government. If we don’t give the money right away, students who can’t afford to buy smartphones will further lag behind in their studies,” a UGC member said. 

He said they wrote to the ministry in June, seeking the funds.

Categories
Business National

Import, export through Benapole port halted for a day

Import-export between India and Bangladesh through the Benapole port was suspended since this morning on the occasion of Janmashtami.

Hundreds of trucks laden with perishable and industrial raw materials are waiting to enter the Benapole port at Bongao Kalitala parking lot. The customs authorities are completing examination of various goods inside the port in advance.

Deputy Director (Traffic) of Benapole Port Mamun Kabir Tarafdar said that import and export activities through Benapole Port will start as per usual from tomorrow morning.

Categories
National

Bangladesh to register positive growth despite global recession: StanChart

DHAKA, Aug 13, 2020 (BSS) – Despite a global recession which is shaping up to be historic in scale, Bangladesh might be one of only two ASEAN and South Asian economies to register positive growth in 2020, observed Standard Chartered’s leading economists recently.

“While uncertainties remain, the worst is most likely over,” they said while speaking at a media session held following the 2020 Bangladesh session of the Bank’s Global Research Briefing series, said a press release here today.

Over 300 of the bank’s clients joined via video conferencing during the event, to participate in a unique digital experience.

Categories
National

Families claim children were ‘murdered’ at Jashore correctional facility

Family members of seventeen-year-old Abu Naeem and twenty-one-year-old Rasel alias Sujon, who died at Jashore Child Development Centre yesterday, claimed that it was not a clash. The families have alleged that their children were murdered by the authorities of the correction centre.

Subeda Bibi (60), Rasel’s mother said her son was serving his time for what his crimes in the past. “But why did the people in the correction centre kill my son?” she asked. She also said her son was taken to hospital at 8:30pm even though the incident took place at 2:00pm.

Rasel’s sister-in-law Fahima Akter Tania said Rasel had secured bail from the court last Thursday and was set to be released from the correction centre coming Sunday.

Categories
National

Garment workers demand outstanding wages

Dhaka, Feb 28 (UNB)- The workers of Garib and Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur held a rally at the Jatiya Press Club on Thursday demanding unpaid wages.

They claimed the factory authorities also threatened to file cases against them. The workers sought the intervention of the government and BGMEA authorities.

National Garment Workers Federation President Amirul Haque Amin urged the factory authorities to pay the workers within the shortest possible time.

Alamgir Roni, president of Gonotantrik Garments Sramik Karmachari Federation, accused the company of harassing workers and torturing them. 

He threatened to intensify agitation if the workers are not paid and their harassment is not stopped.

One more dengue patient detected in 24 hrs

One more dengue patient detected in 24 hrs August 15, 2020

BNP marks Khaleda’s birthday unceremoniously

BNP marks Khaleda’s birthday unceremoniously August 15, 2020

Curtain rises on first-ever virtual exhibition on Bangabandhu by Gallery Cosmos

Curtain rises on first-ever virtual exhibition on Bangabandhu by Gallery Cosmos August 15, 2020

7 deer poachers held in Sundarbans

7 deer poachers held in Sundarbans August 15, 2020

Trump orders Chinese TikTok owners to sell US assets within 90 days

Trump orders Chinese TikTok owners to sell US assets within 90 days August 15, 2020

Covid-19 cases in India cross 2.5 million

Covid-19 cases in India cross 2.5 million August 15, 2020

3 of a family burned dead in Chattagram slum fire

3 of a family burned dead in Chattagram slum fire August 15, 2020

Categories
National

Stocks dip on lukewarm data

Stocks fell on Friday as data out of China, the euro zone and the United States put a lid on expectations for a sustained global rebound, with traders already worried about a delay in US fiscal stimulus.

A review of the US-China trade deal initially slated for Saturday will be delayed due to scheduling issues and no new date has been agreed upon, according to sources familiar with the plans.

European shares were weighed further by a hit to travel stocks after Britain added more European countries, including France, to its quarantine list amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wall Street, a slowdown in retail sales growth last month and concern over further reluctance by consumers weighed on stocks, but the S&P 500 ended nearly unchanged, not far from record highs.

Categories
COVID-19 National

Vaccine for all, free of cost

The government has decided to administer Covid-19 vaccines to all the citizens free of cost once those are procured.

As per the decision at a high-level meeting recently, the government will purchase vaccines as soon as those are out in the market and administer those to all like it does under the existing immunisation programmes, said finance ministry officials.

The finance ministry has already sought $2 billion in financial assistance from four development partners to purchase, store, transport and administer the vaccines.

Categories
National

New hurdle for fresh migrants

Around 25,000 aspiring migrant workers are facing new hassles as Saudi Arabia asked them to resubmit documents for reissuing their visas, expired amid coronavirus pandemic. 

Potential migrants who secured visas before the pandemic but could not travel because of the outbreak will again have to submit the medical reports and “police clearance” certificates along with fresh papers provided by their prospective Saudi employers, said industry insiders.

But a large number of the aspirants, who have already invested borrowed or hard-earned money for “lucrative” overseas jobs and facing financial crunch due to the Covid-19 fallout, now find it difficult to fulfil these requirements.

Categories
National

Human chain against the ongoing rape of women and children in Basundia through the joint efforts of various social organizations.

In the wake of Corona’s fatigue, where ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet, a group of low-minded human-like beasts have awakened across the country.

Every day, women in different parts of the country are the victims of their low mentality; even the children are not getting relief there.

An epidemic of violence against women, sexual harassment and rape is rampant across the country to increase the prevalence of their reckless nature.

This is destroying the dignity of thousands of mothers and sisters as well as the image of a healthy society.

An anti-rape human chain has been organized in Basundia by 5 organizations Basundia Press Club, Sonali Shapna Academy, Pasa asi amra, Bot Bokho, Jungle Badhal Youth Association to protest against this rape, violence against women and demand exemplary severe punishment for the rapists.

On Saturday morning, October 10 2020, public gatherings with banners of all these organizations started taking place at Basundia corner of Jessore.

During the moment, the organizations displayed various anti-rape posters and banners. With the passage of time, the protests at the Basundiya junction in Jessore became vocal.

Besides, the people of the movement were obsessed with different slogans. Thousands of people are protesting in this protest procession.

At this time, all human chain workers demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of violence against women across the country. Also demand the death penalty for all rapists.

Imdadul Haque: Jessore.