Joel Ahmed

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/17/what-is-the-government-doing-to-protect-padma-bridge What is the government doing to protect Padma Bridge? Ali Asif Shawon Published at 11:45 pm August 17th, 2021 Lighted buoys floated, ferries to be upgraded, operators to be under army surveillance The Padma Bridge is not just a mere construction project but a symbol of hope and progress for a developing country like Bangladesh. The mega project is expected to boost the country's GDP by 1.2% once it opens for public use, which is likely next year. However, as unfortunate as it sounds, the pier caps of the bridge have been hit by ferries on different occasions in the recent past, the latest being on August 13. Although the collisions did not cause any infrastructural damage to the dream bridge, such repeated incidents do raise a lot of questions, speculations and fears. Following these recent developments, the government was forced to take several measures to ensure the protection of the Padma Bridge. A high-level meeting – attended by Shipping Ministry and Padma Bridge officials – was held on the night of the latest ferry collision incident to determine procedures to protect the bridge’s piers from collision with ferries. Then on Sunday, a lighted buoy was floated 3km south of spans 12 and 13 of the Padma Bridge to help ferries avoid colliding with the piers while passing under the bridge. The move came following a meeting between Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Inland Water Transport and Communication (BIWTC), Bangladesh Armed Forces, and the Bridge Authority. Individuals who attended the Shipping Ministry meeting, seeking anonymity, said that as the Padma Bridge would be opened for public use by next year, the pressure on ferries would decrease dramatically. Commenting on the proposal to relocate the Banglabazar ferry terminal to Majhirkandi ghat of Zajira in Shariatpur, they said: “It will involve a large sum of money to shift the terminal to a new place. At the same time, the relocation process will be quite lengthy.” According to experts, ferries from Banglabazar to Shimulia face a strong current immediately after passing through the Hajra channel just 1.3km away from the bridge. As a result of the current, it is difficult to control ferries on the turn and this has led to multiple collisions in the recent past. They observed that due to the construction of the bridge, the current of the river changed during the rainy season. A top official of the Shipping Ministry told Dhaka Tribune, “We have left the ferry issue on this route to the Bridge Authority, and they will decide when and how we can operate ferries on this route around the Padma Bridge,” When contacted, BIWTC Chairman Syed Md Tajul Islam said: “To protect the bridge, we will operate a very limited number of ferries on the Shimulia-Banglabazar route in Munshiganj. “Only five of our latest ferries will be operational this season. We suggest that all use the Paturia-Daulatdia route more.” “We have also floated lighted buoys to help ferry operators navigate better under the bridge,” the BIWTC chief added. Tajul Islam said that the Bangladesh Army would have all the information regarding ferry operators and would also bring them under surveillance with speedboats when necessary. “A powerful tugboat will be available near the Padma Bridge to help the ferries as well. “We have also instructed the ferries to immediately drop anchor whenever the weather turns bad,” he added. Last week, a ferry once again slammed into a pillar of the under-construction Padma Bridge, just four days after a similar incident had taken place. According to people familiar with the matter, the ferry named Kakoli lost control due to strong currents and hit the pillar instead of coming through pillars number 11 and 12. The incident occurred just hours before State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury’s scheduled visit to the Shimulia-Banglabazar waterway. Following the incident, he visited the Padma Bridge area and the Majhikandi ghat in Madaripur at around 10am. At the end of the visit, he said although there was no significant structural damage, the repeated incidents of ferries colliding into the Padma Bridge were quite jarring. Earlier, inquiries were initiated and operators were suspended over similar incidents on July 23 and August 9.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/opinions/unseen-traps-before-mic-graduation-1629220362 Unseen traps before MIC graduation? Khawaza Main Uddin | Published: August 17, 2021 23:12:42 A visibly well-intended regulation that has asked banks not to set interest rate on fixed deposits below the inflation rate has come as more of a puzzle. Protecting depositors' interest is the declared objective of this recent central-bank directive, but bankers express worries about losing profitability of banks. The Bangladesh Bank instruction and reaction to it, however, reinforce a popular concern that keeping savings (or easy money) as fixed deposits in banks is becoming an increasingly loss-making scheme. When inflation hovered around 5-6 per cent, interest rate decreased to 5.0 per cent or below, thanks to lending-rate cap at 9.0 per cent. Failure to maintain price stability is also acknowledged, perhaps inadvertently. The falling deposit rates give us a feeling that the country is heading towards a syndrome common in the developed countries where people are barely interested in depositing money with banks for a longer period not just because of lower returns but also imposition of wealth tax on idle money. Experts may have got an impression that the demand for banking credit has decreased all over Bangladesh and in a resulting lower investment scenario, there may be limited scope for boosting economic growth. That may be a matter of concern since, until the pandemic hit the world, Bangladesh was in the process of graduating to the next level of development - middle-income-country (MIC) status. Costs of living have surged by this time. The interest rate is yet another conundrum for measuring Bangladesh's development on paper and on the ground. Forget higher rates charged by microfinance institutions for their higher operational costs; the informal lending market in rural Bangladesh remains underreported or even unreported. Let's not believe either that unlicensed hedge financers are not on the prowl in urban areas. In mufassil (peri-urban) areas and villages, they charge up to 70 per cent interest a year and micro entrepreneurs and helpless people alike borrow money from the predators and turn bankrupt oftentimes. The trends indicate how a large section of savers want to make more money and they are obviously encouraged by the demand for credit in the so-called informal market. Does this bode well for the middle-income ambition of the nation? We may see, if we are willing to, a few more paradoxes after Bangladesh has overcome the challenge of 'test case' of development, a tag that was used mostly by foreigners. The source of the recent growth euphoria, albeit disparity and governance deficiency, is also more foreign than local. Some are trying to socially emerge as bhadrolok (gentlemen) in the sense that they would no longer do hard works for a comfortable living. There is labour shortage in agriculture and skills mismatch in industries, when millions are unemployed. We've denied to some extent the belief that a free flow of information brings transparency and accountability in social activities. This society is no less digitally informed than many other countries but trading with and abuse of drug, for example, have been rampant. If the recovery of valuables and illicit drugs during the raids and whitening of huge amount of black money in recent times are juxtaposed with the rise of new poor, what does this development look like? Policy-wise, the initiative for encouraging higher business competition and the one for establishing economic zones to attract foreign investment were taken almost simultaneously. While the zones are visible, the performance of the competition council can be mirrored in the volatile market. The drive for improving the investment climate is more focused on elevation of the country's position in the World Bank's ease-of-doing business index, rather than effectively consolidating homegrown institutions. Formal attempts are made from time to time to correct regulatory atmosphere, be those in areas of tax collection, addressing corruption, or reining in the underground economy, but selective actions get priority over universal principles. Countries sometimes find themselves trapped after attaining certain development, as defined by the World Bank as middle income status, in terms of income growth. As it's hard, in such a situation, to move forward, in a unique case, we may have fallen into a middle income trap before reaching the target. Still, the solution lies with people's engagement in development.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/businesses-look-beyond-border-grow-its-not-easy-289753#.YRvqDdLbRnI.facebook Jasim Uddin & Abbas Uddin Noyon 17 August, 2021, 10:40 pm Last modified: 17 August, 2021, 10:51 pm Businesses look beyond border to grow, but it’s not easy Political instabilities in host countries and persisting pandemic limit the gains expected from overseas investment of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, prompting some to pull out. Industry people say overseas investment is preferable to diversify export products and get more duty-free advantages across the globe to help Bangladesh overcome the looming challenges of the post-LDC graduation period. While some investors are already well on their way to become good performers in overseas businesses, others are preparing to go into production, but the pandemic has been a road bump on their way. Nevertheless, they are hoping to turn around in the coming days, they add. They also say some overseas investors are victims of political unrest in investment destinations such as Myanmar and Ethiopia. Investors and analysts also want Bangladesh authorities to ease the overseas investment rules to help enthusiastic entrepreneurs explore duty-free export benefits even after LDC graduation by prudent investment abroad. They also advised that businesses should carry out extensive research to identify potential areas of investment abroad to exploit global trade benefits. Not doing due diligence before investing in a foreign country, many businesses are now finding it difficult to sustain their investments. While some have been forced to pull out their investments, a few are performing well. In 2013, MJL Bangladesh Limited, as the first Bangladeshi company, formed a joint venture with a Myanmar-based petroleum company and invested $5.1 lakh in the neighbouring country. The company made good profit Initially. But a few years later, MJL started facing losses owing to the increasing political unrest in Myanmar, frequent policy changes and lack of accountability. Eventually, the company came back home by closing down its business in 2020 after suffering a massive loss. Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of MJL Bangladesh Limited and chairperson of East Coast Group, said rules and regulations in the country ruled by the junta are not business-friendly. Myanmar's exchange rate fluctuated so much that it became difficult for them to do business there, he added. "After withdrawing our investment from Myanmar, we started a business in Singapore and got good response there," he said, adding that they are now getting over 10% return alongside strengthening the company's global foothold. In another example of foreign investment, in 2018, the DBL Group set up a garment factory in Ethiopia's Tigray region to cash in on the country's duty-free access to the US market, low prices of land and cheap labour. The factory is also financially backed by Ethiopian Development Bank and Swedish fashion brand H&M. But conflict in the region in 2020 forced them to bring back its workers from Ethiopia after closing the factory. A reopening is still uncertain as the country's civil war rages on. On the other hand, some of them have to go through a long bureaucratic process in getting permission from the Bangladesh Bank for investment in foreign countries. As a result, some are unwilling to invest, while some others lose the opportunity owing to this lengthy process, they point out. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Research Director Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said it is a welcome move by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to make a multinational brand of their companies, which will also help them gain confidence. Investors should conduct an in-depth study on their investment destinations, focusing on ease of doing business, investment situation, market access opportunity, and political stability in the countries. Investment under a joint-venture project will be the best solution for that, he added. The economist said Bangladesh should form an "outer investment wing" and formulate a complete policy on overseas investments. In the absence of a policy, such investments are currently given permission on a case-to-case basis by a committee of the central bank. He suggests the wing will choose investment destinations, taking into consideration taxation and other policies there, and bilateral business relations with Bangladesh to ensure the repatriation of investment. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) President Rizwan Rahman said, "Bangladesh should follow India's model of overseas investments." Indian firms are allowed to invest abroad through mergers and acquisitions. This process helps Indian companies to get direct access to newer and more extensive markets and better technologies, which would enable them to increase their customer base and achieve a global reach. Meghna Group operations director Md Lutful Bari said, "The government should allow outbound investment from Bangladesh as a preparedness part to overcome LDC graduation challenges." Otherwise, some sectors might lose their competitiveness without duty-free market access, he added. The good performers Sparrow Group, a Bangladeshi apparel exporter, invested in Jordan in 2007 by forming a joint venture company with one of the leading Indian garment manufacturers. Shovon Islam, managing director of Sparrow Group, said, "We established the factory to produce some high-value garments for the US market at the Jordan export processing zone." Their pandemic-affected factory in Jordan is now recovering to normal as US stores have reopened, he added. Some 1600 Bangladeshi and 500 local people are now working in the factory, he also said adding, "Our annual turnover was $70 million. SEBPO, formerly known as ServicEngineBPO, is a leading global outsourcing partner to many of the world's largest advertising, media, and technology companies. The company is also doing well after recovering from a bad turn during the pandemic as their business mainly depends on the US economy. SEBPO is a sister concern of Abdul Monem Group. ASM Mohiuddin Monem, deputy managing director of Abdul Monem Group, said SEBPO is investing to expand its client base in European countries and the Middle East. SEBPO specialises in ad operations, creative services, data solutions, media planning, and quality assurance. The company offers industry expertise and process governance so organisations can scale, innovate, and control costs. Akij Group, one of the leading private sector conglomerates in the country, took over a Malaysian company named Robin Resources for $20 million. The company fetched a good return from the investment. Sk Bashiruddin, managing director of Akij Group, said they did not face new challenges in running the business as they acquired an old company. The return on the equity investment is satisfactory. At present, more than 500 people are working in it. Investors hoping to do well To go global, Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the domestic pharma giant, completed construction of its manufacturing plant in the Kenyan capital Nairobi at a cost of $17 million in 2017. All necessary infrastructure is also ready. But the manufacturing is yet to start because of the pandemic. Company officials say they had a target to start production in the Kenyan factory in 2020, but that did not happen as infrastructural work remained suspended for some time because of the pandemic. Now, all work has finished. Manufacturing will start soon. Square looks to get hold of the $30 million drug market in Kenya and five other East African countries – Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan – and fulfil the unmet demands of medicines in those countries. Similarly, ACI Group invested $100 million in 2015 to grab a huge drug market in the United States. The group completed the construction of the automated factory two years ago as per the specifications of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). But the company has not yet gone into production. An official at ACI Group said the last factory visit of the USFDA delegation was scheduled for June 2020 after all the equipment was installed, but the pandemic stalled that process. As a result, production is being delayed. In 2016, the Bangladesh Bank gave approval to BSRM for investing in the steel sector in Kenya. Subject to fulfilling some conditions, the company was permitted to invest $4.6 million from its balance in the export retention quota to build a factory in the country. BSRM was supposed to go into production by buying shares of Kenya East Africa Steel Limited, a joint-venture formed with the investment money. It also initially set a target of producing five lakh tonnes of MS rods a year to capture the African market. But the company could not start setting up the factory even five years after getting approval. Shekhar Ranjan Kar, chief financial officer of the group and company secretary of BSRM, told The Business Standard that they are facing trouble in purchasing land in Kenya. It is very difficult to complete all works complying with rules and regulations of that country. The process is being disrupted because of Covid-19. The way things are going, it will take at least another three years to set up the factory and go into production, Shekhar added. Companies yet to go for investment even after approval Getting approval from Bangladesh to invest abroad is a very tough task. Many companies could not go for investment in foreign countries because of a long delay in securing approval caused by bureaucratic tangles or policies of those countries were no longer conducive to them. Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of the leading drugmakers in the country, applied to Bangladesh Bank, seeking permission to invest in Sri Lanka. When the company got the permission after a long delay, the opportunity to invest in Sri Lanka was lost, said Salman F Rahman, Prime Minister's adviser on private industry and investment, in a recent virtual discussion. Earlier, in 2014, Incepta Pharmaceuticals was allowed to invest outside the country. The company was supposed to form a joint-venture company in Estonia initially. But the approval is the only thing they got out of the effort because of tough conditions imposed by the government. Abdul Muktadir, chairman and managing director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd, said the Bangladesh Bank set 20-22 conditions for investment abroad. It is not possible to invest under those.

Bangladesh should focus on RCEP bloc.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/outbound-investments-5-forex-reserve-cards-289750 Abul Kashem 17 August, 2021, 10:40 pm Last modified: 17 August, 2021, 10:46 pm Outbound investments up to 5% of forex reserve on cards According to a draft overseas investment guideline, the govt will allow local companies, SMEs and NGOs with outbound investments to enlist in foreign stock markets The government is set to provide outbound investment opportunities to local exporters and any company running their business in the domestic market for 10 years. This opportunity will be extended to small and medium enterprises interested in establishing backward and forward linkage industries, along with NGOs with a reputation for working towards society's betterment and improving people's quality of life in Bangladesh. The government will allow local companies with outbound investments to enlist in foreign stock markets too. However, Bangladesh's total outbound investment in a single fiscal year will not exceed 5% of the central bank's foreign exchange reserves for that particular fiscal year. After finalising the "Overseas Investment Guideline 2021" with such provisions and more, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) will submit it to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for approval, said Bida Executive Chairman Md Sirazul Islam. The guideline will come into effect following the final approval at the cabinet meeting, he added while responding to The Business Standard through WhatsApp from the USA. According to the draft guideline, exporters will be able to make outbound investments reaching up to 25% of their average exports in the past five years. Other companies and NGOs will be able to invest up to 25% of their net assets – per their latest audited balance sheet. Companies seeking to invest more than these amounts can apply for the opportunity along with a proper rationale behind their decision. If needed, the Bangladesh government will allow such companies to make outbound investments against bank guarantees. Providing more details, Sirazul said, "The guideline is a very important and sensitive document. That is why we are consulting as many stakeholders as possible before finalising it from our end. "Once it is approved, I think it will meet a long-standing demand of the private sector entrepreneurs, and it will definitely help build a brighter image of Bangladesh in the international arena." He continued, "The guideline is still under process. Bida may be able to finalise it soon, but it has to go through several other processes. We will send it to the PMO. After scrutiny, the PMO will hold an inter-ministerial meeting to discuss and finalise this guideline. "It will then be sent to the Cabinet Division for further discussion and approval. While going through this process, the guideline might witness changes, refinement and reorganisation. If the cabinet approves, the guideline will be published in a government gazette." What are the conditions? Addressing the criteria for eligibility, the guideline's third amended draft says a company interested in making outbound investments must possess $5 million worth of net assets – reflected by their audited balance sheets in the last five years. The government will consider providing SMEs with the same opportunity based on solvency certificates provided by banks. A company seeking to invest overseas in a particular sector must have at least three years of business or manufacturing experience in that field, and of the three years, at least two must be profitable. This rule will be relaxed for ICT entrepreneurs. Companies with unpaid taxes, import costs, and defaulted loans will not be allowed to invest overseas. The regulators will also take legal action under the money laundering prevention act against any company found to be wasting funds in the name of outbound investment. The draft says an inter-ministerial committee – headed by the Bida executive chairman – will be formed to review outbound investment proposals and submit recommendations to the Bangladesh Bank for final approval. However, overseas investments up to $1 million will not require the committee's recommendation. Organisations approved for investing overseas will be able to take out loans from their mother companies, Bangladeshi banks, or from any commercial banks in the countries they are investing in. During the initial phase, these organisations will be allowed to operate under the 70:30 debt-to-capital ratio. They will also be able to provide corporate, personal or any other property located in Bangladesh as a guarantee to finance their overseas projects. No concrete guidelines exist now Responding to a query, several officials from the Bangladesh Bank and Bida said the country presently has no concrete guidelines regarding Bangladeshi companies' outbound investments. Interested organisations presently apply to the central bank for permission. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs – led by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal – reviews these applications and gives recommendations to the regulator for approval. Bangladesh, for the first time in 2013, permitted Mobil-Jamuna Group to invest $5.10 million overseas. Since then, a few more companies such as the DBL Group, Beximco Pharma, Square Pharmaceuticals and Akij Group have received the opportunity to invest overseas.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/golden-harvest-launches-e-commerce-platform-289231#.YRqKXtYBJ6Q.facebook Mahfuz Ullah Babu 16 August, 2021, 09:25 pm Last modified: 17 August, 2021, 12:58 pm Golden Harvest launches e-commerce platform The company eyes a fair share of the service market for booking restaurant, and delivering food, grocery and medicine Golden Harvest Group has inaugurated their e-commerce venture Golden Harvest Survus Ltd that eyes a fair share in the potential service market for restaurant booking, food delivery as well as grocery and medicine delivery. Its food services wing Servus Foods is already open for the customers with around 150 capital city restaurants onboard by now. Listed food processing company Golden Harvest Agro Industries Ltd owns 45% of the e-commerce company against its capital contribution of Tk5 crore, according to its regulatory filings. Golden Harvest Infotech Ltd, a leading IT outsourcing firm of the group, joined the venture as the technology partner and owns 40% shares, while two individual professionals own the remaining shares. Chartered accountant Abuzer Ghaffari is one of the two individual shareholders, who is also serving Servus as the Operations Director of Foods. He told The Business Standard their venture has a huge potential to grow in coming years, and they are committed to uphold "Golden Harvest standard for quality" in the services too. Servus Foods and the market Golden Harvest Servus began its journey with its food services on Monday, said Ghaffari. "Amid the pandemic, restaurants are suffering and food delivery services have saved their days so far. We are entering into agreements with them to not charge more than 15% in commission until the pandemic is over," he said while explaining the way Servus is planning to penetrate into the burgeoning food delivery sector seeing intensified competition among five large players who charge restaurants 12-30% commission. "Servus will deliver your ordered food within 25-40 minutes and we are selecting restaurants based on the quality of their food," he said. Delivery fees will not cross Tk29 and every restaurant will offer attractive discounts to customers over the first 3-6 months. Food delivery is booming in Dhaka as the number of daily orders served has roughly doubled amid the pandemic while joint efforts by the delivery platforms and restaurants are costing ordered food less than what it used to be for dining-in. Uber Eats, the food delivery platform of the global ride sharing giant, left the market in its early stage while observers believe that it was due to the competitive scenario. Responding to a question regarding profitability, Ghaffari said apparently it seems to be a cash burning business, but a popular platform can enjoy multiple streams of revenue that include advertisement from the restaurant partners on top of their commission on order value. Number of daily served orders is yet to cross the number for 1% of Dhaka's population and Ghaffari feels the market would significantly grow in coming years with the increasing purchasing power and a changing lifestyle. "This is just the beginning and the entire potential is ahead," he said. Dining-in and table booking Servus also launched its restaurant booking services that would see a fair demand in popular restaurants as customers can pre-book tables, pre-order items from the menu uploaded in the app, said Servus Foods Operations Director Ghaffari. The business would flourish once the pandemic is over, he hopes, as there would be good deals for both the restaurants and diners. "You will not have to come back from a restaurant without enjoying the desired food items," he added. Home delivery of grocery and medicine is also in a rising popularity and Servus plans to enter there as soon as it secures a good start in food services. Mother company making losses Golden Harvest Agro Industries, a public company that is a leading name in the food processing industry of the country, especially in ready to cook frozen foods. It also expanded its wings in ice-cream and is working to establish a cold chain network. However, the pandemic hurt its consolidated sales significantly and its revenue for the July 2020-March 2021 period nearly halved to Tk37.7 crore, while a hike in selling and distribution cost along with other determined elements pushed the listed firm post Tk0.85 loss per share, against Tk0.6 profit per share over the same period a year ago. Golden Harvest Agro Industries shares, having face value of Tk10 each, fell by 2.3% to close at Tk21.6 in the Dhaka Stock Exchange on Monday.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/এয়ার-বাবল:-ভারতের-সঙ্গে-ফ্লাইট-চালু-শুক্রবার-1629208529 এয়ার বাবল: ভারতের সঙ্গে ফ্লাইট চালু শুক্রবার Published: August 17, 2021 19:55:29 ‘এয়ার বাবল’ চুক্তির আওতায় শুক্রবার থেকে ভারতের সঙ্গে বিমান চলাচল শুরু হবে বলে জানিয়েছেন পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী এ কে আব্দুল মোমেন। খবর বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমের। মঙ্গলবার ঢাকায় ভারতীয় হাই কমিশনার বিক্রম দোরাইস্বামীর উপস্থিতিতে এক অনুষ্ঠানে সাংবাদিকদের প্রশ্নে একথা জানান তিনি। পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী বলেন, “২০ অগাস্ট থেকে শুরু হবে। বাংলাদেশে অনেক রোগীর দিক থেকে এখানে প্রচুর চাহিদা রয়েছে। আমরা সেজন্য ভারতকে অনুরোধ করেছিলাম। ভারত এক্ষেত্রে রাজি হওয়ায় তাদেরকে ধন্যবাদ জানাই।” বিশেষ পরিস্থিতিতে নিয়মিত ফ্লাইট বন্ধের সময় দুটি দেশ যখন বিশেষ ব্যবস্থায় নিজেদের মধ্যে বিমান যোগাযোগ স্থাপন করে, তাকে ‘এয়ার বাবল’ বলে। করোনাভাইরাস মহামারীর মধ্যে গত বছরের অক্টোবরে ভারতের সঙ্গে ‘এয়ার বাবল’ চুক্তির আওতায় বিমান চলাচল শুরু করেছিল বাংলাদেশ। এরপর চলতি বছরের এপ্রিলে মহামারীর কারণে ভারতে বিপর্যস্ত অবস্থার কারণে বিশেষ ব্যবস্থার ওই বিমান চলাচল বন্ধ হয়ে যায়। মঙ্গলবার ঢাকায় রাষ্ট্রীয় অতিথি ভবন পদ্মায় ভারত সরকারের উপহারের অ্যাম্বুলেন্স হস্তান্তর অনুষ্ঠানে এয়ার বাবল পুনরায় চালুর খবর দেন পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী মোমেন। অনুষ্ঠানে ভারত থেকে অক্সফোর্ড-অ্যাস্ট্রাজেনেকার টিকা সরবরাহের অগ্রগতি জানতে চাইলে তার কোনো দিনক্ষণ জানাতে পারেননি ভারতীয় হাই কমিশনার দোরাইস্বামী। তিনি বলেন, “এটা এখন ভারতের চাহিদা মেটানোর প্রক্রিয়ায় আছে। আমাদের কোভিড পরিস্থিতির অবনতি হওয়ায় আমরা ভারতের চাহিদা মেটানোর দিকে মনোযোগ দিয়েছিলাম। “এর মধ্যে আমরা অক্সিজেনসহ অন্যান্য চিকিৎসা সামগ্রী পাঠানোর কাজ এতদিন করেছিলাম। আশা করি, ভারতে আমাদের চাহিদা মিটে গেলে বাংলাদেশেও পাঠানো শুরু হবে।” ভারতের সেরাম ইনস্টিটিউটে উৎপাদিত অ্যাস্ট্রাজেনেকার টিকা দিয়ে গত ফেব্রুয়ারিতে বাংলাদেশে গণটিকাদান শুরু হয়েছিল। সেরাম ইনস্টিটিউটে তৈরি কোভিশিল্ড টিকার ৩ কোটি ডোজ কিনতে চুক্তি করেছিল সরকার। কিন্তু ৭০ লাখ ডোজ আসার পর ভারত রপ্তানিতে নিষেধাজ্ঞা দিলে আর চালান আসেনি। ভারত থেকে কেনা টিকা পাঠানো নিয়ে কাজ চলছে মন্তব্য করে দোরাইস্বামী বলেন, “আমরা বলছি না, আমাদের সরবরাহ নাই। ভারতে সঙ্কট মিটে গেলে আমরা পাঠাব। “আমরা বলছি, যখনই সম্ভব হবে আমরা টিকা পাঠাব। কারণ, বাংলাদেশ আমাদের অগ্রাধিকার তালিকায় আছে। বাংলাদেশ টিকা কেনার বিষয়ে প্রতিশ্রুতিবদ্ধ। আমরা এটা নিয়ে কাজ করছি।”

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/multimodal-connectivity-key-boosting-trade-bbin-sub-region-stakeholders-289714#.YRvRx6NHtQA.facebook TBS Report 17 August, 2021, 09:05 pm Last modified: 17 August, 2021, 09:13 pm Multimodal connectivity key to boosting trade in BBIN sub-region: Stakeholders They say the existing trade and connectivity are very poor compared to potential Multimodal connectivity involving road, river, sea, and air routes is needed to enhance trade in the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) sub-region, speakers told a virtual meeting Tuesday. They said the sub-region's existing trade and connectivity are very poor compared to potential. Addressing the event organised jointly by Unnayan Shamannay and India's Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International, former governor of the Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman said despite huge potential, trade among the BBIN countries is much lower than that among the European Union members and also among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) states. He said enhancing trade connectivity among the BBIN countries would benefit not only the business community but also the people of the sub-region. It would also have positive impacts on employment, domestic demand mobilisation, and the macroeconomic situation as a whole, added Atiur, also the chairperson of Unnayan Shamannay. He urged all stakeholders in the BBIN countries to enhance trade and collaboration in the context of recovery from the coronavirus-induced economic shock. "Multimodal connectivity is our target so that we can integrate the supply chains in the region further," he added. During his visit to Bangladesh in March this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina emphasised robust regional connectivity to expand trade. He lauded Hasina's initiatives for multimodal connectivity. Bangladesh at the time sought greater access to the Indian territory to connect with Nepal and Bhutan and requested Delhi to approve the new routes. Both leaders stressed the need for signing a trilateral memorandum of understanding involving Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to implement the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement. Dr Khondoker Golam Moazzem, research director at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, told Tuesday's programme Bangladesh had achieved success in bilateral ties but not in regional connectivity. He said at least one instance of success is needed in this respect and also shed light on the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement. He said India, Nepal, and Bhutan should contribute to developing trade infrastructure in Bangladesh as they would also benefit from that. The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement was signed in 2015 to facilitate unrestricted cross-border movement of cargo, passengers, and personal vehicles among the four countries. Under the agreement, trucks carrying export-import or transit cargo can move within the territories of other countries without trans-shipping to local trucks at border land ports. But the agreement's implementation is delayed as the countries are working to clarify some of the provisions that are supposed to be elaborated in protocols. "Unless Bangladeshi trucks directly carry export goods to their destinations, export volumes will not pick up. We want to send goods to India directly via ships," Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chief executive officer at Pran Group, told the event. Neelima Akhter, additional secretary to the Road Transport and Highways Division, pointed out that along with dealing with infrastructural challenges, the discourse on trade connectivity among the BBIN countries should ensure adequate attention to inter-country tax management issues. Commodore Golam Sadque, chairman at Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, emphasised the role of private sector innovation to further facilitate trans-boundary trade in the sub-region. Matlub Ahmed, president at the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed further research and dialogue on trans-boundary trade and commerce. He said private sector linkages among the BBIN nations need to be facilitated. Robart Shuvro Guda, Unnayan Shamannay's lead economist, shared the challenges and prospects of multimodal connectivity based on findings from a survey conducted on four land ports, four river ports, three sea ports, and a trade hub in Bangladesh. Since January last year, CUTS International, with support from the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has been implementing a project titled "Enabling a Political Economy Discourse for Multi-modal Connectivity in the BBIN Sub-region (M-Connect)". Unnayan Shamannay, Bhutan Media and Communications Institute, and Nepal Economic Forum are the project partners. The project partners have identified four critical transport corridors in the BBIN sub-region and have conducted primary and secondary research in more than 50 strategic locations. The four proposed multimodal corridors are Kathmandu to Chattogram or Mongla via Banglabandha; Kathmandu to Visakhapatnam via Kolkata-Haldia; Bhutan or Northeast India to Mongla or Chattogram via Jogighopa, Tamabil; and Kolkata to Agartala via Benapole, Chattogram, Ashuganj, Akhaura. The research conducted by the project partners provides critical information on the current status of infrastructure and connectivity of the four corridors, the existing gaps, and also ways to mitigate infrastructure and other gaps in the BBIN sub-region with respect to taking the multimodal connectivity discourse forward.

https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/17/38107 ডিজিটাল প্ল্যাটফর্মে উগ্রবাদী কন্টেন্টের ছড়াছড়ি এম আবুল কালাম আজাদ প্রকাশিত ০৮:২৪ রাত আগস্ট ১৭, ২০২১ ফেসবুকে উগ্রবাদী গ্রুপ থেকে নেওয়া ঢাকা ট্রিবিউন উগ্রপন্থীরা সারফেস ওয়েবকে ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ মনে করে, তাই তারা ধীরে ধীরে ডার্কনেট অ্যাক্সেসের দিকে ঝুঁকছে চলতি বছরের ৭ আগস্ট “জিহাদে যোগ দেওয়ার ৪৪টি উপায়” শিরোনামের একটি ভিডিও সামাজিক যোগাযোগ মাধ্যমে আপলোড করা হয়েছিল। “ইবনে নুহাশ” নামে একটি নকল অ্যাকাউন্ট থেকে পোস্ট করা সাড়ে তিন মিনিটের ওই ভিডিওটি আরবি ভাষণ দিয়ে শুরু হয়েছিল, যেখানে পবিত্র কাবা এবং অশ্বারোহী যোদ্ধাদের দেখানো হয়েছিল যারা মরুভূমিতে যুদ্ধ করছে। এরপরেই ছিল খুতবার বাংলা ব্যাখ্যা। মাত্র এক মাস আগে খোলা ওই প্রোফাইলের বেশিরভাগ বিষয়বস্তু, পাঠ্য বা অডিও-ভিজ্যুয়াল মূলত জিহাদ এবং যুদ্ধ প্রশিক্ষণের বিষয় নিয়ে। প্রোফাইলটির লিস্টে বন্ধুর সংখ্যা ১,৮৫৭। ওই অ্যাকাউন্টের ব্যবহারকারী সম্প্রতি ৩০টি ইসলামিক বইয়ের একটি তালিকা পোস্ট করে। যার মধ্যে অনেক গণতন্ত্র ও গণতান্ত্রিক শাসকদের নিন্দা করা হয়েছে এবং কোনো কোনটির বিষয়বস্তু শুধুমাত্র “জিহাদ”। “মোহাম্মদ বিন কাসিম” নামে আরেক ফেসবুক অ্যাকাউন্ট মানুষকে বিভ্রান্ত করার জন্য এবং তাদের উগ্র মতাদর্শের দিকে ঠেলে দেওয়ার জন্য নিয়মিত ছবি, ভিডিও এবং অন্যান্য বিষয়বস্তু পোস্ট করে। তার অনেক পোস্টেই সরাসরি “হাতে অস্ত্র তুলে নেওয়া” এবং “জিহাদের জন্য প্রস্তুত হওয়ার” আহ্বান জানানো হয়েছে। তবে এসব কিছুই একটি বপরিকল্পনার সামান্য অংশ মাত্র। এসব ব্যবহারকারী আইনশৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনীর চোখ এড়ানোর জন্য এবং নকল অ্যাকাউন্ট খোলার জন্য ভিপিএন এবং বিশেষ ব্রাউজার ব্যবহার করে। তাদের উদ্দেশ্য ফেসবুকের বন্ধুদের মধ্যে জিহাদি বিষয়বস্তু ছড়িয়ে দেওয়া। দু’টি অ্যাকাউন্টই নকল কিন্তু তারা সফলভাবে আল কায়েদার মতাদর্শ প্রচার করে বেড়াচ্ছে। আল কায়েদা এবং ইসলামিক স্টেটের (আইএস) মতাদর্শ প্রচারের জন্য এই ধরনের প্রচুর আসল-নকল এবং দেশি-বিদেশি ফেসবুক অ্যাকাউন্ট বাংলাদেশিদের হাত দিয়ে পরিচালিত হচ্ছে। যেহেতু ফেসবুক বাংলাদেশিদের মধ্যে অত্যন্ত জনপ্রিয় তাই এখনও চরমপন্থীরা এই প্ল্যাটফর্মটি ব্যবহার করে তাদের কর্মকাণ্ড পরিচালনার উপযুক্ত এলাকা বলে মনে করছে। যদিও ফেসবুকের তার প্ল্যাটফর্ম থেকে সব ধরনের উগ্র বিষয়বস্তু সরিয়ে নেওয়ার নীতি আছে। এছাড়াও তরুণদের আকৃষ্ট করা ও জিহাদের প্রচারে অসংখ্য আইপি, ওয়েবসাইট, ফোরাম, ব্লগ এবং বার্তা চ্যানেল রয়েছে যা বাংলা বিষয়বস্তুতে পূর্ণ এবং যার মাধ্যমে বাংলাদেশে এবং অন্যত্র “আল্লাহর শাসন” প্রতিষ্ঠা করা যায়। এসব চরমপন্থী গোষ্ঠীর নিজস্ব আইপি-ও (ইন্টারনেট প্রটোকল) আছে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, যে আইপি ব্যবহার করে “গাজওয়াতুল হিন্দ” নামে একটি প্ল্যাটফর্ম চালানো হচ্ছে, সেটি সম্ভবত ধর্মীয়, মৌলবাদী এবং জিহাদি বিষয়বস্তুর সবচেয়ে বড় ভাণ্ডার। সেখানে থাকা সব বিষয়বস্তু পড়ে শেষ করতে অন্তত কয়েক মাস সময় প্রয়োজন। প্রতিটি মৌলবাদী প্ল্যাটফর্মের মতো, গাজওয়াতুল হিন্দ শত শত অন্যান্য প্ল্যাটফর্মের সঙ্গে এসব লিঙ্ক শেয়ার করে। যা সক্রিয়ভাবে উগ্র মতাদর্শ প্রচার করে। এদের মধ্যে একটি হলো “মুওয়াহদিদুন” নামে একটি ব্লগ, যেখানে অনলাইন জিহাদে যোগ দিতে ইচ্ছুকদের জন্য বিভিন্ন নির্দেশিকা শেয়ার করা হয়। সেখানে কীভাবে একাকি একজন মুজাহিদ হিসেবে কাজ করা সম্ভব তার নির্দেশনা দেওয়া হয়। ফোরামে ৩২টি মিডিয়া প্ল্যাটফর্মের লিঙ্ক রয়েছে যা একটি আর্কাইভ সেকশনসহ বিভিন্ন মৌলবাদী এবং জিহাদি গোষ্ঠীর মাধ্যমে পরিচালিত। আর্কাইভগুলোর রেকর্ডের মধ্যে, ২৪ জন বাংলাদেশির একটি তালিকা রয়েছে। যারা ’৮০-র দশকে সোভিয়েত সৈন্যদের সঙ্গে লড়াইয়ের সময় আফগানিস্তানে মারা গিয়েছিল। সেখানে একটি নোটে লেখা আছে, “যেসব বাংলাদেশি মার্কিন সেনাদের বিরুদ্ধে যুদ্ধ করেছেন এবং মারা গেছেন তাদের নাম শিগগিরই প্রকাশ করা হবে।” alfirdaws.org-কে দেখলে একটি নিউজ সাইটের মতো মনে হয়। কিন্তু প্রকৃতপক্ষে এটি একটি মৌলবাদী সাইট যা এশিয়া, আফ্রিকা এবং মধ্যপ্রাচ্যে জিহাদি গোষ্ঠীর আক্রমণ এবং বিভিন্ন কার্যকলাপ সম্পর্কিত নিবন্ধ প্রকাশ করে থাকে। তাদের সাম্প্রতিক নিবন্ধগুলোর মধ্যে একটিতে কীভাবে আল-শাবাবের মুজাহিদিন, পূর্ব আফ্রিকার আল-কায়েদা সমর্থিত জিহাদি গোষ্ঠী, উগান্ডার সৈন্যদের সঙ্গে যুদ্ধরত এলাকা দখল করে তার বর্ণনা দেওয়া আছে। ২০১৯ সালের মাঝামাঝি সময়ে আইসল্যান্ড থেকে চালু করা এই সাইটটি বিভিন্ন দেশে বসবাসকারী বাংলাদেশিদের একটি গোষ্ঠীর মাধ্যমে পরিচালিত হচ্ছে। দেশেও তাদের উল্লেখযোগ্য সংখ্যক পাঠক রয়েছে। এই প্ল্যাটফর্মগুলোর অধিকাংশই পরস্পর সংযুক্ত, একে অপরের বিষয়বস্তু শেয়ার করে এবং নেটওয়ার্ক সম্প্রসারণের জন্য নিজেদের কার্যক্রম প্রচার করে। এদের মধ্যে কেউ প্রকাশ্যে সব শেয়ার করে আবার কেউ গোপনে। গত কয়েক মাস ধরে ঢাকা ট্রিবিউন এ ধরনের প্রায় এক ডজন মৌলবাদী প্ল্যাটফর্মের ওপর গবেষণা করে জেনেছে, এই প্ল্যাটফর্মগুলো খুবই সক্রিয় এবং ঘন ঘন বাংলা কন্টেন্ট আপলোড করে। এর মধ্যে এমন কিছু বিষয় রয়েছে যা বর্তমান সরকার এবং আইন প্রয়োগকারী সংস্থাকে তাঘুত (ইসলামি পরিভাষায় যা ঈশ্বর ব্যতীত অন্য উপাসনাকে নির্দেশ করে) এবং ইসলামপ্রেমীদের বিরুদ্ধে যাওয়ার জন্য তাদের সমালোচনা করে লেখা প্রকাশ করে। কিছু বিষয়বস্তু স্পষ্টভাবে সরকারকে ক্ষমতাচ্যুত করে “ইসলামি শাসন কায়েমের” ইঙ্গিত দেয়। ২০১২ সাল থেকে র্যাডিক্যাল নেটওয়ার্ক ট্র্যাকিং করা সাইবার নিরাপত্তা বিশ্লেষক তানভীর হাসান জোহা বলেন, “এই মহামারির সময়েও শত শত প্ল্যাটফর্ম তৈরি হয়েছে যেগুলো নতুন প্রজন্মের চরমপন্থীদের জন্ম দিয়েছে।” অপ্রতুল পর্যবেক্ষণ ও অপপ্রচার মোকাবিলায় কোনো অফিসিয়াল প্ল্যাটফর্ম নেই আইন-শৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনী অনলাইনে মৌলবাদী কার্যকলাপের বিশাল সংখ্যার ওপর সহজে নজর রাখতে পারে না এবং তাদের সংখ্যাও কমাতে পারছে না। আশ্চর্যের বিষয় হলো, কোনো সরকারি সংস্থার মাধ্যমে মৌলবাদী প্ল্যাটফর্ম এবং তাদের উগ্রবাদী এবং জিহাদি কার্যকলাপ মোকাবিলা করার মতো প্ল্যাটফর্ম নেই। চরমপন্থীদের মোকাবিলায় নিবেদিত অনলাইন প্ল্যাটফর্মগুলো বহু বছর ধরে আলোচনায় রয়েছে কিন্তু কাউন্টার টেরোরিজম অ্যান্ড ট্রান্সন্যাশনাল ক্রাইম (সিটিটিসি) কর্মকর্তা আবদুল মান্নান বলেন, “একটি প্ল্যাটফর্ম বন্ধ করা হলে আরও অনেকগুলো মাথা চাড়া দিয়ে ওঠে।” তিনি বলেন, “আমরা প্ল্যাটফর্মগুলো ট্র্যাক করে শাটডাউন করি কিন্তু আসল কথা হলো মৌলবাদীরা দীর্ঘদিন এক প্ল্যাটফর্মে থাকে না। তারা নতুন নতুন প্ল্যাটফর্ম খুলে সেখানে চলে যায়। আরেকজন সিটিটিসি কর্মকর্তা বলেন, “ডিজিটালভাবে মৌলবাদীদের বিরুদ্ধে লড়াইয়ের জন্য আমাদের বেশ কয়েকটি শক্তিশালী ওয়েবসাইট এবং ফেসবুক পেজ থাকা উচিত। তা-না হলে শক্তিশালী হওয়ার জন্য মৌলবাদীরা নতুন সদস্যদের যুক্ত করতেই থাকবে।” উগ্রপন্থীরা ডার্কনেট ব্যবহার করে আইটি ফার্ম ব্যাকডোর প্রাইভেট লিমিটেডের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক তানভীর হাসান জোহা বলেন, “বছরের পর বছর ধরে যেসব নিদর্শন লক্ষ্য করা গেছে তার মধ্যে রয়েছে জঙ্গিরা নতুন প্রযুক্তি এবং সামাজিক মিডিয়া প্ল্যাটফর্মে সফলভাবে অভিযোজিত হয়ে বৃহৎ পরিসরে দর্শকদের কাছে পৌঁছায়।” গত বছর “হিযবুত তাহরির” একটি অনলাইন সেমিনারের আয়োজন করেছিল এবং তাদের ঘোষণার পোস্টারে নিষিদ্ধ এই সংগঠনটি “ডার্ক ওয়েব লিংক” ব্যবহার করে লোকজনকে লাইভ প্রোগ্রামে যোগ দেওয়ার আহ্বান করেছিল। জোহা বলেন, “উগ্রপন্থীরা এখন সারফেস ওয়েবকে ঝুঁকিপূর্ণ মনে করে। তাই তারা ধীরে ধীরে ডার্কনেট অ্যাক্সেসের দিকে ঝুঁকছে। অনেক বৈশ্বিক এবং আঞ্চলিক জিহাদি গোষ্ঠীই ইতোমধ্যে কয়েক বছর ধরে ডার্ক ওয়েবে ব্যবহার করছে। তাই এসব সন্ত্রাসবাদের বাস্তব চিত্র জানার জন্য আমাদের ডার্কনেটে চরমপন্থী গোষ্ঠীগুলোকে ট্র্যাক করতে হবে। https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uS9Irf4pwHg

https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2021/08/17/nasrul-hamid-breb-rural-consumers-have-reached-31-8-million Nasrul Hamid: BREB rural consumers have reached 31.8 million UNB Published at 06:23 pm August 17th, 2021 Power sector is playing a vital role in implementing the 'My Village-My City' program to fulfil the pledges of the prime minister, he says The number of consumers under the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) in the country’s rural areas has reached 31.8 million, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said on Tuesday. He also urged the power officials to improve their services to satisfy consumers. “Achieving customer satisfaction should be our main target now. You have to provide improved services to the doorsteps of the consumers,” he said while addressing a webinar organized by the BREB to observe the National Mourning Day 2021. The virtual seminar, with BREB Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Moin Uddin in the chair, was addressed by Power Secretary Habibur Rahman and Power Cell Director General Mohammad Hossain. Hamid said the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken various steps to provide electrification services to the rural areas considering the economic development of the rural people. “Erasing the difference between the urban and rural areas was the main goal of Bangabandhu,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working to achieve the goal through expanding modern amenities to the villages. The state minister said the power sector has been playing a vital role in implementing the “My Village-My City” program to fulfil the pledges of the prime minister. He also directed the BREB officials to use improved technologies in rural electrification as well as to encourage people to use energy-efficient appliances for ensuring economic consumption of power.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/cumilla-customs-submits-highest-online-returns-country-again-289642 TBS Report 17 August, 2021, 06:00 pm Last modified: 17 August, 2021, 06:05 pm Cumilla customs submits highest online returns in the country again Cumilla commissionerate sources on Tuesday stated that they were able to file a 95.33 per cent VAT return online in July Cumilla Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate has again come out on top in submitting the highest online returns in July in the country. Cumilla commissionerate sources on Tuesday stated that they were able to file a 95.33 per cent VAT return online in July. In this regard, Commissioner of Cumilla Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate Belal Hossain Chowdhury said, "Our repeated success streak is the result of the hard work, sincerity and strategy of everyone in the team. Our efforts will remain wholehearted towards the continuation of this success." The Cumilla commissionerate made history by submitting the highest online returns for 10 consecutive months till May this year and they have done so with only one-third of their manpower capacity. In the last financial year, Cumilla collected Tk 3,225 crore as customs and excise duty, which is the highest in its history. Earlier, a maximum of Tk 2,974 crore was collected in the 2018-19 financial year.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/bn/জঙ্গিদের-এখনকার-বোমা-‘দুর্বল’-ঠেকছে-পুলিশের-কাছে-1629180440 জঙ্গিদের এখনকার বোমা ‘দুর্বল’ ঠেকছে পুলিশের কাছে Published: August 17, 2021 12:07:20 | Updated: August 17, 2021 16:52:30 ১৬ বছর আগে সারাদেশে একযোগে বোমা হামলা চালিয়ে বাংলাদেশে নিজেদের অস্তিত্বের জানান দিয়েছিল জঙ্গিরা; তার ১১ বছর পর সামর্থ্যের সর্বোচ্চ প্রকাশ ঘটিয়েছিল গুলশান হামলার মধ্যদিয়ে। কিন্তু এখন জঙ্গিদের তৎপরতা আর তেমন দৃশ্যমান নয়। আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর টানা অভিযানে ‘সামর্থ্য হারানো’ জঙ্গিরা এখন বোমা তৈরিতেও দুর্বল হয়ে পড়েছে বলে দাবি করেছেন অ্যান্টি টেররিজম ইউনিটের পুলিশ সুপার ছানোয়ার হোসেন। দীর্ঘদিন বোমা নিষ্ক্রিয়করণ ইউনিটে মাঠ পর্যায়ে কাজের অভিজ্ঞতায় তিনি সোমবার বলেন, “আগে জঙ্গিরা যেসব বোমা তৈরি করত, তা অনেক শক্তিশালী ছিল। এমনকি ২০১৬ সালের হলি আর্টিজান বেকারিতে যেসব বোমা ব্যবহার করা হয়েছে, তাও শক্তিশালী ছিল। “কিন্তু এখন জঙ্গিরা যেসব বোমা তৈরি করছে, তা শক্তিশালী নয় এবং ত্রুটিপূর্ণ।” বাংলাদেশে জঙ্গিরা ভেতরে ভেতরে কাজ চালালেও তাদের সংগঠিত শক্তির প্রকাশ ঘটেছিল ২০০৫ সালের ১৭ অগাস্ট। সেদিন ৬৩ জেলায় একযোগে বোমা হামলা চালিয়ে আলোচনায় আসে জামায়াতুল মুজাহিদিন বাংলাদেশ (জেএমবি)। মূলত আফগানফেরত জঙ্গিরাই বাংলাদেশে জঙ্গি সংগঠন গড়ে তোলার ক্ষেত্রে মূল ভূমিকা পালন করেছিলেন। কিন্তু বিশ্বে পালাবদলে তালেবানকে ছাপিয়ে ইসলামিক স্টেটসের উঠে আসা বাংলাদেশের জঙ্গি তৎরতায়ও পালাবদল ঘটায়। জেএমবির শীর্ষনেতাদের ফাঁসির পর আইএসের মতাদর্শে গড়ে ওঠে নতুন দল, যাদের ‘নব্য জেএমবি’ বলে আখ্যায়িত করছে পুলিশ। ২০১৬ সালে হলি আর্টিজান বেকারিতে নব্য জেএমবিই হামলা চালিয়েছিল, যা বিশ্বজুড়ে আলোড়ন তোলে। এরপর আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর সাঁড়াশি অভিযানে জঙ্গিদের ডানা ভেঙে দেওয়া হয়েছে বলে দাবি করে আসছেন আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর কর্মকর্তারা; যদিও এর মধ্যেও কয়েকটি ছোটখাট বোমা বিস্ফোরণ ঘটিয়েছে জঙ্গিরা। ছানোয়ার জানান, জেএমবির ১০ থেকে ১২ জন আর নব্য জেএমবির ১০ থেকে ১২ জন বোমা তৈরির ‘কারিগর’ ছিল। জঙ্গিদের বোমা তৈরিতে দুর্বল হওয়ার কারণ কী- জানতে চাইলে তিনি বলেন, “এখন আর পুরোনো জেএমবির কেউ নেই। আর হলি আর্টিজান ঘটনার পর অনেকই নিহত হয়েছেন, অনেকে গ্রেপ্তার হয়েছেন। “আবার বোমা তৈরির করার উপাদান আগে যেভাবে পাওয়া যেত, এখন আর সেই পথও বন্ধ।” প্রশিক্ষণ এখন অনলাইনে আইনশৃঙ্খলা বাহিনীর কড়া নজরের কারণে জঙ্গিরা এখন তাদের যোগাযোগ রক্ষার পাশাপাশি এমনকি বোমা তৈরির প্রশিক্ষণও অনলাইনে নিচ্ছে বলে খবর পেয়েছেন গোয়েন্দারা। সম্প্রতি কাউন্টার টেরোরিজম এন্ড ট্রান্সন্যাশনাল ক্রাইম ইউনিট কয়েকজন জঙ্গিকে গ্রেপ্তার করে বলছে, তারা অনলাইনে বোমা তৈরি শিখেছে। গত ১ অগাস্ট যাত্রাবাড়ী থেকে সিটিটিসি শফিকুর রহমান হৃদয় ওরফে খাত্তাব ও খালিদ হাসান ভূইয়া ওরফে আফনান নামে নব্য জেএমবির দুই সদস্যকে গ্রেপ্তার করে। পরে সংবাদ সম্মেলনে সিটিটিসি প্রধান মো. আসাদুজ্জামান বলেন, এ বছরের ১৬ মে সাইনবোর্ড এলাকায় পুলিশের ট্রাফিক বক্সে যে বোমাটি রেখেছিল জঙ্গিরা, তা অনলাইনে তৈরি করা শিখিয়েছিলেন নব্য জেএমবির প্রশিক্ষক জাহিদ হাসান রাজু ওরফে ফোরকান। ‘রিমোট কন্ট্রোল প্যানেলে ত্রুটির’ কারণে সেদিন বোমাটি বিস্ফোরিত হয়নি। ১১ জুলাই নারায়ণগঞ্জ জেলার আড়াইহাজার থেকে আব্দুল্লাহ আল মামুনকে বোমা তৈরির সরঞ্জামসহ গ্রেপ্তার করে সিটিটিসি। পরে ১০ অগাস্ট কাফরুল থেকে ফোরকানসহ তিনজনকে গ্রেপ্তার করা হয়। অন্য দুজন হলেন- সাইফুল ইসলাম মারুফ ওরফে বাসিরা ও রুম্মান হাসান ফাহাদ ওরফে আবদুল্লাহ। ফোরকান সম্পর্কে সিটিটিসির প্রধান আসাদুজ্জামান বলেন, তিনি নব্য জেএমবির প্রধান প্রশিক্ষক ও বোমা প্রস্তুতকারক। ফোরকান জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে রসায়নে অনার্স শেষ করলেও মাস্টার্স করেননি। ২০১৬ সালে তিনি নব্য জেএমবিতে ভেড়েন বলে গোয়েন্দারা জানান। এক গোয়েন্দা কর্মকর্তা বলেন, “রসায়নের ছাত্র হওয়ায় ফোরকান অল্পদিনে গ্রেনেড ও বোমা বানাতে দক্ষ হয়ে উঠে। দলের বাছাইকৃত সদস্যদের বিভিন্ন টাইম বোমা ও রিমোট কন্ট্রোলড বোমা তৈরির প্রশিক্ষণ দিত সে অনলাইনে।” আগে জঙ্গিরা হাতে-কলমে বোমা তৈরি শিখলেও এখন তা শিখতে না পারাও তাদের বোমার দুর্বলতার কারণ, বলেন ওই গোয়েন্দা কর্মকর্তা। র‌্যাবের আইন ও গণমাধ্যম শাখার পরিচালক কমান্ডার খন্দকার আল মঈন বলেন, “ম্যানুয়েল আর অনলাইন যেভাবেই জঙ্গিরা কাজ করুক না কেন, সবকিছুই মনিটরিংয়ের আওতায় আনা হয়েছে এবং অনেককে গ্রেপ্তার করা হয়েছে।” ঢাকার ৯ মামলার ৫টি এখনও অনিষ্পন্ন দেড় দশক আগে সারাদেশে একযোগে জঙ্গিদের বোমা হামলার ঘটনায় ঢাকায় যে পাঁচটি মামলা হয়েছিল, তার পাঁচটির বিচার এখনও শেষ হয়নি। মামলাগুলো এখনও সাক্ষ্যগ্রহণের পর্যায়ে রয়েছে বলে জানিয়েছেন ঢাকার মহানগর পাবলিক প্রসিকিউটর আব্দুল্লাহ আবু। ওই হামলার ষোড়শ বার্ষিকীতে সোমবার খোঁজ নিতে গেলে তিনি বিডিনিউজ টোয়েন্টিফোর ডটকমকে এই তথ্য জানান। কী কারণে এত দেরি- প্রশ্ন করা হলে আব্দুল্লাহ আবু বলেন, “সাক্ষীদের হাজির করা সম্ভব হচ্ছে না বলে বিচার কাজে বিলম্ব হচ্ছে। এছাড়া কোভিড-১৯ এর কারণে আদালত বন্ধ থাকায় মামলার কার্যক্রমও বন্ধ ছিল।” তবে কোন মামলা কোনে আদালতে, কতজন সাক্ষ্য দিয়েছে, কারা সাক্ষ্য দিতে আসছে না, এসব প্রশ্নের উত্তর পাওয়া যায়নি তার কাছে। রাষ্ট্রের এই গুরুত্বপূর্ণ মামলার পরিপূর্ণ তথ্য না থাকার বিষয়ে রাষ্ট্রপক্ষের এই কৌঁসুলি বলেন, “সবকিছু তো আর মনে রাখা সম্ভব নয়। খোঁজ নিয়ে জানানো যাবে।” ২০০৫ সালের হামলার মূল লক্ষ্যবস্তু ছিল আদালত। সরকারি, আধা-সরকারি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ স্থাপনায় হামলা চালানো হয়। হামলায় দুজন নিহত হয়। আহত হয় দুই শতাধিক মানুষ। সেই ঘটনায় সারাদেশের বিভিন্ন থানায় ১৫৯টি মামলা দায়ের করে পুলিশ। এর মধ্যে ইতোমধ্যে ৯৩ নিষ্পত্তি হয়েছে। তাতে ৩৩৪ জনের বিভিন্ন মেয়াদে সাজা হয়েছে। দেশে এই পর্যন্ত ২৭ আসামিকে জঙ্গি সংশ্লিষ্টতার মামলায় ফাঁসির আদেশ দেওয়া হয়েছে। এর মধ্যে আটজনের ফাঁসির রায় কার্যকর হয়েছে। ২০০৭ সালের ২৯ মার্চ রাতে শীর্ষ জঙ্গি নেতা জেএমবির আমির শায়খ আবদুর রহমান, সিদ্দিকুল ইসলাম বাংলাভাই, খালেদ সাইফুল্লাহ, আতাউর রহমান সানি, আবদুল আউয়াল, ইফতেখার হাসান আল মামুনের মৃত্যুদণ্ড কার্যকর করা হয়। ১৫৯টি মামলার মধ্যে বাকি ৬৬টি মামলা এখনও বিচারাধীন। এসব মামলায় মোট আসামির সংখ্যা ৪০০। সব আসামিকে পুলিশ গ্রেপ্তারও করতে পারেনি। পুলিশ সদর দপ্তরের তথ্য অনুযায়ী, ১৫৯টি মামলায় ১ হাজার ১৩১ জনকে অভিযুক্ত করে অভিযোগপত্র দাখিল করা হয়। এদের মধ্যে ১ হাজার ২৩ জন গ্রেপ্তার হয়েছে। ১০৮ জন এখনও পলাতক। আফগানিস্তানে তালেবানের পুনরুত্থানের প্রভাব পড়বে? বাংলাদেশে জঙ্গি উত্থানের সঙ্গে যে আন্তর্জাতিক যোগ রয়েছে, তা বলছেন ঢাকার মহানগর পুলিশ কমিশনার মোহা. শফিকুল ইসলাম। দুই দশক পর আফগান তালেবানের রাষ্ট্রক্ষমতা নিয়ন্ত্রণে নেওয়ার পরদিন সোমবার এক সংবাদ সম্মেলনে তিনি বলেন, “তালেবানরা রাষ্ট্রীয় ক্ষমতা নেওয়ার পরই ঘোষণা করবে, তারা পৃথিবীর সবচেয়ে শক্তিশালী রাষ্ট্র। তারা আরও বলবে, ‘আমেরিকাকে যুদ্ধে পরাজিত করে আফগানিস্তানকে স্বাধীন করেছি’। “এর প্রেক্ষাপটে যুবকদের ভেতর (যারা জিহাদ করতে চায়) উৎসাহ তৈরি হবে। এই ঢেউ আমাদের উপমহাদেশসহ সব দেশেই লাগবে। বাংলাদেশে জঙ্গিদের যে উত্থান হচ্ছে, তা সবসময়ই আন্তর্জাতিক কোনো ঘটনার প্রেক্ষাপটের পরে উৎসাহ পাচ্ছে।” এক সময় আফগানিস্তান ফেরত বাংলাদেশিরাই যে হরকাতুল জিহাদ (হুজি) ও জেএমবিসহ একাধিক জঙ্গি দল তৈরি করেছিল, তাও বলেন শফিকুল। তিনি বলেন, ২০০৫ সালে দেশব্যাপী বোমা হামলার ঘটনার পরে জঙ্গি সংগঠনগুলোকে মোটামুটি ‘প্রায় নিয়ন্ত্রণে’ নিয়ে এসেছে পুলিশ। এখন তালেবানের পুনরুত্থানের মধ্যে কিছু বাংলাদেশি তাদের দলে ভিড়তে আফগানিস্তান গেছে বলে সম্প্রতি জানিয়েছিলেন ডিএমপি কমিশনার। তিনি সোমবার বলেন, “এসব নিয়ে দেশে যারা কাজ করে, তারা সতর্ক রয়েছে। আফগানিস্তান ফেরতরা যদি বাংলাদেশে ঢোকার চেষ্টা করে, তাদের গ্রেপ্তার করে আইনের আওতায় আনা হবে।”

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/backdoor-inks-deal-modhumoti-bank-provide-digital-system-security-289153 TBS Report 16 August, 2021, 07:50 pm Last modified: 16 August, 2021, 08:00 pm Backdoor inks deal with Modhumoti bank to provide digital system security Under this agreement, Backdoor, a digital security firm, will monitor the bank’s network 24/7 and detect all types of threats and recommend necessary measures in a bid to prevent potential threats or hacking Modhumoti Bank and Backdoor Private Ltd signed an agreement on Monday for securing the bank's network and digital transactions. Managing Director and CEO of Modhumoti Bank Md Shafiul Azam and Managing Director of Backdoor Private Ltd Tanvir Hassan Zoha inked the deal on behalf of their companies at the bank's head office in Gulshan, said a Modhumoti Bank press release. Board of Director of Modhumoti Bank A Mannan Khan, Sponsor Director Rafiur Rahman Khan, DMD Shahnawaj Chowdhury and Backdoor's Business Development Director Nurfath Mahbuba Rinha were also present at the signing ceremony. Under this agreement, Backdoor, a digital security firm, will monitor the bank's network 24/7 and detect all types of threats and recommend necessary measures in a bid to prevent potential threats or hacking. The digital security firm will provide real-time notification about anyone who tries to compromise the digital security systems of the bank, what kind of attempts are coming up from which destinations, which are the real security alerts and how they are being dealt with by Backdoor's security analysts, the release said. In this regard, Managing Director of Backdoor Private Ltd Tanvir Hassan Zoha said, "Banking systems need to be protected from the ever-increasing known and unknown threats. None can afford to leave the system unprotected simply because of not having technology like SOC or shortage of experienced analysts." According to the release, Modhumoti Bank signed the deal as per the instruction of the Bangladesh Bank to establish a Security Operation Centre (SOC) at every bank. The instruction came after the heist of $81 million from the central bank in 2016.

Never again. May Allah (SWT) protect my motherland from enemies internally and externally.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/08/17/august-17-countrywide-bombings-by-jmb-weren-t-a-surprise-package August 17 countrywide bombings by JMB weren’t a surprise package M Abul Kalam Azad Published at 01:14 pm August 17th, 2021 The near simultaneous 500 explosions in 2005 were the result of allowing the militant group to operate freely even after its involvement in repeated bomb attacks and murders Medina University educated Abdur Rahman, who formed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in April 1998 to establish Islamic rule in Bangladesh by waging Jihad, found a formidable atmosphere to move ahead with his mission. For the following two years, Rahman travelled to different parts of Bangladesh and mobilized a great deal of followers, believing that he would be able to materialize his mission the way Taliban once did in Afghanistan. The year before JMB was formed, Rahman went to Pakistan and took training on operating firearms and explosives, combat tactics and maintaining secrecy at a Lashkar-e-Taiba training camp for 20 days. It boosted his confidence. During those years, another terror group Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, Bangladesh (HuJi,B) had been carrying out grenade attacks one after another but faced no trouble. Rahman was encouraged by the inaction of the authorities against HuJi.B men. He thought he and his followers would go scot-free after committing crimes. In 2000, JMB attacked and killed the writer of the book "Nari Tumi Manush Chhile Kobey” (women when were you human?) Monir Hossain Sagar in Tangail for making “indecent remarks about Allah and the prophet” in the book. It carried out two more attacks in 2001. In separate attacks in Rahman’s home district Jamalpur, the militant group slaughtered two converted Christians in 2001. Same year, 10-12 JMB operatives were nabbed in Dinajpur’s Parbatiyapur with bombs. They went there for training on making bombs. All were released on bail the following year. During a blast in a Rangamati hotel in mid-2001, JMB leader Nasrullah died while another leader Shamim was injured. Shamim was arrested but walked out of jail later. First the Awami League government and then BNP-Jamaat alliance regime did not take all these attacks and blast incidents seriously. Neither conducted an investigation to know the real motive behind those incidents. After every criminal offence, the JMB leadership faced no troubles. This gave them all the inspiration to carry out attacks more frequently. In 2002, a lower-ranked JMB leader Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai led a group to kill Tarapado Poddar, a leader of religious minority community, in Bagerhat. The mission failed as people caught five operatives, including Bangla Bhai and handed them over to police. All were later sent to jail for trial but walked out of jail within a month only to launch bomb attacks in a cinema and a circus pandal in Satkhira, leaving three people dead. The deadliest attack came on December 7, 2002 when JMB men carried out simultaneous bomb attacks in four cinemas, killing 10 innocent people and injuring over a hundred. Instead of a proper investigation and arrest of the attackers, the then government accused the opposition Awami League of plotting the attack and subsequently arrested several leaders. JMB was happy to remain out of the dragnet. After the Mymensingh cinema blasts, the militant group shifted its focus to the other part of the country. In January 2003, JMB launched an attack on a fair in Tangail’s Shakhipur that killed seven people The same month, a group of JMB men raided a shrine in Kalai upazila in Joypurhat and slaughtered five khadems to loot away Tk 20 lakh. The terror group needed money for buying explosive substances and training its members on bomb-making. No JMB operative was either implicated in the attacks or arrested. JMB kept operating freely as police arrested some villagers for the offence. Later in February 2003, one JMB man was killed and two others injured in an explosion while manufacturing bombs in a mess in Dinajpur. Police recovered explosives, bomb-making materials and manuals, and one revolver from the blast scene. The injured JMB operatives were arrested and put in jail but for several months. JMB’s strength demonstrated JMB’s strength was demonstrated when they fought with a police team in Khetlal of Joypurhat. On the night of August 14, 2003, a police team went to a house in Uttor Moheshpur village on information that many people gathered there with an ulterior motive. It was in fact a regional conference of over 100 JMB leaders and activists. A battle between police and JMB operatives left several police personnel seriously injured. Police managed to arrest a large number of JMB operatives. They also arrested Bangla Bhai when he went to Joypurhat jail gate to meet the arrested fellows. Surprisingly, he was given clean-chit and released. The other arrested JMB men were also released on bail within eight months. It is learnt that JMB leadership spent a good amount of money for their release. Some BNP-Jamaat leaders and police officers made the job easy. The BNP-Jamaat government should have cracked down the militant outfit after the battle but it did not and allowed the group to be more ferocious. Meanwhile, JMB killed a Rajshahi University professor while another professor of Dhaka University survived an attack. Facing no challenges, Rahman thought of doing something that would take his group to a new height. He decided to come out of hiding and operate openly. End of April 2004, he chose Baghmara of Rajshahi and some other places in neighbouring Natore and Naogan districts to show his strength. JMB set up camps, picked up persons it deemed enemies of Islam and tortured them in broad daylight. Instead of arrest, then police and local administration helped Bangla Bhai and his bridge members to rule the areas for about one month. Some ruling party leaders supported them. The then Industries Minister and Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami accused the media of creating Bangla Bhai. Following widespread media reports and criticism, then prime minister Khaleda Zia ordered for the arrest of Bangla Bhai but there was none to carry out her order. JMB leaders went into hiding but had nothing to worry about. They thought of doing something that would not only earn people’s attention but also take them to the global terror landscape. Silently JMB’s explosive experts kept preparing bombs. Its leadership fixed August 17, 2005 and exploded 500 bombs in 63 districts. In 13 terror attacks, JMB killed 53 people before the countrywide bombings. There were also many blast incidents that left JMB operatives dead. Bomb-making materials and firearms were seized from the scenes—all were enough for the BNP-Jamaat government to take the matter seriously and crackdown on the JMB. The intelligence agencies also kept mum, allowing Rahman and his outfit to plan for an unprecedented attack like that of August 17. In fact, the countrywide bombings would never happen had the governments and its law-enforcement agencies clampdown hard on JMB. Eventually, Rahman, who was later popularized as Shaikh Rahman, and his top aides got captured and executed in 2007. Rahman’s dream for a Bangladesh to be ruled by Islamic law could not be accomplished but he and JMB are an example of how a simple group could turn notorious, if went unpunished.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/militancy/2021/08/16/dmp-chief-taliban-victory-may-encourage-militants-in-bangladesh DMP chief: Taliban victory may encourage militants in Bangladesh UNB Published at 10:26 pm August 16th, 2021 Law enforcement agencies are prepared, but people need to cooperate' Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam on Monday expressed concern that the situation in Afghanistan may encourage militants in Bangladesh. “Militants in Bangladesh are encouraged viewing the international current situation and they are organizing as a result,” the DMP chief told reporters. He said the Taliban victory would create a new wave of militancy in the sub-continent as extremists would be happy over it. He said law enforcement agencies are ready to control any situation that may arise in the country. He also urged the guardians to be careful in light of the current situation. “We should take the situation seriously and take necessary steps in this regard,” he said. Replying to a question, the DMP commissioner said: “We are prepared but everyone should work in a coordinated way to tackle the new wave following Taliban’s victory. It is not only the work of police, the guardians and the authorities concerned of the universities should assist police.” Intelligence agencies are also keeping close vigil, he said.

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/country/farmer-gani-succeeds-in-rambutan-farming-1629172035 Farmer Gani succeeds in rambutan farming OUR CORRESPONDENT | Published: August 17, 2021 09:47:15 Farmer Usman Gani of Haripur village under Kalmakanda Nazirpur union in Netrakona district benefits from rambutan cultivation. Rambutan is one of the foreign fruits that are gaining popularity in Bangladesh. Usman Gani left his job as a labourer 13 months after moving to Malaysia in 1992 and returned home with rambutan fruit's seeds. He now sells the fruit from two trees for over Tk 0.1 million (one lakh) a year. Besides, he is making a profit by selling small seedlings for Tk 3,000 to Tk 3,500. He hopes to be able to collect about 300 kgs of rambutan from two trees this year as he does every year. He is currently selling the fruit at Tk 400 per kg. He said, "At present, I have a total of 12 rambutan trees. Moreover, there are more than a hundred foreign and native fruit trees, different varieties of roses, and different species of trees in his orchard. However, my main source of income is rambutan fruit." He also said, "The fruit looks like litchi. However, it is larger in size than litchi, oval in shape, slightly flattened. Ripe fruits are bright red, orange or yellow in attractive colours. The original source of this fruit is Malaysia and Indonesia. Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei and Sri Lanka produce large quantities of rambutan fruit.

Construction of 48 km Dhaka Bypass of Asian Highway Route 6 lanes which will have a speed limit 120 km/h. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghLC3scpYv0

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/how-powerful-present-jmb-289267 How powerful is the present JMB? Many sources have said the activities of the banned outfit are going on secretly It was 17 August 2005. A simultaneous bomb attack in 63 districts by the Jamaat Ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) shook the whole country when two judges in Jhalakathi, among many others, died. Sixteen years have passed since the dreadful incident. Many members of the banned outfit have been executed or sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. The police said they always carefully monitor the activities of militant outfits, even at grassroots levels, to prevent their revival. However, questions remain about how active and powerful JMB is at present. Although the discussion in this regard has been going on for several years, many sources have said the activities of the banned outfit are going on behind closed doors even though those are not obvious. A responsible official of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit said JMB was once an active and powerful organisation, but it does not have much activity at present. However, there are still pro-JMB groups in several districts and remote areas in the north, but they are not more than 1,000, he added. Rahmatullah Chowdhury, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, CTTC's Bomb Disposal Unit, told TBS they were regularly monitoring JMB's activities. The CTTC unit arrested Rezaul Haque, the acting Amir of the JMB, in April last year. He is accused of being involved in a series of bombings across the country in 2005. However, there is no definite information about who took charge of JMB after the arrest of Rezaul. At the same time, the CTTC is not sure about the whereabouts of Salahuddin alias Salehin, who fled to India after being abducted from a prison van in the Trishal area of Mymensingh, he added. Salehin has been reportedly trying to reactivate the JMB in India, according to CTTC and several Indian media outlets. In addition, Salehin and Zahidul Islam alias Boma Mizan, who fled to India, tried to run Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen India or JMI in several states, including West Bengal and Cooch Behar, he said further. The Special Task Force of India has also reported the arrest of JMB members at various times over the past few years. According to the police headquarters and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), there were 130 accused in 17 August cases, 961 people were arrested and charge sheets were filed against 1,072 people. According to the police, the trial of 104 out of 161 cases across the country has been completed. Besides, 340 people have been sentenced to different terms. Of these 15 have been sentenced to death, 358 have been released and 133 accused are released on bail. On 29 March 2007, Shaikh Abdur Rahman alias Bangla Bhai, Siddiqul Islam, Khaled Saifullah, Ataur Rahman Sunny, Abdul Awal and Iftekhar Hasan Al Mamun were executed. Accused Asadul Islam Arif was executed on 17 October 2016. Court sources said it has not been possible to settle 41 cases across the country due to the non-appearance of witnesses.

View of Keraniganj Flyover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWFqx7Wbhs0

https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune/videos/1200386167097834

https://www.dhakatribune.com/world/2021/08/16/bd-india-flight-operations-are-likely-by-this-week BD-India flight operations likely to resume this week BSS Published at 07:10 pm August 16th, 2021 CAAB proposes 21 flights per week for the operators of both countries Flight operation between Bangladesh and India is likely to resume this week under the air bubble agreement signed last year between the two countries to facilitate the movement of passengers and goods. As per the pact, both countries can operate international flights with certain restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sources close to the development told BSS on Monday that the operation of flights in various destinations of both the countries may resume by August 18 as the Indian authorities hinted to give its consent to this end at any day after India’s Independence Day celebration on August 15. Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) sent a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India seeking its approval for resumption of the flight operations from August 11 under the air bubble agreement. “In view of urgency of movement of the people of both the neighboring countries, the ongoing Covid-9 pandemic situations of Bangladesh and India were reviewed and evaluated…it feels that such operations should be continued until the resumption of scheduled passenger flights…,” the letter read. The CAAB said that the passengers to and from Bangladesh and India have to strictly follow some Covid-19 protocol to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Sources from Bangladesh Biman and Bangladesh mission in New Delhi said that they are expecting that the flights between Bangladesh and India to be resumed by the next two days. In the letter, CAAB proposed 21 flights per week for the operators of both countries for the time being. Under this proposal, Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate nine flights in Dhaka-Kolkata/Chennai/Delhi-Dhaka routes while two flights in Chittagong-Kolkata/Chennai/Delhi-Chittagong. US Bangla airlines will operate seven flights in Dhaka-Kolkata/Chennai/Delhi-Dhaka and Novo Air to operate one flight in Dhaka-Kolkata/Chennai/Delhi-Dhaka routes. In another development, the Indian Visa Application Centres (IVAC) in Bangladesh resumed operations from August 10 in the wake of the lifting of countrywide lockdown in both countries. The 15 IVAC across Bangladesh will accept all applications except tourist visa applications, a statement of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said. Earlier, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh temporarily suspended operations at all its visa centres across Bangladesh due to the lockdown implemented by the Bangladesh government from April 14. Reports said more than 3,500 Bangladeshis travel to India daily on an average basis and of them over 10% used to travel for medical purposes. Out of the foreigners who visit India for medical purposes, 45% are from Bangladesh, according to the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. More than 13.7 million foreigners took treatment in India between January 2018 and March 2019. They included 2.8 million Bangladeshis, the report added.

They are suffering from inferiority complex dear.

https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/talibans-recapture-afghanistan-might-cause-new-wave-militancy-bangladesh-dmp-chief-289162#.YRpyNOnRDwU.facebook TBS Report 16 August, 2021, 08:05 pm Last modified: 16 August, 2021, 08:09 pm Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan might cause new wave of militancy in Bangladesh: DMP chief Taliban's recapture of Afghanistan might cause a new wave of militancy in Bangladesh and other sub-continent countries, fears Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam. While speaking to the media on Monday, he said resurgence of militancy in Bangladesh is always connected with major international events and recent development in Afghanistan might encourage some youths in Bangladesh to get involved in militancy. The DMP chief also said that coordinated efforts made by the police and other state agencies are essential to prevent resurgence of militancy in Bangladesh. Shafiqul stressed that guardians of youths, university teachers, and authorities must have close monitoring on youths and inform the police if anyone remains missing. "Guardians must immediately inform the police in case their children go missing," said the police officer. Earlier on Saturday, the DMP chief said some Bangladeshis had already migrated towards Afghanistan to respond to the call from the Taliban to join the on-going fighting. "Few of them have been arrested in India while few others are now trying to reach Afghanistan on foot," he said, adding, "Cyber monitoring is being continued and all agencies are informing whenever they find anything suspicious. All intelligence agencies are working actively." The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has tightened their security arrangement at the capital's diplomatic zone days before the seizure of Kabul by the Taliban on Sunday. "Not only for Afghanistan mission in Dhaka but extra measures have also been taken in the diplomatic area days before the incident," said Ashraful Islam, deputy commissioner at the diplomatic security division. He said no additional support was sought by Afghan diplomats in Dhaka thus far. "We are ready to extend support prescribed by our foreign ministry on this issue," he told the media. A handful of Afghanistan diplomats are currently residing in Dhaka. Bangladesh closed down its Embassy in Kabul following the Russian invasion in Afghanistan. Later, the authorities decided to reopen the embassy, but it had not been possible to do so because of the security concerns. The Bangladesh ambassador to Uzbekistan is presently concurrently accredited to Afghanistan. 'As soon as the situation becomes conducive, we would like to reopen the embassy,' said the foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen in a webinar on 9 August.

https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/govt-french-afd-sign-eu50m-loan-agreement-biffl-projects-289093 TBS Report 16 August, 2021, 06:20 pm Last modified: 16 August, 2021, 06:32 pm Govt & French AFD sign €50m loan agreement for BIFFL projects The loan has a maturity period of 15 years with a grace period of three years The government recently signed a €50 million (Tk496.92 crore) Credit Facility Agreement (CFA) agreement with Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to be administered through the Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL), to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and women entrepreneurship projects. The loan, with a maturity period of 15 years and a grace period of three years, has an interest rate of Euribor six months+35 bp, according to a Monday press release. Economic Relations Division Secretary Fatima Yasmin and Benoit Chassatte, AFD Country Director, Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations on 12 August. According to the press statement, the fund will contribute to the economic transition of Bangladesh towards a greener economy. The credit line will be provided by the Bangladesh government to the public non-banking financial institution BIFFL, to finance investments in the fields of energy efficiency, the production of renewable energies, mainly in rural areas, and women's entrepreneurship. AFD, the French government arm that deals with overseas aid, has been operating in Bangladesh since 2012. It supports development projects for urban development and infrastructure, power & green energy, as well as corporate and social responsibility programs.