Aparajita Banerjee

The Padma bridge project used to run round the clock but now only the day shift is working so it will be nearly impossible to complete the project in time by June 2021. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/06/11/budget-fy21-fund-cuts-in-mega-projects-due-to-covid-19-pandemic

Budget FY21: Chartered aircraft, helicopter flights to become costlier https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/economy/2020/06/11/budget-fy21-chartered-aircraft-helicopter-flights-to-become-costlier The budget speech for FY2020-21 has called for the supplementary duty on chartered aircraft and helicopter services to be raised to 30% from the existing 25% The growing popularity of chartered aircraft and helicopter flights might suffer a hit as the government has proposed a hike in the supplementary duty on the service by 5%. The budget speech for FY2020-21 has called for the supplementary duty on chartered aircraft and helicopter services to be raised to 30% from the existing 25%. 2020/06/honor-the-hero-paper-ads-04-1591699750066.png The duty hike comes despite protests as helicopters presently not only provides luxury services, but also emergency medical services or search-and-rescue operations in disaster zones, or for high-profile visits by government or corporate officials. South Asian Airlines first introduced commercial helicopter services in Bangladesh in 1999 with two helicopters. At present, more than 10 companies commercially operate more than 25 helicopters in Bangladesh.

Expect significant delays in delivery, contract signing for defence acquisitions due to COVID-19. Everything pushed back.

The French Defence Minister Florence Parly is visiting Bangladesh today in a mission to sell Rafale multi-role combat aircraft and unmanned combat aerial vehicles amongst other military hardware. https://www.defseca.com/procurements/france-offers-rafale-fighters-armed-uavs-to-bangladesh/

The Kingdom of Mrauk-U was an independent coastal kingdom of Arakan which existed for over 350 years. It was based in the city of Mrauk-U, near the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal. The kingdom from 1429 to 1785 ruled over what is now Rakhine State, Myanmar and Chittagong Division, Bangladesh. From 1429 to 1531 it was a protectorate of the Bengal Sultanate at different time periods. After gaining independence from Bengal, it prospered with help from the Portuguese settlement in Chittagong. In 1666, it lost control of Chittagong after a war with the Mughal Empire. Its reign continued until the 18th century, when it fell to the invasion of the Burmese Empire. It was home to a multiethnic population with the city of Mrauk U being home to mosques, temples, shrines, seminaries and libraries. The kingdom was also a center of piracy and the slave trade. It was frequented by Arab, Danish, Dutch and Portuguese traders. The kingdom minted currency of taka modeled on the currency of the Bengal sultanate. Mrauk U's population consisted of Muslims and Buddhists alike. There was a sizeable Portuguese presence at a time when Chittagong was a centre for trade by the Catholic Europeans.

Bangladesh Navy is respected through its work with UNFIL. The IDF and BN never faced problems while Bangladesh Navy frigates were carrying out their UN mandated duties off the Lebanese coast. Professional armed services usually respect each others work spaces.

I have no qualms about starting formal, mutually beneficial ties with the state of Israel. Bangladesh doesn't have to be like India, it doesn't need to play a double standard game. It can be far more effective in relation to the Palestinian statehood than it can by simply not recognizing a country that already exists. And let me remind you, Israel does not just simply exist, it thrives, its powerful, its a useful country. Bangladesh could effectively neuter India using Israeli equipment and tactics against the much larger Indian Army, that is an analogue to the Syrian Arab republic's army.

Where did @Zoro96 and @Darth Nihilus go?

Indian Air Force MiG-29 crashed

Upon my astute observance I find there are so many chela's in this forum.

Missing for 18 months, Rab official Hasinur returns home 22 Feb 2020 22:06, Somoy English Desk Sacked Rab official Lt Col Hasinur Rahman, who remained missing for the last 18 months, returned home on Friday night. Hasinur’s wife Shamima Akhter said her husband retuned home around 11pm. She said her husband was a former commanding officer of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab). Shamima said Hasinur is now fine, but he did not say anything about his disappearance. “We also didn’t want to know about it.” Hasinur was sacked from the army for his alleged involvement with militancy, though his family claimed that he was victim of a conspiracy. On August 8, 2018, he was reportedly picked up by a group of people in plainclothes around 10:30pm. Later, his family held a press conference demanding that the government ensure his safe return. https://en.somoynews.tv/5544/news/Missing-for-18-months-Rab-official-Hasinur-returns-home

Bangladesh improves in the Global Terrorism Index Hasan Al Javed Published at 10:35 pm February 22nd, 2020 In 2017, Bangladesh ranked 19th in the Global Terrorism Index and then progressed to the 31st rank after two years in 2019 Instances of extremism or terrorism are increasing globally but the situation in Bangladesh is changing for the better. In 2017, Bangladesh ranked 19th in the Global Terrorism Index and then progressed to the 31st rank after two years in 2019. Md Monirul Islam, head of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) of Bangladesh Police, presented the information as chief guest at a discussion meeting titled 'Role of Mass Media in Preventing Extremism,' held at the National Press Club on Saturday. Neighbouring countries India and Pakistan are in the top ten risky countries according to the index. The condition of Bangladesh is much better and is still improving. Even countries like the United States and United Kingdom are at risk. "We do not have a definite strategy to curb violent extremism: time is required to do that. But we are going to adopt Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) policies," said the police official. "People, ages 15-30, are the ones who are mostly getting involved in terrorism. We are having dialogues with young leaders to motivate this vulnerable group. We are also having conversations with religious leaders," he added. Monirul commented that people abroad think that militants start hacking people with machetes as soon as they set foot on the roads of Bangladesh. This is not the case and it is the mass media's responsibility to promote the real situation. "We are working to restrain extremism based on our country's context. We are not making the same mistake as Sampreeti Bangladesh who made an advertisement imitating foreign media. We are also conducting academic research," Monirul said. Chief editor of GTV and Sarabangla.net, Syed Ishtiaque Reza, said: "Whenever an extremist is arrested, police say the 'joddha' (fighter) was arrested with 'jihadi' books. Words like these can inspire extremism." Maasranga TV Head of News, Rezwanul Haq Raza, said: "Several media houses published the smiling pictures of the Holey Artisan attackers which was really inappropriate. A person gained popularity after praising Delwar Hossain Sayeedi and speaking against female leadership. Police have to work on these things." Mozammel Babu, owner of Ekattor TV, suggested that the recent arrest of Shariyat Bayati is inciting militancy. NTV Chief News Editor Zahirul Alam commented that it would be better if CTTC prepared a guideline for media outlets in this regard. ATN Bangla Head of News Z E Mamun, DBC News CEO Manzurul Islam, and Ekushey TV Head of News Mostafa Mohshin Abbas, were among others who expressed their opinions on the issue during the three hour long dialogue session. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2020/02/22/bangladesh-improves-in-the-global-terrorism-index

ভারতের মিগ-২৯ বিধ্বস্ত ট্রিবিউন ডেস্ক প্রকাশিত ০৫:১৮ সন্ধ্যা ফেব্রুয়ারি ২৩, ২০২০ বিমানের দুই পাইলট অক্ষত আছেন প্রশিক্ষণ চলাকালে ভারতীয় নৌবাহিনীর মিগ-২৯-কে মডেলের একটি বিমান বিধ্বস্ত হয়েছে। রবিবার (২৩ ফেব্রুয়ারি) স্থানীয় সময় সকাল সাড়ে ১০টায় গোয়ার ডাবোলিম থেকে ওড়ার কিছুক্ষণের মধ্যেই বিমানটি বিধ্বস্ত হয় বলে ভারতীয় গণমাধ্যম এনডিটিভি'র একটি খবরে বলা হয়। ভারতীয় নৌবাহিনীর পক্ষ থেকে এক টুইটবার্তায় এই তথ্য নিশ্চিত করা হয়। তবে, বিমানের দুই পাইলট অক্ষত আছেন। ভারতীয় নৌবাহিনীর টুইটে বলা হয়, "গোয়ায় রবিবার সকাল ১০টা ৩০ মিনিট নাগাদ একটি মিগ ২৯-কে বিমান নিয়মিত প্রশিক্ষণ চলাকালীন বিধ্বস্ত হয়। তবে, বিমানের দুই পাইলট অক্ষতভাবে বিমান থেকে বেরিয়ে আসতে পেরেছেন । দুর্ঘটনার কারণ খতিয়ে দেখতে তদন্তের নির্দেশ দেওয়া হয়েছে।" নৌবাহিনী আরও জানায়, পাখির ঝাঁকের সঙ্গে ধাক্কা লাগার ফলে বিমানটির ডান পাশের ইঞ্জিনে আগুন ধরে যায়। সাথে সাথে বিকল হয়ে যায় বাম দিকের ইঞ্জিনটিও। তবে, দুই পাইলটের তৎপরতার কারণে বিমানটি একটি জনশূন্য স্থানে ভূপাতিত হয়। এর ফলে কোনও হতাহতের ঘটনা ঘটেনি। https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/international/2020/02/23/20397/ভেঙে-পড়লো-ভারতের-মিগ-২৯

Rohingya crisis: UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie writes to PM Hollywood star applauds Bangladesh’s leadership role Angelina Jolie, the special envoy of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently written a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highly praising Bangladesh for the generosity and the leadership it has demonstrated in the Rohingya crisis. She appreciated Bangladesh for giving shelter to the Rohingya people and ensuring their safety and security. The Hollywood star mentioned that the UNHCR would continue its efforts to engage with Myanmar to create suitable conditions for the sustainable return of the Rohingya. She hoped that Bangladesh’s initiatives for the Rohingya would help to get better funding for the 2020 joint response plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis which would be launched in March, 2020. She committed to continuing her advocacy for the humanitarian response for the Rohingya people and expressed gratefulness to the people of Bangladesh for all kinds of support. Angelina Jolie visited the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar in February, 2019 in her capacity as UNHCR special envoy. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/rohingya-crisis/2020/02/23/rohingya-crisis-unhcr-special-envoy-angelina-jolie-writes-to-pm