The Front Page

Tag: Local News

  • ARKA Fashion Week returns for its second edition 

    Last year, ARKA Fashion Week, which took place between 26-28 Oct, 2023 took the city by storm. With a staggering footfall of over 7000 people, the event proved to be extremely popular, especially among the youth. Like last time, this initiative of ARKA Studio will once again reaffirm its commitment to providing equitable opportunities to all kinds of designers and brands. The overarching objective of ARKA Fashion Week is to see Bangladesh graduate from exporting garments to exporting fashion – to see Bangladeshi brands and retail labels add value in terms of culture export. ARKA believes that this evolution in our fashion and textile industry will help raise the stature of our nation and further improve our economy.

    Moreover, ARKA Fashion Week is the perfect opportunity for everyone in Bangladesh to immerse themselves in fashion. The event will feature specially curated runway shows, clothes and accessories by the best brands and designers, and most importantly, the event is a place for fashion savvy individuals to express their own sense of style. As usual, ARKA FW will have a food zone and diverse musical performances every night, along with the following segments:  

    MARKETPLACE 

    This section, which is the heart of the event, will house entrepreneurs and brands which work with fashion, fashion accessories, and fashion related products, made in Bangladesh. A core philosophy to expect among the brands to be found in the Marketplace is sustainability. Most participants of ARKA Fashion Week Marketplace are small boutiques and/or e-commerce/f-commerce brands. As the exposure of these talented, local brands is limited, they have a certain disadvantage. ARKA Fashion Week hopes to bridge that gap and give a platform to these incredible, locally-grown brands. 

    DESIGN LAB 

    This is an interactive space where one can create their own designs. The concept is to walk in and purchase a ‘canvas’ i.e. products like a plain t-shirt, hat, tote bag or scarf, which can then be customized at any of the seven different design stations such as block printing, screen printing, hand-paint, patchwork, different forms of embellishments and appliqués, etc. This is a segment that any age group will enjoy participating in and can use to channel their creativity. Since it’s a design lab and not a workshop, anyone can come in at any time, buy a product and head over to the station to work on their design.

    THE RUNWAY

    With 4 slots each day, the runway will take place over 3 days, showcasing a variety of designers – new and upcoming, trailblazers and some exclusive designer brands. Curated by Azra Mahmood, Mehruz Munir, Nawshin Khair and Zarin Rashid, each of the participants of the runway were carefully selected and guided by the team. Perhaps one of the most anticipated segments of the event, the ARKA FW runway will not only be unique in terms of the designs being showcased on it; this time ARKA will also be presenting the finalists of a headhunt for new models to debut on the ARKA SS24 Runway. Moreover, the runway will also feature some students from design institutions in a cue curated by Afsana Ferdousi. 

    EXHIBITION AND SEMINARS

    In this edition of ARKA Fashion Week, a couple of new segments, workshops and seminars, will be introduced. ARKA FW wants to cover all aspects of fashion, including the challenges and issues faced by the industry. As a result, it seemed imperative to host some seminars to address some issues that are prevalent in the fashion industry of our country. Moreover, before the event takes place, ARKA FW is also facilitating an exhibition concerning Tangail weaving and ways to preserve the traditional art of handloom textile. Led by Tahsin N. Choudhury, Nawshin Khair, Sk. Saifur Rahman and Jewel A. Rob — the results of the workshop will be exhibited at ARKA FW SS24. The exhibition will be curated by Jewel A. Rob.

    —

  • 11y/o girl falls ill from severe heat at school, dies on the way to hospital

    Interested to get early access to our newsletter for free? Join now: https://forms.gle/Q2qkFdEUen76frat8

    Source: Prothom Alo

    Habiba Akhter (11), a student of class 6, died due to heat illness in a school in Daudkandi Upazila of Comilla. This incident took place at Gouripur Subal Aftab High School of Upazila at around 12 noon on Tuesday.

    Habiba Akhter (11), a student of Class 6, died due to heat illness at a school in Daudkandi Upazila of Comilla. The incident occurred at Gouripur Subal Aftab High School in the Upazila around 12 noon on Tuesday.

    Habiba, the daughter of Bhuiyan and school teacher Maqsuda Akhtar, resided in Chandnagerchar village of Titas Upazila in Comilla. She fell ill at school and passed away while being transported to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Habiba has an older sister named Shahzadi Akter, who is in high school, and a younger sister named Faiza, who is in the first class.

    According to information gathered from the school’s teachers and students, Habiba fell ill due to the intense heat before the teacher arrived at the school after 12 noon. She started vomiting repeatedly during this time. The school teachers promptly poured water on her head and immediately rushed her to Daudkandi Upazila Health Complex. After receiving initial treatment there, as her condition worsened, she was advised to be taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Unfortunately, she passed away in the Baldakhal area of Daudkandi Upazila while being transported to Dhaka in an ambulance. Subsequently, when Habiba’s parents took her to a private hospital and the Upazila Health Complex in Daudkandi, the doctor declared her dead after an examination.

    Habiba’s uncle, Ariful Haque Bhuiyan, mentioned that while en route to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the ambulance, when they reached the Baldakhal area of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, blood suddenly started coming out of Habiba’s nose, mouth, and eyes. At that point, she passed away.

    —

  • Ctg Environment department gives slogan against plastic using plastic banners

    Interested to get early access to our newsletter for free? Join now: https://forms.gle/Q2qkFdEUen76frat8

    Source: The Daily Star

    The Chittagong Environment Department has faced criticism for using more plastic in its own events, despite promoting slogans against plastic and its alternatives on World Environment Day. During a special discussion and award distribution meeting held at the Chittagong Shilpakala Academy, the Department of Environment used a large number of PVC banners. The entire academy was covered with these banners for the duration of the discussion.

    When questioned about the use of PVC banners and their disposal after the meeting, the environment officials were unable to provide a satisfactory answer, despite advocating for awareness against plastic.

    Around the venue, it was observed that more than fifty PVC banners of various sizes, including banners measuring 10 to 20 feet, were hung. PVC banners with different slogans were also placed on the road dividers leading to the arts section. At the end of the meeting, Department of Environment employees were seen removing the large banners. When one of the workers was asked about the banners, he mentioned distributing some to schools and colleges while discarding the rest. However, he refused to provide his name when identified as a journalist.

    When Dr. Alok Pal, the Chittagong City Director of the Department of Environment, was questioned about the PVC banners, he told The Daily Star, “I didn’t look at it that way. I can’t say for sure.”

    Despite attempts to contact him several times, Hillol Biswas, the Director of the Chittagong City Department of Environment, did not respond to inquiries about the plastic banners.

    —

  • Hero Alom set to take part in Dhaka-17 re-election

    Interested to get early access to our newsletter for free? Join now: https://forms.gle/Q2qkFdEUen76frat8

    Source: The Daily Star

    Hero Alom will run in the by-election for the late actor Farooq’s seat (Dhaka-17).

    “Today at 3 p.m., I will purchase the nomination form from the Election Commission,” he stated. Farooq bhai was a tremendous hero, and his passing is a huge loss for us. Many of his development initiatives are still incomplete. “I intend to finish those works.”

    In response to the topic of why Dhaka residents should vote for him, Hero Alom stated, “I am loved by the entire country.” To get to this point, I had to overcome various obstacles. I want to show how much people appreciate me by running in the Dhaka by-election. “I believe Dhaka voters will also support me.”

    When asked if he will run for office in Dhaka in the upcoming national elections, Hero Alom said, “I will not run from Dhaka, but from Bogra.”

    The Dhaka-17 by-election is set to take place on July 17.

    —

  • Standard Chartered bank makes record breaking TK 1,655cr in profits in a year

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Daily Star

    Standard Chartered kept being the best bank in Bangladesh, and this time it broke all the records by becoming the first bank in Bangladesh’s history to make an annual profit of more than Tk 1,650 crore.

    The British international bank’s branch in Bangladesh made a profit of Tk 1,655 crore, while Islami Bank Bangladesh came in second with a profit of Tk 619 crore.

    Here, Brac Bank came in third with income of Tk 601 crore. After that, HSBC, Dutch-Bangla Bank, and Pubali Bank each gave Tk 588 crore, Tk 566 crore, and Tk 564 crore.

    In 2022, Eastern Bank, City Bank, Sonali Bank, and Prime Bank were also among the top ten banks that made the most money.

    —

  • MP says he will commit suicide if BNP returns to power

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    Nazim Uddin Ahmed, a freedom fighter and MP from Mymensingh-3 (Gouripur), has threatened to commit suicide by self-poisoning if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) regains power.

    On Saturday evening, the Awami League MP addressed a gathering in the Master Bari section of Bhutiyarkona village in Mymensingh’s Gouripur upazila, where he was campaigning for his party in the next parliamentary election.

    “The BNP martyred 3 million people and violated the honor of 200,000 women,” stated the freedom fighter. If they retake control, I shall commit suicide in front of you by ingesting poison as a freedom warrior.”

    “I don’t want to live if I hear the boat (the Awami League’s electoral symbol) has lost and Khaleda Zia has won.” “There’s no reason for me to live,” he explained.

    “If you do not vote for the boat, you will be betraying the nation, the 3 million martyrs, and the honor of 200,000 women.” As a result, I encourage you to vote for the boat in the upcoming election, giving Sheikh Hasina another chance and preventing war criminals Al-Badr and Khaleda Zia from regaining power,” he implored voters.

    —

  • India’s reputed audio and wearable brand ‘boAt’ now officially available in Bangladesh

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Daily Star

    A well-known audio and wearables company from India called boAt has made a deal with DX Group to sell their goods in Bangladesh. Because of this, their goods can now be bought legally in Bangladesh.

    Bangladeshi conglomerate DX Group will sell boAt’s goods in all of the country’s major cities, such as Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Sylhet, and Barishal.

    There will be true wireless (TWS) earbuds, smartwatches, neckbands, headphones, speakers, charging, and more in the line-up. DX Group will also help boAt bring on local partners, get new customers, and grow its business.

    The company that owns boAt is called Imagine Marketing Ltd. It was started in 2013 and has a wide range of products, including music gear, smart wearables, personal grooming, and mobile accessories. The brand boAt was started by the company Imagine. It sells products with a focus on lifestyle at costs that young people can afford.

    DX is the name of a group of 12 businesses in Bangladesh that work together in the distribution, retail, and service areas. DX was started in 2011.

    —

  • Gazipur couple sells their newborn to pay hospital bills, mobile court shuts down the hospital

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    A mobile court in Gazipur has told a hospital to stop working because a couple in Sreepur upazila had to sell their baby to pay their bills after they had a caesarean section.

    The thing happened at the New Asia Diagnostic Center in the Sreepur Chowrasta neighborhood. After people complained, the local government punished the hospital’s managers and told them to close the hospital on Friday.

    Priya and Rasel rent a house on the road between Sreepur and Kapasia. They also have two other girls, one who is four and the other who is five. Rasel is a day laborer and Priya is a housekeeper.

    Rasel said that he took his wife Priya to the New Asia Diagnostic Center last Sunday at 11 a.m. because she was having labor pains.

    After looking at his wife, the hospital’s head, Jahangir, suggested a caesarean section on the same day. He warned that if the surgery wasn’t done right away, complications could happen that could put both the mother and the baby in danger.

    Rasel told the hospital director that he didn’t have enough money to pay for the c-section. The director suggested that they sell their baby after the c-section was paid for, offering Tk50,000 for a boy and Tk30,000 for a girl.

    At 7 o’clock that night, Priya gave birth to a girl.

    On Monday, the hospital head sold the couple’s baby to someone she didn’t know.

    When Priya and Rasel asked Jahangir about the person, he didn’t tell them who they were.

    Later, he gave the couple Tk14,000, saying that he had sold their baby for Tk30,000 and that Tk16,000 had been taken out to pay for the hospital bills.

    Wednesday, word got out that the baby was for sale, which created a stir in the area.

    When local reporters went to the hospital to find out more, they tried to lie and avoid answering questions.

    Jahangir said that the surgery was done with the couple’s permission and that they sold their baby to pay for the hospital bills.

    When Sreepur Assistant Commissioner (Land) Al Mamun heard about what happened, he said he held a mobile court at the New Asia Diagnostic Centre on Friday and fined the hospital Tk5,000.

    He also said that because of the hospital’s wrongdoing, the mobile court told all of its operations to stop.

    Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Bari at the Sreepur police station said they found out about the event on Wednesday night and started looking into it right away.

    Even though this hasn’t been turned into a case yet, the OC said that police are looking into it carefully and have already gathered some information.

    Once a case is made, he said, the right steps will be taken.

    —

  • TW: Four kittens found with throats slit near DU campus pond, students protest cat cruelty at DU

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    After two different rooms at Dhaka University killed cats, students started to speak out against cruelty to cats on campus.

    Before, the throats of four kittens were cut near the pond of Bangabandhu hall, and the body of a cat was found at Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib hall.

    In this case, Jahid Hasan, a resident of Kabi Jashim Uddin Hall, said, “Yesterday on my way to class, I saw those kittens playing in the hall yard, so I wrote a post on Facebook so that someone could adopt them. But I forgot to give the post after that. When I saw a post on Facebook about those dead kittens this morning (Friday), I was shocked.”

    General students also spoke out against abuse to cats and called for the killer to be punished after being found.

    Asif Mahmud, a graduate student at Dhaka University, said, “As far as I know, there is no board that regulates cats or dogs.” If the number of cats is getting bigger, it needs to be managed in a planned way. Killing is never the answer. Whoever killed these kittens must have been crazy, because no one else could cut the throats of such cute animals.

    “I think DU should pay attention to these animals and set up a group to care for them at the university,” he said.

    —

  • Pakistan needs to learn from Bangladesh, says Imran Khan

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Financial Express

    Imran Khan, who used to be Pakistan’s prime minister, said that Bangladesh has come a long way from Pakistan and that the country can teach us something.

    “When a country stands up for freedom and its rights, when justice settles in people’s hearts, it doesn’t matter what you do, not even military actions. He said, “Because the seed of justice and freedom is in us.”

    In a live talk that was streamed on YouTube on Friday, Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, asked for talks with all state institutions right away to find a way to put Pakistan on the path to growth.

    “Pakistan is on the verge of a disaster because hyperinflation is just around the corner. But the current masters don’t seem to care much because they have hidden the stolen money abroad,” he said from his home in Lahore’s Zaman Park.

    Reuters says that Imran Khan, who says that corruption charges are made up, is in a fight with Pakistan’s powerful military. Throughout Pakistan’s past, the military has either ruled directly or supervised civilian governments.

    Khan was arrested and put in jail on May 9. This led to a lot of protests by his followers and made people worry about the stability of the country, which has nuclear weapons and is going through its worst economic crisis in decades.

    In the end, he was let out on bail.

    In the video speech, Mr. Khan said that his call for dialogue shouldn’t be seen as a sign of weakness. He also said that hurting the people of Pakistan physically and financially was not the answer. “The problems of the country will be solved when state institutions do what they are supposed to do,” he said.

    “Every time I ask for a conversation, the people in power think I’m getting weaker, so they start to do more bad things to PTI leaders and workers in an attempt to destroy the party,” he said. He said that no government could get rid of an idea that had been taught to the young people of the land.

    He also told the people in charge to be careful because if they try to crush the PTI, they could end up destroying the country. “No political party has ever seen its leaders do something so cruel,” he said.

    Mr. Khan said that the country had already turned into a banana republic, which is a poor country with a weak government that lives on money from other countries. He said this because the leaders did not even follow court orders to hold elections.

    —

  • Sony unveils new handheld gaming device and gaming earbuds

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Daily Star

    At the recent PlayStation Showcase, which was a much-anticipated event, Sony took the center stage and announced a number of innovative gaming devices that are sure to please players all over the world. “Project Q,” a long-rumored game streaming device that claims to change the way gamers play their favorite games, was one of the most exciting things that was shown.

    Project Q has a small 8-inch screen and controller attachments on both sides, just like the well-known DualSense joystick. This clever design makes it possible for gamers to play their favorite games anywhere, at any time. In The Last of Us, players fight hordes of infected, and in other highly praised games, they go on epic quests. Players will finally be able to enjoy these immersive experiences even from the comfort of their bathrooms. Sony’s Project Q easily stands out from rivals like the Steam Deck, making sure that gaming is smooth and reliable.

    Even though we don’t know much about the software on Project Q yet, we hope that the device will have a lot more to give than just the ability to connect to the PlayStation 5 (PS5). Fans are looking forward to the possibility of standalone features, which would let users use the device’s features without having to be constantly connected to their PS5 devices. People have also wondered if the famous PS Now service could be used to stream games, which would make the device even more appealing and useful.

    Sony also released a set of cutting-edge, truly wireless earbuds for gamers, in addition to the amazing Project Q. These game earbuds are made to work well with both the PS5 and the PC, and they promise to take the audio experience to a whole new level. Even though there isn’t much known about the earbuds right now, it is believed that they will give players playing their favorite games on the upcoming Project Q and other compatible devices a great audio experience.

    —

  • Police constable commits suicide at Banani check post, shoots himself in the chest

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    Police say that a police officer killed himself while on duty in a bathroom at a police checkpoint in Banani in the city.

    Ashrafuzzaman Roni, who was a police officer, was found dead. He worked for the ASTF Company in the Public Order Management (POM) South Division. He lived in Mirpur Police Lines before.

    Since the morning, he had been working at the Banani 11 police checkpoint.

    The police said that he killed himself by shooting himself in the chest with the gun that was given to him.

    As soon as Roni went into the bathroom at the checkpoint, his friends heard a gunshot.

    When they opened the door, Roni was laying on the floor, covered in blood.

    Roni was brought to the emergency room of Dhaka Medical College (DMCH) Hospital around 8 a.m., where he was in a very bad way. The duty doctor examined him and pronounced him dead.

    Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Banani police station Md Mostafizur Rahman said that Roni, a constable, killed himself by shooting himself in the chest with the gun he was given around 6:50 a.m. when he went to the bathroom at Banani check post no. 11.

    But no one knows for sure why he killed himself yet.

    Ashrafuzzaman Roni lived in the village of Chandrapara in the upazila of Dhamrai in the district of Dhaka until he died.

    In 2020, he became a constable in the police force.

    —

  • India uses image of ‘Patuakhali Park’ to showcase their development in Kashmir

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    In a surprising turn of events, a picture that was widely shared before the G20 Summit as a sign of progress in Indian-controlled Kashmir has been shown to be fake.

    The picture was said to be of a changed Boulevard Road in Srinagar, but it turned out to be a picture of the Jhautola area of Patuakhali.

    Several people and government agencies in India, such as the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) in Budgam and Jammu and Kashmir, shared the photo and praised it as proof of the city’s growth. Even India’s Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, liked the tweet.

    Wajahat Farooq Bhat, the head of a local NGO, also shared the picture with the same claim, but he has since taken it down. Aquib Mir and others shared the picture on social media, saying that it was from Boulevard Road in Srinagar and that it had been fixed up to welcome G20 delegates.

    But when a reverse image search was done, it was found that the picture had been used as the display picture on a Facebook page for the growth of Jhautola Park in Patuakhali.

    Jhautola Park is a place for fun and relaxation in the town of Patuakhali. The park is meant to be a place for people to have fun and help the area grow.

    Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who is in charge of planning the G20 event, praised how Srinagar has changed, pointing out how awareness efforts and the arrival of guests have helped.

    He said that he thought the meeting would help Jammu and Kashmir’s economy get back on its feet, especially in terms of ecotourism, adventure tourism, and sustainable tourism.

    As the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting gets closer, the incident with the misleading picture has made people question whether or not Indian officials’ claims about progress in Kashmir are true.

    —

  • Bangladesh, a happier nation than Canada, Pakistan, India

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Daily Star

    A well-known economist from the United States’ Johns Hopkins University has found that Bangladesh is the happiest country in Asia. It is happier than Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and even India.

    The professor of applied economics looked at how happy or unhappy people were in 157 countries around the world. He found that Bangladesh is even better than Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Finland, Bahrain, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.

    Steve H. Hanke used figures on the country’s unemployment rate at the end of the year (multiplied by two), inflation, and bank lending rates, minus the annual percentage change in real gross domestic product per capita, to create the Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI).

    In the most recent report for 2022, Bangladesh was ranked 115th, while India was ranked 103rd, Nepal 63rd, Myanmar 39th, Pakistan 35th, and Sri Lanka 11th.

    The Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI) says that a country is happy the higher it ranks and more miserable the lower it ranks.

    Bangladesh got a score of 20.107 on the misery index, and Hanke said that unemployment is the main reason why the country can’t be the best country in the world.

    India got a score of 22.58, and unemployment is also a big cause of the country’s problems.

    With a score of 414.7, Zimbabwe won the index and became the worst country in the world. The HAMI says that triple-digit inflation is the biggest problem for the Zimbabwean economy.

    Professor Hanke says that Venezuela, which was once thought to be one of the richest countries in the world, is now mostly suffering from hyperinflation and is the second worst place to live in the world.

    Vietnam and China, two major players in the global clothing business, have done much better than Bangladesh.

    Vietnam was ranked 139th with a score of 14.839, while China was 142nd with a score of 13.1.

    Switzerland is the happiest country in the world and has the lowest HAMI score.

    Hanke said, “The Swiss debt brake is one reason for that.” The debt brake has been very effective. Switzerland is not like most countries in that its debt-to-GDP ratio has been going down over the last 20 years.

    The second, third, fourth, and fifth happiest countries in the world are Kuwait, Ireland, Japan, and Malaysia, respectively.

    Hanke said that Arthur Okun, a well-known economist who was head of the Council of Economic Advisers when President Johnson was in office, came up with the idea for the misery index.

    Okun made the first version of the suffering index for the US. Okun’s measure is the same as the sum of the unemployment rate and the inflation rate.

    Robert Barro, a professor at Harvard, later changed Okun’s index. He added the 30-year government bond rate and the output gap for real GDP to the misery index. Barro’s index was a way to measure how bad things got during a president’s time in office.

    Hanke changed Barro’s version of the misery index even more by changing the output gap with the growth rate of real GDP per capita and the 30-year government bond yield with lending rates.

    —

  • From ‘Happily Married’ to ‘Happily Taxed’: Dhaka dwellers might have to pay taxes to get married

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Daily Star

    People who want to get married in the southern part of Dhaka city are about to have a little more trouble than normal. Those who are getting married for the first time can relax, but those who are getting married for the second, third, or fourth time should be worried.

    In order to raise more money, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) wants to put a tax on weddings. The tax will be collected according to the Municipal Corporations (Taxation) Rules of 1986.

    Ariful Haque, the chief revenue officer of DSCC, said that the tax is expected to be put in place at the start of the next financial year.

    “This will be done in line with the 1986 Act. Even though the act gives the city corporation the right to charge this tax, it couldn’t be done for a number of reasons. “We are now moving toward putting it into place,” he said.

    Rule 50 of the Municipal Corporations (Taxation) Rules of 1986 says, “When it has been decided with the prior approval of the Government that a tax on marriage should be imposed, the City Corporation shall, at a meeting, determine the rate of tax not to exceed the amount specified in the Model Tax Schedules.”

    The 2016 City Corporation Model Tax Schedule has different tax rates for a person’s first, second, third, and fourth marriages.

    In Section 152 of the Schedule, it says, “For the first marriage or marriage after the death of the first wife, the groom will pay Tk 100.”

    The husband will pay Tk 5,000 for the second marriage during the first wife’s life, and Tk 20,000 for the third marriage during the lives of the first two wives.

    The Schedule says that the man will pay Tk 50,000 for the fourth marriage.

    If the wife is emotionally unstable or doesn’t have any children, these rules don’t apply. Instead, the groom will have to pay Tk 200.

    The DSCC initiative has been accepted by the law ministry, which is in charge of marriage registration right now. It has already sent a letter to the office of the Registrar General, Birth and Death Registration of both city companies.

    Mokbul Hossain, who is in charge of public relations for the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said that there is no plan to charge people a marriage tax.

    —

  • Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers to be honoured posthumously at UN HQ

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: The Daily Star

    On Thursday, the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping, six Bangladeshi soldiers who died in the line of duty will be given the Dag Hammarskjold medal.

    The International Day of UN Peacekeepers will be celebrated at the UN Headquarters on that day.

    The six Bangladeshi peacekeepers who are among the 103 awardees are: Sainik MD Sharif Hossain, Sainik MD Jahangir Alam, and Sainik MD Jasim, who served with the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA); LCPL Kafil Majum DER, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS); SGT MD Manjur Rahman, who served with the UN Interim Security

    According to the UN Information Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh sends the most armed people to help keep the peace for the UN.

    It sends more than 7,200 soldiers and police officers to Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Mali, South Sudan, and the Western Sahara to help keep the peace there.

    In 1948, an important decision was made to send military monitors to the Middle East to watch how the Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements were carried out. This was the start of what would become the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.

    Since then, more than 2 million peacekeepers from 125 countries have served in 71 actions around the world.

    At the moment, 87,000 men and women are serving in 12 war zones in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

    Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is going to lay a wreath at the United Nations Headquarters during a formal ceremony to honor the more than 4,200 UN troops who have died since 1948.

    He will also be in charge of a ceremony in the General Assembly Hall where 103 military, police, and citizen peacekeepers who died last year while working for the UN will be given Dag Hammarskjold Medals.

    In 2002, the UN General Assembly set up the International Day of UN Peacekeepers as a way to honor all the men and women who work in policing and to remember those who have died for the sake of peace.

    —

  • Construction of Bangladesh’s first underground metro line begins in July

    Want free delivery of daily news updates? Join our Telegram channel now: https://t.me/tfpnewsletter/57

    Source: Dhaka Tribune

    A bilateral deal has been made with the contractor to start contract package-1 (land development of depot area) of Bangladesh’s first underground metro line, MRT line-5, on the Uttara route. The work is likely to start in July.

    On Tuesday, the deal was signed by Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), TOA Corporation (Japan), and Spectra Engineers Limited (Bangladesh) at DMTCL Bhaban in the capital’s Uttara.

    In order to finish MRT Line-5 from Hemayetpur to Bhatara by 2028, 10 contract deals have been set up. As part of this, a land development work deal for the depot area was signed on Tuesday as part of contract package-1.

    This package will be worked on by TOA Corporation (Japan) and Spectra Engineers Limited (Bangladesh), as per the deal. Also, actions related to processing bids for other packages are being done at different stages.

    From Hemayetpur to Bhatara, this project will build a metro train line that is 13.50 km underground and 6.50 km above ground. In between, there will be 14 stops for people to get on and off (nine underground and five above ground).

    MRT Line 5 goes from Hemayetpur to Boliarpur to Bilamalia to Amin Bazar and Gabtoli. From there, it will go through Darus Salam-Mirpur 1-Mirpur 10-Mirpur 14, Kachukhet, and Banani to get to Banani.

    The line will then go through Gulshan 2 and Natun Bazar on its way to Bhatara. From Hemayetpur to Amin Bazar and Bhatara, this part of the metro train will be above ground. From Gabtoli to Natun Bazar, there will be underground metro train.

    The Road Transport and Highways Division has projected that the MRT Line-5 project will cost Tk41,238.55 crore. Out of this, Tk12,121.50 crore will come from the Government of Bangladesh (GOB), and Tk29,117.5 crore will come from project aid.

    The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will pay for the project.

    —

  • AI reimagines Bangladeshi actors as superheroes

    Source: The Daily Star

    In recent years, the world has been amazed by how quickly Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making progress. Deepfakes, DALL-E 2, ChatGPT, and other related developments have sparked a lot of debate about the ethics of AI, its possible uses, and where it’s headed in the future.

    Now, a creative Facebook user named Kazi Shahriar Ahmed used AI methods while he was traveling to make pictures of the biggest stars in Dhallywood dressed as superheroes. People on social media are interested in what he comes up with.

    The ad showed four pictures of Jaya Ahsan, Arifin Shuvoo, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, and Shakib Khan that were very beautiful. He also asked his followers a question that made them think: “If Bangladesh had a Superhero Cinematic Universe, what superpowers would you want them to have?”

    In the pictures, Jaya Ahsan’s short purple hair gave her a fierce look, while Bidya Sinha Mim’s short blue pixie cut gave her a foreign look.

    The creative use of AI technology in these images has brought the idea of Bangladeshi superheroes to life, opening up a world of possibilities and fueling fans’ imaginations.

    —

  • Digital Security Act set to be amended, says Law Minister

    Source: Prothom Alo

    Sunday, the law minister, Anisul Huq, said that the Digital Security Act will be changed in order to stop people from misusing it. This was reported by UNB.

    “The Digital Security Act was not passed or is not being used to control freedom of speech or the media. Several things have already been done to stop people from abusing the rule. As part of these answers, the Digital Security Act will be changed in a few ways,” he said.

    The minister said these things at a meeting in the Mohakhali neighborhood of the city called “Digital Security Law in Bangladesh and Freedom of Expression.” The program was put together by the UN’s Coordinating Office in Bangladesh and Brac University.

    The government talked with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office for a long time about the DSA and got some ideas, which are now being looked at, the minister said.

    “Women are often abused online, and this is something that needs to be fixed. “The digital space will not be used in a way that hurts the reputation of the country, the government, or any individual,” Anisul Huq said.

    The minister also said, “We need to protect our national interests and those who are targeted by digital threats and are most likely to be hurt by them. We need a DSA because of this.”

    So, there is no chance that this law will be changed, the law minister said. “However, changes to the law are being looked at.” It needs to be thought about.”

    —

  • US Embassy in Dhaka warns citizens to exercise caution ahead of general election

    Source: Prothom Alo

    Before the next general election, which will happen before or in January 2024, the US embassy in Dhaka told all US people living in the country to be careful.

    Sunday, the embassy sent out a news release called “Demonstration Alert” with an important message.

    In the release, the embassy asked US citizens to be careful because peaceful protests can turn violent if they turn confrontational.

    So, they are asked to stay away from protests and be careful around big gatherings. They are also asked to review their personal security plans, stay aware of their surroundings, including local events, and listen to local news stations for updates.

    It also said that political rallies and other events connected to the election had already started. As the general election gets closer, political gatherings and protests may happen more often or with more force.

    —

  • ‘Maa’ director and producer walked streets of Cannes wearing lungi-panjabi

    Source: The Daily Star

    Today, Aranyo Anawer’s picture “Maa” will have its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Picture Festival. Before the opening, the director, Aranya Anawer, and the producer, Pulak Kanti, were seen in the streets of Cannes wearing a panjabi and a lungi.

    The movie will be shown at the Palais de Festivals of Cannes theater at 6:45 pm local time as part of the festival’s “marché du film.”

    The director and producer of the movie “Maa” proudly waved the Bangladeshi flag as they walked the streets of Cannes. They wore traditional Bengali clothes like Punjabi, Lungi, and gamcha to honor their roots. This one-of-a-kind display was meant to show the world the rich history and uniqueness of Bangladeshi film.

    Aranyo Anawer also wrote about his feelings on his Facebook page. He said, “Marche means to sell, and Marche du Film means the film market. Yesterday, I wore a lungi and Punjabi and spent the whole day in that market area. I was happy to sit in the booth for Bangladesh.

    People who thought he walked the red carpet in traditional clothes were also wrong, he said.

    “Please correct yourself if you call it the red carpet by mistake. I want to be true to myself. Please help me or don’t say anything.”

    The movie “Maa” is about Bangladesh’s Liberation War, and Pori Moni plays a grieving mother in the main part.

    Before, “Maa” was supposed to come out in the U.S. on May 19. But the rules say that a movie can’t come out in theaters before it’s shown at a festival. So, “Maa” couldn’t come out in local theaters until May 26.

    —

  • Bangladeshi filmmaker writes book on BTS titled “BTS: Seoul to Soul”

    Source: The Daily Star

    The essay book “BTS: Seoul to Soul” by filmmaker Anarya Murshid about the famous Korean pop music group BTS came out on Friday.

    A press statement said that the book about the rise of the Korean pop band is now on sale.

    The book has stories about the trials of seven BTS members and lists their shows, albums, and awards. In the book, there was an important piece about the Korean Cultural Wave and the use of “soft power.”

    “I’m making a movie about a Bangladeshi BTS fan’s cultural problem. “When we were getting ready to make the movie, I felt like I needed a book about K-pop,” Anarya said.

    The book’s editor said that he also wanted to put out books that were about culture and diplomacy. His publishing house has also put out books like this in the past.

    “I hope the book will help Bangladesh and Korea build a culture bridge that will last for a long time. “The book will also help the older generation see this generation in a good light,” Anarya said.

    Fans of BTS can buy the book at Tobuo Proyas, Lalan, or Chandal Books.

    —

  • OpenAI launches an official ChatGPT app for iOS

    Source: The Verge

    OpenAI has put out a ChatGPT app for iOS and said that an Android version will be out “soon.” The app is free to use and syncs your chat data with the web. You can also use your voice to send messages, which is made possible by the open-source speech recognition model Whisper from OpenAI. The app can be downloaded from the App Store here and works on both iPhones and iPads. OpenAI says that the app will be released first in the US and then in other countries “in the coming weeks.”

    OpenAI didn’t say before that there would be a mobile app, but given how famous ChatGPT is, it makes sense. The AI assistant came out in November, but its use took off quickly. Some outside reports say that by January of this year, the app had 100 million users, but OpenAI has never confirmed these numbers.

    The launch of the app is interesting, given that OpenAI isn’t sure how to place ChatGPT in the market. Even though the chatbot started out as an experiment, it quickly found a consumer audience that uses it for everything from cheating on college writings to business applications. In February, OpenAI released ChatGPT Plus, a paid version of the app that gives users priority access and answers made with the company’s most recent language model, GPT-4. Each month, it costs $20.

    Up until now, the best way to use OpenAI’s language models on a mobile device was to use the Bing app from Microsoft, which gives you access to the company’s GPT-4-powered robot. Microsoft has been using access to its chatbot as a way to get people to use Bing and Edge. If ChatGPT makes an official app, it’s possible that some of these users will switch to it instead. The start of an official ChatGPT should also stop people from signing up for the many spam and fake apps that claim to give access to the chatbot on mobile.

    ChatGPT has the same problems on mobile devices as it does on the web, of course. These include the fact that the bot is likely to make up information and be sure of it, and worries about privacy. OpenAI just recently gave users the option to make talks private, and the app’s homescreen (shown above) still tells users not to share “sensitive info” on the app.

    —

  • ‘Deora’ breaks YouTube records, goes international

    Source: The Daily Star

    The fifth song of the second season of Coke Studio Bangla, “Deora,” came out on May 7 and has been the most popular thing on YouTube ever since. Incredibly, the song got over 21 million views in just 11 days, which was a new record for the site.

    Before, “Bhaber Pagal” by Nigar Sumi and Jalali Set had 24 million views, making it the most watched song on Coke Studio Bangla.

    But it’s important to remember that this song came out a year ago, while “Deora” got a crazy 21 million views in just 11 days. It is rare for any Bengali song, not just Coke Studio Bangla, to become so popular so quickly.

    When “Deora” came out, it quickly went to the top of YouTube’s popular list and stayed there for a few days. As of right now, it is still a strong rival. It is currently the third most popular video on YouTube. The crowd doesn’t seem to be getting tired of the song.

    “Deora” is popular outside of Bangladesh, which is an interesting fact. The song has gotten a lot of interest in India, and it’s even been heard in Tanzania, which is in Africa.

    Kili Paul, a popular African content maker, used the song in a TikTok video that got over 1.2 million views in just one day. Also, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are still full of reels, videos, and other artistic works that were inspired by the song. This huge number of responses shows how much of an impact the song has had on the internet.

    “Deora” is a great mix of modern and traditional music. It was written by Fazlu Majhi and played by Pritom Hasan, Islam Uddin Palakar, and the Ghaashphoring Choir.

    A few new lines have been added to the original song, and Pritom himself wrote the new parts.

    —

en_GBEnglish
en_GBEnglish