State minister denies plan to restrict free calling apps

The government has no plan to restrict the voice call through different communication apps like viber, imo and whatsapp, state minister for posts and telecommunications Tarana Halim said.

“We are committed to stop illegal use of VoIP, but has no plan to bar free calling through communication apps,” she told BSS at her ministry’s office on Sunday.

Referring to her ministry’s continuous effort to curb illegal call termination through VoIP, she said the efforts would be continued with the ‘zero tolerance’ approach.

The state minister came up with the announcement to clear the government’s stand on use of OTT (Over-the-Top) or communication apps.

Earlier on Friday, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) chairman Shahjahan Mahmood said that BTRC would formulate a guideline on use of OTT as those free calling apps are contributing to cut legal international call termination. Some media, however, categorically reported that the communication apps such as viber, imo, whatsapps and wechat would be banned.  

According to BTRC, the country is now registering 70-80 million minutes international calls a day. The volume of calls surged to 123 million minutes a day after reducing the call rate to 1.5 cents at the end of 2014 from 3 cents. But the volume of calls dropped again after increasing the call rate to 2 cents.

From Prothom Alo

Khaleda asks Myanmar to stop Rohingya genocide

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday called the repression of Rohingya Muslims by Myanmar forces as ‘genocide’, asking the Bangladesh authorities to give them shelter as much as possible.

“I am deeply shocked and concerned over the brutal genocide being carried out by the government forces of neighbouring Myanmar on the Rohingya community,” she said in a statement issued by her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan.

The BNP leader also called on the international community to play an active role in bringing an end to the persecution of Rohingyas and to ensure that they live their homeland of Myanmar with safety and security.

A former prime minister, Khaleda Zia was very critical of Myanmar leader Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi for the persecution of Rohingyas.
“The Rohingyas are being killed by shooting and slaughtering. They are being burnt to death. They are being evicted from their homestead setting fire to their houses, villages after villages. Rohingya women are being violated. Even infants are not being spared,” Khaleda observed giving a gloomy picture of the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

From Prothom Alo

President asks EC to hold credible polls in N’ganj, zila parisads

President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday asked the Election Commission to take necessary steps to hold the Narayanganj city corporation (NCC) and Zila Parishad elections in a credible manner.

The president made the call when chief election commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad met him at Bangabhaban.

President's press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.

The CEC apprised the president of the election commission's preparations to hold elections to the NCC and 61 zila parishads (district councils).

The NCC election is scheduled to be held on 22 December while the zila parishad ones on 28 December.

Rakibuddin Ahmad said the commission will take all-out efforts to ensure security during the elections.

The CEC also apprised the president of EC’s overall activities and sought his cooperation in discharging duties bestowed upon it.

Mentioning that construction of commission's 13-storey own building in Agargaon is nearing completion, the CEC invited the president to inaugurate it in the last week of December.

From Prothom Alo

Hasina to be PM again: Huda

Nazmul Huda, an expelled BNP leader who floated Bangladesh National Alliance (BNA), has appreciated ruling Awami League’s outright rejection to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's proposals for reconstituting and strengthening the election commission.

Detained and tried on corruption charges during the 2007-08 military-installed caretaker government, Huda on Wednesday came up with a seven-point proposal for holding 'fair' elections, only days after Khaleda Zia spelt out her formula.

"If the election is held based on these proposals, Sheikh Hasina is going to be the prime minister again," he said.

The BNA chief submitted his proposals styled "Constitution of fair and neutral election commission for holding elections under this very government and proposals" at the National Press Club.

Huda advocated holding of the general elections under premier Sheikh Hasina's administration. However, he himself resigned from the cabinet during the first government of BNP Khaleda Zia when he floated the idea of the election-time government.

"The government of Sheikh Hasina has not shown any weakness till date in holding free and fair elections," said Huda who had all praises of the government.

According to him, the incumbent regime can be the "congenial government" for fair elections as demanded by Khaleda Zia.

He said he did not see any relevance of holding talks with any political parties for building consensus on reconstitution of the next election commission, a proposal that Khaleda Zia raised on Friday.

The BNP and all other opposition parties boycotted the 2014 general elections and alleged massive rigging and manipulation of the elections in upazila, union parishad and municipalities held later on.

However, in his proposals, Nazmul Huda emphasised updating voters' list and introduction of passport as national identity card.

He also proposed reducing election expenses, engaging full-time election observers, strengthening election commission, registration of the political parties and forming election tribunals.

Huda further said the ruling AL has done the "right thing" by rejecting the proposals floated by BNP chief Khaleda Zia.

From Prothom Alo

Patel heroics down Dhaka

A 39-ball 75 from Samit Patel led Rajshahi Kings to a stunning three-wicket victory over Dhaka Dynamites in the Bangladesh Premier League on Monday.

It was this year's highest successful chase as Patel and Mominul hit fifties to outplay Dhaka's 182 for 4.

Opting to bat first, Dhaka hit a solid total thanks to Kumar Sangakkara's 66, which came in 46 balls with five fours and three sixes.

In-form Mehedi Maruf added 35 while Seekkuge Prasanna blasted 34 in just 12 balls.

Rajshahi did not have the best start, losing Junaid Siddique and Sabbir Rahman cheaply, but Patel and Mominul Haque (56) hit fifties to bring only the second win for their team.

Player of the match Patel hit five fours and six sixes as Dwayne Bravo's three-wicket haul went in vain.

From Prothom Alo

Over 1,000 Rohingya houses razed: HRW

Myanmar soldiers are putting out a fire in Wapeik village located in
 Maungdaw in Rakhine State in Myanmar.

More than 1,000 homes have been razed in Rohingya villages in northwest Myanmar during a military lockdown there, according to analysis of satellite images from Human Rights Watch released Monday that fly in the face of government denials.

Troops have poured into a strip of land along the Bangladesh border, an area which is largely home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya minority, since a series of coordinated and deadly attacks on police border posts last month.

Up to 30,000 people have been displaced by the ensuing violence, according to the UN, half of them over a two-day period when dozens died after the military brought in helicopter gunships.

Security forces have killed almost 70 people and arrested some 400 since the lockdown began six weeks ago, according to state media reports, but activists say the number could be far higher.

Witnesses and activists have reported troops killing Rohingya, raping women and looting and burning their houses. The government has refused to allow in international observers to carry out a full investigation.

A Rohingya man named Salaman said he helped to bury the bodies of a man and a woman who were shot by soldiers in the village of Doetan on Saturday.

“Soldiers came in to Doetan village in the evening of the 19th about 5pm,” he told AFP.

“Most of the men from the village ran away because they are afraid of being arrested and tortured. Then they (the soldiers) started shooting and two were killed.”

Rights activist Chris Lewa, whose Arakan Project works in northern Rakhine, confirmed the account and said two babies were also swept away as villagers tried to flee across a river.

Rights abuse ‘prohibited’

Presidential spokesman Zaw Htay played down the latest satellite images.

“What we have seen on the ground is not that widespread,” he told AFP.

He also denied reports of the deaths in Doetan village.

“Both the government and the military have strongly prohibited any human rights violations, especially against women and children,” he said.

Hundreds of Rohingya, who have long been persecuted by the state, have tried to flee the violence to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Myanmar’s new civilian government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, has rejected the allegations as part of a misinformation campaign planted by “terrorists”.

Independently verifying facts on the ground has been hampered, but evidence of widespread destruction to villages is mounting.

Human Rights Watch said Monday that by using satellite imagery it had identified 820 more structures destroyed in five Rohingya villages between November 10-18.

In total, the rights group said 1,250 buildings had been destroyed during the military lockdown.

“Instead of responding with military-era style accusations and denials, the government should simply look at the facts,” said HRW’s Asia director Brad Adams.

The government has said fewer than 300 houses have been destroyed and blamed the attacks on “Bengali (Rohingya) terrorist arsonists”.

More than 100 people died in 2012 in clashes between the majority Buddhist population and the Rohingya, and tens of thousands of them were driven into displacement camps.

The resurgence of violence in Rakhine poses a critical challenge to Suu Kyi’s administration seven months after it took power.

Many in Myanmar loathe the Muslim Rohingya, whom they reject as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh even though many can trace their roots in Myanmar back generations.

From Prothom Alo

BNP pushes Taimur to run for N’ganj mayor

Taimur Alam

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has finalised Taimur Alam Khandaker as its mayoral candidate in the Narayanganj city corporation election slated for 22 December.

Taimur Alam who was the president of Narayanganj district BNP until recently is a member of the BNP chairperson’s advisory council.

At a meeting at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Friday evening, Taimur Alam was asked to preparare to run for the Narayanganj city mayor on the party ticket.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Narayanganj district BNP leaders were present in the meeting.

Taimur Alam, however, while talking to the Prothom Alo showed his reluctance to contest the civic polls as, what he said, the election would not be a good one.

He also told the BNP chairperson about his reluctance.

“What is the point of becoming a candidate if the election is not held in a fair manner?” asked Taimur.

He, however, said he will contest the civic polls if the party wants.

Besides, ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) has picked incumbent mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, who fought against the party candidate Shamim Osman to become the first mayor of the city in 2011, as its candidate this time. 

Collected from Prothom Alo

Samsung Galaxy Secret Code

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or *#7780#
*2767*3855# (Factory hard reset to ROM firmware default settings)
*2767*4387264636# (To display product code)
*#272*imei#* (Display/change CSC code)
or *#272*HHMM#*
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*#7284# (USB I2C Mode Control)
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or *#*#34971539#*#*
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Sonakshi can do anything when it comes to action: John

Bollywood action hero John Abharam
is quite impressed with bold and brave actress Sonakshi Sinha.

The Dishoom actor, who was present on Friday to release a song Rang Laal from Force 2 along with Sonakshi, said, “It is director’s prerogative that he wants to give an opportunity to his female actors to do this kind of actions … We love watching them dancing and singing. So for a change, when someone like me sees women doing actions it impresses me a lot.”

“When I was told on the second day of the shoot that there was a shot where we both had to jump after a blast, I was worried. How will I tell Sonakshi to jump? Finally, she jumped and after that, I realised this girl will do anything,” John added.

“Sonakshi didn’t say no to a single action scene. She was absolutely fantastic and comfortable. And seeing her I feel there should be more action sequences for women in the films,” the 43-year-old actor said.

The Rocky Handsome actor also spoke about the recent controversy over Pakistani artistes working in Bollywood. “I think enough has been spoken about it. You just expect us to join the bandwagon with one more comment. I think the song Rang Laal says it all.”

“I always say my country comes first. That’s all I can say. My country is most important to me. It’s not about Hindu, Muslim or Christian, we all are Indian,” he added.

Rang Laal which has a tagline India Strikes Back is composed by Gourov Roshin and John is joined by singer Dev Negi in the video. Sonakshi Sinha is also seen lip-syncing in some parts of the video.

(IANS)

Constitute EC in consultation with all parties: Khaleda Zia

BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has urged the government to constitute an Election Commission in consultation with all the political parties.

She said those in a press briefing held at a Dhaka hotel Friday afternoon.

Khaleda proposed some recommendations including some changes to the Representation of the People’s Order (RPO).

The current EC led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad will end their term February next year.

The EC that will be formed after that will be in charge of the 2019 national polls.

The BNP chief asked the President to form a search committee including former chief justices, eminent citizens and common people.

“The president will form the search committee after consulting with all political parties,” she said.

In 2012, then President Zillur Rahman formed the ‘search committee’ in consultation with the political parties.

Law Minister Anisul Haque said same procedure will be followed this time to form the search committee.

Terming the current election commission controversial, Khaleda said people are agitated as they could not vote in the last national polls.

“People want a free and fair poll where they will be able to vote and no one will turn the result around,” the BNP chief said.

Khaleda suggested formation of a five-member election commission headed by a chief election commissioner and with the inclusion of a female election commissioner.

She proposed to replace the district commissioners and police superintendents in a bid to ensure transparency in the election.

Khaleda also emphasized to train up the election commission officials to ensure their service quality.

PUBLIC TOILET

Annex Communications Ltd. recently produced a short TV play to create greater public awareness on 'Public Toilet' use and encourage improved public health and a cleaner, safer environment. Mosharraf Karim, Moutushi Bishwas, Shamim Ahmed are in the lead roles in the play to be telecast on ATN Bangla at 10.50 pm on November 19 ahead of "World Toilet Day'.

Warrant against Khaleda to divert peoples’ attention: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the arrest warrant has been issued against Khaleda to divert peoples’ attention from the recent attacks on minorities.

He came up with the reaction this afternoon, hours after a Dhaka court issued the arrest warrant against Khaleda in a case filed for celebrating her birthday on August 15, the National Mourning Day.

Blaming Awami League for the recent attacks on Hindus and Santals at Nasirnagar and Gobindaganj respectively, Fakhrul said, the government is facing huge criticism as the ruling party men were found involved in those atrocities.

“The arrest warrant against Begum Khaleda Zia is the government’s heinous conspiracy to suppress the huge outcry against it,” Fakhrul alleged, condemning the arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, Jubo Dal today announced to stage countrywide demonstration tomorrow protesting the arrest warrant. 

From: The Daily Star

108 Swadhin Bangla Betar artistes get FF status

The government has recognised 108 artistes of the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and cultural organisations, which were formed during the Liberation War, as freedom fighters.

The liberation war affairs ministry published a gazette notification in this regard on Wednesday, reports UNB news agency.

Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the radio broadcasting centre of Bengali nationalist forces during the Liberation War in 1971. It had played a vital role in boosting the morale of Bangladeshis during the war.

Pakistan may claim Rs 15.25b 'debt' from Bangladesh, India

Pakistan has decided to demand its outstanding amount from India and Bangladesh, reported a Pakistani daily, The Express Tribune, on Tuesday.

In one of its reports headlined ‘India, Bangladesh owe Pakistan Rs 15.25 billion’ on its online version, the Pakistan-based newspaper said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has written to all commercial banks and development finance institutions, asking for details of accounts of assets and other dues receivable from the two countries.

“The purpose is to compile a final assessment of the amount due against India and Bangladesh.”

According to SBP figures, the report said, India and Bangladesh have to pay Pakistan Rs 15.25 billion. The value of assets occupied by India was Rs 6 billion at the end of June 2016 while Bangladesh had to pay more than Rs 9.21 billion.

A circular issued by the SBP to the heads of banks and financial institutions advised them to provide complete details of the dues that are outstanding against the governments or central banks of India and Bangladesh in terms of land, building, furniture and fixtures, office equipment and vehicles, government securities, papers, loans, advances and investment, read the report.

“They were also asked to provide details of any write-offs they made in respect of assets or dues.”

The report quoted the statistics of the SBP and said India has been Pakistan’s debtor since the time of partition and the amount due exceeds Rs 6 billion. “These include gold reserves, sterling securities, Indian securities, rupee coins and Pakistan’s share in the Indian currency at the time of partition.”

It also said Pakistan had paid India for printing of currency notes but they were never provided, additionally India also did not return the money paid for the printing even after seven decades. The amount due in this respect is Rs40 million.

Similarly, the report continued reading, Bangladesh as East Pakistan owed Pakistan Rs 9.21 billion by 30 June 2016 in respect of transactions between government offices, loans, advances and papers.

The details that will be provided to the SBP are expected to increase the total of the dues.

Priyanka starrer to release in Dec

Priyanka Chopra, who unveiled the first look of her debut Punjabi film production, ‘Sarvann’, says she is happy to see her “long cherished goal” become a reality.

She also said the film will be promoted widely.

‘Sarvann’, starring Punjabi superstar Amrinder Gill, marks the second production association between Priyanka’s Purple Pebble Pictures and Vashu Bhagnani’s Pooja Films.

“This is a long cherished goal that is seeing fruition and we have many plans for the film’s promotion across the world. We’re very proud to work with such an amazing team to present this wonderful story,” Priyanka said in a statement.

Amrinder Gill also tweeted the poster of the film to his huge fan base and is already getting an enthusiastic response.

He said, “It is time that Punjabi films get the recognition they deserve. With ‘Sarvann’, we have such a beautiful collaboration with the biggest names in Bollywood with a movie that I believe audiences will thoroughly enjoy.”

Breaking language barriers and backing good stories is not new for Priyanka or Bhagnani, who earlier worked together for Marathi film “Ventilator”.

“Sarvann” director Karaan Guliani said, “Produced by an all-women team of Priyanka Chopra, Dr Madhu Chopra and Deepshika Deshmukh, ‘Sarvann’ is a coming-of-age story of a young man who discovers his true identity.”

The film is releasing on 9 December.

Ivy to not vie for mayoral race defying party decision

Narayanganj city corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy said on Wednesday she would not vie for the mayoral race should her party, Bangladesh Awami League, take a decision otherwise.

Talking to reporters at her city corporation office, Ivy, also the vice president of Narayanganj district AL, hoped that her party will make give her nomination for the mayoral race in the 22 December election.

As per the party rule, the Narayanganj city unit of ruling AL on Tuesday sent a list of three prospective mayoral candidates to the central committee of the AL but the list did not include the name of Ivy.

When her attention was drawn to the decision of the local AL, Ivy said, “A section of the local Awami League has done this. We all know [who did this]. Narayanganj people know it as well.”
She said she has nothing to say about the decision of the local AL.

“I will accept whatever the decision the party will take. I will not contest the election going beyond the party decision,” she added.

Nasirnagar violence: DU students call for minister Sayedul’s resignation over alleged remarks

The protesters burned effigies of Fisheries and Livestock Minister Sayedul Hoque, demanding the government to discharge the minister for alleged disparaging remarks about the Hindu community in Nasirngar and in general after they were attacked.

Dhaka University Students blocked the road at capital’s Shahbagh intersection area protesting the recent communal attacks and demanded punishment for those responsible for the countrywide attacks on minorities, especially Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar incident.

On Friday afternoon, around 500 students blocked the road under the banners of several students associations of the university.

The roads in the adjoining areas were closed due to the demonstration and traffic was not moving.

People passing by also joined in this protest and demanded justice for the communal attacks on the minorities.

Shahbagh police officer in-charge (OC) Abu Bakar Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune of the necessary security measures taken including police being deployed to avoid any untoward incidents. They also showed support by not barring the demonstration and not detaining anyone.

“However, we did try to calm the protesters down and tried to move them from the roads being blocked,” he said.

The demonstration began around 10am at Jagannath Hall by a group of Hindu students from Dhaka University.

The protesters marched from TSC’s Doel Chattar to the National Press Club, where non-student protesters also joined. The protesters proceeded to Shahbagh where they blocked the roads.

They were joined by even more groups at the National Museum who were protesting over the same issue.

The student protesters said they had six demands from the government over the Nasirnagar attack

Meanwhile, the traffic remained stagnant from Motsho Bhaban to Ruposhi Bangla intersection as Katabon and the university area remained blocked for hours.

Rudra Roy, a student from DU said: “Minorities are always mistreated because radical religious groups show the impudence of attacking minorities is never put to justice by the system. Never!”

Before the protesters left the road on Friday evening around 6:30pm, the convenor of the protest Manik Rokkit said they are giving the government three days to act on the six demands.

Manik said the protest will continue until their demands are met.

Source: Dhaka Tribune

Farmers in Panchagarh district are happy over bumper production and getting fair price of jute this season

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said that 6,000 hectares of land have been brought under jute cultivation in the district with the production target of 82,000 bales of jute.

The DAE department has supplied high quality of jute seeds among the farmers, reports BSS.

The department has also given modern technology training to the farmers about jute cultivation to boost bumper production. 

The jute plant was free from pest attack or any natural disaster.

Now the jute is being sold at Taka 1700 to 1800 per mound (40kgs) in the local market.

Farmer Sunil Kumar of sadar upazila said that he had cultivated jute on two bighas of land and he got 20-mound of jute. He has net profit Taka 24,000 after deducting all expenditure.

“Ami Malaun Bolchhi” performed at DU

 A bold message against communal violence

A Correspondent

...............................................................................

Students of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies performed a bold, processional drama, “Ami Malaun Bolchhi”, at the Dhaka University campus on Thursday, against communal violence and ethnic oppression in many localities of Bangladesh.

The performance was initiated by the talented playwright and director Shahman Moishan, who also devised and directed the play “Ami Malaun Bolchhi”.

A huge audience, including teachers and students from various departments of university, witnessed the phases of the performance.

Shahman Moishan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, said that when evil darkness rises university teachers and students should come out from classrooms to enlighten society in the interests of welfare of humanity.

The street performance demonstrated that “malaun” is not a derogatory slang, but the identification mark of the oppressed. The performance highlighted that the spirit of Liberation War is to ensure the equilibrium of all people belonging multiple religions and ethnicities. 

Source/Link: The daily star

Attack on Hindus: Tk 1 lakh bounty on arsonists

Authorities today declared Tk 1 lakh bounty on information leading to capture of the culprits who “are secretly setting Hindu homes on fire” in Brahmanbaria’s Nasirnagar.

The bounty is being announced through loud speakers across Nasirnagar, where the Hindu community is passing petrified days in face of the spate of hate attacks on them.

“Miscreants are secretly torching Hindu property,” said Mizanur Rahman, superintendent of district police.

 “Tk 1 lakh will be awarded on information leading to their capture.”

Police have offered anonymity to the informants and have asked to call them up at these numbers: +8801713373724, +8801713373725, +8801713373727, and +8801713373733.

It started with an alleged Facebook post that triggered Islamists to vandalise at least five Hindu temples and ransack over a hundred houses of the minority group on October 30.

Source/Link:   The daily star/ Star Online Report

20 injured in Dhaka-Mawa Highway bus accident

Twenty people were injured when a speedy passengers’ bus fell into a roadside ditch at the turning point of Shimulia Ghat on the Dhaka-Mawa Highway under Lohajang Thana here this afternoon.

Police said the accident occurred when a Dhaka-bound bus of “Sonali Paribahan” came from Madaripur plunged into a roadside ditch in the area as its driver lost control over the steering, leaving 20 passengers injured on the spot.

The wounded were released after providing first aid from the local hospital.

“The bus was seized but its driver managed to escape,” Mawa Ghat Police said, adding that no case was filed in this connection.