Somali pirates have contacted with the owning company, Kabir Group, of the Bangladeshi-flagged ship MV Abdullah, nine days after they were taken hostage from the Indian Ocean. Media Advisor of Kabir Group, Mizanul Islam, confirmed the matter on Wednesday (March 20). He said the pirates had started communicating. An atmosphere of discussion is being created. The Somali pirates established the first contact after nine days of hijacking MV Abdullah with its 23 crew members. Meanwhile, the news agency Reuters reported that the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) proposed a forceful rescue of the Bangladeshi ship and its 23 crew members. Somali police and the international navy are also preparing for the operation. However, KSRM, owned by MV Abdullah, has strongly opposed such a move. They want to resolve the crisis through negotiations.

Awami League nominated candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) has been elected as the new mayor in the Barishal City Corporation election. He achieved a landslide victory as per unofficial results. On Monday night, June 12, the returning officer Md Humayun Kabir announced the result. The results show that Abul Khair Abdullah earned 87,752 votes. His nearest rival, Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Syed Faizul Karim got 34,345 votes. That is, Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won by getting 53,407 more votes.  Earlier, the voting started from 8 am and ended 4 pm. Total voters are 2 lakh 76 thousand 298 in 126 centres in 30 wards in Barisahl City. Among them, 1 lakh 37 thousand 489 male voters and 1 lakh 38 thousand 809 female voters.

Abdullah Zubayer, the notable public figure has been getting a lot of momentum on social media. Abdullah, a multi-talented young sensation is Digital Creator, Social Media Influencer, Blogger and Writer. In a staggeringly short amount of time, he is setting a benchmark on the world stage by making the sort of substance that thrives when it is living and breathing via social media and web-based media. His story is proof of the term -following your passion is the best thing you could do. Having a robust fanbase of 250k he has been recognized among the topmost Influential Content Creators. Abdullah's unique personality and crystal clear deposition that makes him a motivational force on the social media platform. He possesses talent for blogging as well. His methods and tools to access the writing strategies on a digital platform are prototypical. He has the ability to adapt with changes. As a blogger, he has gained popularity by writing well on social media platform. People know him as a blogger as well as influencer on behind of the content creator. Today, Abdullah Zubayer is a rapid rising content creator in the comedy genre but the road to over a 2.5 lakh subscriber base on YouTube has surely not been an easy one. Since he was a kid, Abdullah was fond of telling stories and entertaining people. All throughout school and college, he was an all-round achiever in both academics as well as the extracurricular. YouTuber, Digital Creator Abdullah Zubayer has become celebrity face by making awareness video. He involved in the acting in mid 2016 and has already acted for more than 50 documentaries. Subscribers of his YouTube channel have crossed more than two lakh mark recently. As a result, the talented digital creator has got YouTube's recognition by achieving the 'Silver Play Button'. Abdullah Zubayer started his journey with YouTube in 2016. "I make social awareness video most of the time as well as make comedy occasionally. I always try to give some messages through my videos," said Abdullah Zubayer. Abdullah Zubayer is COO of “filmymantra”. Recently he has written three books namely - 'How To Ensure Safe Internet', 'The Revenge Of Fire' and 'The Last Envelope Of Love' which have been published on international platform like Amazon and Google Book. In addition to those, he currently started his career as a musical artist. Abdullah Zubayer now verified artist on international platforms. He has been verified as an official music artist from the international music platform Spotify and received the official artist channel Verify on YouTube in this year. In fact, he is one of the emerging stars in the music industry. This multi-faceted digital creator, blogger and influencer is clearly on his way to conquer the world with his content generation acumen and acute sense of what the audience needs. He believes he has a lot more to show to the world. He majorly wants to serve something original and also creative and create content that can leave his audience in want of more. AH

State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md Abdullah, who passed away at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Saturday night, was infected with coronavirus. Awami League Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua confirmed the matter to the media. Earlier, State Minister’s personal secretary Khandkar Yasir Arefin said that he died minutes after he was taken to CMH. “He passed away at 11:45pm at the CMH after suffering a heart attack,” he said then. Nazmul Haque Saikat, assistant private secretary to the state minister, said Sheikh Md Abdullah fell sick around 10:30pm at his residence and was admitted to Dhaka CMH immediately where he breathed his last. Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Nurul Islam said Abdullah was admitted to Dhaka CMH with chest pain and later died after suffering a cardiac arrest. Abdullah, a central leader of the Ruling Awami League, had been serving as a technocrat state minister. He was born at Kekania village of Gopalganj on September 8, 1945. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader expressed deep shock and sorrow at his death and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul. Bangladesh on Saturday reported the record new coronavirus cases (3,471) and record deaths (46) in the span of 24 hours until Saturday morning. The country has so far reported 84,379 coronavirus cases and 1,139 deaths. Source: UNB AH

Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of central Pahang state was named Malaysia's new king on Thursday, replacing Sultan Muhammad V who abdicated unexpectedly after just two years on the throne. Sultan Muhammad V, 49, resigned Jan. 6 as Malaysia's 15th king, cutting short his five-year term in the first abdication in the nation's history. No reason was given, but it came after he reportedly married a 25-year-old former Russian beauty queen in November. The keeper of the ruler's seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, said the Conference of Rulers elected Sultan Abdullah on Thursday under a unique rotating monarchy system. Sultan Abdullah, a key figure in several international sports bodies, will be sworn in on Jan. 31 for a five-year term, Syed Danial said in a statement. Reports AP. Sultan Abdullah's election had been widely expected, as the Pahang ruler was next in line based on a rotation order established among the country's nine state rulers. Just days ago, Sultan Abdullah, 59, succeeded his ailing 88-year-old father, Sultan Ahmad Shah, as Pahang sultan. He has been state regent for the past two years due to his father's ill health and the state succession was seen as paving the way for him to become king. British-educated Sultan Abdullah is a council member of FIFA, the world football governing body, president of the Asian Hockey Federation, and an executive board member of the International Hockey Federation. Nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns serving as Malaysia's king for five-year terms under the world's only such system, which has been maintained since the country's independence from Britain in 1957. Known as the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, or He Who is Made Lord, Malaysia's king plays a largely ceremonial role, since administrative power is vested in the prime minister and parliament. But the monarch is highly regarded as the guardian of Islam and Malay tradition, particularly among the ethnic Malay Muslim majority. The king is the nominal head of the government and armed forces. All laws, Cabinet appointments and the dissolution of Parliament for general elections require his assent. The king also issues pardons for criminals. Malaysia's Constitution allocates some 5 million ringgit ($1.21 million) a year for the expenses of the king and his household, including palace maintenance, although the sum can be increased with Cabinet approval. AH