At least five people are reported to have died in an attempt to cross the English Channel. The UK parliament had only hours earlier voted to deport some of those who enter Britain illegally as a deterrent to migrants. French media said at least five people died while attempting to cross the English Channel on Tuesday. The deaths come just hours after UK lawmakers approved a migrant deportation bill to send people who arrive on small boats to Rwanda. What we know so far France's Voix du Nord newspaper said the bodies were discovered at the Wimereaux beach on the northern French coast, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Calais.  About 100 migrants were rescued and placed on a French navy ship. The regional newspaper said a search was ongoing and that helicopters and boats had been deployed.  British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government succeeded in a vote on Monday to press ahead with sending some migrants on a one-way ticket to Rwanda. Even if they were to succeed in their asylum applications, they would remain in the African country.  The plan applies to those who enter the country illegally as a deterrent to migrants who use inflatable boats in hopes of claiming asylum in Britain. UK Home Secretary James Cleverly, Britain's interior minister, said the government was doing all it could to deter people from making the dangerous crossings in response to the deaths.  "These tragedies have to stop," Cleverly said on X. "I will not accept a status quo which costs so many lives." Europe's highest rights body said the legislation raised "major issues" over migrants' rights and the rule of law in Britain. "The United Kingdom government should refrain from removing people under the Rwanda policy and reverse the bill's effective infringement of judicial independence," said the Council of Europe's (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty.  

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn says Channel Tunnel routes to London were still of "fundamental interest" to it. This follows the tunnel operator announcing plans to make the rails compatible with more trains. Germany's state-owned railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) said on Saturday that it was vying to launch services through the Channel Tunnel under the English Channel.   "Transport between London and the mainland through the Eurotunnel remains of fundamental interest to Deutsche Bahn," a DB spokesperson told the Germany press agency dpa. The news comes as DB's long-distance cross-border passenger rail demand increases, amid greater demand for climate-friendly transport.   The German operator had long looked at launching services through the Channel connecting England and the European continent, but years of dispute over safey requirements put the plan on hold. Currently travelers wishing to take a train from Germany to London have to change trains and train operators in Brussels for the last leg under the Channel. DB originally planned to run its high-speed ICE trains from Frankfurt to London, but years of safety disputes prevented this.   The train would pass through Cologne, Brussels and Lille, France, according to the original plan that was drawn up in 2013. Eurostar, which operates passenger trains that use the Channel, has had a monopoly for nearly 30 years.  Channel Tunnel to add more destinations, increase high-speed rail services The plan has once again been set in motion after Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, said it had plans to introduce more services through the undersea link. In a statement last month, Getlink said it aimed to double the number of high-speed rail services from London over the next 10 years. It specifically mentioned new routes from London to Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany, and to Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland.   Among other things, Getlink said that a more rapid renovation of safety infrastructure would help enable this, making the stretch of rail compatible with other operators' trains. A DB spokesperson told dpa that routes and trains were currently not equipped with an end-to-end European Train Control System which is the European rail safety system. "The approval of our ICE trains for Belgium, northern France and England depends on this equipment," the DB spokesperson said, referring to plans to connect major European cities and England.  

At least two migrants including a baby died when their bank sank Saturday soon after leaving the coast of Tunisia, the coastguard said. The vessel, carrying 20 Tunisians, went down at 2:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) when it was just 120 meters (395 feet) from the shoreline in the southeastern province of Gabes. "Two bodies have been recovered, one of a 20-year-old man and the other of an infant," the coast guard said in a statement. Thirteen others were rescued, including the baby's parents. Five passengers were missing and search operations were ongoing, the statement added. A similar tragedy occurred off the Tunisian coast on Monday, when a boat carrying migrants sank near the eastern city of Sfax, leaving 11 people dead. Sfax serves as a launching port for migrants from African countries to begin their risky sea journeys to Europe, via the Italian island ofLampedusa. More than 1,800 people have died this year in shipwrecks on the central Mediterranean migration route, the world's deadliest — more than twice as many as last year, according to the International Organization for Migration. Migrant boat sinks in English Channel Once the migrants reach southern Europe, they sometimes head for wealthier countries such as Germany and the UK. The migrants may also take a dangerous journey from France to Britain. French maritime officials reported Saturday that a boat, overloaded with migrants and refugees, capsized in the English Channel, killing six people. UK media reported that the victims were all Afghan nationals, who had been in critical condition when found and were later pronounced dead. About 65 people were estimated to have boarded the boat for the UK and two people may still be lost at sea, the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said. The English Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes but at its narrowest point, separates France and Britain by just 20 miles (33 kilometers). This year, the number of migrants plying the Channel has fallen about 15% to 15,826 as of Thursday, partly as a result of a joint UK-French monitoring operation along the coast. But since 2018, more than 100,000 migrants have crossed the sea in small boats. Britain passed a new law earlier this year to try to stem the arrival of small boat migrants, which would deport those who arrive illegally back to their home country or a safe third country. But plans to fly some people to Rwanda have been shot down by an appeals court and are now being appealed by the Supreme Court. The passage of people trying to get into and around Europe is often facilitated by smugglers, who may take advantage of their desperation for a fee. The migrants are frequently put on overloaded, unseaworthy boats, which are prone to sinking, particularly in stormy conditions.    Hundreds of migrants saved by French charity French NGO SOS Mediterranee said Friday that its Ocean Viking vessel saved over 600 migrants trapped at sea over the previous two days. The rescue group said 623 people had been brought in on "unseaworthy small boats." Among those rescued were nationals of countries such as Sudan, Guinea and Bangladesh. Sudan in particular is witnessing armed conflict which has driven thousands of refugees out of the country.  The majority of the migrants were picked up by the ship on the sea route between Lampedusa and Sfax.

Bangladeshi channels usually do not eager to broadcast sports on foreign soil. It is not new thing.  As a result, the ongoing Ireland series is not being telecast on any Bangladeshi channel. BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon showed his anger about it.  In the near future, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is thinking of opening its own channel to broadcast cricket matches. Speaking to the media Papon said, "Actually, if cricket matches   scheduled outside the country, it depends on host country.  We don't have much to do. We want to show the matches in our country. And if no one eager to show it, then there is nothing else to do. We had two options. One is through to YouTube channel, which we have started already. Second, BCB will own a channel."

Journalist organizations across Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the arrest of ARY News head Ammad Yousaf and demanded his immediate release. The journalists’ bodies and press clubs termed the arrest of ARY News senior Vice President an act of victimization and said that journalists will call for a nationwide protest if Ammad Yousaf is not released immediately, ARY News reported. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in its statement said that the government should come to its senses. PFUJ leader, Lala Asad Pathan said, “The government’s action is very shameful. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should take immediate action into the matter.” PFUJ Dastoor Secretary General AH Khanzada said that if Ammad Yousaf is not released immediately, journalists will call for a nationwide protest. “Restrictions on freedom of expression will not be tolerated in any way, Lahore Press Club has also demanded the immediate release of the ARY News head,” said the Secretary of Karachi Press Club, Rizwan Bhatti. Yousuf’s arrest comes after the channel, which is the country’s biggest private broadcaster, was served a show cause notice by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday. Meanwhile, the founder and CEO of the network Salman Iqbal along with two other anchors have been booked for sedition. On the complaint of the Station House Officer (SHO), a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at Karachi’s Memon Goth police station. According to the channel, the FIR was registered just an hour before the arrest of ARY News head Ammad Yousaf. Anchorpersons, Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghuman have been booked under the ‘sedition’ charges. The FIR has been registered under sections 120, 124A, 131, and 153A in which sedition and charges of plotting alleged conspiracy have been included. A day after the transmission of Pakistani television station ARY News was taken off air by the country’s regulatory authorities, the outlet’s senior Vice President Ammad Yousaf was arrested from Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday, the channel said. ARY News said that its journalist was arrested by Karachi Police and a raiding team broke into his house from the main gate in the middle of the night. It has termed Yousaf’s arrest as retaliation by the government against the channel and noted that police officers in plain clothes forcibly entered the journalist’s house. Regulatory watchdog PEMRA has alleged that the channel was airing “false, hateful and seditious” content based on “absolute disinformation with a clear and present threat to national security by instigating rebellion within the armed forces”, Dawn reported. In its notice to the news outlet, the regulatory watchdog also termed the news anchor who delivered the news as “biased.” PEMRA has also directed the channel’s CEO to appear in person for a hearing today (August 10). The entire episode was perpetuated due to a news piece aired by the channel on how the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly activated its strategic media cell to malign Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and the country’s former prime minister Imran Khan. The PEMRA notice to ARY News alleged that PTI leader Shehbaz Gill had made “highly hateful and seditious” remarks tantamount to “incite armed forces towards revolt,” Dawn reported. Shortly after ARY News was taken off the air, PTI leader and close aide of Imran Khan, Shahbaz Gill was arrested in Islamabad on Tuesday. An Islamabad police spokesperson said that Gill has been taken into custody for inciting the public against the state institutions, Geo News reported. “After the ban on ARY yesterday, they’ve today arrested @SHABAZGIL. Pakistan is living under a fascist imported government, that doesn’t care about the human rights of the people of Pakistan. We strongly demand the immediate release of Dr Gill,” Imran Khan’s PTI tweeted yesterday. PTI leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said that Gill was picked up from Banigala Chowk by unidentified personnel in cars with missing number plates. Meanwhile, the former prime minister slammed the arrest, asking “can such shameful acts take place in any democracy?” “This is abduction, not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks,” Imran Khan tweeted. After the arrest of Gill, the country’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the current government has not broken the law and that the arrest was legal. In another key development, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi said that he is sending Punjab Police for the protection of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan’s residence Banigala. Former interior minister of Pakistan and Awami Muslim League chief, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has warned the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government saying that if anyone tries to arrest Imran Khan that would trigger instability and bloody politics in the country. Source: ANI

The Dredging of Outer Bar Area of Mongla Port Channel has been completed ahead of schedule and  the new dredged channel was commissioned to the large merchant ships to utilize Mongla Port. Commenced on 13 January 2019, the Project was completed on 03 December 2020, two weeks ahead of scheduled time despite the ongoing Pandemic. The Contractor, HKRE-CCECC JV, mobilized three giant dredger facilities including two hopper dredgers and one of the world’s largest cutter suction dredger, the 40 inch Xin Hai Teng for the execution of the Project and yielded great success even they had to wade through three devastating Cyclones-Fani, Bulbul and Amphan and two Monsoon seasons during the Contract period to make that happen. The main component of the works have been executed under the Contract was dredging of 11 km channel with total dredging volume of 11.91 million cu.m up to design depth (-8.50 CD below) by Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) and Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD). The Scope of Works also included all pre/post/interim hydrographic survey and construction of cofferdam. Rear Admiral M Shahjahan, Chairman of Mongla Port Authority said in an interview with Rtv that, “the Contractor Company has completed the work by 1st week of December which was prior to deadline. Upon the completion of the Works, Mongla Port could achieve the desired depth of channels which would vastly increase the navigability of the Mongla Port. Now we are able to take 8.5 meter draft ship to the Port and we are expecting to serve 10 meter draft ships soon”. “As a world-renowned leading contractor in infrastructure including marine works, we take Bangladesh as a prospective market and we are keen to contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation and materializing of the Golden Bangla Dream. ” said the Project Manager, Mr. Li Guangqi from China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, JV Partner of the Contractor Company. Mongla Port is set to expand dredge the inner Bar of Mongla Port Channel to facilitate the anchoring of container ships with drafts of 10 meters of the Port from January 2021. Once the Padma bridge becomes fully operational next year, with the continuous development and improvement of the port facilities and road connectivity from the Port to Dhaka and North Bengal, Mongla Port has the potential of handling 10,000 ships by 2050, becoming the transport hub for Bangladesh and neighboring countries including India, Nepal and Bhutan. AH

Shipping has started to pass through the new channel dredged in the outer bar of Mongla port. The project titled "Dredging at the Outer Bar Area of Mongla Port Channel" for handling 10.5 m draft vessels in the anchorage area of ​​Mongla Port was approved at the ECNEC meeting at an estimated cost of Tk 712.50 crore. After the approval of the project, Hong Kong River Engineering Co. Ltd.-China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation JV signed the agreement on December 13, 2018. The contractor started dredging after the contract was signed. The dredging area is divided into two sections, one of which is located about 20 km south of Hiron Point in the open sea and the other section is adjacent to Hiron Point. After completing the section within the sea and about 85% of the dredging of the adjoining section at Hiron point creating a channel with a depth of 8.5 m CD depth in the entire channel from the fairway buoy to Hiron Point. It should be noted that this channel is located on the west side of the currently used channel along Bangabandhu Char. Ships of higher drafts could not come to the port as the existing channel had a minimum depth of 6.5 m  CD in some places from Fairway Buoy to Hiron Point. But after Hiron Point to Harbaria Anchorage, it has a depth of 8.5m CD and in some anchorages is 10.5 m CD to berth ships. Ships of high draft could not be brought to the anchorage of the port only for the limitation of the outer bar. Besides, the current channel is quite zigzag. As a result of dredging at a depth of 8.5m CD, the port is now facilitated to bring ships of 10.5 m draft at high tide. Shipping has started from November 17, 2020 after installing buoy on the new dredged channel. As the new channel is relatively safe, it takes less time for ships to reach the port and the ships are able to arrive safely. This will greatly increase the number of ships in the port and the revenue is increasing. So far the overall progress of the project is 95% and the remaining work will be completed by December 2020. It should be noted that, As one of the ENR-listed top 100 global contractors for consecutive nineteen years with a global business network in 103 countries and regions, CCECC has been engaged in a wide spectrum of infrastructure projects worldwide in diverse fields such as railway, road, elevated expressway, bridge, marine works including dredging, and housing projects in the capacity of an EPC Contractor or a private investor. Since its incorporation in Bangladesh from 2015, CCECC has been engaged in 10 no.s infrastructure development projects totaling more than 2.0 Billion US Dollars in the domains of railway engineering, dredging and marine works, and roads and highways. AH  

It is less than 24 hours to begin the first match of three-match T-twenty series between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The match will start at 3 pm Bangladesh time tomorrow (Friday). After long 12 years Bangladesh are in tour of Pakistan. There is no lack of excitement among the audience of both the countries. Bangladesh played their last international match against India in last December. In the midst there was Bangabandhu Premier League (BBPL), after nearly about two months tigers have returned in the international cricket. Along with the wait concern has been created over which channel is going to telecast the T-twenty series? Usually Gazi TV, Masranga TV, Channel 9 and Bangladesh Television (BTV) telecast the matches live of Bangladesh team. After communicating with Gazi TV and Masranga TV it is known that both the channels are not going to telecast the first mach. Communication could not be made with BTV and Channel 9. Though local channels are unable but Pakistani channel PTV and Sony ESPN HD will telecast the series. The first match is scheduled on January 24 while the second and third matches are going to be held on January 25 and 27 respectively. AH