Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (Jan 24) asked the Planning Commission to identify which of the running projects can be completed quickly with little cost to reap maximum economic benefits from them.   “We have to prioritize the development programs that can be finished with little money. Because I think that the quicker we can finish these projects the quicker there will be returns and the country will get the benefits,” she said. The prime minister said this in her introductory speech at the first meeting of the commission after forming the new government at the NEC auditorium of the Planning Commission in Sher-E-Bangla Nagar. She is also the chairperson of the commission.   She asked the officials concerned to avoid delays in the implementation of projects and their extension. Sheikh Hasina asked them to deeply look into the costs of the projects and the expected returns. “While taking up new projects, please look deeply into their expenditure, how much loan is involved, how much we have to repay with interest, how much time we would get for repaying the loans,” she said. She also asked them to examine whether the country can take out that much loan. “This is urgently needed before taking up any project,” she said. Besides, she said, the government has to consider the returns and effectiveness of a particular project for a particular area. “How much the general public will benefit and how much it would inject into the economy. We have to look into that,” she added. The prime minister mentioned that Bangladesh is bracing for the biggest challenge in 2026 when it will complete its graduation to a developing country.   “We have to be specific about what kind of facilities we will get as a developing country. From those, we have to pick up the best facilities for us. And we have to start our work according to that,” she said. She mentioned that many facilities as an LDC country might not be available after graduation, although they will be available till 2029 and the government has already requested to extend those up to 2032.   “We have to consider all these elements while counting our challenges and find out the ways to face those,” she said. She requested all to work hard so that the positive results of the independence and spirit of the liberation reach everyone in the country and the people enjoy developed and prosperous lives. She also vowed to turn the country into a smart one by 2041.

All banks of the country will remain closed in the complete lockdown starting from April 14 to April 21 to prevent further transmission of coronavirus. In this period all the branches of banks along with financial service providing sub-branches, booth banking, agent banking services will remain stop. But ATM, internet banking and other online services will remain operational. Bangladesh Bank informed about the decisions today. But in this period branches of the banks situated at sea, land and air port areas can be made open to perform export-import activities. As well as branches which make transaction in foreign exchange for the exporters can be made open for particular day. But Bangladesh Bank will not give direction for keeping branches open. In this regard Sirajul Islam, spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank said, all branches will remain closed. Branches can be kept open according to the demand for export and import activities. In this regard health guidelines have to be maintained strictly. AH     

The government has issued notification imposing restrictions on people’s movement from April 14 to 21 next to prevent coronavirus transmission in the country. According to the notification all government and non-government offices will remain closed in this period. But garments and industrial factories will be operational. The notification was issued by the cabinet division on Monday. The notification said, no automobiles except those of emergency services and commodity laden transports will be allowed to ply. Kitchen markets are allowed to be arranged in open spaces after abiding by the health guidelines from 9 am to 3 pm. The restrictions are: All the government, semi-government, autonomous and non-government offices and financial institutions will remain closed. All the officials have to stay within their work places. But airports, sea ports, river ports and land ports and the associate offices will be out of these restrictions. Supreme Court will issue necessary directions for the courts. All the transports (road, water way, rail, domestic and international flights) will remain shut. But this order will not be effective for commodity laden transports, production and emergency services. Industrial factories will be in operation with own management abiding by the health guidelines. But transports to and from the offices for the workers have to be ensured by the concerned institutions. Law enforcement and emergency services such as agro materials (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, agro tools etc.)food grains, food items, transport, relief distribution, health service, Covid-19 vaccination, electricity, water, gas/fuel, fire service, activities of ports (land, river and sea ports), telephone and internet (government-private), mass media (print and electronic), private security services, postal service, other offices associated with emergency commodities and services, their staffs and transports will be out of these restrictions. Nobody will be allowed to move outside home without very urgent purposes (purchase of essential items and medicines, treatment, burial etc). But vaccine seekers can move showing their vaccine cards. Food items can be sold or supplied from hotels and restaurants from 12 pm to 7 pm and from 12 am to 6 am. All the shops and shopping malls will remain closed. Kitchen markets can be arranged and essential items can be sold in open spaces abiding by the health guidelines from 9 am to 3 pm. Market authority or local administration will ensure the matters. Deputy Commissioners will coordinate the matter of workers movement in the Boro harvesting season. District and field administration will take active steps to implement the directions and law enforcement agencies will ensure strict patrol. Director General of health directorate will provide necessary powers to district administration and police service for taking legal steps. Religious affairs ministry will issue directions about Juma and Tarabi prayers. AH         

Though the first coach of metrorail has reached in the country in due time frame but due to slow pace of construction work it is uncertain that when it will start. But the concerned officials think that if not possible to start in full fledged it could be started on experimental basis in the coming Victory Day. The managing director of metrorail project is optimistic about that. He hopes that everything will be completed in time. The construction work of rail track starting from Diabari, Uttara to the fifth station at Pallabi is going on in full swing. The authority claimed that 80 per cent construction work of first station at Uttara has been completed over the last four years but no stair or escalator is yet to set up. Rail slippers were fitted but the construction work of electric line has not been completed. The work of other stations is going on slowly. In this regard metrorail project managing director M A N Siddik said, the spaces for the lifts were constructed. Now lifts have to be placed. Work for electric connection is going on. We hope that the work will be completed before the stipulated time frame. We hope the metrorail will start in due time. He also said, metrorail stations will be constructed keeping similarity with Kamalapur Station. If the rail authority demolishes or shift the Kamalapur station with their initiative then we have nothing to do. AH      

Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe by 123 runs (DL method) in the third and final match of the three-match series at Sylhet International Stadium on Friday to whitewash the visitors. Liton Das struck 176, Bangladesh’s highest individual innings in ODIs, which earned him the man of the match award. After Bangladesh posted 322 in 43 overs for three, Zimbabwe’s revised target was set at 342 in 43 overs. The tourists managed to score 218 in 37.3 overs and lost the game by 123 runs. With this win, Bangladesh completed a clean sweep as they won the first two games as well at the same venue. Sikandar Raza, who played his 100th ODI, scored team highest 61 off 50 balls with five fours and two sixes. Along with him, Wesley Madhevere (42), Sean Williams (30) and Regis Chakabva (34) contributed with the bat, but their efforts were not enough to avoid the clean sweep. Mohammad Saifuddin bagged four wickets conceding 41 runs in 6.3 overs while Taijul Islam took two for 38 runs. Earlier, riding on the record-breaking knock of 176 by Liton Das, Bangladesh posted 322 runs for three wickets. Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das posted 292 runs in the first wicket stand which propelled the Tigers to their joint-highest total against Zimbabwe. Liton Das hit 176 of 143 balls which is now Bangladesh’s highest individual innings in ODIs. Along the way, Liton passed Tamim who scored 158 in the previous game. The 292-run stand between Tamim and Liton in the first wicket stand is now the highest ODI stand for Bangladesh in any wicket. They surpassed Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad who had hit 224 against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2017. Liton ended on 176 off 143 with 16 fours and eight sixes while Tamim remained unbeaten for 128 off 109 with seven fours and six sixes. It was the second successive ton for Tamim in the series. Rain halted the game for more than an hour after 33.2 overs, and the match was reduced to 43-over a side. After Liton was removed by Carl Mumba in the 41st over, Mahmudullah Riyad and debutant Afif Hossain fell in a quick succession. Mahmudullah posted three while Afif scored seven. Carl Mumba bagged all three wickets that Bangladesh lost in this game. Both the teams now will lock horns in a two-match T20I series in Dhaka. The first game of the series will take place on March 9 while the second game will be played on March 11. Source: UNB AH

Jatiya Oikyafront leader Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury has suggested BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman to complete Masters for two years or MPhil after handover responsibility to the leaders available in the country to run BNP. His suggestion came in at a seminar titled ‘In which way Bangladesh’s democracy and voting rights?’ at Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium on Monday. Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury said, I am telling the BNP people that you are being directed by ‘Ohi’ (divine message). It is unfortunate for the nation. Your Ohis come from London city through Skype. Please leave that. You have smart leaders like Rony, Milon. There are more leaders like them, give them responsibility. About Tarique Rahman who is residing in London, he said, Tarique is one of my favorite persons. I have seen him from his childhood. For that reason I would say that you cannot release your mother (Begum Khaleda Zia) by staying so far. Please complete Masters or MPhil for two years while staying there. Handover your responsibility to the people available in the country. To Tarique Rahman he said, please stop delivering ‘Ohi’ and messages through Skype. Then they will make you victorious and your mother will be released. It is impossible to liberate democracy if Khaleda Zia is not released. But it is our responsibility to release her. We have to go to the field by not delivering speeches in the halls. AH   

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is going to be kicked-off from May 30 at England and Wales. In the 12 th edition of the cricket’s biggest extravaganza, a total of 10 teams will compete for the most coveted trophy. Here is the complete fixture of the tournament: SL- Date - Match - Venue - Time (BST) 1 May 30-2019 England vs South Africa The Oval- London 3.30PM 2 May 31- 2019 West Indies vs Pakistan Trent Bridge- Nottingham 3.30PM 3 June 1- 2019 New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Cardiff Wales Stadium- Cardiff 3.30PM 4 June 1- 2019 Afghanistan vs Australia County Ground Bristol- Bristol 6:30PM 5 June 2- 2019 South Africa vs Bangladesh The Oval- London 3.30PM 6 June 3- 2019 England vs Pakistan Trent Bridge- Nottingham 3:30PM 7 June 4- 2019 Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Cardiff Wales Stadium- Cardiff 3:30PM 8 June 5- 2019 South Africa vs India Hampshire Bowl- Southampton 3:30PM 9 June 5- 2019 Bangladesh vs New Zealand The Oval- London 6:30PM 10 June 6- 2019 Australia vs West Indies Trent Bridge- Nottingham 3:30PM 11 June 7- 2019 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka County Ground Bristol- Bristol 3:30PM 12 June 8- 2019 England vs Bangladesh Cardiff Wales Stadium- Cardiff 3:30PM 13 June 8- 2019 Afghanistan vs New Zealand County Ground- Taunton 6:30PM 14 June 9- 2019 India vs Australia The Oval-London 3:30PM 15 June 10- 2019 South Africa vs West Indies Hampshire Bowl- Southampton 3:30PM 16 June 11- 2019 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka County Ground Bristol- Bristol 3:30PM 17 June 12- 2019 Australia vs Pakistan County Ground- Taunton 3:30PM 18 June 13- 2019 India vs New Zealand Trent Bridge- Nottingham 3:30PM 19 June 14- 2019 England vs West Indies Hampshire Bowl- Southampton 3:30PM 20 June 15- 2019 Sri Lanka vs Australia The Oval- London 3:30PM 21 June 15- 2019 South Africa vs Afghanistan Cardiff Wales Stadium- Cardiff 6:30PM 22 June 16- 2019 India vs Pakistan Old Trafford- Manchester 3:30PM 23 June 17- 2019 West Indies vs Bangladesh County Ground- Taunton 3.30PM 24 June 18- 2019 England vs Afghanistan Old Trafford- Manchester 3.30PM 25 June 19- 2019 New Zealand vs South Africa Edgbaston- Birmingham 3.30PM 26 June 20- 2019 Australia vs Bangladesh Trent Bridge- Nottingham 3.30PM 27 June 21- 2019 England vs Sri Lanka Headingley-Leeds 3.30PM 28 June 22- 2019 India vs Afghanistan Hampshire Bowl- Southampton 3.30PM 29 June 22- 2019 West Indies vs New Zealand Old Trafford- Manchester 6:30PM 30 June 23- 2019 Pakistan vs South Africa Lord’s- London 3.30PM 31 June 24- 2019 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Hampshire Bowl- Southampton 3.30PM 32 June 25- 2019 England vs Australia Lord’s- London 3.30PM 33 June 26- 2019 New Zealand vs Pakistan Edgbaston- Birmingham 3.30PM 34 June 27- 2019 West Indies vs India Old Trafford- Manchester 3.30PM 35 June 28- 2019 Sri Lanka vs South Africa The Riverside- Chester-le-Street 3.30PM 36 June 29- 2019 Pakistan vs Afghanistan Headingley- Leeds 3.30PM 37 June 29- 2019 New Zealand vs Australia Lord’s- London 6:30PM 38 June 30- 2019 England vs India Edgbaston- Birmingham 3.30PM 39 July 1- 2019 Sri Lanka vs W.Indies The Riverside- Chester-le-Street 3.30PM 40 July 2- 2019 Bangladesh vs India Edgbaston- Birmingham 3.30PM 41 July 3- 2019 England vs New Zealand The Riverside- Chester-le-Street3.30PM 42 July 4- 2019 Afghanistan vs West Indies Headingley- Leeds 3.30PM 43 July 5- 2019 Pakistan vs Bangladesh Lord’s- London 6:30PM 44 July 6- 2019 Sri Lanka vs India Headingley- Leeds 3.30PM 45 July 6- 2019 Australia vs South Africa Old Trafford- Manchester 6:30PM 46 July 9- 2019 First semifinal (1st place vs 4th place)Old Trafford- Manchester 3.30PM 47 July 10- 2019 Reserve day Old Trafford- Manchester 48 July 11- 2019 Second semi-final(2nd place vs 3rd place)Edgbaston- Birmingham 3.30PM 49 July 12- 2019 Reserve day 50 July 14- 2019 Final Lord’s- London 3.30PM 51 July 15- 2019 Reserve day Lord’s- London Source: BSS AH

The Fire Service department has declared their rescue operation complete in connection with the incident of fire that broke out at FR Tower at Banani in the capital. Their declaration came in at around 2:30 pm on Friday. Fire Service Dhaka zone Assistant Director Saleh Uddin said, the rescue operation at FR Tower is complete and the building will be handed over to police. Earlier from the morning the fire service staffs began their search operation to trace about any further injured person or dead body in the burnt FR Tower. They conducted the operation in each floor of the building. But no dead body was found. Total 25 people were killed in the devastating fire that broke out on Thursday. Of the injured 59 people 33 are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the capital. Coordinator of Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute of Dhaka Medical College Dr. Samanta Lal said, out of six admitted here the condition of one is critical. We hope that the rest will recover. AH