The National Eidgah Maidan in the capital is being prepared for the main Eid-ul-Fitr jamaat (congregation). The main congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at 8:30 am. Md Abu Bakr Siddque, public relation officer of Religious Affairs Ministry confirmed this information to the media on Monday (March 25). However,  But if the weather is unfavourable, for any reason, the main congregation of Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at National Mosque Baitul Mukarram at 9 am. Besides, a total of five Eid congregations will be held at National Mosque Baitul Mukarram. The first congregation will be held at 7 am. Abu Bakar Siddique said that the last congregation will be held at 10:45 am.

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has reacted to the reports released by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) on the 12th parliamentary election. "It doesn't matter what NDI-IRI says regarding Bangladesh’s election as the national polls were free, fair and impartial," he told reporters after a programme at the  Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday (March 17). Hasan said NDI and IRI have admitted that there was less violence in the 12th parliamentary election compared to the previous elections.  However, IRI and NDI are non-partisan non-governmental organizations that support and strengthen democratic institutions and practices worldwide. These institutes have collectively monitored more than 200 elections in more than 50 countries over the past 30 years.

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 12 (ANI): Tibetan women-in-exile held a candle march in the north Indian hill town of Shimla, marking the 65th anniversary of Tibetan Women’s National Uprising Day and protesting against the atrocities being committed by the Chinese authorities in Tibet. Tibetan women including Buddhist students, monks and others gathered in the north Indian hill town of Shimla to mark the anniversary and also to remember the women who died during the 1959 women’s uprising inside Tibet. The Tibetan women-in-exile participated under the banner of the Regional Chapter of TWA (Tibetan Women Association) and appealed to the international community to support the cause of Tibet. Dawa Cheodon, the organiser of the protest and Tibetan freedom activist said that through the protest, they aim to globally highlight the situation in Tibet amid Chinese atrocities. “Today we are here to mark the 65th Women National Uprising Day. On this day in 1959, 15,000 Tibetan women gathered near Potala Palace to protest against Chinese illegal occupation. We have gathered to pay tribute to those who died for us. Through this peace march, we are trying to highlight to the world about the situation in Tibet,” Cheodon said. “There is no internet or news access inside Tibet. China is planning a hydroelectric dam inside Tibet which is a big threat to the people and the monasteries. The degradation of our land and our people only benefits China,” she added. Tsering Dorjee, the spokesperson of the Tibetan community in exile, highlighted the human rights violations in Tibet and said that the dam being built on the Indo-China border presents a grave threat to the local culture as well as to the region. “Tibetan communities across the globe are protesting today to mark the 65th anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s National Uprising. On this day in 1959, women protested inside Tibet and today we are marking the anniversary. Today, human rights violations continue inside Tibet. Education rights are being snatched, the environment is being destroyed, and big dams are being built on the mountains on the Indo-China border,” he said. “These dams would be a threat to India and to the entire Asia. In the Kham region, a dam is being built that would destroy the important monasteries in the region. People are being displaced forcefully and are being imprisoned. Child labour is also being committed. Today through this peace march we are appealing to the world to get united against China and give a befitting reply,” Dorjee added. On March 12, 1959, Tibetans women in Lhasa on national uprising were protesting against the PRC (People’s Republic of China). Thousands of Tibetan women were killed in Chinese rebuttal and over 80,000 Tibetans including spiritual leader Dalai Lama were forced to flee India. Since then, thousands of Tibetans are living in-exile in India and other parts of the globe. A large number of Tibetan women in exile across the globe protested and remembered those Tibetan women who were killed over 6 decades ago inside Tibet.  Source: ANI

Depending on whom you ask, the short-form video platform TikTok is either a showcase for goofy dances and makeup tutorials or a sophisticated threat to US national security. Because TikTok Inc. is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance Ltd. — and because China requires its companies, upon request, to share any national security-related data with the government — TikTok’s popularity among Americans carries implications beyond the mobile-phone screen. That’s on top of hand-wringing by parents, educators and mental-health experts about whether TikTok’s content and addictive nature are unhealthy for young minds. Renewed efforts by Congress to force TikTok to sell or face a ban in the US have the backing of the White House, even as President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has started to use the platform to reach younger voters. 1. What makes TikTok different from other social media sites? All social media platforms collect user data. But TikTok is viewed as the most advanced, and uncannily effective, at learning about your interests — based on how long you stay with a video and whether you like, forward or comment on it. That enables its algorithm to deliver more items of interest to what it calls the “For You” feed. The resulting stream of diverse yet personalized content can be intoxicating enough that it’s hard to stop scrolling. Two-thirds of American teens use TikTok every day, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, with 16% saying they’re on the platform almost constantly. 2. What are the biggest worries about TikTok? The national security concerns involve hypothetical though not implausible scenarios in which China’s government employs its influence over ByteDance to turn TikTok into an instrument of harm against American interests, through such channels as: Data collection. Along with what you seem to be interested in, TikTok learns your computer’s unique internet protocol (IP) address and — if you choose to let it — your precise location data and who is on your contact list. TikTok critics say that information could be used to develop profiles of select Americans and subject them to blackmail. Espionage. A 2020 executive order by then-President Donald Trump broached the possibility that China could use TikTok’s data to “track the locations of federal employees and contractors” and to “conduct corporate espionage.” Influence operations. US national security officials are concerned that TikTok could try to shape US public opinion by strategically suppressing or promoting certain videos. One official called the app a “Trojan horse” through which China could manipulate American thought. 3. Is there any evidence to back up those concerns? In December 2022, the chief executives of ByteDance and TikTok admitted that ByteDance employees had inappropriately accessed the IP addresses of American users, including journalists writing critical stories about the company. The Justice Department was investigating whether that amounted to improper surveillance of Americans. 4. What does the company say? “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified in March 2023 to a US congressional panel investigating the company. TikTok notes that Chew is based in Singapore, the company’s chief operating officer in the US and its global head of trust and safety in Ireland. Chew said TikTok poses no greater risk than US-based video-sharing apps such as Instagram and YouTube. In a bid to assuage worry, TikTok said sensitive data on US users was being moved to servers controlled by Austin, Texas-based Oracle Corp., in an effort known as Project Texas. TikTok also said its source code would be made available for third-party review. 5. What are the other worries about TikTok? Like most platforms, TikTok welcomes users as young as 13. There are concerns about how much time young people spend watching videos and whether the content undermines their self-esteem by, say, warping their sense of body image. In November, a US judge ruled that TikTok and rival social media platforms must face claims in hundreds of federal lawsuits blaming them for addicting young people to social media. EU regulators have fined TikTok for alleged lapses in protecting the personal data of minors. In July, authorities in the bloc said TikTok needed to do more to comply with its new Digital Services Act, which covers children’s safety online and content moderation. Some viral TikTok trends have proved dangerous. A particularly notorious one, called the blackout challenge, was linked to the deaths of at least 20 children under the age of 15 over an 18-month span. 6. Are governments taking any action against TikTok on national security grounds? Citing national security, India in 2020 banned the use of TikTok and dozens of other apps developed by Chinese companies. The US has prohibited downloading or using TikTok on federal government devices; the UK, Canada, Belgium and Taiwan, have enacted similar bans. One US state, Montana, went so far as to enact a law prohibiting the download of TikTok by the general public beginning in 2024; TikTok swiftly challenged the law on free-speech grounds. President Joe Biden’s administration has pressed for TikTok to become independent of ByteDance or face a US ban. The Energy and Commerce Committee of the US House of Representatives voted 50-0 in favor of legislation that would force ByteDance to sell the company within six months. If ByteDance fails to comply, TikTok would be blocked from app stores such as those operated by Apple and Google as well as internet service providers in the US. Additional congressional action is expected in the coming weeks, though the bill does not have any sponsors in the Senate and is sure to be subject to court challenges. Even so, Biden said he would sign the bill if Congress passes it. 7. Can the US really ban an app? There’s no direct precedent for banning a free consumer technology in the US. It’s more of a thing that would happen in China, which has banned Facebook since 2009. If a US ban were to survive legal challenges, the government could seek to force app store operators to remove TikTok from their menu of offerings. That would become an obstacle to people becoming new TikTok users. More challenging would be finding ways to stop existing users from continuing to access the service.   Source: Bloomberg

The proposed legislation seeks to increase the government's authority in addressing potential threats to its governance. The law proposes up to life imprisonment for treason and insurrection. Hong Kong's government unveiled a draft national security law on Friday that proposes up to life imprisonment for offenses like treason and insurrection The draft "Safeguarding National Security Bill," covers reason, espionage, external interference, state secrets, and sedition.  Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee on Thursday called for the bill to be passed at "full speed." It is expected to pass easily, possibly in weeks, in a legislature packed with Beijing loyalists following an electoral overhaul. Concerns over freedoms Critics have warned the legislation will make Hong Kong's legal framework increasingly similar to that of mainland China. The Hong Kong government has stated that several Western countries have comparable laws, and that these regulations are necessary to close gaps in the national security system, which was reinforced in 2020 with another national security law directly imposed by China. According to Hong Kong's Basic Law, the government needs to enact a national security law. A previous attempt to pass the aw resulted in mass protests in 2019, after which a security law was put in place in 2020 to crack down on dissent. Many pro-democracy activists have been arrested and punished, while others have escaped abroad. Several society groups and outspoken media outlets have been disbanded. The government of the former British colony has said that it would affect only "an extremely small minority" of residents. Several stakeholders are closely monitoring these developments. Some critics say this will cause a further decline in the civil liberties enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens.

The leading 4.5G telecom service provider in the country, Robi Axiata Limited has become the proud title sponsor of the Bangladesh national cricket team on Friday (Feb 16). Through this partnership, Robi embarks on the second chapter of an illustrious journey alongside the Tigers, committing to support the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) till July 2027. The signing ceremony took place today at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur, attended by representatives from both organizations. Robi's Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rajeev Sethi, along with Chief Commercial Officer Shihab Ahmad, and concerned high officials from both entities were present. Following the formal signing, BCB's CEO, Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujon, officially announced Robi as the sponsor in a press conference. Robi was associated with BCB as a sponsor from 2015 to 2018. During this period the national cricket team achieved the memorable feat of winning back-to-back ODI series against Pakistan, South Africa, and India. In 2016, the team became runners-up in the Asia Cup while in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, Bangladesh made it to the semifinals of a major ICC event for the first time. Testament to the long-standing partnership, it was through the Robi-sponsored fast bowler hunt campaign that the current pace-bowling sensation Ebadot Hossain was discovered and later emerged as the star pacer he's now known as. Cricket holds an unparalleled place in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh, always unifying the nation through any achievement in international cricket. Robi aspires to lead Bangladesh forward through cricket, echoing the brand motto, 'Believe, You Can' Robi's MD and CEO, Rajeev Sethi, stated, "Robi's name is now intertwined with many firsts" in Bangladesh cricket. We firmly believe that Robi's 'Believe, You Can' spirit will Lispire the Tigers to achieve even greater success on the global stage. Robi is proud to be associated with Bangladesh cricket and will always stand by them in their thrilling journey ahead." Welcoming Robi to this new venture with Bangladesh cricket, BCB's CEO, Nizam Uddin Chowdhury Sujon, said, "BCB is delighted to have Robi as the sponsor for the national team. Through this partnership, we anticipate reaching new heights in Bangladesh cricket in the days to come."

The 12th national parliamentary polls were the freest, fairest and most credible in Bangladesh after 1975, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today (Feb 7). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also said that the newly formed government's  journey will not be so easy. Various obstacles may come. But we have to move forward by facing those obstacles. She said this in an exchange meeting with the leaders and activists of Tungipara Upazila Awami League and its various affiliated organizations on Wednesday (Feb 7) at noon. The Prime Minister also said that the welfare of the people is the only goal of his government. Sheikh Hasina invited the leaders and activists of Tungipara Upazila Awami League and other affiliated organizations of the party to Ganobhaban after assuming office as the Prime Minister for the fourth time in a row. The open square of Ganabhavan became lively with the arrival of activists. By this time, the head of government greeted and exchanged views with the leaders and activists of his constituency. Highlighting various economic crises of the country in the global context, PM said that there is some dissatisfaction among the people due to the rise in commodity prices. The government is working to control commodity prices.

List of military-linked entities operating in the US grows as the Pentagon adds Chinese AI companies, a drone maker and a memory-chip firm Among the companies named are Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp, NetPosa, Yitu Technology and Beijing Megvii   The Pentagon on Wednesday labelled more than a dozen Chinese tech firms, including memory-chip maker Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC), as “military companies” that pose a national security risk to the US.   Artificial intelligence companies Yitu Technology and Beijing Megvii, drone maker Chengdu JOUAV, lidar maker Hesai Technology and tech company NetPosa are also entities that operate in the United States but have ties to the Chinese military, according to the US Defence Department.   They join Shenzhen-based consumer drone maker DJI Technology and China’s leading genetics firm, BGI, on what is called the 1260H list, which makes US and international companies aware of entities that could be supporting Beijing’s military-industrial complex. First established under the National Defence Authorisation Act for fiscal year 2021, the 1260H list is updated annually by the Defence Department. Being named on the list does not involve a complete ban, but it does render the firms ineligible for Defence Department contracts. Additionally, the label could lead to blacklisting by the US Treasury Department, curbing the companies’ business prospects.   A spokesman for China’s embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, said that the US was “overstretching” national security and “abusing” state power, and that the moves would “ultimately undermine the US’ own interests.”   “They run counter to the US’ alleged commitment to market competition and international fair trade, undercut two-way trade and investment flows and discourage foreign investors,” he said.   Three Chinese firms were removed from the updated list on Wednesday: hi-tech electronic components manufacturer Fujian Torch Electron Technology, the China International Engineering Consulting Corp and SMIC Hong Kong International Co Ltd, which makes semiconductors. However, despite pressure from the US House committee on competition with China, Quectel, a Chinese Internet of Things firm, was not added to the list. Identifying “Chinese military companies” is part of a larger effort by Washington to block US investment in entities developing dual-use technologies, those that can help the Chinese military develop more advanced weapons.   An executive order by President Joe Biden in August banned US private equity and venture capital investments in China that involve sensitive technology like artificial intelligence.   During a congressional hearing on Tuesday, Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Missouri, called Biden’s move “a step in the right direction” that could be “improved through legislative action, which is more permanent”.   According to Bill Drexel of the Center for a New American Security, a Washington-based think tank, the updated list “stands as a reminder that the Sino-American economic relationship – especially around technology – is continuing to fray, and for good reason”.   He said that while the Chinese Communist Party would not back down from its military-civil fusion strategy, “Americans cannot afford to be naive about the pronounced role that ostensibly private companies in China play in building out China’s military might, with direct strategic implications for American national security.”   Source: South China Morning Post

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan both are in Sylhet to play the ongoing BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) match. For that reason the parliamentarians could not attend the maiden session.   The criceters are elected as MPs in the 12th national parliamentary Election, Shakib from Magura-1 and Mashrafe from Narail-2 constituency. However, The first session of the 12th National Parliament began on Tuesday (January 30) from 3 pm.  

The ruling party Awami League has formed the government with newly elected MPs after getting the majority seats in the 12th national parliamentary election. The first session of Parliament started on Tuesday (January 30) at 3 pm. Deputy Speaker Advocate Md. Shamsul Haque Tuku is presiding over the session. Earlier, Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury said, The session will begin on the first day under the chairmanship of the Deputy Speaker as the decision to re-elect Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as Speaker has been made. Awami League won 223 parliamentary seats in the 12th national parliamentary election. The opposition Jatiya Party won 11 seats. Independent candidates won 62 seats. Besides, Workers Party, Jasad and Kalyan Party got 1 seat each. Polling for the postponed Naogaon-2 seat will be held on February 12.