The temperature in the country has exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded today was 40.2 degrees Celsius in Patuakhali's Khepupara upazila. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik, Meteorologist at Bangladesh Meteorological Department confirmed this information on Monday (April 15) afternoon. The country's highest temperature was recorded in Rangamati at 40 degree Celsius on Sunday (14 April). He said the highest temperature recorded today was 40.2 degrees Celsius at Khepupara. In Khepupara, the temperature has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius in a span of one day. Khepupara recorded a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The maximum temperature in Rangamati on Sunday was 40 degrees Celsius. He also said that the temperature in the capital Dhaka has also increased today. The maximum temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 37.6 degrees Celsius today. Which was 37.5 degrees Celsius yesterday. According to the BMD, Day temperature may remain nearly unchanged and night temperature may rise slightly over the country in the next 24 hours from 9:00am today.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman said that the Baishakh celebration is an expression of the non-communal spirit of Bengali ethnicity. That's why the celebration faced various setbacks, violence, and militant attacks repeatedly. However, this time there is no fear of militant attack on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. Keeping all the issues in mind, security measures have been taken by the DMP. He said these to reporters after visiting the venue of Pahela Baishakh at Ramna Park on Saturday (April 13). The DMP commissioner said a plan has been taken to provide extensive security centering the Baishakh, every program in Dhaka will be monitored through CC camera. Watch towers have also been built outside. There will be drones at the venue. Video cameras will be everywhere. He said there will be various programmes at Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, Ramna Botomul, Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament), Hatirjheel, and Rabindra Sarobar in the capital. The DMP has undertaken extensive security measures regarding the programmes. The Bomb Disposal Unit will conduct their regular rehearsals. For the same reason, traffic will be controlled in Dhaka University and Ramna areas. The DMP commissioner said that all programmes should end by the evening.    all programmes should end by the evening.  

Experts have long been warning that a sell-off of Brazilian talent is seriously damaging domestic football. Restoring "the beautiful game" will be difficult, if not impossible. Brazilian football has seen better days. The country's Olympic team failed to qualify for Paris 2024, while Brazil's full men's national team, the "Selecao," are languishing in sixth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. Utterly unacceptable for a team who have won a record five World Cups. On Saturday, Dorival Junior became the fifth man in the past two years to take his place in the Selecao's coaching zone — for their friendly against England at Wembley. It seems as if the record-breaking world champions have lost their footballing identity. Former Brazilian stiker Grafite, who led Wolfsburg to their sole Bundesliga title in 2009, told DW the  "jogo bonito" — the "beautiful game" for which former Brazilian stars such as the late Pele were admired — is no longer recognizable. "This type of Brazilian football no longer exists today," said Grafite, who, as an expert for Globo TV, is a keen observer of the development of football in his homeland. Several hundred transfers abroad annually It's not as though Grafite was the first to raise the alarm. After the 2014 World Cup when the Selecao were humbled 7-1 by the eventual world champions Germany in the semifinals, Mario Zagallo, a World Cup winner as both a player and coach, warned of a sell-out of home-grown talent. Zagallo warned that Brazilian football was in peril of losing its identity as a result. It's been around 20 years since a change in European law effectively made it easier for non-EU citizens to ply their trade in Europe. This sparked a wave of transactions that continues to this day. Brazil now loses hundreds of footballers to the rest of the world every year. "This affects the development of the identity of Brazilian soccer," historian David 'Dere' Gomes told DW. Gomes has been researching the history of football in Rio de Janeiro for years. The most talented players, those capable of deciding a game in the Brazilian way, are being deprived of the time needed to sufficiently develop their talent in their own country, Gomes said. The Brazilian way is, among other things, the spectacular dribbling that can lift fans out of their seats. It's a big part of the country's footballing identity. Top transfers not the only problem The focus is usually only on the top transfers of exceptional talents such as Vinicius Junior in 2018 or Endrick to Real Madrid last summer. However, the Brazilian league is constantly losing substance and quality, not just at the top of the talent pool. Many transfers go largely unnoticed. One could compare this to the exploitation of raw materials. The only difference is that it is not copper, oil or lithium that the rich industrialized countries are buying up, but footballing talent. "It's normal for Brazilian players to adapt to the style of European soccer, but Brazil hasn't kept pace," Grafite said. Footballers who play in Brazil have a different rhythm and speed than those who play in Europe, the now 44-year-old added. The game simply has a different dynamic overseas. These two identities then clash within the national team at a Copa America or a World Cup and lead to coordination problems. "This was quite evident at the last World Cup," Grafite noted.  In Qatar, at the end of 2022, Brazil were eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals. Premier League success at the expense of others The Premier League is currently considered the measure of all things in club football worldwide. "But how can the Premier League be the biggest league in the world if England has neither the best players nor a tradition of winning the World Cup?" asked historian Gomes rhetorically. "It only works by importing players," he answered. "Talent from Latin America and Africa. And Brazil is one of the biggest treasure troves for this talent. Imagine how strong a Brazilian football league would be if it had players who earn their money in England, like Douglas Luiz, Lucas Paqueta, Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Richarlison — or in other European leagues, like Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo." Dere Gomes is well aware that with billions of euros changing hands every year, reversing this trend would be a very tall task indeed. "Building a strong league in Brazil would require good club management coupled with financial fair play," he said. "You'd also need to find a way of reducing the clubs' dependence on large revenues." And, he said, politics would also have an important role to play.

Railway Minister Zillul Hakim has said that there will be no hike in railway fares before the upcoming Eid al-Adha. The railway minister clarified the matter to the media on Sunday (March 17) after some media reports published that railway fares may increase from April 1. Zillul Hakim also said that no decision has been taken to increase rail fares. "Railway fares will not increase in the near future," he added. Meanwhile, at a program in Rajbari on Sunday, the railway minister said that 800 coaches will be imported in the country within the next one year. New engines will also be introduced. They will be implemented with new projects to modernize the railway.  

The investigation into reports of UFO sightings also concluded that there have been no efforts by US governments to keep the information of aliens hidden from the public. There is no evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial intelligence, a Pentagon report that examined the sighting of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) over the last century said on Friday. The report concluded that most of the sightings reported were misidentified ordinary objects and phenomena, a conclusion that matches the assessment of past US governments into the claims. The report from the Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (ARRO) analyzed US government investigations since 1945 of UFO sightings. The study which followed a 2022 Pentagon announcement also said that there were no efforts by the US government or private firms to keep the information about them secret. Flying objects: White House says no sign of alien activity "All investigative efforts, at all levels of classification, concluded that most sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification," said the report, which was mandated by Congress. Why was the investigation conducted? Over the past several years, US authorities have received a slew of reports of UFO sightings. In 2021, a government report that examined 144 sightings held that no evidence of any extraterrestrial life was found and it called for better data collection. The issue was once again brought to the fore last year after a retired Air Force intelligence officer testified to Congress that the US government hides a longstanding plan that reverse engineers unidentified flying objects. The authors of the report said they wanted to meticulously investigate the subject which has occupied many American minds over the years. "AARO recognizes that many people sincerely hold versions of these beliefs which are based on their perception of past experiences, the experiences of others whom they trust, or media and online outlets they believe to be sources of credible and verifiable information," the report said.    

Renowned singer Pankaj Udhas was known for his distinctive style,  passed away at the age of 72. The celebrated Ghazal singer died on Monday (February 26) at around 11 am. "Pankaj Sir was suffering from prolonged illness and was not keeping well for the last couple of days. He died this morning around 11 am at Breach Candy hospital," his team told in local media. Pankaj has enthralled the 80s generation with Hindi hit songs like Chitthi Aai Hai, Thodi Thodi Piya Karo, Na Kajre Ki Dhar and so on. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Feb 23) said that there will be no shortage of any essential commodities during the upcoming month of Ramadan. "There will be no shortage of any commodities during Ramadan. All arrangements have already been made," PM said at a press conference at Ganabhaban on Friday (Feb 23). Prime Minister said that there was a big conspiracy to prevent the election. Such conspiracies were there before and still they are active. She held meetings with global leaders on the sidelines while she attended the Munich Security Conference. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka on February 15 to attend the Munich Security Conference. She went there at the invitation from the president of the Munich Security Conference.  

Begum Hasina Momtaz, a renowned singer from the 1960 S breathed her last on 18 February, 2024 at Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital, Dhanmondi. She suffered a cardiac failure around 6 PM. She was 79. Begum Hasina Momtaz was a student at the Department of Geography, University of Dhaka, and gained prominence as a cultural activist and singer since the 1970 s. She is remembered for many of her songs, including “Tandrahara Nayan Amar …”. She also inspired the nation during the mass movement of the 1969 and the liberation war in 1971 by her songs. Bangladesh Shilpokola Academy recognised her significant accomplishments as a singer by awarding her “ Shilpokola Award” in 2019. Her husband Late Rafiqul Islam was a renowned banker and served as the managing director of National Bank ltd. The deceased is survi by her only son, who Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam was the former Dean, Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka, and now serves as the chairman of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission. She is also survived by her daughter in law, Shenin Rubayat, two grandsons and numerous relatives, friends, and admirers. Her Namaz e Janaza will be held on Monday February 19,2024 at Eidgah Mosque at Dhanmondi 6/A after Zuhr prayers. The bereaved family request you all to pray for salvation of her departed soul.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu said that there will be no shortage of any essential commodities during the holy month of Ramadan this year. The  government has already reduced  tariff on 4 products following the instructions of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the state minister told reporters on Friday morning (Feb 16). He also said, “India has agreed to supply us with onions and sugar. We hope to have an uninterrupted supply of daily commodities from India and other neighbouring countries.” “There is no shortage of rice. We have approximately 1.7 million tons of rice in stock," Ahasanul Islam added. Earlier, PM Sheikh Hasina instructed the concerned authorities to reduce tariff on essential commodities.

The US has launched retaliatory strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. However, neither Iran nor the US has any stated interest in starting another war in the region. The US claims to have found the instigator of a drone attack on a US base in Jordan near the Iraqi border that claimed the lives of three soldiers at the end of January. Speaking to the press ahead of the recent US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Iranian-backed militias, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Washington believed the drone attack was "planned, resourced and facilitated by an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq" — a group of several Iraqi armed groups that are backed by Iran. The military action took place amid extreme tensions in the Middle East as a result of the war between Israel and the Islamist militant organization Hamas. There are fears that it could lead to a direct confrontation between the US and Iran. Iran denies accusations, issues threats According to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, Iran has denied any involvement in the Jordan attack. "We are not looking for a war but are not afraid of it either," the agency quoted General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as saying last week. "We are not warmongers, but we defend ourselves and our glory." Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also urged the US to refrain from making threats and accusations and focus on a political solution. Iran's response to threats would be swift and decisive, he said. Hamidreza Azizi, an Iran expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said on Friday that ascribing every move made by a militia associated with Iran to decisions made by Iran's leadership was overly simplistic. Iran, he said, supported many armed groups abroad, including the Houthi militia in Yemen, the Kataib-Hezbollah in Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon. "Together, they form an 'axis of resistance' against Israel and the US," he said. This support encompasses the provision of weapons as well as logistical and economic assistance, he said. "Based on this, one can indeed conclude that the collective decision to escalate against the US and Israel in response to the war in Gaza was taken by all these groups in coordination with and with the support of Iran," said Azizi, who conducted research on regional security at Iranian universities before moving to Germany in 2020. However, Azizi noted that the individual groups had significant autonomy at the tactical and operational levels, especially when selecting the targets for attacks. "It is therefore difficult to assess the extent of Iran's involvement," Azizi said. Ali Fathollah-Nejad, the founder of the Center for Middle East and Global Order in Berlin, also thinks it unlikely that Iran knew nothing about the attacks. After all, as he pointed out on the Swiss television channel SRF, the situation in the Middle East is extremely dangerous for the Islamic Republic. It has taken care to avoid a direct conflict with the US or Israel, because any war resulting from this would endanger the security of the regime in Tehran. "The leaders in Tehran are well aware of this," Fathollah-Nejad said. Struggling for influence in border regions The drone attack on the American al-Tanf military base at the end of January took place in a region that was controlled by the jihadi terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS) up until 2015. In recent years, IS has largely been defeated. Foreign players have now taken control of the area. The Jordanian government has given permission for the US presence there: The American forces are supposed to contain the remaining IS militias as much as possible. According to the most recent study by the International Crisis Group, Iran is also heavily represented in this area. However, the ICG says it is difficult to assess the size of the Iranian forces. There is concern in Washington that Iran is trying to establish an east-west land corridor through Iraq and Syria to complement the existing air corridor. This would enable Iran to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon, on the Mediterranean. For its part, the ICG analysis concludes, Iran wants to prevent the US from controlling the north-south route from the Turkish border to the border with Jordan. That would cut off Iran from its allies and proxies in the region.   Further provocation not ruled out Ideally, Iran would like to "expel" the US from the region, as its spiritual and political leader Ali Khamenei has declared. Hamidreza Azizi commented that Tehran therefore sees the war in Gaza as a suitable opportunity for increasing pressure on the US. Repeated attacks on American targets in the region might induce Washington to pressure Israel to put a swift end to the war with Hamas, he said. "As a result, there has been a division of labor among the groups allied with Iran," Azizi said. "The Houthi militias took on the task of creating tension in the Red Sea while the Iraqi militias exert pressure on the US in Iraq and eastern Syria." However, Azizi said that, in any actions they take, they will seek to avoid American casualties. "Iran and its allies knew that American fatalities would trigger a more determined response from Washington," he explained. "And Tehran does not want a war with Washington."