There will be no need to obtain permission for flying drones less than five kilograms. But it needs permission from the concerned office if the drone is over five kilograms. Keeping these provisions the cabinet has approved the draft in principle the ‘Drone Registration and Flying Policy 2020’. The draft was approved in principle at the virtual cabinet meeting on Monday. Later Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam briefed the newsmen about the matter. The Cabinet Secretary said, four categories were made for drones in the policy after taking opinions from all. Category ‘A’ for entertainment. Children will use this type of drone as toy. It must be less than 5 kg. Over 5kg will not cover this category. He said, category ‘B’ drones can be used by government and private organizations for non-commercial purpose. In this case the drone can be over 5 kg but there should not be any commercial view such as survey of forest, research or writing books. Anwarul Islam said, drones for commercial use would be over 5 kg under ‘C’ category. For example it can be used for survey of land or crops or for processing industry. Category ‘D’ drones can be used for state of military purpose. For example drones were used in Padma Bridge construction work, it is for purpose for the state. The Cabinet Secretary said, no need to obtain permission for flying A ( for entertainment and games) and D (for state and military purpose) category drones. He said, there are green, red and yellow zones. Toy and entertainment drones cannot be flown over 500 feet. Others need to obtain permission. According to the policy, drone flying will be prohibited in the red zones such as airports, cantonment areas or Padma Bridge. AH     

Bangladesh got off to a flying start in the two-match FIFA International Friendly (Tier-1) outplaying upper-ranked Bhutan by 4-1 goals in the first match at floodlit Bangabandhu National Stadium in the capital on Sunday. Forward Nabib Newaz Ziban scored twice, midfielder Biplu Ahamed and Rabiul Hasan scored one goal each for the hosts while Dorji scored the lone goal for Bhutan.   The 2nd and last FIFA friendly match between the two teams will be held on October 3 at the same venue.   Bangladesh booters are preparing for the next matches of Joint Qualification for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 against Qatar in their home match on October 10 at Bangabandhu National Stadium and their away match with India on October 15 at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. As part of the preparations, they are playing two preparatory matches against Bhutan national football team.  In the day’s match, Bangladesh started an attacking football from the very beginning and produced some good chances, putting pressure on the Bhutanese defence.  In the 10th minute, midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim missed a close chance while Saad Uddin sent the ball to him from outside the box.   But, the result came just after a minute as forward Ziban opened the Bangladesh account by a good header from the goalmouth melee, utilising a pass of captain cum midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan, off a corner kick taken by Saad Uddin in the 11th minute (1-0).   Bangladesh earned another success in the 39th minute when Ziban netted his 2nd goal by an amazing right-footed volley from inside the box, capitalising on midfielder Ibrahim cross (2-0).   After the half time, touring Bhutan came alive and reduced the margin in the 51st minute when their forward Dorji scored from the danger zone, off a free-kick off midfielder Tshering Dorji (2-1).   Bangladesh missed another close chance to widen the margin in the 62nd minute but Bhutanese goalkeeper Ngawng Jamphel denied a long range left-footed shot by substitute midfielder Md Rabiul Hasan.   But in the 74th minute, midfielder Biplu Ahamed scored the 3rd goal for Bangladesh by a close-range right footer from inside the box (3-1).    In the 81st minute, Rabiul Hasan sealed the fate of the match by a left-footed low range shot utilising a pass from Biplu Ahamed (4-1). Bangladesh are currently 41st in AFC and 187th in FIFA rankings while Bhutan 39th in AFC and 185th in FIFA rankings. Earlier, a 26-member Bhutan national team – 20 players and six officials – arrived Dhaka on Friday responding to BFF’s invitation to play the two practice matches.  Bangladesh: Ashraful Islam Rana, Rahmat Mia, Yeasin Khan, Bishwanath Ghosh, Jamal Bhuiyan, Nabib Newaz Jiban, Biplu Ahamed, Saad Uddin, Md Ibrahim (Md Rabiul Hasan-46th minute), Sohel Rana.  Bhutan:  Ngawng Jamphel, Lungtok Dawa, Jigme Tsdhering Dorjee, Nima Tshering, Chencho Gyeltshen, Dawa Tshering, Tenzin Dorji, Chimi Dorji, Tshering Dorji, Tinley Dorji, Dorji (Kabi Raj Rai-79th).  Referee:  Md Jalal Uddin  Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh got off to a flying start in the ICC Cricket World Cup crushing South Africa by 21 runs in their first match at the Kennington Oval, London on Sunday. Chasing a target of 331 runs, the Proteas were restricted to 309 runs for eight in stipulated 50 overs. Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets conceding 67 runs in 10 overs while Mohammad Saifuddin scalped two for 57 runs in eight overs. Earlier, two brilliant half century by world number one all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and former captain Mushfiqur Rahim helped Bangladesh post their highest-ever ODI total of 330 against South Africa. Bangladesh’s previous highest ODI total was 329 runs against Pakistan in Dhaka in 2015 and their highest World Cup total was 322 against Scotland in the last World Cup in New Zealand in 2015. South Africa captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bowl bat first in a cloudy weather. The Protea captain wanted to exploit the condition with his pace line-up that includes Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.  However, Bangladesh made a good start with openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar adding 60 runs in 8.2 overs.  In the fifth over, Soumya hit Ngidi for three fours to accumulate 14 runs from that over. One over later, he struck Ngidi for two fours more. The Tigers completed 50 runs in seven overs. But right after this rampant start, the Tigers lost Tamim for 16 off 29 with two fours in the ninth over.  South African captain Faf du Plessis gave the ball to Andile Phehlukwayo as their first change bowler. He removed Tamim off a deadly bouncer. The southpaw tried to move the bat away but at the end, he managed an outside edge as Quinton de Kock took an easy catch behind the wicket.  On the other end, Soumya was cruising to a big score. However, du Plessis gave the ball to Chris Morris as their fourth bowler. He came in and removed Soumya for 42 runs off 30 with nine fours.  Both of the first two bowling changes worked good for the Proteas as both of the Bangladeshi openers fell while facing a short ball each.  Bangladesh reached the 100-run mark in the 16th over in which the Tigers scored 12 runs relying on a six by Shakib Al Hasan, who came to bat at number three after the dismissal of Soumya. Mushfiqur Rahim joined him in the 3rd stand and they together scored 100 runs off 95 balls. Bangladesh completed 200 for 2 in 32 overs.  The entertaining partnership of 142 runs, the highest partnership of Bangladesh in the World Cup in any wicket, ended with the dismissal of Shakib.  The southpaw batsman fell for 75 off 84 with eight fours and one six. It was his 43rd ODI fifty and the sixth in the World Cup. He was removed by a wonderful delivery off Imran Tahir.   Imran added further blow to the Bangladesh innings when he also dismissed Mohammad Mithun for 21 off 21. The right handed batsman went to sweep Imran but missed the line and saw his stumps got shattered.  Bangladesh got a little bit slow in 30-40 overs. At the end of the 30th over, Bangladesh were 190 for 2. But in the 10 over (30-40) they scored only 54 at the with a run rate of 5.4 and lost two more wickets as well.  Bangladesh’s aim to post a big total got further blow when Mushfiqur fell for 78 off 80 with eight fours. Phehlukwayo delivered the ball at the shorter length and Mushfiqur tried to clear it through the backward point area. But unfortunately, the ball went fielder. It was Mushfiqur’s 34th fifty in ODI and fifth in the World Cup.  Eventually, relying on the some fiery displays from Mahmudullah Riyad (46 off 33 with three fours and one six) and Mosaddek Hossain (26 off 20 with four fours), Bangladesh ended the innings scoring record 330 for six wickets in 50 overs. In the last 10 overs, Bangladesh added 86 runs losing two wickets.  For South Africa, Phehlukwayo, Morris and Imran took two wickets each conceding 52, 73 and 57 runs respectively. Source: UNB AH

Hosts Bangladesh got off to a flying start in the seven-nation 12th SAFF Suzuki Cup 2018, the biggest soccer carnival of the region, beating Himalayan nation Bhutan by 2-0 goals in the 2nd opening day match at the country’s  premier sports venue -- Bangabandhu National Stadium – in the capital on Tuesday. With the day’s feat, Bangladesh not only took revenge of their frustrating 1-3 goals defeat against Bhutan in the ACC Asia Cup Qualifiers in Thimphu in 2016 to refrain from international football for 17 months but also brightened their chance to reach semifinals from Group A obtaining full three points from the first engagement.   In the previous SAFF Championship in India in 2015, Bangladesh outplayed Bhutan by 3-0 goals to record their 8th win in eleven encounters. Bangladesh, which were eliminated from the group stage of the last three SAFF Championships after winning the title 15 years ago in 2003, displayed a good brand of football on their way to long-cherished SAFF mission. In the day’s match, veteran defender Topu Barman scored the first goal for Bangladesh in the very 3rd minute from a penalty amid huge cheers from home crowd (1-0).  Bangladesh awarded the spot kick when their onrushing Atiqur Rahman Fahad was fouled by Bhutanese defender Tshering Dirji in the danger zone while trying to tackle a corner kick of Waly Faisal from right wing.   Finally, Topu Barman did no mistake to convert a penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner of the post. Tshering Dirji was also cautioned with a yellow card for the offence. Teenaged striker Mahbubur Rahman Sufil sealed the fate of the match in the very 2nd minute of the 2nd half (47th minute) by an angular volley shot from the right wing (2-0).    There was a huge crowd in the stadium after a long time to witness the match. Though the host sides had less ball position -- 39.7 percent-- compared Bhutan, they took their expected win job greatly.   There was a little rain after 60 minutes of the game, but the local spectators continued to enjoy the game support the team defying the odd.    Bangladesh brought three changes in their playing eleven in the second half as Emon Mahmud, Faisal Mahmud and Mamunul Islam came in replacing Masuk Miah Zoni, Saad Uddin and Faisal Mahmud respectively. Bhutan also brought three changes in their eleven as Choki Wangc, Tsenda Dorji and Kingay Rabgay replaced Tshering Samdup, Galey Zangpo and Kencho Tobgay respectively. Bangladesh put pressure from the very beginning of the match and drew applaud of the local crowd at the Bangabandhu Stadium, which got a huge number of spectators after a long time.  Earlier, in the tournament opener on the day, Pakistan got a 2-1 margin victory against Nepal at the same venue. After the day’s win, Bangladesh topped the Group A list ahead of Pakistan by virtue of better goal difference.   In the remaining Group A matches, Bangladesh will play Pakistan on Thursday (Sept 6) at 7 pm and meet Nepal on Saturday (Sept 8) at the same time. On Wednesday, defending champions India will take on Sri Lanka in the Group ‘B’ battle at 7 pm. Source: UNB    AH

The country's first satellite 'Bangabandhu Satellite - 1' might be launched in space on April 24. America Space, news media on satellite and technology, informed this in a tweet on Tuesday referring to Thales Alenia Space, responsible for the construction of the satellite. France's Thales Alenia Space, in charge of satellite construction, says in a tweet message, the satellite will leave the Thales Alenia Space Plant on March 28 (Wednesday). Then, the cargo aircraft carrying satellite will start its journey from the Antonov Nice Airport to the United States on March 29. On that day, the plane will fly to the United States between France’s local time 6:00 am and 8:00 am. On March 29, after a stopover in Boston, the cargo carrying 'Bangabandhu Satellite - 1' will reach Cape Carnival in Florida on March 30. The satellite will be sent by United States’ space research agency SpaceX’s rocket Falcon-9. By this launching, Bangladesh will write its names in the list as world's 57th country having satellite power. FU

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed ban on flying all kinds of paper lantern (locally known as Fanush) in Dhaka metropolitan area. DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah informed about the restriction through a press release on Saturday. Asaduzzaman Miah said, the ban imposed on flying all kinds of sky lantern in the entire Dhaka metropolitan area for security reasons. If anybody defy the restriction than legal steps will be taken. The restriction will be effective until the further direction. But he did not comment on flying sky lanterns outside of Dhaka. The DMP Commissioner said, some persons and groups are flying paper lanterns in the sky on different occasions. These lanterns are falling in different part of the city with flammable materials like kerosene. Through these risks of setting fire are occurring along with security threat. If the flying of lanterns would continue than disaster may happen. The restriction came in just before the festival of ‘Poush Songkranti’ which is scheduled to observe in January 14. The inhabitants of old Dhaka observe the day by flying kites and paper lanterns in the sky as per tradition. AH