Spain's three most senior players, Alexia Putellas, Jennifer Hermoso and Irene Paredes may have worried that their chance of winning the World Cup would pass them by. The trio, the only female players to have won more than 100 caps for La Roja, endured challenging build-ups to the tournament with their participation in the competition in Australia and New Zealand touch-and-go up right until the final moment. Putellas' return from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered in July 2022, was understandably far from smooth, as she struggled to regain the form that won her back-to-back Ballon d'Ors. Meanwhile, defender Paredes, though not one of the 15 players to write an email to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) calling for the conditions under head coach Jorge Vilda to improve, voiced her support for the players actions on social media and relinquished her international captaincy role in the process. And, with Hermoso having left Barcelona after falling out of love with football there were doubts from the player that it would be a feeling that would ever return, let alone allow her to be in the mental space to play the sport at the highest level on the global stage. Despite all the hurdles the three players had to overcome, they sit on top of the world with World Cup winners medals — a thought that seemed impossible just a few months ago. "We tried for so many days to imagine what it is like to be world champions but we couldn't," Hermoso said after the final whistle. "It is difficult to describe. it is a huge joy. I am so proud of this team. We showed that can fight as well and suffer." Putellas' struggles cannot take shine off victory  As a woman of few words who trapses through mixed zones offering nothing more than a brief smile to journalists, Putellas far preferred to have her efforts on the pitch do her talking. Although many felt the team's chances leading into the World Cup hinged on their taliswoman's return and skill, with fans believed Putellas' return to the team was far more important than the rest of the 15 players who were out in the cold. "Alexia and I have played together for so long," Hermoso told DW about her former Barcelona teammate. "To be living in this moment with one another, it is so special." The 29-year-old proved to only make a minimal impact and spending so little time on the field during the World Cup was a difficult pill to swallow for a player that is obsessively strict with her own exceptionally high standards. Putellas made no effort to hide her frustrations during the tournament from the sidelines, throwing a water bottle centimeters away from the bench, after being substituted in the 46th minutes against Zambia. Prior to her injury, the dynamic midfielder played like the ball was glued to her boots, but the technically gifted individual, having had to re-learn how to walk, run and control the ball, spent most of the tournament struggling to keep up with the pace of the game and unable to provide the pinpoint accuracy so accustomed to her, to release Hermoso or Paralluelo. But, the leader within her saw her constantly corral and encourage her team, something all the players craved, according to Hermoso. "We know how special Alexia is, how special she is for the team and how special this win is for her," she explained. Hermoso's journey back to falling in love with football For Hermoso, playing at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand seemed impossible just 12 months ago. Despite, being Barcelona's all-time leading goalscorer, having netted 181 times in 224 appearances, she found herself searching for a way out from the team she has supported since childhood. At the end of the 2021-22 season, following a tumultuous season off the pitch with the Barcelona fans directing much vitriol towards her, the forward moved to Mexican club Pachuca on a free transfer. "The road to this point was really hard," Hermoso told DW through tears. "I had to go to Mexico just feel like a player again. To bring back my love and passion for football." "So many people in Spain were talking and still talk about me, who I am, how I play. I've demonstrated to those people that even though I am 33 years old, I am still capable of being a good player." Head coach Vilda kept his faith in Hermoso to be adaptable between leading the line for La Roja and dropping into midfield to accommodate teenager Salma Paralluelo, who was name Young Player of the Tournament. "Jenni had a lot of responsibility on her shoulders," Vilda said. "I have known Jenni for more than 15 years, she came here as the best version of her, she has given everything she can at 33 years of age, and I am so proud of her." Vilda's decision paid off as Hermoso, who is also Spain's all-time leading goalscorer with 51 goals, scored three times during the tournament and set-up Paralluelo's winning goal against 2019 finalists Holland in their tightly-fought 2-1 extra time win. "Life is composed of moments," Hermoso reflected. "There was a moment where I had to leave the best team in the whole world. This moment now, it is the one I have been waiting for, for so long." At 32, Paredes also knew to lift a trophy with Spain time was not in her favor, and she faced a difficult decision when the RFEF came out in support of Vilda as opposed to the players who had expressed concerns. Despite the Barcelona captain not being one those to send an email, her inclusion in the side was unclear, having made herself unavailable for selection until April 2023. For Vilda, the experienced center-back's reintroduction into the team was one that required little thought. When asked about Paredes return after Spain's friendly against China in April, he told DW: "She is a great player and has been for a long time, of course I am very happy to have her with us. We do not think about the past." Paredes was the only outfield player to play every minute of the World Cup, and it was her calm head, decisiveness in the air and robustness against striker's that helped her marshal Spain's back line. "It is a dream," Paredes told DW. "It’s been very hard but we knew it was possible. These moments are historic for Spanish football. It's difficult to put it into words but it means everything."

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today (Monday) said he would like to see in future that no visa would be required to travel to India as people of the neighbor country had made the highest sacrifice for independence of Bangladesh.   “I wish to see that day when we will see no visa is required to visit (India)… as the people-to-people relations are too deep between these countries. I don’t want to see any barrier among them,” he said at a discussion organized by Sector Commanders Forum at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.  The foreign minister said the Indian recognition to independence of Bangladesh, given on 6th December in 1971, is a historic day as it confirmed the entire world that it was not an India-Pakistan war rather India is helping independent Bangladesh that was invaded by another country.  Saying that Bhutan had recognized Bangladesh first as per the Indian advice, Dr Momen expressed his deep gratitude to India and Bhutan for their support in the peoples’ war of Bangladesh in 1971.  Bangladesh and India are celebrating the Friendship Day (Maitri Diwas) today, the historic day when India recognized Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent state in 1971 after Bhutan.  The day has been designated by the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India as Bangladesh-India Friendship Day in March 2021 and today Bangladesh and India is celebrating the day simultaneously in 18 capitals around the globe.  “The people and soldiers of India sacrifices their blood for our independence … we would like to celebrate more deeply these blood-relation (in future),” he said.  The foreign minister said bilateral relation between Bangladesh and India is a unique one as these two neighbors resolved all major disputes through dialogue without shooting a single bullet.   “We would like to celebrate the Maitri Diwas in all Bangladesh and Indian missions all over the globe to show the world our unique ties,” he said.  The foreign minister hoped that Dhaka and New Delhi would resolve the existing minor issues in the days to come as the two neighbors are now enjoying golden chapter of their bilateral relations.  About the 50-year diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India, Dr Momen hoped that the current solid relations between Dhaka and New Delhi will remain uninterrupted in next 50 years.  Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar spoke as the special guest while Sector Commanders Forum chief M Nurul Alam presided over.  Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami and Bhutan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Rinchen Kuentsyl also spoke, among others.  Source: BSS AH

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, the number of coronavirus infected patient is increasing day by day. The number of death is also increasing. But the government is not able to realize the situation till at present. He said these through an online briefing from BNP’s central office at Nayapaltan in the capital on Monday. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, though the government has no legitimacy but to get relief of the situation BNP is ready to extend all out assistance to the government. He said, BNP does not want to waste time by answering the unnecessary comments of the Awami League leaders in this crisis moment. Rather it wants to work. Rizvi said, we are saddened over the role of the government regarding the holidays of workers. In this crisis moment gathering of so much people –is really a matter of panic. He said, long queues are seen in the narrow streets of the country. The government failed to stand beside these jobless people. The government gradually is giving identity of failure to face the corona crisis. AH  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir always tells lies. I cannot realize how so much lies he can tell. He is tired of telling lies. Even Allah gets angry if somebody tells lie. The Prime Minister said these at a public gathering organized by Awami League at Government Boys’ High School ground in Thakurgaon on Thursday. The premier said that Mirza Fakhrul ruined Biman when he was the state minister. She said, why movement is going for the people who misappropriated money? Khaleda Zia went to jail by looting money. BNP becomes wealthy by looting money when they were in power. Sheikh Hasina said, as a Prime Minister I think myself as a servant of people. The purpose of Awami League is to change the fate of people. Awami League is committed to change fate of people. BNP does not know to create, it knows to destruct. Awami League knows what to do for development of the country. Government is working on relentlessly according to this. The Prime Minister said, steps will be taken to set up IT Park in Thakurgaon. University will be established in Thakurgaon. She urged inhabitants of Thakurgaon to cast their votes for boat for continuation of development. Sheikh Hasina inaugurated 33 projects and laid foundation stones for 33 projects after arriving at the gathering. Later she participated in the munajat. The premier last visited Takurgaon on September 18, 2001. AH