#thenewscompany : Bangladesh Railway (BR) today started sale of advance tickets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, to make Eid holidaymakers’ journey smooth.

The BR will operate 16 specials trains on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr this year while The Sholakia Special trains 1 and 2 will be available on the Eid day to ease devotees’ journey to attend the country’s biggest congregation at
Sholakia Eidgah ground in Kishoreganj, BR sources said.

This year, a total of 27 thousands train tickets will be sold every day in Dhaka and passengers can collect their tickets directly from the counters or via mobile apps, they added. According to Bangladesh Railway, taking Eid possible date on June 5 into consideration, tickets for the journey on May 31 is being sold today.

However, tickets for June 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be sold on May 23, 24, 25, and 26 respectively. Holidaymakers can buy tickets from 5 points including Kamlapur Railway Station counter.

BR sources said advance tickets for trains running via Jamuna Bridge will be available at Kamlapur Railway Station.

Tickets for both Netrokona bound Mohanganj’ and ‘Haor Express’, will be available at Banani as intercity railway tickets for travelling to Chattogram-Noakhali and Sylhet-Kishoreganj will be available at Airport Station and Fulbaria old Railway Building.

The spectacular about-face comes after more than 2,300 children were stripped from their parents and adult relatives after illegally crossing the border since May 5 and placed in tent camps and other facilities, with no way to contact their relatives.

Despite the order, there was no plan in place to reunite the thousands of children already separated from their families, according to multiple US media reports, citing officials from the Health and Human Services Department.

Those kids would remain separated while their parents were under federal custody during immigration proceedings, according to The New York Times.

Pictures and accounts of the separations sparked outrage and a rebellion among Republicans in Trump’s own party, as well as international accusation that the US was committing human rights violations.

“What we have done today is we are keeping families together,” Trump said as he signed the executive order. “I didn’t like the sight or the feeling of families being separated.”

Trump said that even with the change, border enforcement will be “equally tough, if not tougher.”

He reiterated that sentiment at a campaign-style rally of supporters in the northern state of Minnesota later Wednesday, saying “we will keep families together, but the border is going to be just as tough.”

He then accused rival Democrats of putting “illegal immigrants before they put American citizens.”

For weeks, Trump had insisted he was bound by law to split the children from their parents and that only Congress could resolve the problem — before he radically shifted gears.

“We want security for our country,” Trump said. “And we will have that — at the same time, we have compassion, we want to keep families together.”

The order says the Department of Homeland Security — and not the Justice and Health and Human Services Departments, as under previous policy — would have continuing responsibility for the families.

It also suggests the government intends to hold the families indefinitely by challenging an existing statute, the 1997 Flores Settlement, that places a 20-day limit on how long children, alone or with their parents, can be detained.

That move could lead to new legal battles for the administration.

Trump said there was a need to sustain his zero tolerance” policy to prevent crime, which he blames illegal immigrants for.

“We still have to maintain toughness, or our country will be overrun by people, by crime, by all of the things that we don’t stand for and we don’t want,” he said.

– ‘Deeply disturbing’ images –

Earlier, as countries marked World Refugee Day Wednesday, world leaders assailed Trump for the separations.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Council of Europe and Pope Francis all took issue with the “zero tolerance” policy.

May said images of migrant children kept in cage-like units were “deeply disturbing,” and the Council of Europe, a global human rights watchdog, said Trump had abdicated any claim to moral leadership in the world.

After a downturn last year, since October, the number of migrants seeking to cross the southwest US border from impoverished Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, as well as from Mexico, has surged.

From March to May this year, more than 50,000 people a month were apprehended for illegally crossing the border from Mexico. About 15 percent of those are arriving as families, and eight percent as unaccompanied children.

Nearly all of the families, and many others, have officially requested asylum, citing the incessant violence in their home countries.

The policy, with mandatory separation of children from adults, was announced May 7 as a deterrent.

The issue struck an emotional chord, amid accounts of children screaming and crying in facilities prepared for them.

Gene Hamilton, a senior Justice Department official, said the executive order was a “stopgap” move and that Congress needs to pass new legislation to give the president more powers to fight illegal immigration.

Current laws including the Flores Settlement, he argued, simply encouraged people to enter the country with their children, expecting to be caught and then released into US society.

“Congress needs to provide a permanent fix for this situation,” he said.

Democrats and Republicans had at least two bills crafted Wednesday to address broader immigration issues, but it was not clear if any had adequate support to pass.

But Democrats and rights groups were immediately critical of the plan to change the Flores Settlement.

“The Flores settlement prohibits the indefinite detention of children — even with their families — and any order to undermine this critical protection will be immediately challenged in court,” said senior Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.

“Locking up whole families is no solution at all — the Trump Administration must reverse its policy of prosecuting vulnerable people fleeing three of the most dangerous countries on earth, who are attempting to seek safe haven in America.”

#thenewscompany : President M Abdul Hamid will be sworn in as the head of the state for a second consecutive term on Tuesday as parliament unanimously decided to entrust him with the presidency for another tenure.

“The oath-taking ceremony will take place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday . . . Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury will administer his oath of office at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban,” President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told BSS this evening.

He added that all necessary preparations were taken on the occasion.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chief Justice, former Presidents of the country, Judges, cabinet members, lawmakers, senior politicians, diplomats and other dignitaries are expected to be present there.

London hosts the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for the first time in 20 years, a move seen as a chance for Britain to reconnect with its former colonies and revitalise the loose alliance of Commonwealth countries ahead of Brexit.

“Commonwealth is growing stronger year by year . . . I believe we’ll secure a safer and more prosperous and sustainable world for the future generation,” the Queen said while declaring open the meet with its theme being “Towards a Common Future”.

Issues to feature the 53-member grouping’s two-day summit include ocean conservation, cyber security, trade, plastic waste issue and the Queen’s successor as the Commonwealth head while Elizabeth backed her son Prince Charles to take on her role in the Commonwealth.

“It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949,” the queen said at the formal opening of the event.

Downing Street earlier said a decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as Commonwealth head was expected from the heads of the member states on Friday while media reports suggest the mood was that Charles will get their backing.

Prince Charles, British Premier Theresa May and Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland QC also addressed the opening event that began amid a spectacle of pomp and pageantry with a guard of honour and flag bearers displaying the flags of the member states.

More than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards offered the honour guard, wearing their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins, alongside the Band and Corps of Drums.

Following the opening, the Commonwealth leaders are to participate in three executive sessions at Lancaster House.

The Commonwealth leaders will later attend the official reception to be hosted by British Premier Theresa May and Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland QC at the Lancaster House while they would join another reception of the Commonwealth secretary general at St James Palace in the afternoon.

Besides, the summit will give special attention to the areas of prosperity, security, fairness and sustainability to achieve the goals of Commonwealth countries.

The position of Commonwealth Chair-in-office, held by the government leader of the CHOGM host country, will be transferred at the summit from the Prime Minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat to British premier May who will hold the post until the 26th CHOGM expected in 2020.

The 25th CHOGM which was originally to be hosted by Vanuatu at the end of 2017, but the UK eventually appeared to be the host as devastating cyclone Pam damaged the Pacific island nation’s infrastructure.

The Commonwealth leaders joined in their first CHOGM in 1971 in Singapore while the last one was hosted by Malta in 2015 as the summit is held once every two years in member states on rotation basis but this pattern has twice been interrupted so far.

The telecom regulator has started thinking about running the ground work to adopt necessary policy and preparation to introduce the super fast service without much delay.

“Experts from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will be invited soon for the consultation on 5G service,” said BTRC Chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood.

He said South Korea has already introduced 5G technology in limited scale while the USA is ready to introduce it soon.

“If we can start the ground work quickly, it would help us to offer the service to the mobile phone users as early as possible,” added the BTRC Chairman.

Earlier on February 20 last, BTRC handed over 4G license and technology neutrality to the mobile network operators (MNOs). Immediately after getting the license, three private MNOs -Grameenphone, Robi and Banglalink introduced 4G service in all divisional headquarters and some big towns.

Within few days, they made announcement of starting 4G service in all the districts across the country.

The BTRC has given 36 months time-frame to the MNOS for 4G rollout across the country.

BTRC Chairman during the license handover had cautioned the MNOs that it will be strict and tougher position regarding the rollout obligation and quality of service (QoS). “None will be treated softly if they (MNO) are failed to meet the rollout and QoS requirement.”

In 1997, Bangladesh introduced 2G services and the subscribers base was 1.08 crore in 2002. After introduction of 3G, the total users rose to near 15 crore in 2018 while the internet users stood at over 8 crore.

In the 4G auction in February 13 last, BTRC had accumulated 46.4 Megahertz (MHz) of spectrum for sale, but two operators have only collected 15.6 MHz while two others have left out themselves from the vie.

After the auction, now the market leader Grameenphone has totaled 37 MHz of which 7.4 MHz in 900 band, 15.6 MHz in 1800 band and 10 MHz in 2100 band to serve 65.32 million subscribers while Banglalink owns a totaled 30.6 MHz – – 5 MHz in 900 band, 15.6 MHz in 1800 MHz and 10 MHz in 2100 band to serve 32.38 million customers.

Robi which merged with Airtel has totaled 36.4 MHz spectrum in three different bands – 9 MHz in 900 band, 17.4 MHz in 1800 band and 10 MHz in 2100 band to serve 42.90 million customers.

Besides, Teletalk has totaled 25.2 MHz of which 5.2 MHz in 900 band, 10 MHz in 1800 band and 10 MHz in 2100 band to serve 4.49 million subscribers.

Chasing a massive winning target of 339 runs set by Sri Lanka, Akila Dananjaya and Rangana Herath shared nine wickets between them as Sri Lanka dismissed Bangladesh for a paltry total of 123 in the final innings to take the series 1-0.

The host lost the wicket of opener Tamim Iqbal for 2 in the second over. Tamim was given lbw on a straight ball off Dilruwan Perera’s delivery. After that Herath sent back to Imrul Kayes for 17. Bangladesh went to lunch with 57 for 2.

Bangladesh dramatic collapse began just after the lunch break when they lost their remaining eight wickets in only 66 runs.

Chasing an improbable 339 runs for a win on a track that was conducive to spin, only Mominul Haque (33) and Mushfiqur Rahim (25) Imrul Kayes (17) and Liton Das (12) able to reach the double figure but with Herath (4-49) claiming the top order, the variations of Dananjaya (5-24) were too much to handle for the lower and middle order as the Tigers were bowled out for 123.

Bangladesh barely had control through this game and the second innings ends much like the first with an exaggerated collapse at the end.

During the process, Dananjaya completed a five-wicket haul while Herath surpassed Pakistani great Wasim Akram’s tally of 414 to become the leading wicket-taker among the left-arm bowlers.

Roshen Silva was named the man of the match as well as the man of the series while Sri Lanka started their stint under new coach Chandika Hathurusingha on a positive note.

Earlier, Sri Lanka finally dismissed their second innings at 226 in the first session of the third day setting a massive 339 runs winning target for Bangladesh.

Resuming the third day (Saturday) with overnight score at 200 for 8, the visitors added only 26 runs in the score board losing their remaining two batsmen.

Taijul Islam captured both the Sri Lankan wickets as he first removed overnight batsman Suranga Lakmal for 21 making him a clean bowled and then completed his four-wicket haul by folding Sri Lankan’s innings trapping Rangana Hereath leg before wicket for a duck.

Other overnight batsman Roshen Silva was remained unbeaten with his polish 70 runs knock from 145-ball that studded with 10 boundaries.

Taijul Islam was the pick of Bangladesh bowlers as he grabbed four wickets conceding 76 runs. He was well supported by Mustafizur Rahman who captured three wickets giving away 49 runs.

Besides, Mehidy Hasan finished his spells with two wickets for 37 runs.

Earlier, Bangladesh dismissed their first innings at 110 in reply to Sri Lankan first innings total of 222.

Score in Brief:

Sri Lanka first innings – 222 for all, Mendis 68, Roshen56, Perera 31, Akila 20, de Silva 19, Razzak 4/63, Taijul 4/83 and Mustafizur 2/17.

Second innings – 226 for all Roshen 70 (batting), Dimuth Karunaratne 32, Chandimal 30, de Silva 28, Lakmal 21, Gunathilaka 17, Taijul 4/76, Mustafizur 3/49, Miraz 2/37.

Bangladesh first innings – 110 for all Miraz 38, Kayes 19, Liton 25, Akila 3/20, Lakmal 3/25 and Perera 2/32.

Second innings – 123 for all, Mominul 33, Mushfiqur 25, Kayes 17, Liton 12, Akila Dananjaya 5/24, Rangana 4/49.

#thenewscompany : 

According to latest estimates, some 515,000 Rohingyas have fled from Myanmar since August 25, including people continuing to arrive this week.

The emergency assistance is focused on protection, shelter, water and sanitation and bolstering the capacity of the local host communities across south-east Bangladesh.

“Relieving dramatic overcrowding in the two existing camps – Kutupalong and Nyapara – which are now twice their population prior to the latest crisis – is also a priority, not least as refugee numbers are still growing,” UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Friday.

While addressing the urgent and immediate Rohingya needs in Bangladesh, UNHCR is concerned about the continuing influx from Myanmar and stresses once again the need for the root causes to be addressed. Delivery and improving conditions remains our utmost priority, he said.

Andrej Mahecic said among the Rohingyas are large numbers of children, many of them unaccompanied or separated from their families, according to a copy of his statement UNB obtained from Geneva.

“The new arrivals have joined an estimated 300,000 refugees who were already in Bangladesh before the crisis,” Andrej Mahecic said.

In light of the scope and speed of displacement UNHCR declared a “Level 3 Emergency” – the top level – for this crisis in mid-September.

From the outset, UNHCR has been supporting the response managed by the Bangladeshi authorities and all partners to help organise the effective delivery of aid and services for refugees.

“In addition to protection, shelter and sanitation work in south-east Bangladesh, we have so far organised five airlifts, flying in some 500 metric tonnes of aid. More flights are being planned. We have also doubled the number of our staff in Bangladesh to almost 100. We will continue to expand our work and operations, presence and staff throughout south-east Bangladesh as necessary,” said the Spokesperson.

UNHCR’s supplementary appeal is meant to meet urgent additional requirements from September 2017 through to February 2018.

“It is vital, even at this stage, that the response reflects mid- to long-term needs, while at the same time ensuring that voluntary return of refugees in safety and dignity remains a viable option,” said the Spokesperson.

“We are grateful for the prompt and generous initial response both from the governments and private donors so far, contributing already US$ 24.1 million since the onset of the emergency.”

Donors that have provided major support to the emergency include the United States, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and UNIQLO.

Furthermore, the governments providing us with un-earmarked funding – Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and others – enabled us to kick-off the emergency response.

#thenewscompany :Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought British role in intensifying global pressures on Myanmar to take back their evicted citizens who took shelter in Bangladesh.

“The international pressure on the Myanmar government will have to continue,” premier’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted her as telling UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tariq Mahmood Ahmad.

Tariq, also the Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, paid a courtesy call on her at her hotel here this morning when Sheikh Hasina said Naypyidaw must be forced to return its displaced Rohingya nationals.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Karim said the premier also sought the British as well as other country’s supports for relocating the Rohingyas to a Bangladesh’s offshore island from Cox’s Bazar.

“We made a makeshift arrangement for shifting them to an island called ‘Bhasan Char’ from Cox’s Bazar . . . we need international community’s assistance including that of the UK for their relocation,” she said.

The prime minister informed the British junior minister that her government would also make multipurpose arrangements including education and sanitation facilities for the Rohingyas in the island.

Sheikh Hasina apprised Lord Ahmad of the present state of the displaced Myanmar citizens and highlighted Bangladesh steps to provide shelter, food and medicare for the people in distress.

She said the civil administration, army, navy and air force, BGB, police and her party volunteers were working hard to mitigate the sufferings of these people.

The prime minister said they feel the sorrow and pain of the Rohingya people as they had to lead a refugee life after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975.

Sheikh Hasina recalled that 10 million people from Bangladesh were forced to take shelter in India during the Liberation War when the Pakistani occupation forces launched a massacre in 1971.

The prime minister also said her government brought back 62,000 Bangladeshi refugees from India after signing the landmark peace treaty in 1997.

Sheikh Hasina conveyed her regards to the British prime minister through Lord Ahmad.

The UK state minister highly appreciated Bangladesh and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for saving the lives of tens of thousands Rohingya people by giving shelter calling the huge exodus as “a humanitarian crisis”.

He said the Britain pledged to provide 30 million pounds for their assistance adding “we’re keen to continue support for the Rohingya people”.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK Nazmul Qaunine was present on the occasion.

#thenewscompany : The death toll from a 7.1-magnitude earthquake earlier this week has climbed to 307, the Mexican government announced Saturday.

National Civil Defense chief Luis Felipe Puente said 169 deaths were
registered in the capital, adding on Twitter that 73 people were killed in the state of Morelos, 45 in Puebla, 13 in Mexico State, six in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca in Tuesday’s earthquake.

Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told Saturday’s press conference that rescue efforts were continuing at seven of the 38 residential and office buildings which collapsed in the city.

Earlier Saturday morning, rescue efforts were briefly suspended as the capital felt the effects of a new 6.1-magnitude earthquake in Oaxaca, which did not directly lead to any death but with 27 people being treated for injuries.

However, local media confirmed that two women died of heart attacks during the tremor as they tried to leave their homes in Mexico City.

#thenewscompany : The RTI Group’s plants will present advanced radars a the MAKS Aviation and Space Salon that will be held in the town of Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, on July 18, the group’s press service told TASS on Monday.

“Science and Research Institute for Long-Range Radio Communication will display three radars – the Vitim, the MRLS and the Surok – for the airshow participants,” the press service reported. The Vitim is a radar that provides ongoing detection, tracking and identification of missile, space and aerodynamic objects that pass through the specified monitoring zone. The radar is based on modularity, which enables to abandon large fixed structures and cater to the client’s needs as much as possible.

The MRLS radar was designed for effective aerospace monitoring, extreme range detection, location and estimation of movement parameters for a wide range of air targets in the specified area in the conditions of industrial and natural noises.

The Surok is a unique small radar designed to detect low-altitude aircraft (gliders, helicopters, planes, drones) in the close responsibility zone.

The RTI Group’s specialists also developed a vast business program which includes talks with representatives from different states and diplomatic services, as well as defense attaches and foreign companies’ delegations. RTI’s zone is expected to be attended by officials from federal ministries and high-profile specialists from Russian science and research corporations and plants.

Source : TASS