MNA Business Desk: Bangladesh has been invited by the Nepal government to visit the country to discuss a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for bilateral energy tie-up, reports Xinhua, quoting officials concerned. “We have sent a letter to our counterpart Ministry in Bangladesh three-four days ago, inviting them to visit Nepal to finalize the MoU,” Dinesh Ghimire, joint secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI). Nepal Cabinet approved the MoU. It contains three components — power exchange, investment and establishing a joint mechanism to enhance cooperation in energy, according to MoEWRI. Dinesh Ghimire said after the MoU ...

MNA International Desk: A Pakistan corruption court on Friday sentenced the country’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to 10 years and his daughter Maryam Nawaz seven years imprisonment in a corruption case. Son-in-law Captain Safdar has been given 1 year jail time — also for not cooperating with NAB, reported news agency. NAB had filed the reference, along with two others, on the Supreme Court’s directives in the landmark Panamagate verdict last year which deseated Nawaz as the prime minister. Four members of the Sharif family ─ Nawaz, Maryam, Hassan and Hussain ─ are in London, while Captain Safdar is ...

MNA Business Desk: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved grant assistance of $100 million for Rohingyas- the first of an envisaged package totaling $200 million to help Bangladesh develop basic infrastructure and services for the displaced persons (Rohingyas). “Given the scale of the humanitarian needs, we are coordinating closely and promptly with World Bank and other development partners to support the government in addressing the crisis in Cox’s Bazar,” said ADB President Takehiko Nakao. Nakao received the request from Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, for grant assistance when they met in early May. Then ADB developed and processed the ...

MNA National Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday appreciated the public servants for realising the ultimate goal of the government and working to take the country to the height it wants to see, reported news agency. “You have realised what we want, what the goals we want to achieve and the level we want to take the country. Being able to realise this and implement this is the main thing,” she said. The Prime Minister said this at a function in her office marking the signing of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) of ministries and subordinate bodies 2018-19 fiscal ...

MNA Sports Desk: England held their nerve against Colombia to win their first ever penalty shootout in a World Cup and reach the quarter-finals in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, reported news agency. Eric Dier scored the decisive spot-kick to win the shootout 4-3 and send Gareth Southgate’s young team through to a meeting with Sweden, who earlier beat Switzerland. A bad-tempered match at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium that featured eight yellow cards—six for Colombian players—ended 1-1 after 30 tense minutes of extra-time, meaning the game had to be decided by penalties. The South American side, without injured forward James Rodriguez, appeared ...

MNA International Desk: Najib Razak has been charged with corruption, a dramatic fall from grace for the former Malaysian prime minister two months after he lost office, reported news agency. He faces three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power. Mr Najib has long been accused of pocketing $700m (£517m) from the state development fund 1MDB, which he set up. He denies wrongdoing. A new investigation began after his shock election loss in May. Mr Najib was arrested by anti-corruption authorities on Tuesday and spent the night in detention. In a video posted on ...

MNA Business Desk: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Tuesday approved eight projects, including one to construct 16 regional passport office buildings, aiming to improve the passport services in 16 districts, reports news agency. The approval came from the first ECNEC meeting of the new fiscal year of 2018-‘19, held at the NEC conference room in the city’s Agargaon area with ECNEC chairperson and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. “Today, the ECNEC approved eight projects with an estimated cost of Tk 64.93 billion,” said planning minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while briefing reporters after the ...

MNA International Desk: Twelve boys and their football coach trapped in a flooded Thai cave for nine days were found alive late Monday after a painstaking search by specialist divers who finally discovered the emaciated group on a mud embankment. There had been no contact with the boys, aged between 11 and 16, since they went missing with their 25-year-old coach on 23 June. The massive international rescue effort had for days been hampered by heavy rains that flooded the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand, blocking access to chambers where it was hoped the group would be found alive. ...

MNA Sports Desk: Neymar barged his way into the World Cup limelight with a goal, an assist and another helping of histrionics as Brazil roared into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday that inflicted a seventh straight last-16 exit on the central Americans, reported news agency. The PSG forward was both architect and executioner for Brazil, sliding home in the second half and then teeing up Roberto Firmino late on, but he also writhed on the floor, seemingly in agony, after Mexico Miguel Layun had made slight contact with his ankle. That should not overshadow his ...

MNA Editorial Desk: In recent days, the most talked about issue throughout the country seems to be the 11th National Election scheduled to be held by the end of this year. While the participation of the country’s largest opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under the current electoral format is still under question, the ruling party Awami League (AL) is actively preparing their fields to participate in the upcoming election to regain the power of the government for the third consecutive time. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) is going through a quite busy time as after the new CEC’s taking office ...

MNA Education Desk: The government has formed a seven-member committee with Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam as its convener to review the existing quota system in public service, reported news agency. The other members of the committee are secretaries of the Public Administration, Finance Division, Liberation War Affairs, Legislative Division and PSC and PMO acting secretary, he said. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 working days. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced in parliament on April 11 the abolition of all types of quotas in public jobs. But, Bangladesh Chhatra League activists reportedly carried out ...

MNA Feature Desk: Alauddin Al-Azad is a highly respected name in Bengali literature. Al Azad, a language fighter, freedom fighter, eminent poet, ambidextrous writer, and educationist, is one of the brightest stars in our national history. Today is the 9th death anniversary of this great author, novelist, and poet. He died on this day in 2009. The influential poet Azad was born on May 6, 1932 in an elite, noble and cultural family of Ramnagar village under Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district. He achieved his Honors and Masters Degrees from Bengali Department of the Dhaka University. He received his PhD ...

MNA Entertainment Desk: A Delhi court has directed the city police to start a case against Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty’s son Mahaakshay Chakraborty, also an actor, for allegedly cheating and raping a Bhojpuri actress and forcing her into an abortion, Indian media reports. Mithun’s wife Yogita Bali has also been accused of allegedly threatening the woman later, The Indian Express reported on Monday. The incident, according to the court order, dates back to May 2015 when the actor allegedly established a physical relationship with the woman by “fraudulently” administering her some “alcoholic/stupefying substance” in a soft drink offered to her. ...

MNA Exclusive Desk: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he heard “unimaginable” accounts of atrocities during a visit on Monday to vast camps in Bangladesh that are home to a million Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar. Guterres described the situation for the persecuted ethnic minority as “a humanitarian and human rights nightmare”, as he prepared to tour makeshift shelters crammed with people who escaped a Myanmar army operation last year that the UN has called a “textbook case of ethnic cleansing”. “In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, I’ve just heard unimaginable accounts of killing and rape from Rohingya refugees who ...

MNA Education Desk: Some quota reformists were injured in an attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Central Shaheed Minar chattar in the capital on Monday, reported news agency. Witnesses said quota reformists gathered on the Central Shaheed Minar premises at about 11am as part of their pre-scheduled demonstration programme. Suddenly, some 10 to 15 BCL activists allegedly swooped on them and beat up them. Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Council convenor Hasan Al Mamun alleged that BCL men picked up Faruk Hossain, joint convener of the council. Earlier on Saturday, some leaders of Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Council ...

MNA International Desk: Anti-establishment leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won Mexico’s presidential election Sunday with more than half the vote, according to an official projection of the results, a resounding rejection of the country’s established parties, reported news agency. The fiery leftist known as “AMLO” won between 53 and 53.8 percent of the vote, according to a projection by the National Electoral Institute, based on a sample of polling stations. It gave Ricardo Anaya of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) between 22.1 and 22.8 percent, Jose Antonio Meade of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) between 15.7 and 16.3 ...

MNA National Desk: Anis Ahmed, executive editor of an English daily ‘The Daily Observer’ passed away at his Mohammadpur residence in the capital on Monday morning (Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun). He was 64. Ahmed, also the former Chief of Correspondent and Dhaka Bureau Chief of Reuters, breathed his last at about 8:15am, said his son Kaushik Ahmed. He left behind his wife, a daughter, a son, a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death. His first namaz-e-janaza will be held at Press Club around 1:30pm. Later, Ahmed’s will be buried in his family graveyard in Brahmanbaria.

MNA Business Desk: The tariff-cut amendment of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) became effective Sunday, with China’s Ministry of Commerce saying it would facilitate regional economic integration in Asia, according to reports by Xinhua and Global Times. “The amendment will provide member countries new economic impetus, prompt continued trade increases, facilitate economic integration and help further materialise the Belt and Road Initiative,” the ministry said Sunday in an online statement. The six members of APTA – China, India, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Laos – will slash tariffs by an average of 33 per cent on 10,312 product categories. ...

MNA National Desk: People have been paying their tributes to the victims who were killed in the militant attack on Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery of Dhaka on this day in 2016, reported news agency. Two years ago, a group of militants lay siege to the Gulshan café killing of 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners. Two police officers also lost their lives as they responded immediately. Besides, five attackers and a restaurant staffer died during the Operation Thunderbolt that brought an end to the nerve-racking 12-hour hostage crisis at the posh eatery. Marking the day, the authorities have kept the café ...

MNA Sports Desk: Lionel Messi’s fourth World Cup ended in bitter, frustrating and all-too-familiar defeat on Saturday, with Argentina tumbling out of the tournament with a 4-3 loss to a suddenly impressive France in the round of 16. Messi departs after a frustrating tournament in which Argentina only barely escaped a humiliating elimination in the group stage. But it ended as all his major tournaments with Argentina’s senior national team have: without a trophy, and while carrying the burden of a team defeat on his slight shoulders. At 31, he may choose to make this his last World Cup, reports ...

MNA International Desk: Eleven members of a family have been found dead inside a home in Delhi’s Burari, reported news agency. Seven of the dead were women, while four were men. They were all members of the same family. Some of the bodies were found hanging from the iron grill ceiling, while others were found lying on the floor with their hands and legs tied. The family reportedly ran a grocery shop and a plywood business out of their home. Law enforcers have cordoned off the area. “We are investigating from all possible angles, we are not ruling out anything,” ...

MNA Education Desk: With the theme “Higher Education for Inclusive Development”, the Dhaka University (DU) authorities is being celebrated its 97th founding anniversary on Sunday. To mark the ‘Dhaka University Day’, the university authorities have chalked out various programmes. The important architectures and buildings of the university have already been decorated colorfully. DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Md Akhtaruzzman declared the programme schedule at a press briefing held at Abdul Matin Virtual classroom on the campus on Friday. Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the daylong programme in the morning. The university authorities will bring out processions, hold discussions and cultural sessions, sports ...

MNA Entertainment Desk: Ranbir Kapoor is being lauded for his performance in Sanju, and it looks like Sanjay Dutt is also impressed with the young actor’s performance. Since Sanju is receiving a lot of love from critics and audiences alike, Dutt was asked if he liked the film at the trailer launch of his upcoming film Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3. Sanjay Dutt said, “Ranbir (Kapoor) is extraordinary in the film. I think the film is fantastic and Raju ji (Rajkumar Hirani), Vicky Kaushal, and everybody has done a fantastic job. Whatever is the truth, has been shown in the ...

MNA National Desk: Ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) spokesperson Obaidul Quader on Friday warned foreign diplomats against making any remarks that might hurt their relations with Bangladesh, reported news agency. Also the road transport and bridges minister, Quader issued the warning while talking to newsmen during his visit to Dhaka-Bhanga 4-lane construction site at Kolakandi in Keraniganj of Dhaka district. Apparently reacting to US ambassador’s comments on Bangladesh elections, road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader also asked the foreign diplomats to avoid making such remarks. On Thursday, Bernicat commended the holding of elections to Khulna and Gazipur city corporations ...

MNA International Desk: Three babies died off the coast of Libya on Friday while 100 people remained missing in the latest Mediterranean migrant shipwreck as European leaders reached a hard-fought deal to tackle the issue, reported news agency. Around 120 migrants were aboard the inflatable craft when it ran into trouble, according to survivors taken to Al-Hmidiya, east of the capital Tripoli. Just 16 were rescued, while the missing included two babies and three children under the age of 12. Survivors who made it back to Libyan soil recounted their ordeal following their pre-dawn departure from Garaboulli, east of Tripoli. ...

MNA Exclusive Desk: Rohingya refugees returning to Myanmar will have no explicit guarantees of citizenship or freedom of movement throughout the country, under a secret agreement between the government and the United Nations seen by Reuters. The UN struck an outline deal with Myanmar at the end of May aimed at eventually allowing hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh to return safely and by choice, but did not make the details of the deal public. Reuters on Friday reviewed a copy of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the UN and Myanmar authorities. The draft also ...

MNA Feature Desk: Ahmed Sofa was one of the most prolific writers of Bangladesh. He was born in 1943 at Gaachbaria in Chittagong. Among the contemporary fiction writers in Bangladesh, Sofa belongs in the first rank for his thought-provoking and contemplative writings. However, Sofa was very closely associated with noted painter SM Sultan. Both were bohemians, bachelors and had no interest in fame, money or other earthly elements. Sofa’s novels are usually in small volumes. All his novels draw the attention of the reader for their well fleshed out, familiar and lively characters. His works plunge deep into the suffering ...