Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday phoned Bangladesh’s dashing batsman injured Tamim Iqbal and asked him to take good care of his health.
 
The Prime Minister phoned the opener of the national cricket team at noon and talked to him for a while, PM's Deputy Press Secretary Ashraful Alam Khokan said.
 
"You're an asset of the country as you're brightening its image day by day ... you'll have to take good care of your own health," Khokan quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
 
Noting that there are defeats and wins in sports, Hasina thanked Tamim for his heroic role in the match against Sri Lanka.
 
The Prime Minister said arrangements would be made for Tamim's treatment abroad, if necessary, and asked him to inform her about anything without hesitation.
 
Tamim suffered serious injuries during Bangladesh's match against Sri Lanka in the opening match of ongoing Asia Cup Cricket being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 
 
At the bad of the team during the match, Tamim took the responsibility and played in a heroic style defying risks with bandage in his hand.
 

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) – A court here on Wednesday fixed October 4 to deliver its judgment in New Eskaton double murder case filed against Bakhtiar Alam Rony, son of ruling Awami League lawmaker Pinu Khan.

Judge Md Monjurul Imam of Dhaka Additional Metropolitan session judger court -2 fixed the date after completing further arguments.

Earlier, the court was scheduled to deliver the verdict in the case on May 8. 

However, the pronouncement of the verdict was deferred on the day as Judge Md Al Mamun of the Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court-1 of Dhaka could not prepare the judgment. So, he decided to defer the judgment.

On April 13 in 2015, Bakhtiar Alam Rony, said to be a drug addict, opened fire on people indiscriminately near Janakantha Bhaban in New Eskaton area from his car, leaving two people -- rickshaw-puller Abdul Hakim and Janakantha’s auto-rickshaw driver Yakub --injured with bullets.

Hakim succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on April 15 while Yakub died at the hospital on April 23.

On April 15, a case was filed with Ramna Police Station against unidentified people in this connection.

On June 1, law enforces arrested Rony from his Dhanmondi residence in connection with the firing.

Detective Branch Sub-Inspector Dipak Kumar Das charged Rony on July 21, 2015 after investigating the case.

Judge Shamsunnahar of Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court No. 2 framed charges against Rony on Mar 6 in 2017.

Dhaka, Sep 19 (UNB) - Robert Douglas Simpson has joined as the new Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangladesh. 

Simpson, a US citizen, has been working on the forest governance with the Forestry Department of FAO Headquarters since 2009, said a UN FAO press release on Wednesday. 

Graduated from the University of Minnesota with specialization in international relations and economics Simpson has more than 20 years of working experiences in various countries including US, Madagaskar and Liberia. 

Before joining FAO, he worked for the United States Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar and later for conservation and forest management, primarily with the Malagasy Government in several of its regional offices. 

Robert has also worked for the United States Forest Service as the Liberia Forest Initiative Program Coordinator to support the Liberian Government forest sector reform process following the UN Security Council-imposed sanctions. 

His immediate last assignment was as the Manager of the FAO-EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Programme, FAO Headquarters in Italy. He is married and father of a daughter.

Chapainawabganj, Sept 19 (UNB) – A schoolboy died after falling into a pit latrine at their courtyard at Kanchantala village in Gomastapur upazila on Wednesday while trying to pick a mobile phone set.

The deceased was identified as Sohel Rana, 16, a Class-X student and son of Abdur Rashid of the village.

Victim’s brother Rashidul Islam said Rana went to the outer toilet in the early hours with his mobile phone. However, the mobile phone set fell into the toilet accidentally.

Later in the morning, Rana fell into the pit of the toilet while trying to pick the cell phone after removing its slab.

Though family members rescued the boy, he died shortly afterwards.
 

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - The European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on Wednesday adopted a joint communication that sets out the EU's vision for a new and comprehensive strategy to better connect Europe and Asia. 

The joint communication builds on the European Union's own experience of enhancing connections between its member states, with and in other regions. 

With sustainable, comprehensive and rules-based connectivity at its core, the communication will help to guide the EU's external action in this field and is a part of the implementation of its Global Strategy, said the EU in a statement. 

“Connectivity is the way to the future. The more connected we are, the more opportunities we have – to find common political solutions and to bring economic prosperity to citizens,” said High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini. 

“Our approach is the European Union's way: to establish stronger networks and strengthen partnerships for sustainable connectivity, across all sectors and based on a respect for common rules. This is the European way to tackle challenges and take opportunities, to the benefit of people in Europe and in Asia as well.” 

Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen said they want to work with their Asian partners to improve connections between Europe and Asia, while bringing our values and approach in doing so. 

Infrastructure networks that will be built should be coherent, interoperable, as well as financially and environmentally sustainable. Calls for tender should be open and transparent to promote good governance and a level playing field. It is an approach that works, and one that we see a demand for among Asian countries, in our Eastern neighbourhood, the Western Balkans and beyond."

The Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said the EU and Asia are important partners on sustainable development and delivering the UN 2030 Agenda. 

“Our development cooperation is an essential element of our broader engagement and partnership with Asia, not least in promoting sustainable connectivity. We want to further strengthen our partnership and focus even more on providing technical assistance, improving regulatory environments and creating incentives to drive forward and scale-up much needed investments."

Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc said transport infrastructure is the lifeblood of EU-Asia connections, carrying both people and goods between the continents, on the wings of digitalisation and decarbonisation. 

“Europe is sharing and engaging through one of the most developed transport networks and infrastructure financing programmes in the world: the trans-European transport network. Connectivity matters!”

The EU will combine a principled approach to connectivity and recognition that Asia encompasses different regions, which are home to very diverse countries in terms of economic models and level of development, with concrete action based on three strands.

These are creating transport links, energy and digital networks and human connections; offering connectivity partnerships to countries in Asia and organisations and promoting sustainable finance through utilising diverse financial tools.

With Asia requiring an estimated €1.3 trillion per year for infrastructure investment, there are significant opportunities for EU companies, provided that robust legal frameworks are in place. 

The EU will look to combine financial sources from international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and the private sector to ensure sustainable domestic and international finance for connectivity, while ensuring transparency and a level playing field for businesses.